| Current
report - Wednesday April 8, 2009
- Birds Mentioned
Click Here for species
accounts for many of these birds
Black-bellied Whistling-duck (DE)+
Bohemian Waxwing (NJ)+
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)
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Northern Gannet
Brown Pelican
Great Cormorant
Great Egret
Little Blue Heron
Tricolored Heron
Cattle Egret
Black-crowned Night-heron
Yellow-crowned Night-heron
Glossy Ibis
Greater White-fronted Goose
Cackling Goose
Brant
Tundra Swan
Black Swan
Blue-winged Teal
Common Teal (Eurasian Green-winged Teal)
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Red-breasted Merganser
Sharp-shinned Hawk
American Kestrel
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Ruffed Grouse
Wild Turkey
Northern Bobwhite
Clapper Rail
Sandhill Crane
American Golden-plover
Piping Plover
Western Sandpiper
Short-billed Dowitcher
Wilson's Snipe
American Woodcock
Laughing Gull
Little Gull
Black-headed Gull
Bonaparte's Gull
Iceland Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Glaucous Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Caspian Tern
Barred Owl
Short-eared Owl
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Red-headed Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Pileated Woodpecker
White-eyed Vireo
Common Raven
Purple Martin
Red-breasted Nuthatch
House Wren
Marsh Wren
Hermit Thrush
American Pipit
Yellow-throated Warbler
Pine Warbler
Palm Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Louisiana Waterthrush
Ipswich Sparrow
Seaside Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Indigo Bunting
Rusty Blackbird
Purple Finch
White-winged Crossbill
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-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK
in Sussex County, DE; BOHEMIAN WAXWING in Monmouth County, NJ 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.
Two WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS and a LESSER BLACK-BACKED
GULL were spotted from the area of the Concrete Ship at Sunset Beach
on Apr 6. The Nature Conservancy’s Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge
had BLUE-WINGED TEAL, MERLIN and PIPING PLOVERS on Apr 5. Cape May Point
State Park had a PIPING PLOVER. The Villas WMA had 2 RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS,
3 YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS and PINE WARBLERS on Apr 5. Highlights from
Belleplain State Forest included WILD TURKEYS, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH,
LOUSIANA WATERTHRUSH, PINE WARBLERS, YELLOW-THROATED WARBLERS and PINE
SISKINS. A PINE WARBLER was at Higbee Beach WMA on Apr 3. A NORTHERN
BOBWHITE called from Beaver Swamp WMA on Apr 5. Highlights from Reed’s
Beach included CLAPPER RAIL, PURPLE MARTIN, SEASIDE SPARROW and MARSH
WREN. A BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER was at Cape May Court House on Apr 6.
Highlights from Stone Harbor Point included a BROWN PELICAN, NORTHERN
GANNETS, PIPING PLOVERS, WESTERN SANDPIPER and IPSWICH SPARROW. Nummy’s
Island had a GREAT CORMORANT and 2 TRICOLORED HERONS on Apr 5.
Pine Warbler at Belleplain by Bert Filemyr
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 heron roost at Heislerville WMA had 49 BLACK-CROWNED
NIGHT-HERONS, and PURPLE MARTINS were at gourds near Bivalve.
Atlantic County:
Click
Here for Atlantic County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Apr 5, a RED-NECKED GREBE and CASPIAN TERN were
reported from the Brigantine Division of Edwin B Forsythe NWR. Other
highlights from the refuge included GLOSSY IBIS, BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS,
BRANT, TUNDRA SWANS and PURPLE MARTINS.
Monmouth County:
Click
Here for Monmouth County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Apr 7, the Sandy Hook BOHEMIAN WAXWING was at the
east end of the scout camp near the cul-de-sac and the flagpole. A BLACK-HEADED
GULL was seen from the Sandy Hook Bird Observatory on Apr 5. On Apr
4, an ICELAND GULL was spotted at Sandy Hook’s C-Lot, and a GLAUCOUS
GULL was seen from the North Beach Pavilion. That day the Sandy Hook
Migration Watch noted 97 AMERICAN KESTRELS, and 145 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS
were tallied the next day. Other highlights from Sandy Hook included
NORTHERN GANNETS, HORNED GREBES, GLOSSY IBIS, MERLIN, PEREGRINE FALCON,
PIPING PLOVER and AMERICAN PIPITS. PIPING PLOVERS were at Seven Presidents
Park in Long Branch on Apr 5. On Apr 5, Manasquan Reservoir had a PALM
WARBLER, and PINE SISKINS were at the feeders and the Cove Trail. PINE
SISKINS were also at Manasquan Reservoir on Apr 4.
Burlington County:
Click
Here for Burlington County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON spent the day in a Bordentown
yard on Apr 2.
Camden County:
Click
Here for Camden County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
No reports
Ocean County:
Click
Here for Ocean County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
Cattus Island County Park had a PINE WARBLER and 2
LITTLE BLUE HERONS on Apr 4.
Salem County:
Click
Here for Salem County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
The 4 BREWER’S BLACKBIRDS were still at the
pasture at Freas Rd off Route 49 through Apr 7. On Apr 5, 3-4 SANDHILL
CRANES, BLUE-WINGED TEAL and LITTLE BLUE HERONS were spotted from the
concrete bridge at Mannington Marsh, and a CATTLE EGRET was at Compromise
Rd.
Gloucester County:
Click
Here for Gloucester County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Apr 7, Glassboro Woods WMA had PINE SISKINS, LOUISIANA
WATERTHRUSH, PINE WARBLERS and PALM WARBLERS.
Hunterdon County:
Click
Here for Hunterdon County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
An ICELAND GULL was at Spruce Run Reservoir on Apr
4. PINE SISKINS visited feeders in Califon.
Middlesex County:
An adult alternate-plumage BLACK-HEADED GULL was with
800 BONAPARTE’S GULLS at South Amboy on Apr 7. On Apr 7, the RED-HEADED
WOODPECKER was still at Pleasant Plains Rd in Great Swamp NWR, as were
RUSTY BLACKBIRDS. PINE SISKINS visited feeders in East Brunswick.
Mercer County:
Click
Here for Mercer County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A PINE WARBLER was at the Princeton Institute Woods
on Apr 6.
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.
Scherman-Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary had 150 PINE SISKINS
at the feeders on Apr 4.
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 Apr 4, Hoopes Reservoir had 2 COMMON LOONS and
2 RED-NECKED GREBES. On Apr 4, over 90 BONAPARTE’S GULLS were
on the Delaware River near Army Creek Marsh south of New Castle. Ashland
Nature Center had LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH, PALM WARBLERS and WHITE-EYED
VIREO on Apr 6.
Kent County:
Click
Here for Kent County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
Two AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER
and WESTERN SANDPIPER were at the Leatherbury Flats opposite Shearness
Pool at Bombay Hook NWR on Apr 4. An apparent hybrid LITTLE BLUE HERON
was near the north end of Shearness Pool on Apr 3.
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 still on Silver
Lake in Rehoboth through Apr 5. A BLACK SWAN was on Silver Lake on Apr
5-7, and a CATTLE EGRET was there on Apr 3. A BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH
was at the end of Turkle Pond Rd at Prime Hook NWR on Apr 5. Other highlights
from Prime Hook included GLOSSY IBIS, BLUE-WINGED TEAL, PILEATED WOODPECKER,
PALM WARBLER, PINE WARBLER YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER and RUSTY BLACKBIRDS.
Sightings from Cape Henlopen State Park included NORTHERN GANNETS, GLOSSY
IBIS, MERLINS and PEREGRINE FALCONS. Slaughter Beach had PURPLE MARTINS
and SURF SCOTERS. On Apr 8, Blair’s Pond had LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH
and HERMIT THRUSHES
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.
The Germantown section of Philadelphia had 10-12 WHITE-WINGED
CROSSBILLS on Apr 3. On Apr 4, John Heinz NWR at Tinicum had well over
100 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS, BLUE-WINGED TEAL, FOX SPARROW, PINE and PALM WARBLERS.
Delaware County:
Click Here
for Delaware County Birding Resources including an interactive map with
locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.No reports
PINE SISKINS and PURPLE FINCHES were at feeders in Lima
Chester County:
Click Here
for Chester County Birding Resources including an interactive map with
locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
Eight COMMON LOONS, 2 LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSHES
and 12 PINE SISKINS were seen from the Struble Trail in Downingtown
on Apr 6. On Apr 8, a BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was at a pond near the
intersection of Deep Willow Dr and Wharton Blvd in Lionville. A PURPLE
FINCH was at a Willistown feeder on Apr 3. PINE SISKINS visited feeders
in Downingtown.
Montgomery County:
Click
Here for Montgomery County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.No Reports
Twelve WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS fed near the
bridge on Creek Rd near Byberry Rd at the Pennypack Ecological Restoration
Trust on Apr 2. A CASPIAN TERN and GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL were at the
Church Rd area of Green Lane Reservoir on Apr 4. On Apr 5, a PINE WARBLER
was on territory at the Unami Creek Valley. On Apr 5, LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSHES
were back at Evansburg State Park. Norristown Farm Park had PINE WARBLERS
and PALM WARBLERS on Apr 8. A property in Upper Hanover had 2 PURPLE FINCHES
and 23 PINE SISKINS on Apr 6. PINE SISKINS still visited the feeders at
the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education and Briar Bush Nature
Center. PINE SISKINS also were at feeders in Huntingdon Valley, Abington,
Norristown and Green Lane.
Bucks County:
Click
Here for Bucks County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A LITTLE GULL and BONAPARTE’S GULLS were on
Lake Nockamixon at Nockamixon State Park on Apr 4-5. Three RED-NECKED
GREBES, 2 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS and an ICELAND GULL were at Nockamixon
on Apr 4. Three HORNED GREBES were on Lake Nockamixon on Apr 5. Good
numbers of LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were still at Nockamixon State
Park, and other highlights from the park included COMMON LOONS, PURPLE
MARTINS, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, PINE SISKINS, PALM and PINE WARBLERS.
A COMMON TEAL (aka EURASIAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL) was north of Newtown
at Hidden Lake on Apr 8. Two COMMON LOONS were at Peace Valley Park
Apr 2-4. Other highlights from Peace Valley included PILEATED WOODPECKER,
WILSON’S SNIPE, AMERICAN WOODCOCK, FOX SPARROW, PINE SISKINS and
PURPLE FINCH. Highlights from Churchville Nature Center this week included
GREAT EGRET, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, PALM WARBLER, PINE WARBLERS and
PINE SISKINS. PURPLE MARTINS were back in New Hope on Apr 5. Franklin
Cove in Tullytown and Falls Township Community Park had LESSER BLACK-BACKED
GULLS and LAUGHING GULLS. Twelve WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS fed on hemlock
cones in a Southampton yard on Apr 3. A PALM WARBLER was at Tyler State
Park on Apr 4. On Apr 6, LaSalle Pond had BLUE-WINGED TEALS, and Core
Creek Park had a RUSTY BLACKBIRD.
Northampton County:
Click
Here for Northampton County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A COMMON RAVEN was at the old Bethlehem Steel site
on Apr 3. PINE SISKINS were in Bangor. A BLUE-WINGED TEAL and 6 LESSER
BLACK-BACKED GULLS were at Green Pond on Apr 5. On Apr 6, a RED-BREASTED
MERGANSER was below the Cementon Bridge hugging the shore at the Triboro
Club. PINE SISKINS came to feeders in Bath.
Lehigh County:
Click
Here for Lehigh County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
Six BONAPARTE’S GULLS were near the dam at Leaser
Lake on Apr 6. A RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD was spotted in New Tripoli
on Apr 6. PINE SISKINS were in Hamilton Park and Whitehall this week.
Schuylkill County:
Click
Here for Schuylkill County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Apr 4, fourteen RUFFED GROUSE and 300 PINE SISKINS
were reported from Black Creek. Sweet Arrow Lake had PINE WARBLERS,
PURPLE FINCHES and PINE SISKINS. The Landingville Dam area had a RED-BREASTED
MERGANSER, BLUE WINGED TEALS, WILSON’S SNIPES and FOX SPARROWS
on Apr 5 & 7, AMERICAN WOODCOCK on Apr 5 and PILEATED WOODPECKER,
PINE WARBLER and PALM WARBLERS on Apr 7. A PILEATED WOODPECKER, YELLOW-BELLIED
SAPSUCKERS, FOX SPARROW and 2 PINE WARBLERS were at the Owl Creek area
on Apr 5. SGL-308 had RUFFED GROUSE, PILEATED WOODPECKER, FOX SPARROW,
PINE SISKINS and PURPLE FINCH that day. A HOUSE WREN was spotted in
Schuylkill Haven.
Berks County:
Click
Here for Berks County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.No reports
A flock of 5 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE was at Gotwals
Pond in Oley on Apr 4. A CACKLING GOOSE and 6 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED
GEESE were in Oley on Apr 5. Six WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were in a Leeport
backyard on Apr 2. Blue Marsh National Recreation Area had 4 COMMON
LOONS on Apr 7. SGL-110 had 13 FOX SPARROWS and 19 PINE SISKINS on Apr
5. On Apr 5, a COMMON RAVEN was near the cement plant at Lake Ontelaunee,
and 3 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were at Bailey Creek. An INDIGO BUNTING
and 10 PINE SISKINS were also at Lake Ontelaunee that day. Hawk Mountain
Sanctuary had a PEREGRINE FALCON on Apr 2. PINE SISKINS 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 Apr 8, a LITTLE GULL was with 175 BONAPARTE’S
GULLS on the Susquehanna River as seen from the Blue Lane access just
south of Columbia. On Apr 2, a SHORT-EARED OWL was spotted from Stop
3 on the auto tour at Middle Creek WMA. Conestoga Pines Park had 15-20
WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS on Apr 5-7. Among the 30 PINE SISKINS reported
at Conestoga Pines on Apr 5 were two SISKINS engaged in nest construction,
and four SISKIN nests have been found in the spruce grove at the park.
A flock of 6 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were in a backyard in Bowmansville
on Apr 2. Nine BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS were at the Ephrata heron
rookery on Apr 4. Octoraro Lake and the Octoraro East Branch area had
BLUE-WINGED TEAL, BARRED OWLS, PINE WARBLER and an American mink on
Apr 5.
Lebanon County:
Click
Here for Lebanon County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A PINE SISKIN performed a courtship display near SGL-80
on Apr 5.
Carbon County:
Two CASPIAN TERNS, PINE WARBLERS and PALM WARBLERS
were at Beltzville State Park on Apr 7. COMMON LOONS and a HORNED GREBE
were at the Beltzville Watershed that day.
Monroe County:
Highlights from the Kunkletown area included RUFFED
GROUSE, 2 COMMON RAVENS and 10 PINE SISKINS.
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 16 at 7:30pm
at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, when Andy Smith
will present “Ten Million Years and Still Going: Sandhill Cranes
on the Platte River and Elsewhere.” The meeting after that will
be on May 7, featuring a program by Chris Lotz entitled “"Birding
the Southern Third of Africa from Cape Town to Victoria Falls and Namibia.”
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 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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Siler's eBird Rarities Map