| Current
report - Wednesday March 31, 2010
- Birds Mentioned
Click Here for species
accounts for many of these birds
Eared Grebe (NJ)+
Tufted Duck (PA)+
Spotted Towhee (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)
Red-throated Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Northern Gannet
American Bittern
Little Blue Heron
Black-crowned Night-heron
Glossy Ibis
Ross's Goose
Cackling Goose
Tundra Swan
Trumpeter Swan (PA Extralimital)
Eurasian Wigeon
Canvasback
Redhead
Common Eider
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Common Goldeneye
Red-breasted Merganser
Red-shouldered Hawk
Peregrine Falcon
Ring-necked Pheasant
Wild Turkey
Sandhill Crane
Piping Plover
Black-necked Stilt
American Avocet
Western Willet
Purple Sandpiper
American Woodcock
Little Gull
Black-headed Gull
Bonaparte's Gull
Iceland Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Nelson's Gull (Glaucous X Herring Hybrid)
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Barred Owl
Short-eared Owl
Pileated Woodpecker
Northern Shrike
Cliff Swallow
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Marsh Wren
Yellow-throated Warbler
Pine Warbler
Palm Warbler
Louisiana Waterthrush
Clay-colored Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Rusty Blackbird
Red Crossbill (PA Extralimital)
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 EARED GREBE in Middlesex
County, NJ; TUFTED DUCK in Chester County, PA and SPOTTED TOWHEE in Burlington
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.
Most recent sightings of up to two adult BLACK-HEADED
GULLS came from “Miami Beach” at the end of Miami Ave in
the Villas on March 28. A BLACK-HEADED GULL was seen at the Cape May-Lewes
Ferry Terminal on the evening of March 26. Both adult BLACK-HEADED GULLS
were at the end of Avalon Ave in the Villas on March 25. A very early
YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO shot past the jetty at the Cape May-Lewes Ferry
terminal on March 25. On March 27-30, a BLACK-NECKED STILT was at the
West Cape May impoundments off Bridge Rd, a largely dirt road which
can be accessed from Seashore Rd. A drake EURASIAN WIGEON was on Lighthouse
Pond at Cape May Point State Park through March 30. The RED-NECKED GREBE
was near the free bridge at Nummy Island on March 24-27. HORNED GREBES
have also been seen in the area. A hen COMMON EIDER and 3 drake HARLEQUIN
DUCKS were at Avalon’s 8th St Jetty on March 24. Four PIPING PLOVERS
fed on the beach at Cape May Point and at Delaware Bay north of the
Cape May Canal. On March 24-25, a CLIFF SWALLOW appeared over Willow
Pond at the Rea Farm. NORTHERN GANNETS were seen from Sunset Beach on
March 28 and from The Nature Conservancy Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge
on March 26. A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was seen from the Cape May-Lewes
Ferry on March 28. PINE WARBLERS were back at Belleplain State Forest,
and a LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH was at the Sunset Bridge in Belleplain on
March 31.
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 WESTERN WILLET was at Heislerville WMA on March
28.
Atlantic County:
Click
Here for Atlantic County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
No reports
Monmouth County:
Click
Here for Monmouth County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A BLACK BRANT was feeding with Atlantic BRANT at Lake
Como on March 28. That day, a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was at Sylvan
Lake, and a NORTHERN GANNET flew past Shark River Inlet. Sandy Hook
had an ICELAND GULL at North Beach on March 28. NORTHERN GANNETS were
seen off Sandy Hook on March 25.
Burlington County:
Click
Here for Burlington County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
The SPOTTED TOWHEE was still at Palmyra Cove Nature
Park through March 31, when a MARSH WREN was also at the park. Two drake
REDHEADS were on the Delaware River off Palmyra Cove Nature Park on
March 26.
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 March 28, a probable third cycle NELSON’S
GULL (GLAUCOUS GULL X HERRING GULL hybrid) flew up Barnegat Inlet at
Barnegat Lighthouse State Park. Other sightings from Barnegat Lighthouse
State Park included RED-THROATED LOON, COMMON EIDER, 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.
A YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was in a blackbird flock
at the Sunset Rd area of Mannington Marsh on March 27. A drake EURASIAN
WIGEON was seen from Sunset Rd at Mannington Marsh on March 28.
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.
On March 26, two LONG-TAILED DUCKS, CANVASBACKS and
35 LONG-TAILED DUCKS were on Spruce Run Reservoir at Spruce Run State
Park.
Middlesex County:
An EARED GREBE was reported with HORNED GREBES at
the South Amboy waterfront on March 29.
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.
No reports
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.
On March 28, two CATTLE EGRETS were at Dutch Neck
Rd across from Gray Fox Farm, and two RING-NECKED PHEASANTS were at
the edge of a cornfield. Birds at Brandywine Creek State Park included
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, BARRED OWL and PILEATED WOODPECKER. On March 26,
Middle Run Natural Area had a PALM WARBLER. Two GLOSSY IBISES were at
Russell W Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge in Wilmington. A GREAT EGRET
was at the Ashland Nature Center on March 30.
Kent County:
Click
Here for Kent County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
The EURASIAN WIGEON at Whitehall Neck Rd, just outside
of Bombay Hook NWR, was still present through March 25. The WIGEON has
been seen on a temporary pond on the south side of Whitehall Neck Rd.
Other sightings from Bombay Hook NWR included GLOSSY IBIS, PEREGRINE
FALCON, AMERICAN AVOCET, AMERICAN WOODCOCK, BARRED OWL and RUSTY BLACKBIRD.
The drake EURASIAN WIGEON was at Ted Harvey WA through March 24.
Sussex County:
Click
Here for Sussex County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
Hundreds of NORTHERN GANNETS were seen from the Cape
May-Lewes Ferry on March 27. That day, a LITTLE BLUE HERON flew across
Lewes Harbor towards the inner breakwater. A small flock of WHITE-WINGED
SCOTERS were near the icebreakers at Lewes Harbor on March 27. Other
sightings from the ferry that day included RED-THROATED LOON, BLACK
SCOTER, SURF SCOTER and BONAPARTE’S GULL. Sightings from Cape
Henlopen State Park included thousands of SCOTERS, NORTHERN GANNETS,
BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES, PINE WARBLERS and Harbor Seal. Four CANVASBACKS
were on Silver Lake in Rehoboth. On March 27, a LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH
sang at Trap Pond State Park. A YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER sang and displayed
at the road to Fleetwood Pond in Prime Hook NWR on March 24. Other birds
at Prime Hook that day included AMERICAN BITTERN, LONG-TAILED DUCK and
PINE WARBLERS. On March 30, nine LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were in a
flooded field off Route 1 just north of CR 38.
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.
Andorra Natural Area had PILEATED WOODPECKER.
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.
A hen TUFTED DUCK was discovered at a sewage pond
that is part of the Upper Uwchlan Water Treatment Plant, located off
Fellowship Rd in the town of Eagle on March 18, and was reported as
recently as March 27. To reach this sewage pond, take the PA Turnpike
to Route 100, head north on Route 100 through the town of Eagle, then
turn right on Fellowship Rd (about 0.5mi north of Park Rd). Continue
on Fellowship Rd until you reach a circular gravel parking lot, which
is less than a half-mile from the intersection of Route 100 and Fellowship
Rd. Park at the parking area; this area overlooks the sewage ponds.
The TUFTED DUCK had been seen at the pond closest to the gravel lot.
A VESPER SPARROW was at Bucktoe Creek Preserve on March 28. On March
26, four LONG-TAILED DUCKS were on Struble Lake, and RED-BREASTED MERGANSER
was there on March 29. Seven LONG-TAILED DUCKS were on Marsh Creek Lake
on March 29. That day, Kurtz’s Fish Hatchery in Honeybrook had
a RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. Hibernia County Park had PILEATED WOODPECKER.
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.
Two LONG-TAILED DUCKS and an ICELAND GULL were at
Lake Galena in Peace Valley Park on March 26. Up to 60 LESSER BLACK-BACKED
GULLS and a WILD TURKEY have been seen at Peace Valley recently. On
March 26, Nockamixon State Park had a REDHEAD, 5 LONG-TAILED DUCKS and
22 HORNED GREBES. The Churchville Nature Center had 8 PINE WARBLERS
and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH on March 27. On March 26, Tullytown’s
Franklin Cove had LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL.
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
seen as recently as March 27.
Lehigh County:
Click
Here for Lehigh County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On March 28, fourteen LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were
on Dorney Pond. Trexlertown Pines had RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH and PINE
WARBLER.
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.
No reports
Lancaster County:
Click
Here for Lancaster County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On March 27, a LITTLE GULL was in a flock of 300 BONAPARTE’S
GULLS at the Susquehanna River in the area of Wrightsville, Columbia
and Long Level. Other birds in the area on March 27 included a LONG-TAILED
DUCK, 5 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS and several HORNED GREBES. On March
25, two SHORT-EARED OWLS were seen from Stop #3 at Middle Creek WMA.
That day, Middle Creek WMA also had 3 TUNDRA SWANS, a CACKLING GOOSE,
a LONG-TAILED DUCK, 2 COMMON GOLDENEYES and a RED-BREASTED MERGANSER.
On March 28, a ROSS’S GOOSE was at Willow Point in Middle Creek
WMA, and a ROSS’S GOOSE and CACKLING GOOSE were seen from the
auto tour.
Lebanon County:
Click
Here for Lebanon County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On March 28-29, a drake EURASIAN WIGEON was at a large
pond on Hopeland Rd in Middle Creek WMA. The SANDHILL CRANE was at Lake
Duffy or the surrounding wet areas of SGL 145 through March 29. A small
flock of RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were seen in the area as well. A HORNED GREBE
was at Memorial Lake State Park on March 28. On March 29, Risser’s
Pond on Chapel Rd had 3 TUNDRA SWANS. That day, a COMMON LOON, 2 HORNED
GREBES and a BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON were at Memorial Lake State Park.
Carbon County:
No reports
Monroe County:
No reportsa
Pike County:
No reports
Wayne County:
On March 27, a NORTHERN SHRIKE was in a tree across
from the northern access to Prompton State Park, near the intersection
of Route 170 and Eros Rd.
PA Extralimitals:
On March 26, a LITTLE GULL was seen between Fort Hunter
and Marysville in Dauphin County. In Franklin County, at least 7 RED
CROSSBILLS were near Building 15 at Cowans Gap State Park on March 27-28.
A TRUMPETER SWAN was at Black Swamp in SGL 284, Lawrence County through
March 27.
Extralimital Reports
No reports
Announcements
On April 17, Lynn Jackson will lead a joint DVOC &
Wyncote Audubon field trip to Coastal Delaware from New Castle to Kent
Counties for early migrants and lingering winter birds. Please Contact
Lynn for information on the meeting time and place. On April 17, Jeff
Holt will lead a DVOC field trip to Riverwinds and the National Park dredge
spoils area in Gloucester County, NJ. The trip will meet at 7:00AM at
Riverwinds. This trip will focus on early migrants and nesting bitterns,
rails, moorhen, coot and Pied-billed Grebe. Please contact Jeff if you
plan on attending. On April 18, Steve Kacir will lead a DVOC field trip
to the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal area of New Castle County, DE for
nightbirds such as King Rail, Virginia Rail, Sora, Common Moorhen, Sedge
Wren and Marsh Wren. The trip will meet at 3:30AM at the intersection
of S Reedy Point Rd and Dutch Neck Rd, south of Delaware City. Please
contact Steve if you plan to attend. Additional information on all three
of these trips including past trips’ reports, directions, maps and
contact information for the trip leaders are on the DVOC website: http://www.dvoc.org
The next meeting of the DVOC is on April 1, 2010, featuring
a program by Bud Cook, entitled “Birds of the Boreal Barrens of
Northeast Pennsylvania.” The meeting takes place at The Academy
of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia at 7:30PM. The meeting after that
will take place on April 15. More details are available on the DVOC website:
http://www.dvoc.org
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