| Current
report - Wednesday April 1, 2009
- Birds Mentioned
Click Here for species
accounts for many of these birds
Black-headed Gull (PA)+
Brewer's Blackbird (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)
Red-throated Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Northern Gannet
Great Cormorant
American Bittern
Great Egret
Little Blue Heron
Cattle Egret
Black-crowned Night-heron
Glossy Ibis
Greater White-fronted Goose
Snow Goose
Ross's Goose
Tundra Swan
Gadwall
Eurasian Wigeon
Blue-winged Teal
Northern Shoveler
Canvasback
King Eider
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Common Goldeneye
Red-breasted Merganser
Red-shouldered Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
Golden Eagle
Merlin
Virginia Rail
Sandhill Crane
Piping Plover
American Avocet
Least Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Purple Sandpiper
Short-billed Dowitcher
Long-billed Dowitcher
Wilson's Snipe
Little Gull
Bonaparte's Gull
Iceland Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Royal Tern
Long-eared Owl
Short-eared Owl
Common Nighthawk
Red-headed Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Common Raven
Purple Martin
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown-headed Nuthatch
American Pipit
Northern Parula
Yellow-throated Warbler
Pine Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Prothonotary Warbler
Louisiana Waterthrush
Chipping Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Lapland Longspur
Snow Bunting
Dickcissel
Rusty Blackbird
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 BLACK-HEADED GULL
in Lancaster County, PA and BREWER’S BLACKBIRDS in Salem 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.
Three KING EIDERS flew past Cape May, seen off Coral
Ave on Mar 31. A great many NORTHERN GANNETS streamed past Cape May
Point over the weekend, with estimates of 50 GANNETS per minute leaving
Delaware Bay on Mar 28 and twice that the next day, and a flock of 600
sitting on the water seen from the Cape May-Lewes Ferry. On Mar 28,
a PIPING PLOVER and 4 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS were spotted from the St Peter’s
Jetty, and a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL roosted briefly on that jetty.
Forty RED-THROATED LOONS, a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, BONAPARTE’S
GULLS and PURPLE SANDPIPERS were at the Concrete Ship off Sunset Beach
on Mar 28. The next day, an ICELAND GULL and ROYAL TERN were seen from
the area of the Concrete Ship, and a LITTLE BLUE HERON was seen from
Sunset Beach on Mar 31. On Mar 30, an AMERICAN BITTERN flushed from
The Nature Conservancy’s Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge. The refuge
had PIPING PLOVERS on the beach. A BLACK SCOTER was on Lily Lake on
Mar 31. The “Big Pasture” on 6th Ave in West Cape May had
4 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS on Mar 31. Stone Harbor Point had a PIPING PLOVER.
The Villas WMA had 2 RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS and 18 PINE WARBLERS on
Mar 29; a NORTHERN PARULA, 1 RED-HEADED WOODPECKER and 9 PINE WARBLERS
were there on Mar 31. Reports from Goshen highlighted PINE WARBLERS
and PINE SISKINS. A LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH sang at Belleplain State Forest’s
Sunset Bridge on Mar 31, and YELLOW-THROATED WARBLERS were there on
Apr 1.
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.
The NORTHERN GANNET spectacle spilled out at least
as far as Fortescue, where hundreds of GANNETS were tallied on Mar 29.
On Apr 1, three GLOSSY IBIS were at the shorebird pool at Heislerville
WMA, while 30 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS were on the “heron island”
on the right side of the road as you drive in to Matt’s Landing.
Atlantic County:
Click
Here for Atlantic County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
PINE SISKINS were at feeders in Galloway Twp.
Monmouth County:
Click
Here for Monmouth County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A PRAIRIE WARBLER was just before the bunkers at the
F-Lot “Fishing Beach” on Mar 31. On Mar 25, the Sandy Hook
Migration Watch tallied 102 NORTHERN GANNETS over a two-hour period.
A COMMON REDPOLL flew past the Migration Watch on Mar 31. Other highlights
from the Migration Watch included GLOSSY IBIS, MERLIN and PINE SISKINS.
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 PROTHONOTARY WARBLER and 10 PINE WARBLERS were at
Winslow WMA on Apr 1.
Ocean County:
Click
Here for Ocean County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
No reports
Salem County:
Click
Here for Salem County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
The pasture at the intersection of West Supawna Rd
and Freas Rd in Salem had 1 female and 2 male BREWER’S BLACKBIRDS
on Mar 29. On Mar 29, a ROSS’S GOOSE and GREATER WHITE-FRONTED
GOOSE were in a SNOW GOOSE flock at Featherbed Lane. Fifteen RUSTY BLACKBIRDS
were foraging on mudflats along the Pedricktown Marsh causeway, which
is closed to vehicles. A wet grassy area along Stow Creek Rd had a dozen
WILSON’S SNIPES.
Gloucester County:
Click
Here for Gloucester County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Mar 26, Glassboro Woods WMA had 6 FOX SPARROWS
and 4 PINE WARBLERS.
Hunterdon County:
Click
Here for Hunterdon County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A LITTLE GULL was seen from the fishing pier at Spruce
Run Reservoir on Apr 1. On Mar 29, Spruce Run had a RED-NECKED GREBE
resting by the willows on the opposite shore of the reservoir from the
boat launch. Other birds at Spruce Run that day included COMMON LOONS,
a HORNED GREBE and 12 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS. Round Valley Reservoir
had COMMON LOONS and a RED-BREASTED MERGANSER on Mar 29. PINE WARBLERS
were at Round Valley Reservoir State Park on Mar 28-31. On Mar 28, Spruce
Run had 86 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, an ICELAND GULL. The Clinton Waste
Management Area had 7 FOX SPARROWS and a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL. PINE
SISKINS were at feeders in Califon and Annandale.
Middlesex County:
On Mar 27, RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were spotted at Pleasant
Plains Rd in Great Swamp NWR. A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was at Great Swamp
on Mar 28. PINE SISKINS were at Highland Park and the Cook Campus of
Rutgers University.
Mercer County:
Click
Here for Mercer County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Mar 29, the Pole Farm at Mercer County Park NW
had a SHORT-EARED OWL.
Warren County:
Click
Here for Warren County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
No reports
Somerset County:
Click
Here for Somerset County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
Eight WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS fed on hemlock cones
in a yard in Somerset on Apr 1. PINE SISKINS were at feeders in Basking
Ridge.
Morris County:
No reports
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.
On Mar 27, WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were seen at hemlocks
off Loveville Rd in Hockessin, near Cokesbury Village. The Middletown
Auto Mall, on US-13/DE-299, hosted SNOW BUNTINGS through Mar 26 and
LAPLAND LONGSPURS through Mar 29. The Pea Patch Island survey conducted
at the end of Clinton St in Delaware City noted GREAT CORMORANT, CATTLE
EGRET, LITTLE BLUE HERON and GLOSSY IBIS on Mar 31. On Mar 29, Dragon
Run Park had a CATTLE EGRET, 2 LITTLE BLUE HERONS and 4 BLUE-WINGED
TEAL. Brandywine Creek State Park had PINE SISKINS and a PILEATED WOODPECKER
on Mar 27.
Kent County:
Click
Here for Kent County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
Two GOLDEN EAGLES were reported from the Bear Swamp
area of Bombay Hook NWR on Mar 31. Bear Swamp continued to host WILSON’S
SNIPES, with reports as recent as Mar 27. A PURPLE MARTIN was near the
Bombay Hook headquarters area on Apr 1. Other sightings from Bombay
Hook included TUNDRA SWAN, GLOSSY IBIS, PILEATED WOODPECKER, AMERICAN
PIPITS, LAPLAND LONGSPUR and RUSTY BLACKBIRD. The south impoundment
at Port Mahon had fourteen species of waterfowl including 1,000 GADWALL
and 800 NORTHERN SHOVELERS. Pickering Beach had a dozen NORTHERN GANNETS
on Mar 29. The Pickering portion of Little Creek WA had RUSTY BLACKBIRDS,
PINE WARBLERS and PRAIRIE WARBLERS on Mar 29, and 1 BLUE-WINGED TEAL
was at Little Creek WA on Mar 30.
Sussex County:
Click
Here for Sussex County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A VESPER SPARROW and SALTMARSH SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS
were reported from Prime Hook Rd at Prime Hook NWR. A LEAST SANDPIPER
and SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER were at Fowler Beach on Mar 30, and an ICELAND
GULL and 2 flyby LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS were there on Mar 28. The Boardwalk
Trail at Prime Hook’s headquarters area had 70 singing RUSTY BLACKBIRDS
on Mar 30, and RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were reported from the refuge since
the weekend. Two AMERICAN AVOCETS were at the refuge on Mar 28. Sightings
from Cape Henlopen State Park included RED-THROATED LOONS, NORTHERN
GANNETS, PIPING PLOVER, BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES, PINE WARBLERS and RUSTY
BLACKBIRDS. A LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH sang from the James Branch near
Laurel on Mar 22. A MERLIN was at Mispillion Harbor on Mar 30. That
day, NORTHERN GANNETS were spotted heading north up Delaware Bay. On
Mar 28, 2 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS were with COMMON GOLDENEYES off Simpson
Ave in Milford. Two VIRGINIA RAILS were noted from Slaughter Beach Rd
that day. A YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER was in Milford on Mar 29. Abbott’s
Mill Nature Center had 30 PINE SISKINS in the pines at the boat ramp
on Mar 29. On Apr 1, the Lindale Tract had PINE WARBLERS, and the Isaac
Tract had a LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH.
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 Mar 28, Pennypack Preserve had 24 WHITE-WINGED
CROSSBILLS feeding in hemlocks at the Byberry Rd end of Creek Rd. The
Andorra area of Fairmount Park had seven sparrow species on Mar 31,
including a VESPER SPARROW.
Delaware County:
Click Here
for Delaware County Birding Resources including an interactive map with
locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.No reports
PINE SISKINS visited feeders in Lima.
Chester County:
Click Here
for Chester County Birding Resources including an interactive map with
locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
Marsh Creek State Park had 11 COMMON
LOONS and 3 RED-NECKED GREBES on Mar 29. Nottingham County Park had
PINE SISKINS, CHIPPING SPARROWS and PINE WARBLERS on Mar 29. Three LONG-EARED
OWLS were at Struble Lake that day. PINE SISKINS and PURPLE FINCHES
were at feeders in Glenmoore.
Montgomery County:
Click
Here for Montgomery County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.No Reports
A RUSTY BLACKBIRD was at Fort Washington State
Park’s Militia Hill Hawk Watch on Mar 26. Two COMMON LOONS and a
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK flew past Militia Hill on Mar 29. Pennypack Ecological
Restoration Trust had a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK and a FOX SPARROW on Mar 29.
A FOX SPARROW spent the weekend near the Elmwood Park Zoo in Norristown.
North of the zoo, PINE SISKINS fed on larch cones at Norristown’s
Elmwood Park through Mar 31. PINE SISKINS also visited feeders in Huntingdon
Valley and Norristown.
Bucks County:
Click
Here for Bucks County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A DICKCISSEL was feeding at the back of an apartment
complex near the Neshaminy Mall on Mar 31. The bird fed from a second
floor deck near apartments 1699 & 1700 at the Korman apartment complex
off Neshaminy Valley Dr. If you go to see the bird, you should park
in the parking space facing the breezeway between apt 1699 & apt
1700, and please respect the residents of the apartment complexes. Peace
Valley Park had a COMMON LOON and HORNED GREBE through Mar 31, 6 RED-BREASTED
MERGANSERS on Mar 31, 109 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS on Mar 29, PILEATED
WOODPECKER, PURPLE FINCH and PINE SISKINS. On Mar 30, twenty-one COMMON
LOONS were at Nockamixon State Park, and 200 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS
were at the marina docks. PINE SISKINS were at Nockamixon on Mar 29-30.
Ten COMMON LOONS were on Lake Nockamixon on Mar 29, an ICELAND GULL
and 3 RED-NECKED GREBES were there through Mar 31. Nockamixon had 431
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS on Mar 23. Two COMMON LOONS were at Churchville
Nature Center on Mar 29-30, and a PINE WARBLER was there on Mar 29.
Other sightings from Churchville included GREAT EGRET, LESSER BLACK-BACKED
GULL, FOX SPARROW and PINE SISKIN. On Mar 27, Bowman’s Hill Wildflower
Preserve had 30 PINE SISKINS. Warminster Community Park had a WILSON’S
SNIPE on Mar 29. That day, a CHIPPING SPARROW was at Tyler State Park.
Northampton County:
Click
Here for Northampton County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
Two WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were spotted from Hillside
Rd. A GOLDEN EAGLE was spotted flying towards the PPL Martins Creek
area on Mar 29. Four SANDHILL CRANES flew past Hanoverville Rd near
Route 512 on Mar 29. PINE SISKINS were in Seemsville and Easton. Some
possible PINE SISKIN courtship behavior was reported from the Koch property,
and over 170 PINE SISKINS buzzed around Jacobsburg Environmental Education
Center (EEC) on Apr 1.
Lehigh County:
Click
Here for Lehigh County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
The spruce grove in Union Cemetery at Jerusalem Western
Salisbury Union Church, 3441 Devonshire Rd, W Salisbury had WHITE-WINGED
CROSSILLS and PINE SISKINS on Mar 28. Two WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were
still there on Mar 31. PINE SISKINS visited feeders in Emmaus.
Schuylkill County:
Click
Here for Schuylkill County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
No reports
Berks County:
Click
Here for Berks County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.No reports
The drake EURASIAN WIGEON was still at the closed
bridge on West Shore Dr through Mar 29. A RED-THROATED LOON, 8 COMMON
LOONS, 2 HORNED GREBES, 3 RED-NECKED GREBES and 16 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS
were on Lake Ontelaunee on Mar 29, and 3 RED-NECKED GREBES and a RED-BREASTED
MERGANSER were there on Mar 28. PINE SISKINS and WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS
were at the Peters Creek area of Lake Ontelaunee Mar 28-29, with over
100 CROSSBILLS tallied on Mar 28. Other highlights from Lake Ontelaunee
included CANVASBACKS and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES. PINE SISKINS and PURPLE
FINCHES visited feeders in Leesport.
Lancaster County:
Click
Here for Lancaster County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Mar 26, a BLACK-HEADED GULL was at Fisherman’s
Park down Whissler Run, while the pumped storage area of Muddy Run Reservoir
had 2 RED-NECKED GREBES on the cove at the north end of the River Rd
causeway. Five RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS were at Whissler Run on Mar 25,
and Muddy Run Recreation Park had PINE SISKINS around the parking area
that day. On Mar 28, six LITTLE GULLS were spotted from the Columbia
boat Launch, and four more were downriver at the rocks area south of
Columbia. The Lemon St access provided views of 4-7 LITTLE GULLS in
the Columbia/Wrightsville area on Mar 28-29. Also in the area were over
750 BONAPARTE’S GULLS and a LAUGHING GULL. Three LITTLE GULLS
were off “the rocks” near Washington Boro on Mar 30. The
stormy weather on Mar 30 caused a waterfowl fallout on the Susquehanna
River that included 123 COMMON LOONS, nearly 2,000 BONAPARTE’S
GULLS, 3 RED-NECKED GREBES, 10 HORNED GREBES, 3 TUNDRA SWANS and 93
RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS. A RED-NECKED GREBE was seen from the Long Level
boat Launch on Mar 28. That day, a field trip ranging from Accomac,
Wrightsville/Columbia, Long Level and Safe Harbor turned up 11 RED-NECKED
GREBES, 2 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS and RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. A flock of
20-30 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were in the pinewoods behind Safe Harbor
on Mar 28. Conestoga Pines Park had WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS and PINE
SISKINS on Mar 30. A dozen WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were at Wickersham
Dr right off of Farmingdale Rd on Mar 31. Pumping Station Rd had a LOUISIANA
WATERTHRUSH, PINE WARBLER and PINE SISKINS on Mar 29. PINE SISKINS were
at Speedwell County Park that day. A green morph PINE SISKIN continued
to visit feeders in Peach Bottom through Mar 30, and six HORNED GREBES
and a RED-NECKED GREBE were there on Mar 26. A COMMON RAVEN was spotted
from the Susquehannock Park lookout on Mar 30. SISKINS visited feeders
in Churchtown.
Lebanon County:
Click
Here for Lebanon County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A COMMON NIGHTHAWK was seen from Route 322 near Campbelltown
on Mar 30. A flock of 57 TUNDRA SWANS flew over Fredericksburg on Mar
31.
Carbon County:
No reports
Monroe County:
On Apr 1, over 100 PINE SISKINS visited feeders in
Kresgeville.
Pike County:
No reports.
Wayne County:
No reports
PA Extralimitals:
No reports
Extralimital Reports
No reports
Announcements
On April 18, Lynn Jackson will lead a joint DVOC and
Wyncote Audubon field trip to Coastal Delaware. The field trip will
focus on lingering winter visitors and early migrants. The trip will
meet start in New Castle and head south into Kent County. Please contact
Lynn the week before the scheduled trip date for meeting time and place
if you plan on attending. On April 19, Jeff Holt will lead a DVOC field
trip to Riverwinds and the National Park dredge spoils in Gloucester
County, NJ. The trip will focus on early migrants and breeders such
as bitterns, rails, moorhen, coot and Pied-billed Grebe. The trip will
meet 7:00AM at Riverwinds. Please contact Jeff if you plan on attending.
More information on these trips including trip reports from previous
years, directions and contact information for the trip leaders are on
the DVOC website: http://www.dvoc.org
The next meeting of the DVOC is on April 2 at 7:30pm
at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, when Bill Evans
will present “Nocturnal Migration of Birds in the 21st Century.”
The meeting after that will be on April 16, featuring a program by Andy
Smith entitled “Ten Million Years and Still Going: Sandhill Cranes
on the Platte River and Elsewhere.” Details are on the website,
and guests are always welcome.
At 7:30PM on Apr 17, the Wyncote Audubon Society
will meet at the Plymouth Meeting House located at the intersection
of Germantown and Butler Pikes in Plymouth Meeting, when Bob Mulvihill
will present " PA Breeding Bird Atlas." The program is free
and open to the public.
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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