| Current
report - Wednesday March 18, 2009
- Birds Mentioned
Click Here for species
accounts for many of these birds
Western Grebe (NJ)+
Black-bellied Whistling-duck (DE)+
Black-headed Gull (Extralimital) (PA)+
Bohemian Waxwing (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
American Bittern
Greater White-fronted Goose
Cackling Goose
Tundra Swan
Eurasian Wigeon
Common X Green-winged Teal
Redhead
Common Eider
Long-tailed Duck
Common Goldeneye
Red-breasted Merganser
Chukar
Wild Turkey
Northern Bobwhite
Piping Plover
American Avocet
Western Sandpiper
Purple Sandpiper
Black-headed Gull
Bonaparte's Gull
Iceland Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Glaucous Gull
Barn Owl
Snowy Owl
Short-eared Owl
Red-headed Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Northern Shrike
White-eyed Vireo
Common Raven
Red-breasted Nuthatch
American Pipit
Pine Warbler
Ipswich Sparrow
Lapland Longspur
Snow Bunting
Dickcissel
Purple Finch
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 WESTERN GREBE and
BOHEMIAN WAXWING in Monmouth County, NJ and BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK
in Sussex County, DE
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 in the dunes east of the east dune
crossover at The Nature Conservancy’s Cape May Migratory Bird
Refuge on Mar 11. A SNOWY OWL reported from the beach near the Cape
May Convention Center on Mar 13 may be the same individual. Another
SNOWY OWL was near the Stone Harbor Point observation tower on Mar 12,
and it was seen at the farthest southern point of Stone Harbor Point
on Mar 14-15. Other sightings from Stone Harbor included PIPING PLOVERS,
WESTERN SANDPIPERS, PURPLE SANDPIPERS, IPSWICH SPARROWS and a Harbor
Seal. On Mar 14, PURPLE SANDPIPERS were at the 8th St jetty in Avalon.
A CACKLING GOOSE was at the Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge on Mar 12.
The hen EURASIAN WIGEON, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER and RUSTY BLACKBIRDS
were still at the Villas WMA through Mar 15. Jakes Landing Rd had PINE
WARBLERS on Mar 18.
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.
On Mar 15, seven AMERICAN PIPITS were on the north
dike at the Brigantine Division of Edwin B Forsythe NWR, and REDHEADS
were near the center of the West Pool.
Monmouth County:
Click
Here for Monmouth County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Mar 15, the WESTERN GREBE was seen off the municipal
beach parking lot in Sea Bright. The Sandy Hook BOHEMIAN WAXWING was
at the east end of Mast Way near the northwest corner of G-Lot on Mar
15. Sandy Hook had PIPING PLOVERS at the false hook and at the end of
Fisherman’s Trail. A COMMON REDPOLL was in a PINE SISKIN flock
at the visitor Center that day. On Mar 15, two RED-NECKED GREBES were
offshore from the Sandy Hook Bird Observatory, and a third was located
at the end of Fisherman’s Trail. A GLAUCOUS GULL and RED-NECKED
GREBE were spotted near Sandy Hook’s false hook on Mar 14, and
a probable WHITE-EYED VIREO was noted near Guardian Park. An ICELAND
GULL was at the Marine Place jetty in Deal on Mar 15, and 14 COMMON
EIDERS were seen from Deal that day. A pair of REDHEADS was on the small
pond near the visitor center at Manasquan Reservoir on Mar 16. That
day PINE SISKINS were feeding at the environmental center’s feeders,
and a RED-NECKED GREBE was seen from the causeway.
Burlington County:
Click
Here for Burlington County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A RED-NECKED GREBE was on the Delaware River north
of the Riverton yacht club on Mar 15. That day, Taylor’s Refuge
in Cinnaminson had a HORNED GREBE, AMERICAN BITTERN and 12 WILD TURKEYS.
A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was at Palmyra Cove Nature Park on Mar 15.
Elsewhere that day, Franklin Parker Preserve had 58 TUNDRA SWANS.
Camden County:
Click
Here for Camden County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
In Lindenwold, PINE SISKINS were inspecting nest material
and engaging in courtship behavior.
Ocean County:
Click
Here for Ocean County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A PINE WARBLER was at a suet feeder in Toms River.
Salem County:
Click
Here for Salem County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
No reports
Gloucester County:
Click
Here for Gloucester County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
Four HORNED GREBES were on the Delaware River off
National Park on Mar 16, and a pair of REDHEAD was there on Mar 14.
Hunterdon County:
Click
Here for Hunterdon County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
No reports
Middlesex County:
A DICKCISSEL and PURPLE FINCH visited a feeder in
Monroe Twp. PINE SISKINS were at feeders in Highland Park and East Brunswick.
Mercer County:
Click
Here for Mercer County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Mar 15, WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS flew over Washington
Crossing State Park. That day, a PINE WARBLER was a quarter mile down
from the footbridge that crosses Route 29.
Warren County:
Click
Here for Warren County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
Old Mine Rd had a Bobcat and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES
on Mar 12.
Somerset County:
Click
Here for Somerset County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
No reports.
Morris County:
Great Swamp NWR had a COMMON X GREEN-WINGED TEAL on
Mar 14.
Union County:
No reports
NJ Extralimitals:
No reports
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.
In Hockessin, a flock of 10 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS
flew over private property near Ashland Nature Center on Mar 15. Two
RED-NECKED GREBES and a HORNED GREBE were on Hoopes Reservoir on Mar
11, and the RED-NECKED GREBES were still there on Mar 17. A WHITE-WINGED
CROSSBILL called from a spruce stand at Hoopes on Mar 17. The Middletown
Auto Mall, on US-13/DE-299, had 50 SNOW BUNTINGS and 6 LAPLAND LONGSPURS
on Mar 17. A pair of COMMON GOLDENEYE was on a pond at Augustine Wildlife
Area in Port Penn. On Mar 16, there were 27 WILD TURKEYS at Little Creek
WA.
Kent County:
Click
Here for Kent County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
The middle impoundment at Ted Harvey WA had 230 AMERICAN
AVOCETS on Mar 12, and the AVOCETS were at the south end of Ted Harvey
on Mar 13. A SHORT-EARED OWL was spotted at Port Mahon on Mar 13. That
day, a covey of NORTHERN BOBWHITE was seen from Route 9 near the turn
off for Cedar Swamp. On Mar 16, a flock of 45 WILD TURKEYS was seen
from Route 14 out of Harrington; one of the TURKEYS appeared to be leucistic.
Recent sightings from Bombay Hook NWR included TUNDRA SWAN, PILEATED
WOODPECKER, BARN OWL and AMERICAN PIPIT.
Sussex County:
Click
Here for Sussex County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A BLACK-HEADED GULL was seen from the DuPont Center
at Slaughter Beach on Mar 13. The BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK was still
at Rehoboth’s Silver Lake through Mar 13. Two RUSTY BLACKBIRDS
were at the photography blind at Prime Hook NWR on Mar 12. Two PINE
WARBLERS were at Prime Hook on Mar 13.
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.
Two RED-NECKED GREBES on the Delaware River were seen
from Frankford Arsenal Boat Ramp on Mar 14, and one was still there
on Mar 16.
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 PINE WARBLER visited a feeder in Willistown
on Mar 14.
Montgomery County:
Click
Here for Montgomery County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.No Reports
Six WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were at a recirculation
creek/pond in the Ambler/Blue Bell area. PINE SISKINS were at feeders
in Audubon, Pottstown, Huntingdon Valley and Norristown.
Bucks County:
Click
Here for Bucks County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Mar 13, two RED-NECKED GREBES were distant from
the marina at Nockamixon State Park, and an ICELAND GULL was at the
marina. Lake Towhee had 11 TUNDRA SWANS on Mar 13. Highlights from Peace
Valley Park included a CACKLING GOOSE and 2 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS
on Mar 14 as well as continuing reports of LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS,
PURPLE FINCH and PINE SISKINS. This week, sightings from Churchville
Nature Center included LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS and PINE SISKINS. Core
Creek Park had LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS. A RUSTY BLACKBIRD visited
a feeder in Warminster. Franklin Cove in Tullytown had LESSER BLACK-BACKED
GULLS.
Northampton County:
Click
Here for Northampton County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
In Upper Mount Bethel, a flock of WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS
flew over the Valley View Restaurant on Mar 12. Over the weekend WHITE-WINGED
CROSSBILLS were noted from the Valley View Restaurant and Green Pond.
A HORNED GREBE was on Minsi Lake on Mar 12. Over the weekend, a pair
of REDHEADS was on Seiple’s Farm Pond and a CACKLING GOOSE was
at Nazareth Quarry. PINE SISKINS came to feeders in Plainfield Twp.
Lehigh County:
Click
Here for Lehigh County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
Twelve WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were seen at Grandview
Cemetery over the weekend. A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was on Dorney
Pond on Mar 14.
Schuylkill County:
Click
Here for Schuylkill County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Mar 14, three SHORT-EARED OWLS were spotted at
the conservation fields at Mabel and Weishample. Sweet Arrow Lake had
PINE SISKINS and a COMMON RAVEN on Mar 15.
Berks County:
Click
Here for Berks County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.No reports
On Mar 11, Lake Ontelaunee had 4 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED
GEESE, 112 TUNDRA SWANS, a LONG-TAILED DUCK and a COMMON RAVEN. On Mar
15, Lake Ontelaunee had a CACKLING GOOSE, and 13 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS
were at Bailey Creek on West Shore Dr. Four RED-NECKED GREBES were on
Lake Ontelaunee on Mar 16. Other sightings from Lake Ontelaunee included
HORNED GREBES and COMMON GOLDENEYES. Blue Marsh National Recreation
Area had a PINE WARBLER on Mar 14.
Lancaster County:
Click
Here for Lancaster County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Mar 11, Middle Creek WMA had 2 CACKLING GEESE,
while 14 REDHEADS were at the Chapel Rd Pond. Two GREATER WHITE-FRONTED
GEESE were at Middle Creek on Mar 14. On Mar 17, two SHORT-EARED OWLS
were at Stop #3 on Middle Creek’s auto tour. Other reports from
Middle Creek this week included HORNED GREBES and around 1,000 TUNDRA
SWANS. On Mar 17, BONAPARTE’S GULLS were seen from the Lemon St
access in Wrightsville, a few blocks downstream of the Route 462 bridge.
Other birds on the Susquehanna River included HORNED GREBES, hundreds
of TUNDRA SWANS and COMMON GOLDENEYES. Over 1000 TUNDRA SWANS were on
Muddy Run Lake on Mar 12. Tom Amico has extended an invitation for birders
interested in seeing his visiting DICKCISSEL to visit his property at
1023 Penny Rd in Holtwood, PA 17532. Tom asks that interested birders
come up the driveway and park behind his camper to view the feeders
and nearby spruce tree that the DICKCISSEL has favored. The DICKCISSEL
was reported as recently as Mar 12. Thanks go out to Tom for his generosity
and hospitality. A green morph PINE SISKIN was found with other SISKINS
at a feeder in Peach Bottom.
Lebanon County:
Click
Here for Lebanon County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A pair of CHUKARS visited a feeder in North Londonderry
Twp on Mar 12.
Carbon County:
On Mar 17, a NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen from the road
at 5405 Pohopoco Dr, Lehighton. On Mar 17, two flocks of WHITE-WINGED
CROSSBILLS were heard from Wild Creek Reservoir, and other sightings
in the area included RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES and PINE SISKINS.
Monroe County:
No reports.
Pike County:
No reports.
Wayne County:
No reports
PA Extralimitals:
A BLACK-HEADED GULL was spotted on the Susquehanna
River off Marysville, Dauphin County on Mar 15.
Extralimital Reports
No reports
Announcements
On March 21, Steve Kacir will lead a DVOC field trip
to Bombay Hook NWR. The field trip will focus on early breeding birds
as well as seasonal waterfowl, lingering winter visitors and early migrants.
The trip will meet at the refuge headquarters parking lot at 8:00AM.
Please contact Steve if you plan on attending. More information on the
trip and contact information for the trip leader are on the DVOC website:
http://www.dvoc.org
At 7:30PM on Mar 20, the Wyncote Audubon Society will
meet at the Plymouth Meeting House located at the intersection of Germantown
and Butler Pikes in Plymouth Meeting, when Jim Lockyer will present
"Birds and Humankind." The program is free and open to the
public. The meeting after that will take place on Apr 17, featuring
“PA Breeding Bird Atlas” by Bob Mulvihill.
The next meeting of the DVOC is on March 19
at 7:30pm at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, when Kevin
Karlson will present “Shorebirds: A Different Approach to Field
ID.” The meeting after that will be on April 2, featuring a program
by Bill Evans entitled “Nocturnal Migration of Birds in the 21st
Century.” Details are on the website, and guests are always welcome.
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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