| Current
report - Wednesday January 27, 2010
- Birds Mentioned
Click Here for species
accounts for many of these birds
Barnacle Goose (NJ)+
Prairie Falcon -Extralimital- (PA)+
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)
Horned Grebe
Northern Gannet
Great Cormorant
Tricolored Heron
Black-crowned Night-heron
Greater White-fronted Goose
Snow Goose
Cackling Goose
Barnacle Goose X Canada Goose
Tundra Swan
Eurasian Wigeon
Blue-winged Teal
Common Teal (Eurasian Green-winged Teal)
Canvasback
Redhead
King Eider
Common Eider
Harlequin Duck
White-winged Scoter
Common Goldeneye
Red-breasted Merganser
Northern Goshawk
Rough-legged Hawk
Golden Eagle
Ruffed Grouse
Wild Turkey
Sandhill Crane
Sandhill Crane X Common Crane
Common Crane
American Avocet
Purple Sandpiper
American Woodcock
Bonaparte's Gull
Iceland Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Glaucous Gull
Dovekie
Razorbill
Snowy Owl
Short-eared Owl
Pileated Woodpecker
Northern Shrike
Common Raven
Horned Lark
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Marsh Wren
American Pipit
Palm Warbler
Chipping Sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow
Lark Sparrow
Ipswich Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Lapland Longspur
Snow Bunting
Rusty Blackbird
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.
A LARK SPARROW was at the intersection of Shunpike
Rd and Sandman Blvd on Jan 24. On Jan 26, the LARK SPARROW was in bushes
on the east side of Shunpike Rd south of Route 9 near where a new winery
field is being developed. On Jan 25-27, an immature drake KING EIDER
was south of the coast guard jetty, and could be viewed from Poverty
Beach along with COMMON EIDERS and HORNED GREBE. While attempting to
see these seabirds, do not go past the Coast Guard’s “No
Trespassing” sign. A drake REDHEAD and 2 drake EURASIAN WIGEONS
were at the Lighthouse Pond of Cape May Point State Park through Jan
25. Other sightings from Cape May Point State Park included SNOWY EGRET,
TUNDRA SWANS, IPSWICH SPARROWS and SNOW BUNTINGS. The Nature Conservancy’s
Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge still had BLUE-WINGED TEAL, and a SNOWY
EGRET was there on Jan 23. AMERICAN WOODCOCKS were displaying at Higbee
Beach WMA. On Jan 21, a flock of 25 COMMON EIDERS and 2 HARLEQUIN DUCKS
were off the 8th St jetty in Avalon. An IPSWICH SPARROW was there on
Jan 22. Over 15 SNOW BUNTINGS were at Stone Harbor Point on Jan 22.
A SHORT-EARED OWL was at Jake’s Landing on Jan 23. Other reports
from Jake’s Landing mentioned MARSH WRENS and AMERICAN PIPIT.
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 crane flock at Husted Landing was seen as recently
as Jan 24, complete with COMMON CRANE, SANDHILL CRANES and SANDHILL
CRANE X COMMON CRANE hybrids. A SHORT-EARED OWL and a flock of AMERICAN
PIPITS were spotted from Husted Landing on Jan 24. Four SHORT-EARED
OWLS, 22 WILD TURKEYS and a TRICOLORED HERON were at Turkey Point on
Jan 23. On Jan 23, two SHORT-EARED OWLS were seen from Ragged Island
Rd at the mouth of the Cohansey River. That day, two more SHORT-EARED
OWLS were at Newport Landing. Fifteen COMMON GOLDENEYES were off East
Point on Jan 21.
Atlantic County:
Click
Here for Atlantic County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Jan 24, a light morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was near
the Mott’s Creek Inn. The NORTHERN GOSHAWK at the Brigantine Division
of Edwin B Forsythe NWR was seen as recently as Jan 24. The GOSHAWK
has been spending a fair amount of time around the road to the Gull
Pond.
Monmouth County:
Click
Here for Monmouth County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
The drake COMMON TEAL (aka EURASIAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL)
was at Lake Takanassee through Jan 23. Two GLAUCOUS GULLS were at Sandy
Hook on Jan 23. On Jan 23-24, two ICELAND GULLS were on the bay offshore
from the Sandy Hook Bird Observatory, and one was still there on Jan
27. Another ICELAND GULL was at the False Hook on Jan 24. All three
scoters, including WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, were off Lot B that day. Other
reports from Sandy Hook featured HORNED GREBES, COMMON GOLDENEYES. On
Jan 27, six COMMON EIDERS and a RAZORBILL were spotted from Clem Conover
Rd in Deal. A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was on Spring Lake on Jan 24.
That day, a GLAUCOUS GULL was on the beach at Point Pleasant, just south
of Manasquan Inlet, and a GLAUCOUS GULL was at the inlet on Jan 26.
An ICELAND GULL and PURPLE SANDPIPERS at Manasquan Inlet on Jan 23.
That day, Wreck Pond had 2 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, and 6 COMMON EIDERS
were off Allenhurst. A Harbor Seal was floating around the docks of
the Belmar Marina on Jan 23. Belmar’s Silver Lake had BLACK-CROWNED
NIGHT-HERONS. An IPSWICH SPARROW was on the beach north of the Monmouth
Beach Cultural Center on Jan 23. On Jan 23, a CACKLING GOOSE was on
Assunpink Lake.
Burlington County:
Click
Here for Burlington County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
The SPOTTED TOWHEE was seen at Palmyra Cove Nature
Park as recently as Jan 24, when it was at the northwest corner of the
big pit. On Jan 24, a drake REDHEAD, 250 CANVASBACKS, 22 COMMON GOLDENEYES
and 11 GREAT CORMORANTS were on the Delaware River, seen from Howard
St in Riverton.
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.
On Jan 24, a dark morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen from the south side
of Dock St at Barnegat Bay. Barnegat Lighthouse State Park had HARLEQUIN
DUCKS, PURPLE SANDPIPERS and Harbor Seal. COMMON EIDERS were at Barnegat
Inlet on Jan 24.
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.
No reports
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 seen as recently as
Jan 23, when it was in the fields about a mile north of town on CR513,
near the Raritan Inn. An apparent BARNACLE GOOSE X CANADA GOOSE hybrid
was at the pond across from the Methodist Church on Jan 23.
Middlesex County:
No reports
Mercer County:
Click
Here for Mercer County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Jan 23, a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was at Etra
Lake near Hightstown.
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.
On Jan 23, four COMMON RAVENS were spotted
from Sourland Preserve in Hillsborough.
Morris County:
A RUSTY BLACKBIRD was at the Troy Meadows on Jan 24.
Great Swamp NWR had RUSTY BLACKBIRDS and WILD TURKEYS on Jan 22.
Union County:
No reports
Bergen County:
The DeKorte State Park NORTHERN SHRIKE was reported
as recently as Jan 23, when it was spotted from the Transco Trail along
the West Pool. The SHRIKE was at the intersection of the Saw Mill Creek
Trail and Disposal Rd on Jan 20
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.
A Delmarva Ornithological Society field trip to the
Cherry Island Landfill found a hen REDHEAD, a pair of COMMON GOLDENEYES,
10-12 ICELAND GULLS, 15-20 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS and 2 GLAUCOUS
GULLS.
Kent County:
Click
Here for Kent County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Jan 23, four LAPLAND LONGSPURS were at Cartanza
Rd; they were close to the dirt farm road bisecting the huge agricultural
field. On Jan 27, Cartanza Rd had 50 AMERICAN PIPITS. That day, Bombay
Hook NWR had TUNDRA SWAN, 2 CACKLING GEESE and an AMERICAN AVOCET. On
Jan 23, WILLETS were at Shorts Beach.
.
Sussex County:
Click
Here for Sussex County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
Ten COMMON EIDERS were at Indian River Inlet on
Jan 24. On Jan 27, the north end of Indian River Inlet had 3 COMMON
EIDERS, 4 NORTHERN GANNETS, 4 GREAT CORMORANTS, 100 BONAPARTE’S
GULLS and 15 PURPLE SANDPIPERS. A FOX SPARROW was at Burton’s
Island that day. A PALM WARBLER and 6 CHIPPING SPARROWS were at Oak
Grove Rd on Jan 24. Two AMERICAN WOODCOCKS displayed at the Barr Tract
of Redden State Forest on Jan 23. A RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH has been
seen in the vicinity of the nature center at Abbott’s Mill Nature
Center.
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 Struble Lake LE CONTE’S SPARROW was reported
through Jan 23. The LE CONTE’S SPARROW has favored an overgrown
area just west of the peninsula on the back side of the lake; this area
is accessed by foot from Suplee Rd (east of Honey Brook and south of
Fontaine).
Montgomery County:
Montgomery County:
Click
Here for Montgomery County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.No Reports
No reports
.
Bucks County:
Click
Here for Bucks County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
The CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was at the Morrisville
Levee through Jan 23. A GLAUCOUS GULL and two ICELAND GULLS were seen
from the levee on Jan 23, and COMMON GOLDENEYES have been in the area.
Two GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were at Core Creek Park on Jan 25.
Recent reports from the Churchville Nature Center mentioned LESSER
BLACK-BACKED GULLS and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH. A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED
GOOSE was at Peace Valley Park on Jan 26. Other reports from Peace
Valley featured CACKLING GOOSE, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, PILEATED
WOODPECKER and RUSTY BLACKBIRD.
Northampton County:
Click
Here for Northampton County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Jan 22, forty-five SNOW BUNTINGS and 15 HORNED
LARKS were at Graver’s Hill, while a flock of 50 HORNED LARKS
were at Arrowhead Rd in East Allen Twp. A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was at
the Koch property on Jan 22-26.
Lehigh County:
Click
Here for Lehigh County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
The NORTHERN SHRIKE at the Moyer’s Graber Farmstead
was seen through Jan 22. The farm is at the southern intersection of
Kings Highway and Janes Lane just outside of East Greenville in the
extreme southern corner of the county. A GOLDEN EAGLE was west of Leaser
Lake on Jan 23. A possible GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was at Dorney
Pond on Jan 24.
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.
Two COMMON RAVENS flew over Blue Marsh National Recreation
Area on Jan 27.
Lancaster County:
Click
Here for Lancaster County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Jan 23, three GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were
at Middle Creek WMA along with TUNDRA SWANS. That day, a PALM WARBLER
was at the Willow Point parking lot. Waterfowl numbers at Middle Creek
continued to build through the week, with a Jan 27 report mentioning
thousands of SNOW GEESE, 300 TUNDRA SWANS and a COMMON GOLDENEYE. A
flock of 37 BRANT and a hen RED-BREASTED MERGANSER were on the Susquehanna
at Peach Bottom on Jan 22. The next day, small numbers of COMMON GOLDENEYES
and two flocks of TUNDRA SWANS were seen there, and a GOLDEN EAGLE was
seen from Peach Bottom on Jan 27. On Jan 24, Peach Bottom had a LESSER
BLACK-BACKED GULL and COMMON GOLDENEYES. On Jan 25, the Conojohela Flats
had 175 TUNDRA SWANS, 24 COMMON GOLDENEYES and a LESSER BLACK-BACKED
GULL. The GREAT EGRET was fishing at Stauffer Run just off William Penn
Way and Greenfield Rd on Jan 25.
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 27. A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was at Memorial
Lake State Park through Jan 22, and a REDHEAD was there on Jan 23.
Carbon County:
On Jan 23, seven COMMON GOLDENEYES were on the Delaware
River at Smith Beach, and PILEATED WOODPECKER was in the area. A RUFFED
GROUSE was on Walnut Rd in Lower Towamensing on Jan 23. That day,
a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH was at Penn Forest.
Monroe County:
No reports
Pike County:
No reports
Wayne County:
No reports
PA Extralimitals:
On Jan 26-27 SNOWY OWL was on a fence post at the
Miller Farm at 10734 Shadeland Rd, Springboro, Crawford County. The
Millers are well known Amish birders and welcome birders to their farm
to see the owl. In Cumberland County, the PRAIRIE FALCON continued to
be seen from Mud Level Rd through Jan 24.
Extralimital Reports
No reports
Announcements
On Jan 30, Tom Reeves will lead a DVOC field trip to Conowingo Dam in
MD and Perryville, PA. Among other things, the trip will be looking to
enjoy the large numbers of Bald Eagles likely to be found at Conowingo.
The trip will meet at 9:00AM at Fisherman’s Park at Conowingo Dam.
Please contact Tom if you plan on attending. On Jan 31, Debbie Beer will
lead a DVOC field trip to Roosevelt Park in Philadelphia. The focus for
this trip will be winter waterfowl, and the trip may be extended to visit
John Heinz NWR at Tinicum. The trip will meet at 9:00AM at the parking
lot on the south side of the main lake at Roosevelt Park. Please contact
Debbie if you plan on attending. Additional information about these trips
including directions past trips’ reports and 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 Feb 4, 2010,
featuring a program by Robert Kirk, entitled “Behind the Scenes
of a Field Guide.” The meeting takes place at The Academy of Natural
Sciences in Philadelphia at 7:30PM. More details are available on the
DVOC website: http://www.dvoc.org
See Life Paulagics is running a pelagic trip out
of Lewes, DE on Feb 6 and a trip out of Belmar, NJ on Feb 28. 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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