| Current
report - Wednesday March 10, 2010
- Birds Mentioned
Click Here for species
accounts for many of these birds
Western Grebe (NJ)+
Common Teal (Eurasian Green-winged Teal) (DE)+
Gyrfalcon (PA)+ -Extralimital-
Loggerhead Shrike (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
Northern Gannet
Great Cormorant
Black-crowned Night-heron
Greater White-fronted Goose
Snow Goose
Ross's Goose X Snow Goose
Ross's Goose
Cackling Goose
Tundra Swan
Wood Duck
Eurasian Wigeon
Blue-winged Teal
Northern Pintail
Canvasback
Redhead
King Eider
Common Eider
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Common Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Red-shouldered Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
Golden Eagle
Peregrine Falcon
Ring-necked Pheasant
Sandhill Crane
Purple Sandpiper
American Woodcock
Laughing Gull
Black-headed Gull
Bonaparte's Gull
Iceland Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Forster's Tern
Razorbill
Snowy Owl
Barred Owl
Short-eared Owl
Pileated Woodpecker
Northern Shrike
Fish Crow
Common Raven
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown-headed Nuthatch
American Pipit
Nashville Warbler
Clay-colored Sparrow
Ipswich Sparrow
Lapland Longspur
Snow Bunting
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 WESTERN GREBE in
Monmouth County, NJ; COMMON TEALS (EURASIAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL) in Kent
and Sussex Counties, DE and LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE 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.
The immature drake KING EIDER was spotted from Poverty
Beach through March 7. A drake COMMON EIDER was seen at the St Mary’s
jetty on March 6-7. At Cape May Point State Park, the drake REDHEAD
and 2 drake EURASIAN WIGEONS were on Lighthouse Pond through March 6,
and the six TUNDRA SWANS were on the Bunker Pond through March 6 as
well. A LAUGHING GULL in NJ waters was spotted from the Cape May-Lewes
Ferry on March 8. That day, a dozen FORSTER’S TERNS were on the
flats off the Villas, and 170 BONAPARTE’S GULLS fed at a tidal
pool. The BLACK-HEADED GULL was south of the terns and BONAPARTE’S
GULLS that day. The BLACK-HEADED GULL spent some time off Elwood Ave
in North Cape May on March 6. Later it was seen with BONAPARTE’S
GULLS following a returning ferry at the Cape May-Lewes Ferry terminal.
A BLACK-HEADED GULL was at the northern bayshore of the Villas on March
8. A BRANT was the pond at The Villas WMA on March 6. Miami Beach at
the Villas had FORSTER’S TERNS and 2 LAUGHING GULLS on March 9.
On March 6, AMERICAN WOODCOCKS displayed at Kimbles Beach Rd and at
The Nature Conservancy Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge. On March 8, a
Harbor Seal was on the beach near the Convention Center in Cape May.
Beaver Swamp had a hen COMMON GOLDENEYE on March 9.
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.
On March 7, a juvenile GOLDEN EAGLE and AMERICAN PIPITS
were at Turkey Point in the Glades Wildlife Refuge. That day, a dark
morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK over Money Island was seen from Newport Landing
Rd that day. AMERICAN WOODCOCKS displayed at Turkey Point. On March
5, fifty CANVASBACKS were on Delaware Bay off Bays Point.
Atlantic County:
Click
Here for Atlantic County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
Three IPSWICH SPARROWS were reported from the Brigantine
Division of Edwin B Forsythe NWR on March 7.
Monmouth County:
Click
Here for Monmouth County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On March 9, the North Shore WESTERN GREBE was spotted
off Marine Place in Deal. The WESTERN GREBE was just north of Shark
River Inlet on March 6, and COMMON EIDERS were at the North Shore that
day. On March 9, a RAZORBILL and 5 COMMON EIDERS were reported off Marine
Ave. Recent reports from Sandy Hook included HORNED GREBES, BARRED OWL,
BLACK SCOTERS, SURF SCOTERS, WHITE-WINGED SCOTER and Harbor Seals. On
March 5, the drake REDHEAD, a COMMON GOLDENEYE and RED-BREASTED MERGANSER
were seen from the boat launch at Assunpink WMA. A RING-NECKED PHEASANT
was at Assunpink on March 7.
Burlington County:
Click
Here for Burlington County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On March 5, two GREAT CORMORANTS at the Delaware River
were spotted from Palmyra Cove Nature Park. The waterfront at Florence
had 9 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS and an ICELAND GULL, with the best birding
taking place at the exposed mud flats north of the turnpike bridge
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.
Barnegat Lighthouse State Park had COMMON EIDERS through March 7, and
a WHITE-WINGED SCOTER was there on March 5. Other reports from Barnegat
Inlet included RED-THROATED LOON, GREAT CORMORANTS, BLACK SCOTERS, SURF
SCOTERS, HARLEQUIN DUCKS and PURPLE SANDPIPERS. Huddy Park in Toms River
had 8 CANVASBACKS. AMERICAN WOODCOCKS displayed at Manahawkin WMA.
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 March 5, the Pedricktown Marsh causeway, which
is still closed to vehicles, had 1350 NORTHERN PINTAILS.
Hunterdon County:
Click
Here for Hunterdon County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On March 6, Spruce Run State Park had 24 LESSER BLACK-BACKED
GULLS. That day, a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH was at Round Valley Reservoir.
Three PURPLE FINCHES visited a feeder in Kingwood Twp.
Middlesex County:
On March 2, two SNOW BUNTINGS were at the Raritan
Bay Waterfront Park in South Amboy.
Mercer County:
Click
Here for Mercer County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
An AMERICAN WOODCOCKS displayed in Princeton and Hamilton.
Warren County:
Click
Here for Warren County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On March 4, Oberly Rd at the Alpha Grasslands had
10 SNOW BUNTINGS and a LAPLAND LONGSPUR. On March 9, Merrill Creek Reservoir
had over 100,000 SNOW GEESE, a REDHEAD, a LONG-TAILED DUCK and COMMON
GOLDENEYES.
Somerset County:
Click
Here for Somerset County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
No reports
Morris County:
A drake EURASIAN WIGEON was at Mount Hope Lake in
Rockaway Twp on March 9-10. The old Hanover Airport had RUSTY BLACKBIRDS
on March 6.
Union County:
No reports
Bergen County:
No reports
NJ Extralimitals:
The NORTHERN SHRIKE at DeKorte Park’s Disposal
Rd was reported as recently as March 6.
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.
Returning WOOD DUCKS were reported from the DuPont
Environmental Education Center and Dragon Run Park. A BLUE-WINGED TEAL
was at Dragon Run Park on March 7. South of Newark on Route 896, some
EGYPTIAN GEESE were seen near the north end of the University of Delaware
Agriculture Building. A RED-SHOULDERED HAWK caught a snake at Harry’s
Pond in the Brandywine Town Center. On March 6, nearly 3,000 NORTHERN
PINTAILS were at the Thousand Acre Marsh, and the PEREGRINE FALCONS
nesting under the Reedy Point Bridge snacked on a cowbird. GREAT CORMORANTS
were at the channel marker on the Delaware River at Claymont.
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 through March 9. A third hand report mentioned COMMON TEAL
(EURASIAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL) at the North Pond on March 7. Several BONAPARTE’S
GULLS were at the North Pond of Ted Harvey on March 9. On March 9, a
GOLDEN EAGLE flew over Bear Swamp at Bombay Hook NWR. A PEREGRINE FALCON
was spotted at Little Creek WA on March 9.
Sussex County:
Click
Here for Sussex County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On March 5-6, a LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was at the end of
Bennett’s Pier Rd in Milford Neck. On March 7, thirty-one TUNDRA
SWANS flew over this area. On March 4, a COMMON TEAL (EURASIAN GREEN-WINGED
TEAL) was at the last field on the north side of Broadkill Rd between
the impoundments and Prime Hook NWR’s Refuge Entrance Rd. On March
9, Prime Hook had 130 TUNDRA SWANS. On March 8, Indian River Inlet had
50 RED-THROATED LOONS, 30 COMMON LOONS, GREAT CORMORANTS, BLACK SCOTERS,
SURF SCOTERS, a COMMON EIDER, a BONAPARTE’S GULL, 15 PURPLE SANDPIPERS
and a Harbor Seal. Hundreds of CANVASBACKS were on Silver Lake in Rehoboth,
and AMERICAN WOODCOCKS displayed at Rehoboth Beach. Thousands of SURF
SCOTERS and BLACK SCOTERS rafted off the Cape Henlopen Lighthouse Point
overlook at Cape Henlopen State Park on March 9. That day, BROWN-HEADED
NUTHATCHES were at Cape Henlopen’s Youth Campground, and NORTHERN
GANNETS were seen from the park. A LAUGHING GULL was on the beach near
Gordon’s Pond on March 8. On March 9, three AMERICAN WOODCOCKS
displayed at Lee Meadow behind 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.
On March 8-9, Chambers Lake had six GREATER WHITE-FRONTED
GEESE. Other birds at Chambers Lake included TUNDRA SWANS, CACKLING
GOOSE, COMMON GOLDENEYES and WOOD DUCKS. A CACKLING GOOSE was at Chambers
Lake on March 9. On March 9, Westtown Lake had a drake REDHEAD and WOOD
DUCKS.
Montgomery County:
Click
Here for Montgomery County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.No Reports
On March 6, two COMMON RAVENS soared over the quarry
on Route 309 near the 309 Cinema. On March 6, four LESSER BLACK-BACKED
GULLS and a FISH CROW were at the Church Rd area of Green Lane Reservoir.
Five WOOD DUCKS were on Knight Lake that day. PURPLE FINCHES visited
feeders in Green Lane.
Bucks County:
Click
Here for Bucks County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A COMMON RAVEN flew over Route 663 near the PA Turnpike
Interchange on March 6. On March 3, two COMMON GOLDENEYES, an ICELAND
GULL and a PEREGRINE FALCON were spotted from the Morrisville Levee.
Peace Valley Park’s Lake Galena has had as many as 584 COMMON
MERGANSERS through March 6. Peace Valley’s high count for LESSER
BLACK-BACKED GULLS was 63 gulls on March 2. A BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON
was at Silver Lake Park on March 7. Churchville Nature Center reported
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH and RUSTY BLACKBIRD.
Northampton County:
Click
Here for Northampton County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
The CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was at the Koch property
through March 7. A GREAT CORMORANT was at the Martins Creek Quarry on
March 7. On March 9, Lake Minsi had 8 BONAPARTE’S GULLS and 45
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS. Bear Swamp had AMERICAN WOODCOCK and PILEATED
WOODPECKERS. AMERICAN WOODCOCKS have been displaying in Plainfield Twp
Lehigh County:
Click
Here for Lehigh County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On March 3, a PEREGRINE FALCON was at the 8th St bridge
in Allentown. On March 7, a PEREGRINE FALCON was spotted from the Prairie
Warbler Trail at the Lehigh Gap Nature Center. On March 8, three LESSER
BLACK-BACKED GULLS were at Dorney Pond in Allentown.
Schuylkill County:
Click
Here for Schuylkill County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
Sweet Arrow Lake had PILEATED WOODPECKER, FISH CROW
and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH.
Berks County:
Click
Here for Berks County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On March 10, a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was on a pole in
Northern Heidelberg Twp. A CACKLING GOOSE was at Lake Ontelaunee on
March 6. On March 8, Ontelaunee had 2 REDHEADS, 4 CANVASBACKS and 4
COMMON GOLDENEYES. A ROSS’S GOOSE and a CACKLING GOOSE were at
Lake Ontelaunee on March 9. The high count for SNOW GEESE at Lake Ontelaunee
was 12,000 geese on March 9. Blue Marsh National Recreation Area had
8 TUNDRA SWANS on March 10.
Lancaster County:
Click
Here for Lancaster County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
The wildlife drive at Middle Creek WMA is open, and
the waterfowl numbers are building. A possible blue morph ROSS’S
GOOSE was at Middle Creek on March 5 & 9. A probable ROSS’S
GOOSE X SNOW GOOSE hybrid was at Middle Creek on March 5-6. Two GREATER
WHITE-FRONTED GEESE and 3 drake REDHEADS were there on March 6. On March
5, Middle Creek had 2 CACKLING GEESE. The March 9 high counts from Middle
Creek were 100,000 SNOW GEESE and around 2,000 TUNDRA SWANS. Two SHORT-EARED
OWLS were seen from Stop #3 on the tour loop on March 6-7. Other sightings
from Middle Creek included WOOD DUCKS, AMERICAN WOODCOCKS, FISH CROW
and AMERICAN PIPIT. The Greenfield Estates pond attracted a GREATER
WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE and 8 CACKLING GEESE on March 7. That day, the NASHVILLE
WARBLER was at the LASA Susquehanna Water Pollution Control Plant in
Washington Boro. Reports from the Conejohela Flats mentioned TUNDRA
SWANS and WOOD DUCKS. On March 9, a flight of 2,500 TUNDRA SWANS flew
over Columbia. An AMERICAN WOODCOCK visited a yard in Holtwood on March
8.
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 seen
as recently as March 9. That day, SGL 145 also had thousands of SNOW
GEESE, a ROSS’S GOOSE and AMERICAN WOODCOCKS. Memorial Lake State
Park had COMMON GOLDENEYE on March 7. On March 8, Memorial Lake had
58 TUNDRA SWANS. That day, Mount Pleasant Rd had an AMERICAN PIPIT.
Carbon County:
On March 7-9, a NORTHERN SHRIKE was in a hedgerow
across from Pohopoco Dr and Beltzville Dr at Beltzville State Park.
Other reports from Beltzville included CANVASBACKS, RING-NECKED PHEASANT
and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH.
Monroe County:
No reports
Pike County:
No reports
Wayne County:
No reports
PA Extralimitals:
On March 3, a GYRFALCON was reported from Butler County
at Route 173 north of Slippery Rock. The Crawford County SNOWY OWL at
the Miller Farm (10734 Shadeland Rd, Springboro) was last reported on
March 6 and not seen since. A SNOWY OWL was reported from the Johnstown
Campus of the University of Pittsburgh on March 7. The drake HARLEQUIN
DUCK was reported from Presque Isle State Park in Erie County through
March 7.
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 18, 2010,
featuring a program by Win Shafer, entitled “Birds of the Appalachian
Trail.” The meeting takes place at The Academy of Natural Sciences
in Philadelphia at 7:30PM. The meeting after that will take place on April
1. 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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