| Current
report - Wednesday January 14, 2009
- Birds Mentioned
Click Here for species
accounts for many of these birds
Eared Grebe (NJ)+
Western Grebe (NJ)+
Black-bellied Whistling-duck (DE)+
Barnacle Goose (NJ)+
Barnacle Goose X Canada Goose (NJ)+
Thayer's Gull (PA)+
Eurasian Collared-dove
Rufous Hummingbird (NJ)+
Green-tailed Towhee (NJ)+
(NJ)+ (Details requested
by New Jersey
Birds Records Committee)
(PA)+ (Details requested by Pennsylvania
Ornthological Records Committee)
(DE)+ (Details requested by Delaware
Records Committee)
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Greater White-fronted Goose
Snow Goose
Ross's Goose
Cackling Goose
Tundra Swan
Eurasian Wigeon
Canvasback
Redhead
Common Eider
Harlequin Duck
White-winged Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Common Goldeneye
Northern Goshawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
Peregrine Falcon
Sandhill Crane
Black-bellied Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Purple Sandpiper
Dunlin
Iceland Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Glaucous Gull
Razorbill
Barn Owl
Snowy Owl
Barred Owl
Short-eared Owl
Red-headed Woodpecker
Eastern Phoebe
Horned Lark
Brown-headed Nuthatch
American Pipit
Orange-crowned Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Pine Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Chipping Sparrow
Ipswich Sparrow
Seaside Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Lapland Longspur
Snow Bunting
Dickcissel
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Rusty Blackbird
Baltimore Oriole
Purple Finch
Red Crossbill
White-winged Crossbill
Common Redpoll
Pine Siskin
Hotline: Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert
Email reports to:
Compiler: Steve Kacir, Delaware
Valley Ornithological Club
Phone: (215) 240-7547
Voice of the Delaware Valley RBA: Cindy Ahern and Win Shafer
URL: http://www.dvoc.org/RBA/Current/Active/Index.htm
Welcome to the Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert, a service
provided by the joint efforts of the Academy
of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia and the Delaware
Valley Ornithological Club (DVOC), covering the Delaware
Valley Regions of Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
This week, we highlight reports of EARED GREBE and
WESTERN GREBE in Ocean County, NJ; BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK in Sussex
County, DE; BARNACLE GOOSE in Hunterdon County, NJ; THAYER’S GULL
in Bucks County, PA; EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE in Kent County, DE; RUFOUS
HUMMINGBIRD in Cape May County, NJ and GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE in Camden County,
NJ.
For New Jersey: Click
Here for the New Jersey Birding List
Cape May County:
Click
Here for Cape May County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A SNOWY OWL was seen on a streetlight by the gatehouse
in the middle of the free bridge to Nummy’s Island on Jan 11.
The most recent sighting of the RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD at 711 New England
Rd in Cape May came from Jan 9. A hen EURASIAN WIGEON was on the Cape
May Point State Park Plover Ponds and the marshy area west of them on
Jan 13-14. The State Park had a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT on Jan 13. Three
IPSWICH SPARROWS were at Cape May Point on Jan 10. A CACKLING GOOSE
was on Lily Lake on Jan 9. A WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL and a SEMIPALMATED
PLOVER were seen at Reeds Beach on Jan 10. The Villas WMA had an immature
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER and 20-25 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS on Jan 8. Up to 4 SHORT-EARED
OWLS were at Jake’s Landing on Jan 9-10. On Jan 10, Jake’s
Landing had SEASIDE SPARROW and AMERICAN PIPIT.
Click
here for Karl and Judy Lukens's website where there are pictures
of various interesting birds that have been seen in Cape May County
and in New Jersey.
Cumberland County:
Click
Here for Cumberland County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
No reports
Atlantic County:
Click
Here for Atlantic County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
No reports
Monmouth County:
Click
Here for Monmouth County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Jan 13, over 32 RAZORBILLS were tallied from D
Lot at Sandy Hook. On Jan 10, an ICELAND GULL and Harbor Seal were off
the false hook at Sandy Hook, and 75 SNOW BUNTINGS were at the north
end of Sandy Hook. An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was at Plum Island on Jan
9. On Jan 11, a first year GLAUCOUS GULL was off Gunnison Beach, while
80 SNOW BUNTINGS were in dunes north of the beach. Multiple Harbor Seals
loafed on the sandbar opposite Spermaceti Cove on Jan 11. A EURASIAN
WIGEON was at Shark River on Jan 11. Shark River Inlet had 30 SNOW BUNTINGS
and 10 COMMON REDPOLLS on Jan 13. A TUNDRA SWAN was on Lake Assunpink
on Jan 12. On Jan 13, PINE SISKINS fed at the feeders at the Manasquan
Reservoir Environmental Center.
Burlington County:
Click
Here for Burlington County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
No reports
Camden County:
Click
Here for Camden County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE has been visiting a backyard
feeder at 1147 Mansion Ave, Collingswood, NJ 08108, which is off of
Cuthbert Blvd. The GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE and has been reported as recently
as Jan 11. Homeowners, John and Peggy McDevit, welcome birders to come
and see the TOWHEE, and request that birders knock on the door, upon
arrival. If there is no answer, you can proceed softly and quietly along
the driveway to view the backyard feeders. The TOWHEE has also been
feeding under shrubs on the left side of the yard. Thank-you John and
Peggy for your hospitality and generosity.
Ocean County:
Click
Here for Ocean County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A WESTERN GREBE associating with HORNED GREBES was
on the bay at the end of 8th St in Barnegat Light on Jan 8, and was
relocated on Jan 12 a half mile south of Jefferies Ave. The Barnegat
EARED GREBE was seen from the municipal dock on East Bay Ave on Jan
9-12. This EARED GREBE was on the bay side of Barnegat across from the
Bay Ave pavilion. A dark phase ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen in this area
on Jan 11. Barnegat Lighthouse State Park had a RED-NECKED GREBE on
Jan 11-12, 2 COMMON REDPOLLS on Jan 11, COMMON EIDERS on Jan 9-11 and
a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL on Jan 9. Other sightings from Barnegat Lighthouse
State Park included Harbor Seal, IPSWICH SPARROWS, PURPLE SANDPIPERS
and HARLEQUIN DUCKS. Three ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS were spotted from Dock
St on Jan 11.
Salem County:
Click
Here for Salem County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
The SNOW GOOSE flock at Compromise Rd included 2 ROSS’S
GEESE on Jan 10. Three PINE SISKINS were near Sunset Rd that day.
Gloucester County:
Click
Here for Gloucester County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Jan 9, a hen REDHEAD and 6 CANVASBACKS were on
the Delaware River at the cove area of Riverwinds.
Hunterdon County:
Click
Here for Hunterdon County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
An EARED GREBE was seen at the scuba diving parking
lot (lower parking lot) at Round Valley Reservoir Jan 6-8. Round Valley
had 3 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS and PINE SISKINS on Jan 10-11. The Califon
BARNACLE GOOSE was spotted at the south branch of the Raritan River
across from the Methodist Church through Jan 13. Two apparent BARNACLE
GOOSE X CANADA GOOSE hybrids have also been reported in the area. Two
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were in a gull flock at the Spruce Run Reservoir
boat launch on Jan 14. A PINE SISKIN was at a feeder in Tewksbury.
Middlesex County:
No reports
Mercer County:
Click
Here for Mercer County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Jan 12, three PINE SISKINS were heard on the southern
side of Prospect House on the Princeton University Campus. On Jan 13,
two TUNDRA SWANS and a CACKLING GOOSE were on the lake at Rosedale Park,
and a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was perched at Mercer County Equestrian Center.
Warren County:
Click
Here for Warren County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
Recent sightings from Merrill Creek Reservoir included 2 CACKLING
GEESE, 2 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, PURPLE FINCH and 40 PINE SISKINS.
Somerset County:
Click
Here for Somerset County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
Two SANDHILL CRANES have been frequenting a field
bounded by Mettlers Rd and Weston Rd, about 100 yards north of Somerset
County Colonial Park. The SANDHILL CRANES have been seen from Schoolhouse
Rd and Randolph Rd as well, and were reported Jan 7-12. A PINE SISKIN
was at Schermann-Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary on Jan 8.
Morris County:
No reports
Union County:
No reports
NJ Extralimitals:
In Passaic County, at least 7 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS
were spotted at Clinton Rd, with the best spot being a clearing between
P3 and P4 on the east side of the road. The CROSSBILLS were reported
in this area through Jan 11. On Jan 11, the Clinton Rd area also had
PINE SISKINS and COMMON REDPOLLS. On Jan 11-13, up to 21 WHITE-WINGED
CROSSBILLS were feeding around the parking lot at Ringwood Manor.
For Delaware: Click
Here for the Delaware Birding List
New Castle County
Click
Here for New Castle County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Jan 12, an EASTERN PHOEBE was at the main parking
lot for Ashland Nature Center, while two-dozen PINE SISKINS fed at the
Ashland’s feeders.
Kent County:
Click
Here for Kent County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Jan 9-11, a EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE was seen in
a field opposite a farmhouse at the intersection of Eagles Nest Landing
Rd and McQuail Rd near Smyrna. On Jan 9, a LAPLAND LONGSPUR was with
a flock of SNOW BUNTINGS at the SE corner of the intersection of Whitehall
Neck Rd and Route 9. On Jan 12, that area had 10 SNOW BUNTINGS and 3
LAPLAND LONGSPURS. Forty SNOW BUNTINGS were there on Jan 10. Recent
reports from Bombay Hook NWR included SHORT-EARED OWL, AMERICAN PIPITS
and RUSTY BLACKBIRDS. On Jan 9, a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was in the south
part of Little Creek WA, and a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was at Kitts
Hummock.
Sussex County:
Click
Here for Sussex County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
The BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK was seen with other
waterfowl at the west side of Rehoboth’s Silver Lake on Jan 12.
On Jan 11, a NASHVILLE WARBLER was in a bare bush near the road between
Silver Lake and the mansions bordering the ocean. That day, 4 BLACK-BELLIED
PLOVERS and 200 DUNLIN were at the end of Fowler Beach Rd in Prime Hook
NWR. On Jan 10, Prime Hook’s headquarters area had RUSTY BLACKBIRDS,
while 5 ROSS’S GEESE were in the SNOW GOOSE flocks at Broadkill
Beach Rd. Feeders at Cape Henlopen State Park attracted PINE SISKINS,
BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES and a FOX SPARROW on Jan 12. Indian River Inlet
had PURPLE SANDPIPERS and WHITE-WINGED SCOTER on Jan 10. On Jan 11,
Abbotts Mill Nature Center had 4 PINE SISKINS, PURPLE FINCH and PINE
WARBLER near the nature center. A yard in Seaford has attracted PINE
SISKINS and PURPLE FINCHES.
For Pennsylvania: Click
Here for the Pennsylvania Birding List
Philadelphia County:
Click
Here for Philadelphia County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Jan 10, a LINCOLN’S SPARROW was seen at a
field off Gray Fox Loop and bordered by Hagys Mill Rd at the Schuylkill
Center for Environmental Education.
Delaware County:
Click Here
for Delaware County Birding Resources including an interactive map with
locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.No reports
No reports
Chester County:
Click Here
for Chester County Birding Resources including an interactive map with
locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A CANVASBACK was on the Coatesville Reservoir
on Jan 13. Chambers Lake had a CANVASBACK and a REDHEAD on Jan 14. On
Jan 12, one hundred HORNED LARKS were seen from Route 82 east of the
West Nantmeal municipal building. PINE SISKINS visited feeders in Uwchlan
Twp, Willistown and Glenmoore.
Montgomery County:
Click
Here for Montgomery County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A feeder in Green Lane attracted 14 PINE SISKINS and
PURPLE FINCHES, but that yard’s PINE SISKIN count increased to
200 SISKINS on Jan 13. An EASTERN PHOEBE was at Pottstown Riverfront
Park on Jan 10. PINE SISKINS visited a feeder in Huntingdon Valley on
Jan 13, and a CHIPPING SPARROW has been there for a week.
Bucks County:
Click
Here for Bucks County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A SNOWY OWL was reportedly near Quakertown along Route
663 just north of the PA Turnpike entrance near Mill Hill Rd on Jan
11. The WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS at the intersection of Church View Dr
and Harrisburg School Rd (the road to the Nockamixon State Park Marina)
continues to build with 32 CROSSBILLS counted on Jan 10. The most recent
sighting of the Nockamixon CROSSBILL flock was on Jan 11. A flock of
PINE SISKINS were in this area on Jan 9 & Jan 11. The RED-NECKED
GREBE was still on Lake Nockamixon through Jan 11, when a HORNED GREBE
was also on the lake. A TUNDRA SWAN was on Lake Nockamixon on Jan 9.
On Jan 9, Falls Township Community Park had a first winter THAYER’S
GULL and 3 GLAUCOUS GULLS. Other gulls in the Tullytown area included
ICELAND GULLS and LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS. A mixed flock including
up to 140 HORNED LARKS, 12 AMERICAN PIPITS, 18 SNOW BUNTINGS and a LAPLAND
LONGSPUR was at Shady Brook Farm through Jan 12. The birds were in a
field adjacent to the intersection of Stony Hill Rd and Route 332 (Newtown
Bypass). Maple Knoll Farms had HORNED LARKS, 8 SNOW BUNTINGS and a LAPLAND
LONGSPUR in the cornfields west of the dairy barn on Jan 13. Birders
have been given permission to park near the barn and walk out to the
fields. LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were at Churchville this week. PINE
SISKINS visited a feeder in Northampton Twp on Jan 10. Recent reports
from Peace Valley Park included RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, PEREGRINE FALCON
and a PINE SISKIN that has been visiting the nature center’s feeders.
Northampton County:
Click
Here for Northampton County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL was at God’s Acre Cemetery
near Central Moravian Church in Bethlehem on Jan 13. PINE SISKINS and
8 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were at the conifer area of Graver’s
Arboretum on Jan 13, and 10 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS fed in hemlocks
and pines by the arboretum’s driveway the next day. Over 80 SNOW
BUNTINGS and 50 HORNED LARKS were at the pumpkin patch at Graver’s
Hill, Moore Twp on Jan 12. The next day, Graver’s Hill had 88
SNOW BUNTINGS, 75 HORNED LARKS and a LAPLAND LONGSPUR. A SHORT-EARED
OWL was reported from PPL Martins Creek on Jan 12. On Jan 9, fifty to
sixty PINE SISKINS visited a feeder in East Allen Twp. The feeders at
the Koch Property have had regular visits by PINE SISKINS and the occasional
PURPLE FINCH. A BALTIMORE ORIOLE visited a suet feeder at the Koch Property
on Jan 11. The Bear Swamp Archery Complex hosted a BARRED OWL and PINE
SISKINS on Jan 14. PINE SISKINS and a PURPLE FINCH were at a feeder
in Easton on Jan 11.
Lehigh County:
Click
Here for Lehigh County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
The LONG-TAILED DUCK was last reported from Route
329 at the Northampton/Cementon bridge on Jan 8. The GREATER WHITE-FRONTED
GOOSE at Dorney Pond was still there through Jan 10. A REDHEAD was on
Clear Spring Pond on Jan 9. A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was on Lake Muhlenberg
through Jan 10. Fifty PINE SISKINS were at North Loop Rd in Washington
Twp Jan 9-10. On Jan 12, seven PINE SISKINS were at a tube feeder across
the road from Osprey House at the Lehigh Gap Nature Center.
Schuylkill County:
Click
Here for Schuylkill County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
Sweet Arrow Lake had PINE SISKINS on Jan 10.
Berks County:
Click
Here for Berks County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.No reports
On Jan 11-12, up to twenty-four WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS
were at the parking area off Route 73 for Lake Ontelaunee Dam. On Jan
13, seven WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were seen from West Shore Dr at Lake
Ontelaunee; the area is an open field with tall pines bordering it,
past the closed bridge detour and near a lot straight in from the sharp
left in the road. A warning, there is hunting in this area. The ROUGH-LEGGED
HAWK in the large field near the Broadcasting Rd shopping center outside
of Reading was seen again on Jan 8. On Jan 12, six WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS
and 5 PINE SISKINS were seen at an old conifer planting at French Creek
State Park around Scotts Run Lake, Firetower Rd and Boone Trail. On
Jan 13, Blue Marsh National Recreation Area had a NORTHERN GOSHAWK and
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK. One hundred PINE SISKINS were in a yard in Bern Twp
on Jan 12. A BARN OWL and PINE SISKINS were sighted in Leesport.
Lancaster County:
Click
Here for Lancaster County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
Up to 50 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were at the spruce
and pine grove at the Reservoir Rd clearing through Jan 13, and at least
2 RED CROSSBILLS were in the area on Jan 12-13. A COMMON REDPOLL was
reported there on Jan 12. Reservoir Rd is off Route 897 southeast of
New Holland, near the New Holland Reservoir. This is a Pennsylvania
Game Commission Propagation Area, and all birding must be done near
the road. PINE SISKINS were in the area on Jan 11. On Jan 11, a hike
in the area of the old Cornwall Fire Tower at SGL-156 revealed 1-2 RED
CROSSBILLS, 6 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS and PINE SISKINS. The next day,
5 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were in the area. The CROSSBILLS were in an
area about a half-mile down the road from the tower where a larger grove
of spruce and white pine comes up to the north side of the road. On
Jan 10, a dark phase ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK hunted over Farmlands around
Route 23. On Jan 11, a light phase ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was spotted southeast
of the intersection of Voganville Rd and Wissler Rd, and a ROUGH-LEGGED
HAWK was in fields at Voganville Rd. A dark phase ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK
was seen in the area between the intersections of Amishtown Rd and Voganville
Rd and Amishtown Rd and North Groffdale Rd on Jan 10-11. ROUGH-LEGGED
HAWKS continued to be seen in the area of Voganville Rd, Wissler Rd
and Amishtown Rd through Jan 12. On Jan 10, a female DICKCISSEL was
at Tom Amico’s house in Holtwood. A flock of blackbirds along
Slate Hill Rd had 2 adult male YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS on Jan 10.
Lebanon County:
Click
Here for Lebanon County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
Memorial Lake State Park had 10 PINE SISKINS on Jan
11; they were at Lower Rd near the church. Twenty-three REDHEADS were
on Memorial Lake that day. WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were heard in Green
Point on Jan 13.
Carbon County:
On Jan 12, WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were at three locations
at Beltzville State Park. Five CROSSBILLS and PINE SISKINS were at the
Pine Run Boat Launch. A flock flew over the game lands past the Pine
Run Boat Launch, while the main parking lot had 10 CROSSBILLS that day.
Twenty COMMON GOLDENEYES were seen on the lake at the main parking lot
as well.
Monroe County:
Over 160 PINE SISKINS were at feeders in Saylorsburg,
and a flock of 75 PINE SISKINS at Buck Hill Falls included one leucistic
SISKIN.
Pike County:
No reports
Wayne County:
No reports
PA Extralimitals:
No reports
Extralimital Reports
No reports
Announcements
On Jan 17, Martin
Selzer will lead a joint Wyncote Audubon and DVOC field trip to
Cape May in Cape May County, NJ for seabirds and wintering waterfowl,
ending the day at Jake’s Landing to look for Short-eared Owls.
The trip will meet at the parking lot of the Wawa at Route 47 and Route
347 at 9:00AM. Attendees should dress for the weather and bring scopes
and a packed lunch. Please contact Martin if you plan on attending the
field trip. Additional information, including trip reports from previous
trips and contact information for the trip leaders can be
found on the DVOC website: http://www.dvoc.org
The next meeting of the DVOC will take place at 7:30pm
on Thursday Jan 22 at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia,
PA and will feature "A Bird's Eye View of Wild Bird Rescue, Rehabilitation,
and Release" presented by Cindy
Ahern . More details are available online at http://www.dvoc.org
See Life Paulagics is running winter pelagic trips
in the Delaware Valley region. On the schedule are trips out of Lewes,
DE on Saturday Feb 7, out of Belmar, NJ on Sunday Feb 8. This is a prime
time of year for finding Dovekies, and there have already been multiple
sightings both from shore and inshore waters in the region this winter,
with 75 Dovekies spotted on the Jan 2 Pelagic Christmas Bird Count out
of Belmar, NJ. For more information, call 215-234-6805 or visit them
on the web at http://www.paulagics.com
The Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert is a weekly report
on birding in the Delaware Valley Region including
Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey. To report birds or significant
upcoming birding events and planned pelagic trips, please email
. This is Steve Kacir, good
birding to you all and thanks for calling, surfing and reporting.
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