| Current
report - Wednesday March 3, 2010
- Birds Mentioned
Click Here for species
accounts for many of these birds
Pacific Loon (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
Northern Gannet
American Bittern
Black-crowned Night-heron
Snow Goose
Cackling Goose
Egyptian Goose
Tundra Swan
Eurasian Wigeon
Canvasback
Redhead
King Eider
Common Eider
Harlequin Duck
White-winged Scoter
Common Goldeneye
Red-breasted Merganser
Rough-legged Hawk
Merlin
Sandhill Crane
Killdeer
American Oystercatcher
Purple Sandpiper
American Woodcock
Black-headed Gull
Iceland Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Glaucous Gull
Razorbill
Monk Parakeet
Snowy Owl
Barred Owl
Short-eared Owl
Pileated Woodpecker
Northern Shrike
Shrike Sp.
Fish Crow
Common Raven
Horned Lark
Tree Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Hermit Thrush
American Pipit
American Tree Sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Lapland Longspur
Snow Bunting
Dickcissel
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 Pacific Loon in
Monmouth 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.
On Feb 28, one of the BLACK-HEADED GULLS was seen
where Racetrack Ave meets Delaware Bay in North Cape May. A BLACK-HEADED
GULL was at the end of Miami Ave in the Villas on March 3. On Feb 25,
a RAZORBILL was spotted off the pilings at the Coast Guard Base, which
can be viewed from Poverty Beach. Other birds seen from Poverty Beach
that day included the subadult drake KING EIDER, WHITE-WINGED SCOTER
and HORNED GREBE. Two drake EURASIAN WIGEONS and a REDHEAD were on the
Lighthouse Pond through March 3. On Feb 28, a BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON
was seen off Ocean Dr. About two thousand SCOTERS were at the mouth
of Delaware Bay off Cape May Point. Two WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS flew past
Two Mile Beach on March 2. On Feb 28, Avalon had a flyby AMERICAN BITTERN
along with HARLEQUIN DUCKS, COMMON EIDERS and PURPLE SANDPIPERS.
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 SHRIKE (probably NORTHERN SHRIKE) was seen at the
Natural Lands Trust’s Peek Preserve on March 3. The SHRIKE was
seen near the building right along the Maurice River. On Feb 28, Turkey
Point Rd in the Glades Wildlife Refuge had 3 SHORT-EARED OWLS and a
PEREGRINE FALCON. A dark morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was at Husted Landing
Rd on Feb 28
Atlantic County:
Click
Here for Atlantic County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
Reports from the Brigantine Division of Edwin B Forsythe
NWR included TUNDRA SWANS and HERMIT THRUSH.
Monmouth County:
Click
Here for Monmouth County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A PACIFIC LOON was photographed across from Spring
Lake on Feb 28. The PACIFIC LOON was associating with COMMON LOONS off
Pennsylvania Ave and the Essex Hotel, which is under renovation. Both
of these locations are a few blocks north of Wreck Pond. On March 1,
the PACIFIC LOON was off Massachusetts Ave/Ocean Ave in Spring Lake,
last seen drifting south towards the Essex Hotel. On Feb 27-28, two
SANDHILL CRANES were at Osbourne’s Mills Pond in Wall Twp. The
pond is off Route 524/Allaire Rd west of New Bedford Rd. A GLAUCOUS
GULL was on Silver Lake in Belmar on Feb 27. On Feb 28, fifteen WHITE-WINGED
SCOTERS and 5 COMMON EIDERS were off B Lot at Sandy Hook. That day,
Sandy Hook also had SNOW BUNTINGS near the old officer’s quarters
and over 60 Harbor Seals hauled out opposite the visitor center. On
March 2, a GLAUCOUS GULL and an ICELAND GULL were on the beach north
of the jetties at Shark River Inlet. That day, two SNOW BUNTINGS were
in the vegetation along the southern jetty at Shark River Inlet. On
March 3, twelve COMMON EIDERS and NORTHERN GANNETS were seen off Marine
Pl in Deal
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.
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.
No reports
Hunterdon County:
Click
Here for Hunterdon County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
No reports
Middlesex County:
No reports
Mercer County:
Click
Here for Mercer County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A drake REDHEAD was on Assunpink Lake on Feb 28. An
AMERICAN WOODCOCK was at the pole farm in Mercer County Park NW. On
March 2, a Coyote was at Mercer County Park NW at Blackwell Rd.
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 Feb 26, two COMMON RAVENS flew over I-287 just
south of the NJ Transit railroad tracks in Basking Ridge.
Morris County:
No reports
Union County:
No reports
Bergen County:
No reports
NJ Extralimitals:
In Bergen County, the NORTHERN SHRIKE at DeKorte State
Park’s Disposal Rd was reported as recently as Feb 27. Two MONK
PARAKEETS visited a suet feeder in Englewood, Bergen County on Feb 27
& March 3.
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.
Brandywine Creek State Park had PILEATED WOODPECKER
and AMERICAN TREE SPARROW. On March 1, an AMERICAN WOODCOCK called from
private property near Port Penn. An AMERICAN WOODCOCK was at Burrows
Run Preserve on March 2. Ashland Nature Center had HERMIT THRUSH and
SWAMP SPARROWS. South of Newark on Route 896, some EGYPTIAN GEESE were
seen near the north end of the University of Delaware Agriculture Building.
Kent County:
Click
Here for Kent County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A drake EURASIAN WIGEON was at the North Pond of Ted
Harvey WA on March 2. That day, two LAPLAND LONGSPURS were in a field
near the Boondocks restaurant on Lighthouse Rd, and AMERICAN PIPITS
were found farther west on Lighthouse Rd. Three CANVASBACKS were at
Woodland Beach village. A PEREGRINE FALCON was at the intersection of
Route 9 and Route 6 on Feb 28. The fields before the entrance to Bombay
Hook NWR attracted TUNDRA SWANS. On March 2, Cartanza Rd had a female
SNOW BUNTING. On Feb 28, an AMERICAN BITTERN was at Little Creek WA
across from Port Mahon Rd.
Sussex County:
Click
Here for Sussex County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Feb 28, three LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were in
a flooded field near the intersection of Sugar Hill Rd and Draper Rd.
That day, the marsh along Fowler Beach Rd had thousands of SNOW GEESE,
a CACKLING GOOSE and a PEREGRINE FALCON. Four AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS
were at Mispillion Inlet on Feb 28. On Feb 27, a flock of 24 TUNDRA
SWANS was at a field on the south side of Concord Rd/Route 20, about
a mile west of Route 9. That day, six more TUNDRA SWANS were in a field
on the south side of Hardscrabble Rd/Route 20, about a quarter mile
west of Governor Stockley Rd. A RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH visited a feeder
in Seaford.
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 DICKCISSEL at Gail Dillon’s home in Cochranville
was seen as recently as Feb 27. Contact information for Gail can be
found on the Pennsylvania Birding List archives at: http://list.audubon.org/archives/pabirds.html
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.
A BARRED OWL was heard near Lake Towhee Park on March
2. The possible BARROW’S GOLDENEYE reported from the Morrisville
Levee appears to be a first year hen COMMON GOLDENEYE, and up to 90
COMMON GOLDENEYES continued to be seen from the Morrisville Levee this
week. An ICELAND GULL was at Peace Valley Park on Feb 24, and fifty-five
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were at the park that day. The Churchville
Nature Center reported LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL and FOX SPARROW. On
March 2, three TREE SWALLOWS fed on Snow Fleas at Maple Knoll Farms
in New Hope.
Northampton County:
Click
Here for Northampton County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
The CLAY-COLORED SPARROW at the Koch property was
reported as recently as Feb 26. On Feb 26, five thousand SNOW GEESE
flew north over Seemsville.
Lehigh County:
Click
Here for Lehigh County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
Three COMMON RAVENS flew over Fountain Hill on Feb
26. On Feb 25, HORNED LARKS in Heidelberg Twp were noted at Bullhead
Rd, Sawmill Rd, Handwerk Rd, Bake Oven Rd and Hawk View Rd. That day,
Handwerk Rd also had 10 SNOW BUNTINGS.
Schuylkill County:
Click
Here for Schuylkill County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
Sweet Arrow Lark had PILEATED WOODPECKER, RED-BREASTED
NUTHATCH and FISH CROW.
Berks County:
Click
Here for Berks County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
Lake Ontelaunee had COMMON GOLDENEYES through Feb
28. That day, farm country east of Robesonia had 1600 SNOW GEESE and
300 HORNED LARKS.
Lancaster County:
Click
Here for Lancaster County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Feb 28, sightings from the Susquehanna River between
Columbia and Washington Boro included 250 TUNDRA SWANS, 185 COMMON GOLDENEYES,
a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL at Avocet Point and TREE SWALLOWS. That day,
a PEREGRINE FALCON was perched at the middle of the Veterans Memorial
Bridge, and a BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE was at the Blue Rock Rd boat launch.
East of Lancaster, off Greenfield Rd, the main pond at Greenfield Estates
had 125 SNOW GEESE. The Heritage Center boat ramp at the end of Blue
Rock Rd had 8 TUNDRA SWANS on Feb 27. The interior roads of Middle Creek
WMA are still closed due to snow cover as of March 2, and will remain
closed this week. Sightings from Middle Creek on March 2 included thousands
of SNOW GEESE, 500 TUNDRA SWANS and 2 REDHEADS.
Lebanon County:
Click
Here for Lebanon County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
The SANDHILL CRANE at SGL 145 was seen flying north
from Lake Duffy on March 2.
Carbon County:
On March 2, Beltzville State Park had a RED-BREASTED
MERGANSER, 2 CANVASBACKS and 5 COMMON GOLDENEYES.
Monroe County:
Cherry Valley NWR had a KILLDEER and a RED-BREASTED
NUTHATCH on Feb 24.
Pike County:
On Feb 27, the Pocono Environmental Education Center
had 2 COMMON RAVENS and 4 RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES
Wayne County:
No reports
PA Extralimitals:
The Crawford County SNOWY OWL at the Miller Farm (10734
Shadeland Rd, Springboro) was seen through March 2. The drake HARLEQUIN
DUCK was reported from Presque Isle State Park in Erie County through
March 2.
Extralimital Reports
No reports
Announcements
On Saturday March 13, Chris
Walters will lead a DVOC field trip to Barnegat Lighthouse State Park
in Ocean County, NJ. This half-day trip is well suited to students and
new members, but open to anyone interested in attending. The trip will
meet at 9:00AM at the lighthouse parking lot. Please contact Chris if
you plan on attending. On Sunday March 14, Connie
Goldman will lead a DVOC field trip to Middle Creek WMA in Lancaster
& Lebanon Counties, PA. The trip will meet at the Middle Creek WMA
Visitor’s Center on Museum Rd at 1:00PM. Please contact Connie if
you plan on attending. Additional information, including past trip 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 March 4, 2010,
featuring a program by Julie Hagelin, entitled “Tales from a Tangerine-Scented
Seabird: Sex, Perfume and Parasites of Crested Auklets.” The meeting
takes place at The Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia at 7:30PM.
The meeting after that will take place on March 18. 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 27 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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