| Current
report - Wednesday November 4, 2009
- Birds Mentioned
Click Here for species
accounts for many of these birds
Pacific Loon (NJ)+
Great White Heron (DE)+
Ash-throated Flycatcher (NJ)+
Western Kingbird (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
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Brown Pelican
Great Cormorant
American Bittern
Tricolored Heron
Yellow-crowned Night-heron
Cackling Goose
Brant
Tundra Swan
Eurasian Wigeon
King Eider
Common Eider
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Common Goldeneye
Northern Goshawk
Golden Eagle
Peregrine Falcon
Northern Bobwhite
Virginia Rail
Common Moorhen
Sandhill Crane
American Golden-plover
American Avocet
Spotted Sandpiper
Marbled Godwit
Red Knot
Western Sandpiper
White-rumped Sandpiper
Purple Sandpiper
Long-billed Dowitcher
Parasitic Jaeger
Black-headed Gull
Iceland Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Forster's Tern
Black Skimmer
Common Nighthawk
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Red-headed Woodpecker
Western Kingbird
Northern Shrike
White-eyed Vireo
Common Raven
Cliff Swallow
Cave Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Marsh Wren
American Pipit
Orange-crowned Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Scarlet Tanager
Clay-colored Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Lark Sparrow
Seaside Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Lapland Longspur
Snow Bunting
Indigo Bunting
Dickcissel
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Rusty Blackbird
Baltimore Oriole
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 PACIFIC LOON in Cape May County, NJ;
GREAT WHITE HERON & WESTERN KINGBIRD in Sussex County, DE and ASH-THROATED
FLYCATCHERS in Cape May and Monmouth Counties, 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.
Six COMMON EIDERS were spotted from the St Peter’s
Jetty on Oct 28. Twenty COMMON EIDERS were at the jetty off the end
of Whilldin Ave. The flock of COMMON EIDERS off Cape May Point grew
to 22 EIDERS on Nov 3, seen from jetties around Cape May Point State
Park to Coral Ave. On Nov 4, the COMMON EIDER flock had dropped to 9
EIDERS seen from the St Mary’s and St Peter’s jetties. On
Nov 2, a CAVE SWALLOW was spotted from the hawk watch platform at Cape
May Point State Park. A DICKCISSEL was seen from the platform on Nov
4. The Cape May Point State Park Hawk Watch spotted GOLDEN EAGLES on
Oct 29 & Nov 2-4, and a NORTHERN GOSHAWK made the count on Nov 4.
The park’s Lighthouse Pond had two subadult EURASIAN WIGEONS on
Oct 31-Nov 3, and one was still there on Nov 4. A juvenile COMMON MOORHEN
was at Lighthouse Pond on Nov 3. A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was at the south
side of the Bunker Pond on Oct 30-31. Other birds seen at the hawk watch
platform and elsewhere in the state park included AMERICAN BITTERN,
CLIFF SWALLOW, PRAIRIE WARBLER and PURPLE FINCHES. A River Otter was
on Lily Lake on Nov 3. A BLACK SCOTER was on the East Pool at The Nature
Conservancy (TNC) Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge on Nov 2. That day,
a MARSH WREN was heard at the refuge, and PARASITIC JAEGERS were seen
offshore of the refuge. Two VIRGINIA RAILS called from the refuge on
Nov 1. Other sightings from the TNC Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge included
AMERICAN PIPITS, SEASIDE SPARROW, RUSTY BLACKBIRD and PURPLE FINCHES.
A YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD flew over the Morning Flight
Project at the Higbee Beach WMA dike on Oct 29. That day, the Morning
Flight also noted WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, RED-THROATED LOON and 15 WHITE-RUMPED
SANDPIPERS. On Oct 30, a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER and 27 WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS
were at the Higbee dike. Other reports from Higbee mentioned AMERICAN
PIPITS, INDIGO BUNTING and RUSTY BLACKBIRD. On Nov 1, a VESPER SPARROW
was in the pumpkin patch at the Rea Farm. A MAGNOLIA WARBLER was at
the Rea Farm on Oct 29. A WESTERN KINGBIRD was at Hidden Valley Ranch
on Oct 29-31. A WESTERN KINGBIRD was at the Villas WMA on Oct 31. Three
COMMON EIDERS were flying over Delaware Bay offshore from the Villas
on Nov 3. A possible NORTHERN SHRIKE was reported from the bayshore
near the Villas on Oct 30. On Nov 4, a SANDHILL CRANE was heard then
spotted in the salt hay farm across Dennis Creek from the parking lot
at Jake’s Landing.
On Nov 4, an ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER was reportedly
near the southern base of the toll bridge at the south end of Nummy
Island on the west side of the road. On Oct 29, Stone Harbor Point had
RED KNOTS and MARBLED GODWITS. On Nov 3, PURPLE SANDPIPERS were spotted
on the jetty in front of the Avalon Sea Watch. A PACIFIC LOON and RED-NECKED
GREBE flew by the Avalon Sea Watch on Nov 2. The Sea Watch reported
a KING EIDER on Oct 31, COMMON EIDERS on Oct 28-Nov 4 and PARASITIC
JAEGERS on Oct 28-Nov 1 & Nov 4. Other sightings from the Avalon
Sea Watch included RED-THROATED LOONS, BROWN PELICANS, HORNED GREBE,
WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, RED KNOT, PURPLE SANDPIPERS and BONAPARTE’S
GULLS. Two COMMON EIDERS were off Sea Isle City on Oct 29. That day,
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS were at Whale Beach.
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.
An AMERICAN PIPIT was on the dike at Maple Ave on
Nov 2. A juvenile YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was at the Husted’s
Landing Marina on Oct 31
Atlantic County:
Click
Here for Atlantic County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A TRICOLORED HERON and AMERICAN AVOCET were at the
Brigantine Division of Edwin B Forsythe NWR on Oct 28. On Nov 1, fifteen
BLACK SKIMMERS were at Malibu Beach WMA.
Monmouth County:
Click
Here for Monmouth County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Oct 29, the ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER was near the
bench on the east side of Marlu Lake at Thompson Park in Lincroft. The
ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER was past Marlu Lake at the back side of a trail
that loops through brushy habitat at the park on Oct 30. On Nov 1, an
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was at Thompson Park in Lincroft. On Nov 3, a
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was near the maintenance building at the east end
of Randolph St on Sandy Hook. That day, two COMMON EIDERS were on the
cove north of C Lot, and Sandy Hook’s north pond had a COMMON
MOORHEN Oct 31-Nov 2. A LARK SPARROW was at the south end of K Lot on
Nov 1. That day, a first-year ICELAND GULL was on the beach at B Lot,
and a SNOW BUNTING was on the beach at F Lot that day. On Nov 4, two
COMMON EIDERS, a drake WHITE-WINGED SCOTER and a hen HARLEQUIN DUCK
were seen off C Lot, and six more COMMON EIDERS were at the end of Fisherman’s
Trail. Six SNOW BUNTINGS were at the False Hook on Nov 1, and a juvenile
AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER was there Oct 31-Nov 1. A LAPLAND LONGSPUR and
2 SNOW BUNTINGS were at Sandy Hook on Oct 31. Other birds at Sandy Hook
included RED-THROATED LOONS, AMERICAN PIPITS, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH
and RUSTY BLACKBIRDS.
Burlington County:
Click
Here for Burlington County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Nov 4, a drake and hen WHITE-WINGED SCOTER were
seen on the Delaware River from the Riverton Yacht Club.
Camden County:
Click
Here for Camden County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Nov 2, five SURF SCOTERS were on Penbryn Pond in
Berlin.
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.
No reports
Gloucester County:
Click
Here for Gloucester County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A NORTHERN BOBWHITE called near High Hill Rd on Nov
3. On Nov 3, three GREAT CORMORANTS were on the orange channel marker,
seen from the National Park dredge spoils area.
Hunterdon County:
Click
Here for Hunterdon County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Oct 28, a DICKCISSEL was at Cold Brook Reserve.
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.
Five SANDHILL CRANES were at the field near the Upper
Beers Farm at Merrill Creek Reservoir on Oct 30, seen from the Scott’s
Mountain Hawk Watch that day as well. The Scott’s Mountain Hawk
Watch reported GOLDEN EAGLES on Oct 29 & Nov 2 and NORTHERN GOSHAWK
on Nov 2-3. The Raccoon Ridge Hawk Watch reported NORTHERN GOSHAWK on
Nov 1 & 3 and GOLDEN EAGLES on Nov 1-3. Other sightings from Raccoon
Ridge included COMMON LOONS, COMMON RAVENS, AMERICAN PIPITS, SNOW BUNTINGS
and Black Bear. Spruce Run Reservoir had a WHITE-WINGED SCOTER on Nov
2, and a SNOW BUNTING was at Spruce Run on Oct 31.
Somerset County:
Click
Here for Somerset County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
Two to four RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were at
Colonial Park in Franklin Twp on Nov 3.
Morris County:
No reports
Union County:
Six CACKLING GEESE were at Warinanco Park on Nov 4.
A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was at Lenape Park on Nov 4.
Bergen 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.
The Ashland Nature Center Hawk Watch reported GOLDEN
EAGLES on Oct 29-30 and NORTHERN GOSHAWK on Nov 2 and two NORTHERN GOSHAWKS
on Nov 4. A BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE was near the hawk watch hill at Ashland
on Oct 29. Other birds at Ashland included COMMON LOONS, RED-BREASTED
NUTHATCH, BALTIMORE ORIOLE and PURPLE FINCHES. On Oct 31, two CATTLE
EGRETS and nearly 100 AMERICAN PIPITS were at the Middletown Auto Park.
Two CATTLE EGRETS were seen from Route 9 near Taylors Bridge.
Kent County:
Click
Here for Kent County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A SANDHILL CRANE flew over fields in the southwest
section of Bombay Hook NWR on Nov 2. On Oct 29, Bombay Hook had AMERICAN
AVOCETS on the mudflats opposite the north end of Shearness Pool. Other
birds at Bombay Hook included WESTERN SANDPIPERS and PEREGRINE FALCON.
Sussex County:
Click
Here for Sussex County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A GREAT WHITE HERON (Great Blue Heron subspecies)
was at Bethany Beach on Nov 1-3. To reach the spot where the GREAT WHITE
HERON was discovered, head south on DE Route 1 past Indian River Inlet
until the first traffic light after the inlet. Turn right onto Fred
Hudson Rd at the light, and then drive nearly to the end of the road
where it meets Cedar Neck Rd at a T-intersection. About 0.1 miles before
the intersection, there is a pond on the right side of the road (north
of the road) just before the entrance to the
Bethany Lakes development.
On Nov 2, a WESTERN KINGBIRD perched on power
lines just east of the parking lot at the main battery of Fort Miles
in Cape Henlopen State Park. A HARLEQUIN DUCK and 2 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS
flew past the Cape Henlopen State Park Hawk Watch on Oct 29. Seven COMMON
EIDERS flew by the hawk watch on Oct 30, and PURPLE SANDPIPERS were
seen from the hawk watch on Nov 2. A GOLDEN EAGLE flew past the Cape
Henlopen Hawk Watch on Nov 3. Six WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS passed by the
radar tower area of Cape Henlopen State Park on Nov 4. That day, a BALTIMORE
ORIOLE was spotted from the road between the hawk watch platform and
the radar tower. A BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE was near the parking lot for
the bathhouse at Cape Henlopen on Nov 2. Other sightings from Cape Henlopen
included COMMON NIGHTHAWK, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, RUSTY BLACKBIRDS
and PURPLE FINCHES. A SCARLET TANAGER was at the Abbott’s Mill
Nature Center on Nov 3.
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.
No reports
Delaware County:
Click Here
for Delaware County Birding Resources including an interactive map with
locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.No reports
The Rose Tree Park Hawk Watch reported a GOLDEN EAGLE
on Nov 1. Other sightings from Rose Tree Park included COMMON LOONS
and PURPLE FINCH.
Chester County:
Click Here
for Chester County Birding Resources including an interactive map with
locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Oct 29, a SANDHILL CRANE was on the
far bank of the main pond at Kurtz Fish Ponds. On Nov 3, two COMMON
GOLDENEYES were on Chambers Lake in Hibernia County Park. That day,
Hibernia Park also had a SPOTTED SANDPIPER, WHITE-EYED VIREO, LINCOLN’S
SPARROW and PURPLE FINCHES. On Nov 2, Bucktoe Creek Preserve had all
seven species of woodpecker one might expect to find in the region,
including RED-HEADED WOODPECKER.
Montgomery County:
Click
Here for Montgomery County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.No Reports
An immature male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD was feeding on
Salvias on private property in Pottstown on Nov 3. The homeowner, Kathy,
is willing to receive visiting birders, and those interested in seeing
the RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD should contact her by email at [email protected]
On Nov 3, a BRANT was feeding at the side of Royersford Rd in Royersford.
Bucks County:
Click
Here for Bucks County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
Churchville Nature Center had LESSER BLACK-BACKED
GULLS on Oct 31 and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH on Oct 29.
Northampton County:
Click
Here for Northampton County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A male RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD was still visiting
feeders on private property in Palmer Twp, Easton through Oct 30. A
BALTIMORE ORIOLE was at the Koch property through Nov 2
Lehigh County:
Click
Here for Lehigh County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
Eighteen AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS were in a field at
the intersection of Schantz Rd and Route 100 on Oct 29. The Bake Oven
Knob Hawk Watch reported NORTHERN GOSHAWKS on Nov 1 & Nov 3-4 and
GOLDEN EAGLES on Oct 29-30 & Nov 1-3. On Nov 1, ten TUNDRA SWANS
and 18 BRANT passed by Bake Oven Knob. Other sightings from Bake Oven
Knob included COMMON LOONS, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, COMMON RAVENS and
PURPLE FINCHES. Three BRANT were on a retention pond in Bath on Oct
29.
Schuylkill County:
Click
Here for Schuylkill County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
The Schuylkill/Berks County line area of SGL 110 had
7 COMMON RAVENS on Oct 30.
Berks County:
Click
Here for Berks County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.No reports
Two SURF SCOTERS and several WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS
were on Blue Marsh Lake at Blue Marsh National Recreation Area on Nov
4. The Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Hawk Watch reported GOLDEN EAGLES on
Oct 30 & Nov 1-4, with seven GOLDEN EAGLES tallied on Nov 1. Hawk
Mountain reported NORTHERN GOSHAWKS on Nov 1-2 & Nov 4. Other sightings
from Hawk Mountain included COMMON LOONS, AMERICAN PIPIT and PURPLE
FINCHES. The RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD visiting Harold Lebo’s yard was
still present as of Oct 30. A COMMON RAVEN was at Lake Ontelaunee on
Oct 29, and a BLACK SCOTER was there on Nov 1. Sixty BRANT and a COMMON
RAVEN were seen from SGL 110 on Nov 3.
Lancaster County:
Click
Here for Lancaster County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A GREAT CORMORANT was spotted from the small boat
ramp at Peach Bottom. A BRANT was at Avocet Point at the Conejohela
Flats on Oct 31. Other sightings from the flats noted BONAPARTE’S
GULLS and an American Mink. Two BLACKPOLL WARBLERS were at the grounds
of the Lancaster Area Sewer Authority on Oct 31. Ten FORSTER’S
TERNS were on Conowingo Pond on Oct 29. On Oct 31, as GOLDEN EAGLE was
at the dam at Middle Creek WMA, and three COMMON RAVENS were at Middle
Creek that day. On Nov 4, Lancaster County Central Park had flyby COMMON
LOONS and PURPLE FINCHES.
Lebanon County:
Click
Here for Lebanon County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
The SANDHILL CRANE at Lake Duffy in SGL 145 was reported
as recently as Oct 30. Other birds in the area included RUSTY BLACKBIRD
and PURPLE FINCHES. The Second Mountain Hawk Watch reported GOLDEN EAGLES
on Oct 30-Nov 2 & Nov 4 and NORTHERN GOSHAWK on Nov 1-2 & Nov
4. Other sightings from Second Mountain included COMMON LOONS and COMMON
RAVENS.
Carbon County:
On Nov 4, seven LONG-TAILED DUCKS were on the lake
off of the Pine Run Boat Launch at Beltzville State Park.
Monroe County:
No reports
Pike County:
No reports
Wayne County:
No reports
PA Extralimitals:
No reports.
Extralimital Reports
No reports
Announcements
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
On Nov 14, Debbie Beer will lead a DVOC Field Trip to
Okehocking Preserve in Chester County, PA. The trip will focus on sparrows,
raptors and finches. The trip will meet at the main parking lot on Route
3 (West Chester Pike) at 8:00AM. More information about this and other
DVOC field trips can be found on the DVOC website:
http://www.dvoc.org/
The next meeting of the DVOC will be on Nov 5 at the
Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia at 7:30PM. The meeting will
feature a program by Jeff Holt and Bert Filemyr entitled “The Composite
Prints of Audubon’s Birds of America - The Rarest of the Rare.”
Details are on the website, and guests are always welcome. The meeting
after that will be the DVOC Annual Banquet on Nov 19.
See Life Paulagics is running a special eight-hour
pelagic trip out of Cape May for the Waterbird Society on Nov 8. The remaining
space on the trip is now open to the public, and there was still room
available as of Nov 3. Those interested in participating in this trip
can find more information on-line 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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Siler's eBird Rarities Map