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Current
report - Wednesday January 6, 2010
- Birds Mentioned
Click Here for species
accounts for many of these birds
possible Pacific Loon (NJ)+
Barnacle Goose (NJ)+
possible Thayer's Gull (NJ)+
Spotted Towhee (NJ)+
Le Conte’s Sparrow (PA)+
(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
Horned Grebe
Great Cormorant
American Bittern
Tricolored Heron
Greater White-fronted Goose
Greater White-fronted Goose X Canada Goose
Snow Goose
Ross's Goose
Canada X Snow Goose
Cackling Goose
Tundra Swan
Eurasian Wigeon
Common Teal (Eurasian Green-winged Teal)
Canvasback
Redhead
Common Eider
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
Black Scoter
Common Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Osprey
Northern Goshawk
Rough-legged Hawk
Wild Turkey
Clapper Rail
Virginia Rail
Sora
Sandhill Crane
Sandhill Crane X Common Crane
Common Crane
Purple Sandpiper
American Woodcock
Wilson’s Snipe
Black-headed Gull
Bonaparte's Gull
Iceland Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Glaucous Gull
Razorbill
Eurasian Collared-dove
Snowy Owl
Barred Owl
Short-eared Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Red-headed Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Eastern Phoebe
Northern Shrike
Blue-headed Vireo
Common Raven
Horned Lark
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
American Pipit
Orange-crowned Warbler
Palm Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Chipping Sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow
Ipswich Sparrow
Lapland Longspur
Snow Bunting
Brewer's Blackbird
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.
This week, we highlight reports of BARNACLE GOOSE in Hunterdon County,
NJ; SPOTTED TOWHEE in Burlington County, NJ and LE CONTE’S SPARROW
in Chester County, PA.
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.
On Jan 1, the Cape May Christmas Bird Count (CBC)
tallied 151 species. Highlights from the CBC included a SANDHILL CRANE
reported from various locations including the Villas WMA and high counts
of spartina sparrows from Nummy Island. That day, Cape May Point State
Park’s CBC sightings included ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, YELLOW-BREASTED
CHAT, 6 EURASIAN WIGEONS at the Lighthouse Pond, 6 TUNDRA SWANS on the
Bunker Pond and a flock of 90 SNOW BUNTINGS. That day, Jake’s
Landing boasted AMERICAN BITTERN, a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL, 2 SHORT-EARED
OWLS and an AMERICAN WOODCOCK. Other CBC birds included 2 BLACK-LEGGED
KITTIWAKES well off Cape May, a BLACK-HEADED GULL at Cold Spring Inlet,
a SORA at the bayshore area, the RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD at 152 Stevens
St and at least 12 AMERICAN WOODCOCKS at The Nature Conservancy Cape
May Migratory Bird Refuge. On Jan 2, Cape Island had 6 EURASIAN WIGEONS,
a CACKLING GOOSE and 50 SNOW BUNTINGS. A CACKLING GOOSE was on the north
side of New England Rd on Dec 31. Two SHORT-EARED OWLS were at Jake’s
Landing on Dec 30. On Jan 5, forty-four COMMON EIDERS were reported
from Sea Isle City, the EIDERS were between 35th St and 68th St. That
day, a HARLEQUIN DUCK was at the 47th St jetty in Sea Isle City.
Cape May's Sandhill
Crane by Bert Filemyr
Cape May's Cackling
Goose 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 Jan 3 Cumberland County CBC included such sightings
as the Husted Landing Rd crane flock featuring SANDHILL CRANES, SANDHILL
CRANE X COMMON CRANE hybrids and the COMMON CRANE of unknown origin.
The cranes flew from the marsh at Husted Landing to a nearby field of
winter wheat on the east side of County Rd 657. Highlights from the
Turkey Point territory of the Cumberland CBC included CLAPPER RAIL,
VIRGINIA RAIL and a River Otter. Other sightings from the Cumberland
County CBC included WILD TURKEYS, AMERICAN WOODCOCKS, AMERICAN PIPITS,
BROWN THRASHERS and GRAY CATBIRDS.
Atlantic County:
Click
Here for Atlantic County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Jan 2, the Mizpah CBC tallied 70 species. Highlights
included a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK in the Vineland area, 2 RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS
at Weymouth Township Municipal Park in Dorothy, another RED-HEADED WOODPECKER
at Lake Lenape Park in Mays Landing, and 66 CHIPPING SPARROWS. A light
morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen from Union Rd near Dante Ave and Trento
Ave during the Mizpah CBC.
Monmouth County:
Click
Here for Monmouth County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A possible PACIFIC LOON was reported from the Wreck
Pond during the Long Branch CBC on Dec 2. Other reports from the Long
Branch CBC included RAZORBILL, COMMON TEAL (aka EURASIAN GREEN-WINGED
TEAL) and BARRED OWL. A RAZORBILL was spotted off Roosevelt Ave on Jan
1. On Jan 2, Manasquan Inlet had RED-THROATED LOONS, HORNED GREBE and
a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL. On Jan 1, Sandy Hook had AMERICAN PIPITS
at Horseshoe Cove, IPSWICH SPARROWS at the False Hook and Chokecherry
Beach (C Lot), BLACK SCOTERS, SURF SCOTERS and GREAT CORMORANTS.
Burlington County:
Click
Here for Burlington County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
The SPOTTED TOWHEE at Palmyra Cove Nature Park was
reported through Jan 5. The SPOTTED TOWHEE has been seen near the intersection
of the Red-winged Blackbird Trail and Saw-whet Trail, often seen in
or around the Big Pit or the Little Pit in that area.
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 possible 2nd year THAYER’S GULL and
2 ICELAND GULLS were at Harvey Cedars on Jan 3. That day, an ICELAND GULL
was spotted at Barnegat Inlet. On Jan 2, around 50 COMMON EIDERS were
at Barnegat Lighthouse State Park. Other birds at Barnegat Lighthouse
State Park included RED-THROATED LOON, HARLEQUIN DUCKS, SURF SCOTERS,
BLACK SCOTERS and PURPLE SANDPIPERS.
Salem County:
Click
Here for Salem County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Jan 2, a flock of 200 AMERICAN PIPITS foraged on
the first field west of the intersection of Sunset Dr and Route 540.
Gloucester County:
Click
Here for Gloucester County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Dec 31, forty TUNDRA SWANS were at Riverfront Park.
On Jan 4, a drake REDHEAD and 150 CANVASBACKS were feeding on the Delaware
River off the National Park dredge spoils. That day, 86 TUNDRA SWANS
were seen from Floodgates.
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 with Canada Geese at
the South Branch of the Raritan River through Jan 5, when it was reported
from the near shore of the pond in front of the Methodist Church. On
Dec 31-Jan 2, a juvenile OSPREY was at the South Branch of the Raritan
River near Califon. Round Valley had LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL and RED-BREASTED
NUTHATCH.
Middlesex County:
An ICELAND GULL was at Donaldson Park on Jan 1.
Mercer County:
Click
Here for Mercer County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Jan 2, a SANDHILL CRANE was seen across from the
entrance to the Mercer County Airport off Bear Tavern Rd in West Trenton.
A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was at Rosedale Park on Jan 4. On Jan
1, Van Dyke Rd in Hopewell had a PILEATED WOODPECKER and a RED-HEADED
WOODPECKER.
Warren County:
Click
Here for Warren County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
The Alpha Grasslands had COMMON RAVENS on Jan 2, an
AMERICAN PIPIT on Jan 1, SNOW BUNTINGS on Dec 31-Jan 1 and LAPLAND LONGSPURS
on Dec 31-Jan 2.
Somerset County:
Click
Here for Somerset County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
No reports
Morris County:
No reports
Union County:
No reports
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.
No reports
Kent County:
Click
Here for Kent County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Jan 4-5, a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE X CANADA
GOOSE hybrid was at Bear Swamp in Bombay Hook NWR.
Sussex County:
Click
Here for Sussex County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Jan 3, the Wolfe Neck Wastewater Facility had 3
BLACK-HEADED GULLS, and a CACKLING GOOSE and 2 ROSS’S GEESE were
in the Snow Goose flock at the spray fields. On Jan 1, Indian River
Inlet hosted a TRICOLORED HERON, 4 COMMON EIDERS and a BLACK-HEADED
GULL that was with the flock of BONAPARTE’S GULLS. Highlights
from the Jan 2 Rehoboth CBC included a BLUE-HEADED VIREO at Holt’s
Landing State Park and a EURASIAN WIGEON at Assawoman Wildlife Area.
An EASTERN PHOEBE was discovered in Georgetown on Jan 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
No reports
Chester County:
Click Here
for Chester County Birding Resources including an interactive map with
locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
The LE CONTE’S SPARROW was at the
back side of Struble Lake on Jan 5; this area is accessed by foot from
Suplee Rd (east of Honey Brook and south of Fontaine). The LE CONTE’S
SPARROW was in a grassy area bordering the lake west of the dam and
peninsula. On Jan 4-6, a DICKCISSEL attended a feeder at Gail Dillon’s
house: 46 King Rd, Cochranville (Zip Code: 19330). Gail welcomes birders
attempting to see the DICKCISSEL. The feeder is outside the patio door
of the rear lower level of the house on the north side, and can be viewed
outside from the northern corners of the house. Three CACKLING GEESE
were at Somerset Lake on Jan 4, and a CANADA GOOSE X SNOW GOOSE hybrid
was there on Jan 3.
Montgomery County:
Click
Here for Montgomery County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.No Reports
On Jan 4, a BREWER’S BLACKBIRD was photographed
at a feeder at 513 Hunters Lane in Oreland, which is near the intersection
of Route 309 and Route 73. The BREWER’S BLACKBIRD has been seen
from the street, and the homeowner is OK with birders walking behind
the house.
Bucks County:
Click
Here for Bucks County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was seen with juncos at the
Morrisville Levee on Dec 30 & Jan 4. On Jan 1-2, a LAPLAND LONGSPUR
was with a flock of 11 HORNED LARKS in the vacant lot (Franklin Lot
#5) on Veterans Way, just outside the entrance to Warminster Community
Park. A GLAUCOUS GULL and LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL were at Falls Township
Community Park Jan 2-3. On Jan 2, Lake Galena at Peace Valley Park hosted
2,200 COMMON MERGANSERS. Peace Valley had RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS on
Dec 30-Jan 1. Other reports from Peace Valley Park featured LESSER BLACK-BACKED
GULLS, AMERICAN PIPIT and PURPLE FINCH. During the Upper Bucks County
CBC, Nockamixon State Park had a GRAY CATBIRD near the fishing pier
and LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS at the marina. Reports from the Churchville
Nature Center included LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, PILEATED WOODPECKER
and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES. Tyler State Park had AMERICAN PIPIT and
PURPLE FINCH.
Northampton County:
Click
Here for Northampton County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Dec 31, a dark morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen
from Foul Rift Rd near its intersection with Depues Rd. On Jan 2, a
ROSS’S GOOSE and a CACKLING GOOSE flew by Sand Island in Bethlehem.
An ICELAND GULL was spotted near the Keystone Cement Company quarry
on Jan 3. The fields at East Allen Twp have had 2 LAPLAND LONGSPURS
on Jan 1-2 and 1-2 SNOW BUNTINGS on Jan 1-3. Over the weekend, a flock
of 9 AMERICAN PIPITS was at an open spring along Miller Rd. The Forks
of the Delaware had LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS.
Lehigh County:
Click
Here for Lehigh County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Dec 31, a SNOWY OWL was seen from the Race St side
of Lehigh Valley International Airport. On Jan 3-6, a NORTHERN SHRIKE
and NORTHERN GOSHAWK were spotted seen from Janes Lane near its intersection
with Kings Highway in the extreme southern corner of the county, near
East Greenville. The SHRIKE has been seen at the tree line. On Dec 31,
the fields at Smith Lane near Alburtis had 1-2 LAPLAND LONGSPURS and
3 SNOW BUNTINGS in flock of 300 HORNED LARKS. On Jan 2, three SNOW BUNTINGS
were in a HORNED LARK flock near Hawk View Rd and Mantz Rd in Hiedelburg
Twp. On Jan 3, Kunkles Mill Rd had a RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS. That day,
CACKLING GEESE were at Dorney Park.
Schuylkill County:
Click
Here for Schuylkill County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Jan 3, SNOW BUNTINGS were at the Schuylkill County
Airport. That day, a BROWN THRASHER was seen from Weishample Rd; the
bird was in a ravine near a junkyard and Deep Creek. Highlights from
the Western Schuylkill County CBC included WILSON’S SNIPE, BROWN
THRASHER, SNOW BUNTING and RUSTY BLACKBIRD.
Berks County:
Click
Here for Berks County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.No reports
On Dec 31-Jan 1, a EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE was discovered
near the intersection of Long Lane Rd and Dotterer Rd in Krumsville.
A GLAUCOUS GULL was at Blue Marsh National Recreation Area. The Reading
CBC on Jan 3 included a sighting of 10 AMERICAN PIPITS on a pile of
composted manure dumped at the edge of a field.
Lancaster County:
Click
Here for Lancaster County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Jan 3-4, a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was seen
from Creek Rd along the East Branch of Octoraro Creek in Sadsbury Twp;
the bird was discovered during the Western Chester County CBC. On the
Jan 3 Lancaster County CBC, an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER and 2 PALM WARBLERS
were at the Lancaster Area Sewer Authority in Washington Boro. That
day, 15 COMMON GOLDENEYES were at Long Level. The East Earl Twp RUFOUS
HUMMINGBIRD was last seen on Jan 4.
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 Jan 2.
Carbon County:
On Jan 1, Penn Forest had a COMMON RAVEN and 3 RED-BREASTED
NUTHATCHES. That day, Beltzville State Park had 6 COMMON GOLDENEYES.
Monroe County:
No reports
Pike County:
No reports
Wayne County:
A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was at the intersection of Buckingham
Rd and Bethel School Rd on Jan 2. That day, a flock of 70 SNOW BUNTINGS
was at Buckingham Rd.
PA Extralimitals:
No reports
Extralimital Reports
No reports
Announcements
On Jan 9, Keith Russell will coordinate the Philadelphia
Midwinter Bird Census. Join the 24th annual mid-winter census, highlighting
the incredible diversity of habitat and species found within the borders
of Philadelphia. An average of 92 species are recorded each year, including
notable rarities. Contact Keith Russell for more information on how to participate.
On Jan 9, Steve Kacir will lead a DVOC Photography Field Trip to Peace Valley
Park in Bucks County, PA. The trip will meet at the Peace Valley Nature
Center at 8:30AM sharp. Target species include Lesser Black-backed Gull,
Cackling Goose and Fox Sparrow, with more time spent photographing birds
that allow a close approach or exhibit interesting behaviors than seeking
out rarities. Please contact Steve if you plan on attending. Additional
information about these trips along with contact information for the trip
leaders can be found on the DVOC website: http://www.dvoc.org
The next meeting of the DVOC is on Jan 7,
2010. This will be the 120th Annual DVOC Members Meeting, which will include
club elections and an overview of regional Christmas Bird Counts. The
meeting takes place at The Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia
at 7:30PM. The meeting after that will take place on Jan 21, featuring
“Naked Safari: Tales of East Africa” by Adrian Binns. More
details are available on the DVOC website: http://www.dvoc.org
See Life Paulagics is running a pelagic trip out
of Freeport, NY on Jan 17, 2010, departing at 8:00AM and returns around
4:00PM. Target birds include such winter seabirds as Northern Fulmar,
Razorbill, Common Murre, Thick-billed Murre, Dovekie, Atlantic Puffin,
Red Phalarope, Pomarine Jaeger, Great Skua and Black-legged Kittiwake.
For more information, call 215-234-6805 or visit them on the web 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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Click Here for Jack
Siler's eBird Rarities Map