| Current
report - Wednesday October 21, 2009
- Birds Mentioned
Click Here for species
accounts for many of these birds
Barnacle Goose (NJ)+
Sage Thrasher (NJ)+
Black-throated Gray Warbler (NJ)+
Black-throated Gray Warbler -Extralimital- (PA)+
Le Conte's Sparrow (DE)+
(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
Northern Gannet
Brown Pelican
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Cormorant
American Bittern
Little Blue Heron
Tricolored Heron
Greater White-fronted Goose
Greater White-fronted Goose X Canada Goose
Snow Goose
Cackling Goose
Brant
Tundra Swan
Eurasian Wigeon
Common Eider
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Northern Goshawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Golden Eagle
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Ruffed Grouse
Common Moorhen
Sandhill Crane
American Avocet
Hudsonian Godwit
Sanderling
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper
White-rumped Sandpiper
Baird's Sandpiper
Dunlin
Stilt Sandpiper
Wilson's Snipe
American Woodcock
Red Phalarope
Parasitic Jaeger
Bonaparte's Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Budgerigar
Barn Owl
Long-eared Owl
Common Nighthawk
White-eyed Vireo
Common Raven
Cliff Swallow
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Swainson's Thrush
American Pipit
Orange-crowned Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Connecticut Warbler
Mourning Warbler
American Tree Sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Nelson’s Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco x White-throated Sparrow
Dickcissel
Rusty Blackbird
Purple Finch
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.
I'm Steve Kacir your guide for birding in the Greater Philadelphia Region.
This week, we highlight reports of BARNACLE GOOSE in Hunterdon County,
NJ; SAGE THRASHER in Monmouth County, NJ; BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER
in Cape May County, NJ and LE CONTE’S SPARROW 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 BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER was reported from the
cedars near the Cape May Point State Park Hawk Watch platform on Oct
18. A SANDHILL CRANE flew past the Cape May Point State Park Hawk Watch
on Oct 19. On Oct 16, the hawk watch reported HUDSONIAN GODWIT, 5 PARASITIC
JAEGERS and CAPE MAY WARBLER. On Oct 17, a NORTHERN GOSHAWK was caught
by the Cape May Bird Observatory raptor-banding project. That day, a
COMMON EIDER was spotted from the Hawk Watch, and 35,500 DOUBLE-CRESTED
CORMORANTS migrated past Cape May Point. The hawk watch also reported
RED-THROATED LOONS, NORTHERN GANNETS, SURF SCOTERS, BLACK SCOTERS, AMERICAN
BITTERNS, TRICOLORED HERONS, RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, BROAD-WINGED HAWKS,
MERLINS, PEREGRINE FALCONS, AMERICAN PIPITS, NASHVILLE WARBLER and a
PURPLE FINCH. Two AMERICAN AVOCETS were at the state park’s Bunker
Pond on Oct 18. Four COMMON MOORHENS were at Cape May Point State Park
on Oct 14. Other sightings from Cape May Point State Park included WILSON’S
SNIPE, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, SWAINSON’S THRUSH and AMERICAN PIPITS.
On Oct 18, an AMERICAN BITTERN crossed East Lake Dr near the Cape May
Bird Observatory’s Northwoods Center, and a COMMON NIGHTHAWK was
on a fencepost there.
A LONG-EARED OWL crossed Broadway a quarter mile south
of the West Cape May Bridge on Oct 20. On Oct 19, a LONG-EARED OWL and
a BARN OWL flew past The Nature Conservancy’s Cape May Migratory
Bird Refuge. On Oct 14, an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was in the hedge between
the tower fields at Higbee Beach WMA. The pool at the top of the Higbee
dike had 7 WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS on Oct 17, and there were 22 WHITE-RUMPED
SANDPIPERS at the pool on Oct 20. A CONNECTICUT WARBLER, ORANGE-CROWNED
WARBLER, CAPE MAY WARBLER, YELLOW WARBLER, 2 DICKCISSELS and VESPER
SPARROW were spotted at the Morning Flight Project at Higbee Beach on
Oct 20. Other highlights from the Morning Flight Project included CLIFF
SWALLOWS, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, AMERICAN PIPITS, NASHVILLE WARBLERS,
RUSTY BLACKBIRDS and PURPLE FINCHES. On Oct 18, the Cape May Airport
had WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER and WESTERN SANDPIPER. A GOLDEN EAGLE flew
over Route 47 near Woodcock Rd on Oct 19.
Birds seen off Cape May Point on Oct 14 included
NORTHERN GANNETS, SCOTERS and 9 PARASITIC JAEGERS. Three COMMON EIDERS
were in a flock of SCOTERS off Coral Ave on Oct 19. A COMMON EIDER and
a WHITE-WINGED SCOTER were there on Oct 18. The COMMON EIDER seen from
the state park on Oct 17 was also seen off the jetty north of the St
Mary’s jetty. Two BROWN PELICANS flew past St Mary’s on
Oct 20. The Avalon Sea Watch reported 4 COMMON EIDERS on Oct 20, 3 COMMON
EIDERS on Oct 19 and a single COMMON EIDER on Oct 17. The sea watch
tallied over 22,000 SCOTERS on Oct 17. This week, the Avalon Sea Watch
also reported RED-THROATED LOONS, NORTHERN GANNETS, BROWN PELICANS,
GREAT CORMORANTS, TRICOLORED HERONS, LITTLE BLUE HERONS, BRANT, SURF
SCOTERS, WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, BLACK SCOTERS, WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER,
PEREGRINE FALCONS, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES and AMERICAN PIPITS.
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.
A GOLDEN EAGLE was spotted just west of Vineland on
Oct 19. A GOLDEN EAGLE flew north from the Turkey Point area on Oct
19.
Atlantic County:
Click
Here for Atlantic County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Oct 19, the Brigantine Division of Edwin B Forsythe
NWR had AMERICAN BITTERN, TRICOLORED HERON, 3 HUDSONIAN GODWITS and
WESTERN SANDPIPERS.
Monmouth County:
Click
Here for Monmouth County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A SAGE THRASHER was on Plum Island at Sandy Hook on
Oct 20. Access for Plum Island can be reached from B Lot. The SAGE THRASHER
was feeding in the poison ivy thickets at the southwest corner of the
northern cove. From B Lot, take the crosswalk across the road then head
straight west until the edge of the large scrub thicket, where the bird
was found. On Oct 19, a NELSON’S SPARROW was at the field at Sandy
Hook’s K Lot, and a LINCOLN’S SPARROW was seen on Sandy
Hook. Other recent reports from Sandy Hook mentioned BRANT, MERLINS,
PEREGRINE FALCON and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH.
Picture by Bert Filemyr
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.
No reports
Ocean County:
Click
Here for Ocean County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A drake HARLEQUIN DUCK was at the south jetty
at Barnegat Lighthouse State Park on Oct 20.
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.
On Oct 17, the National Park dredge spoils had a LINCOLN’S
SPARROW. An AMERICAN BITTERN was at the dredge spoils on Oct 19, seen
at the pool inside the northwest corner of the dike.
Hunterdon County:
Click
Here for Hunterdon County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
The Califon BARNACLE GOOSE was spotted across from
the Methodist Church on River Rd on Oct 20. To reach this area, drive
to the center of Califon where a bridge crosses the South Branch of
the Raritan River, then park in the church parking lot. The BARNACLE
GOOSE and its attendant Canada Goose flock can also be found in the
fields along Route 513. On Oct 14, Cold Brook Preserve had 60 AMERICAN
PIPITS in a freshly cut and plowed cornfield.
Middlesex County:
No reports
Mercer County:
Click
Here for Mercer County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
No reports
Warren County:
Click
Here for Warren County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Oct 16, Warren Green Acres (aka Glenhurst Meadows)
had a VESPER SPARROW. An escaped BUDGERIGAR, VESPER SPARROW, LINCOLN’S
SPARROW and PURPLE FINCHES were there on Oct 14; the VESPER SPARROW
was in the parking lot area. On Oct 18, two VESPER SPARROWS were at
the parking lot at Warren Green Acres. On Oct 20, Warren Green Acres
had an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, VESPER SPARROW and LINCOLN’S SPARROW.
On Oct 16, Spruce Run Reservoir had 2 DUNLINS and a WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER.
The Scott’s Mountain Hawk Watch reported GOLDEN EAGLES On Oct
14, 17 & 19-20, and a NORTHERN GOSHAWK made the count on Oct 20.
Other sightings from Scott’s Mountain included RED-SHOULDERED
HAWKS, MERLINS and PEREGRINE FALCONS. On Oct 20, the Raccoon Ridge Hawk
Watch noted a NORTHERN GOSHAWK, RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, MERLIN, RUFFED
GROUSE, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH and Red Bat.
Somerset County:
Click
Here for Somerset County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
No reports
Morris County:
On Oct 17, the area around the new Friends of the
Swamp building on Pleasant Plains Rd at Great Swamp NWR had LINCOLN’S
SPARROWS, CLAY-COLORED SPARROW, VESPER SPARROW and an AMERICAN TREE
SPARROW.
Union County:
No Reports
Bergen County:
No reports
NJ Extralimitals:
On Oct 21, a drake EURASIAN WIGEON was at the Bayonne
Golf Club in Hudson County, and 2 NELSON’S SPARROWS were there
on Oct 20.
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 Oct 20, a MOURNING WARBLER was discovered in underbrush
along Thompson Station Rd across the street from the White Clay Creek
Preserve Nature Office. On Oct 15, the Sharpless Rd area of Ashland
Nature Center had 2 LINCOLN’S SPARROWS, and another LINCOLN’S
SPARROW was near the nature center. A CAPE MAY WARBLER was at the walnut
trees at Ashland that day. Three PURPLE FINCHES were at the Ashland
Nature Center feeding station on Oct 19. On Oct 18, a GOLDEN EAGLE flew
past the Ashland Nature Center Hawk Watch. Other reports from the hawk
watch included RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, MERLINS and PEREGRINE FALCON. A
LINCOLN’S SPARROW was in Hockessin on Oct 18. A LINCOLN’S
SPARROW was at Alapocas Run State Park on Oct 16. A LITTLE BLUE HERON
was at the Thousand Acre Marsh on Oct 18. Gray Fox Farm on Dutch Neck
Rd had a LINCOLN’S SPARROW that day.
Kent County:
Click
Here for Kent County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Oct 18, Bombay Hook NWR had over 10,000 SNOW GEESE,
a MERLIN, 330 AMERICAN AVOCETS and 2 STILT SANDPIPERS.
Sussex County:
Click
Here for Sussex County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
NOn Oct 19, a LE CONTE’S SPARROW was photographed
the barracks near the parking area at Fort Miles in Cape Henlopen State
Park. On Oct 17, the Cape Henlopen State Park Hawk Watch reported 4
WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS; 3,080 BLACK SCOTERS; 4,450 SURF SCOTERS and 4
PARASITIC JAEGERS. On Oct 16, two PARASTIC JAEGERS were seen from the
Cape Henlopen Hawk Watch platform. A GOLDEN EAGLE flew past the hawk
watch on Oct 20, along with DICKCISSEL and TUNDRA SWAN. Other sightings
from the Cape Henlopen Hawk Watch included RED-THROATED LOONS, NORTHERN
GANNETS, BRANT, BROAD-WINGED HAWKS, MERLINS, PEREGRINE FALCONS and BONAPARTE’S
GULL.
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 Oct 16, a LINCOLN’S SPARROW was at Love Park
at 15th and JFK Blvd. An AMERICAN WOODCOCK was in a yard in Northeast
Philadelphia on Oct 15.
Delaware County:
Click Here
for Delaware County Birding Resources including an interactive map with
locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.No reports
A NORTHERN GOSHAWK and AMERICAN PIPIT were spotted
from the Rose Tree Park Hawk Watch on Oct 20. This week, Rose Tree Park
also reported RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, BROAD-WINGED HAWKS, MERLINS and
PEREGRINE FALCONS.
Chester County:
Click Here
for Chester County Birding Resources including an interactive map with
locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
Four RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES were at
the Coatesville Reservoir on Oct 14. Hibernia Park had a LINCOLN’S
SPARROW on Oct 14 and a WILSON’S SNIPE on Oct 13.
Montgomery County:
Click
Here for Montgomery County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.No Reports
On Oct 16, a GOLDEN EAGLE was spotted from the Militia
Hill Hawk Watch at Fort Washington State Park. A SANDHILL CRANE, flying
over both Philadelphia and Montgomery Counties, was seen from Militia
Hill on Oct 14. Other species reported from Militia Hill included RED-SHOULDERED
HAWKS, BROAD-WINGED HAWKS, MERLINS and PEREGRINE FALCONS. A SWAINSON’S
THRUSH was in Huntingdon Valley on Oct 15. A RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH was
at Norristown Farm Park on Oct 18. A CACKLING GOOSE, SWAINSON’S
THRUSH and LINCOLN’S SPARROW were there the next day.
Bucks County:
Click
Here for Bucks County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
Sixty LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS and a MERLIN were
at Warminster Community Park on Oct 18. Recent sightings from Churchville
Nature Center included RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES. Peace Valley Park had
3 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS on Oct 14. A hybrid DARK-EYED JUNCO X WHITE-THROATED
SPARROW has returned to Maple Knoll Farms; this is the third year that
hybrid has appeared at the farm.
Northampton County:
Click
Here for Northampton County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
The Koch property had RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, MERLIN,
LINCOLN’S SPARROW and SWAINSON’S THRUSH on Oct 16. On Oct
19, a WHITE-EYED VIREO was in an East Allen Twp yard in Bath.
Lehigh County:
Click
Here for Lehigh County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Oct 14, the Bake Oven Knob Hawk Watch spotted a
possible CACKLING GOOSE. On Oct 18, four GOLDEN EAGLES flew past Bake
Oven Knob. NORTHERN GOSHAWKS made the Bake Oven Knob count on Oct 18
& 19. This week, Bake Oven Knob also reported RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS,
MERLINS, COMMON RAVENS and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH.
Schuylkill County:
Click
Here for Schuylkill County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A SURF SCOTER was on Sweet Arrow Lake on Oct 18. Nine
SNOW GEESE were on a farm pond in Wayne Twp on Oct 19.
Berks County:
Click
Here for Berks County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.No reports
On Oct 14, a GOLDEN EAGLE was spotted from the Hawk
Mountain Sanctuary Hawk Watch, and 2 GOLDEN EAGLES made the count on
Oct 20. On Oct 18, Hawk Mountain had 9 GOLDEN EAGLES and a NORTHERN
GOSHAWK. Other sightings from Hawk Mountain included COMMON LOONS, RED-SHOULDERED
HAWKS and MERLINS. A RUFFED GROUSE and COMMON RAVEN were at SGL 110
on Oct 14. An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was at Leesport on Oct 18.
Lancaster County:
Click
Here for Lancaster County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Oct 16, a RED PHALAROPE was on Avocet Point at
the Conejohela Flats. A BAIRD’S SANDPIPER and SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER
were at Avocet Point on Oct 18, and a SANDERLING was at the flats on
Oct 16 & 18. Other sightings from the Conejohela Flats included
COMMON LOONS, DUNLIN, BONAPARTE’S GULLS and PEREGRINE FALCON.
On Oct 20, the GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was back at the large pond
adjacent to the Greenfield Estates apartments on the west side of Greenfield
Rd in Lancaster. An apparent GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE X CANADA GOOSE
hybrid and CACKLING GEESE were also at that location.
Lebanon County:
Click
Here for Lebanon County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Oct 14 & 19, the SANDHILL CRANE was spotted
at Lake Duffy in SGL 145. The Second Mountain Hawk Watch reported a
NORTHERN GOSHAWK on Oct 18 & 19. GOLDEN EAGLES flew past Second
Mountain on Oct 19-20. A CACKLING GOOSE flew past Second Mountain on
Oct 14. This week, Second Mountain also reported COMMON LOON, RED-SHOULDERED
HAWKS, COMMON RAVENS and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH. A LINCOLN’S SPARROW
was at Memorial Lake State Park on Oct 17.
Carbon County:
Two WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS and a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH
were at Beltzville State Park on Oct 18. That day, two GOLDEN EAGLES
and a PEREGRINE FALCON flew over Blue Mountain Ski Resort. On Oct 20,
two LINCOLN’S SPARROWS and a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH were at the
Pine Run boat launch in Beltzville State Park.
Monroe County:
On Oct 18, a PEREGRINE FALCON and 20 SNOW GEESE were
in the Kunkletown area.
Pike County:
No reports
Wayne County:
No reports
PA Extralimitals:
On Oct 20-21, a BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER was at
Big Spring, just south of Newville, Cumberland County. The BLACK-THROATED
GRAY WARBLER was in a brushy area along Big Spring Rd across from a
field owned by Green Ridge Village Retirement Community. The area can
be reached from a gravel fish and boat parking lot about 3.5 miles north
of the intersection of Big Spring Rd and US Route 11 (Ritner Highway),
the intersection of US 11 and Big Spring Rd is in Shippensburg (Zip
Code: 17257). Information about Big Spring can be found at http://bigspringwatershed.blogspot.com
Extralimital Reports
No reports
Announcements
On Oct 31 or Nov 1 depending on which date has more
favorable weather, Frank Windfelder and Chris Walters will lead a DVOC
Field Trip to Bake Oven Knob in PA for migrating raptors. The trip will
meet at the Bake Oven Knob parking lot at 8:30AM sharp. Participants should
bring a packed lunch. More information about this trip can be found on
the DVOC website: http://www.dvoc.org/
The next meeting of the DVOC will be on Oct 15
at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia at 7:30PM. The meeting
will feature a program by Rob Fergus entitled “Birds of the Ancient
and Modern Maya.” Details are on the website, and guests are always
welcome. The meeting after that will take place on Nov 5, featuring a
program by Jeff Holt and Bert Filemyr entitled “The Composite Prints
of Audubon’s Birds of America – The Rarest of the Rare.”
The DVOC Annual Banquet will take place on Nov
19, 2009 at the Sheet Metal Workers’ Hall in Philadelphia, when
Rick Wright will present “The Most Beautiful of the Whole Beautiful
Lot: Wood Warblers of the American Southwest.” Additional information
and a downloadable reservation form can be found on the DVOC website:
http://www.dvoc.org/Banquet/Banquet.htm
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