| Current
report - Wednesday April 7, 2010
- Birds Mentioned
Click Here for species
accounts for many of these birds
Swallow-tailed Kite (DE)+
Swallow-tailed Kite (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
Great Cormorant
American Bittern
Little Blue Heron
Tricolored Heron
Cattle Egret
Yellow-crowned Night-heron
Glossy Ibis
Tundra Swan
Eurasian Wigeon
Canvasback
King Eider
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Red-breasted Merganser
Bald Eagle
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Ring-necked Pheasant
Wild Turkey
Virginia Rail
Sandhill Crane
Piping Plover
Black-necked Stilt
American Avocet
Willet
Whimbrel
Purple Sandpiper
Dunlin
Stilt Sandpiper
Ruff
Long-billed Dowitcher
American Woodcock
Little Gull
Black-headed Gull
Bonaparte's Gull
Iceland Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Glaucous Gull
Royal Tern
Black Skimmer
Barred Owl
Short-eared Owl
Whip-poor-will
Pileated Woodpecker
Eastern Kingbird
White-eyed Vireo
Common Raven
Horned Lark
Purple Martin
Cliff Swallow
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown-headed Nuthatch
House Wren
Marsh Wren
American Pipit
Yellow-throated Warbler
Pine Warbler
Palm Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Louisiana Waterthrush
Clay-colored Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Ipswich Sparrow
Nelson's Sparrow
Saltmarsh Sparrow
Yellow-headed 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 SWALLOW-TAILED KITE
in Sussex County, DE and Monmouth & Ocean Counties, 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.
A BLACK-HEADED GULL was at the mouth of Cox Hall Creek
on Apr 1 & Apr 3. A BLACK-HEADED GULL was at the Concrete Ship at
Sunset Beach on Mar 31. Three WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS were spotted from
Sunset Beach on the morning of Apr 2. The subadult drake KING EIDER
was off Poverty Beach through Apr 4. On Mar 31, Poverty Beach also had
a HORNED GREBE, a Harbor Seal and a pod of Bottlenose Dolphins. The
BLACK-NECKED STILT was at the West Cape May Impoundments through Mar
31. The drake EURASIAN WIGEON was seen from the Red Trail boardwalk
of Cape May Point State Park on Mar 31, and it was on Lighthouse Pond
through Apr 7. Two River Otters were at the park’s Lighthouse
Pond on Mar 31. An IPSWICH SPARROW was at the second plover pond on
Apr 4. The Nature Conservancy Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge had GLOSSY
IBIS, PIPING PLOVERS and a singing MARSH WREN.
Two BLACK SKIMMERS flew past the 2nd Ave jetty
on Apr 5. An AMERICAN BITTERN flew over Cape May Point on the evening
of Apr 6. Six WILD TURKEYS were seen from New England Rd near Higbee
Beach WMA on Apr 1. Sightings from Higbee Beach WMA included RED-THROATED
LOONS, NORTHERN GANNETS, SURF SCOTERS, BLACK SCOTERS and WHITE-EYED
VIREO. A WILD TURKEY was at the entrance to Hidden Valley Ranch on Apr
6. Highlights from Belleplain State Forest included WILD TURKEYS, RED-BREASTED
NUTHATCHES, YELLOW-THROATED WARBLERS and LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSHES. On
Apr 2-3, up to 8 YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS were at 44th St in Avalon,
and a TRICOLORED HERON was at Avalon on Mar 31 & Apr 2. That day,
Nummy Island had NELSON’S SPARROW and SALTMARSH SPARROW. Nummy
Island had WHIMBRELS Apr 1-3. On Apr 1-4, a RED-NECKED GREBE was at
Great Channel near the free bridge between Stone Harbor and Nummy Island.
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 WHIP-POOR-WILL called at Turkey Point on Apr 2.
A SURF SCOTER was on Hands Mill Pond, located northwest of CR 550
and CR 347. Peaslee WMA had YELLOW-THROATED WARBLERS and BLACK-AND-WHITE
WARBLER.
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 SWALLOW-TAILED KITE was flying east of Sandy Hook’s
K Lot on Apr 5, and it passed by the north end of Sandy Hook on Apr
6. From Mar 31-Apr 6, a STILT SANDPIPER was seen at the lake-sized puddle
at the foot of K Lot. On Apr 5, a VESPER SPARROW was at K Lot parking
lot. A SHORT-EARED OWL was at the dunes of the north end of Sandy Hook
on Apr 7. A GLAUCOUS GULL was at Sandy Hook’s North Beach on Apr
3-4. An ICELAND GULL was at the false hook on Apr 1. Two LESSER BLACK-BACKED
GULLS were at the false hook on Apr 4. Two COMMON RAVENS were at Sandy
Hook’s North Pond on Apr 7. The Sandy Hook Migration Watch counted
1000 NORTHERN GANNETS. On Apr 6, the Migration Watch reported a GLAUCOUS
GULL, 4 COMMON RAVENS and a CLIFF SWALLOW. Sandy Hook had AMERICAN BITTERNS
on Apr 3-4 & Apr 6-7. A YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON flew past the
Migration Watch on Apr 2. Other sightings from Sandy Hook included HORNED
GREBES, WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, PIPING PLOVERS, PURPLE FINCHES, PINE WARBLERS,
PALM WARBLERS and RUSTY BLACKBIRD.
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.
A SWALLOW-TAILED KITE was spotted from Exit 69 of
the Garden State Parkway on Apr 7. Barnegat Lighthouse State Park had
LONG-TAILED DUCKS, HARLEQUIN DUCKS, SURF SCOTER, PIPING PLOVERS and
PURPLE SANDPIPERS.
Salem County:
Click
Here for Salem County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
Two BLACK-HEADED GULLS were reported from Fort Mott
State Park on Apr 1. That day, a drake EURASIAN WIGEON was at the Salem
River WMA on Route 45. Finn’s Point Cemetery had WILD TURKEYS
on Apr 1.
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.
A BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER was at Echo Hill Park on
Apr 4.
Middlesex County:
On Apr 1, the South Amboy waterfront had HORNED GREBES.
Mercer County:
Click
Here for Mercer County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A WILD TURKEY was at the Pole Farm in Mercer County
Park NW.
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 Apr 7, an AMERICAN BITTERN was at a pond in the
Negri-Nepote Native Grassland Preserve. Lord Stirling Park had PILEATED
WOODPECKERS, PALM WARBLERS and PINE WARBLER.
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 Apr 1, a YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was on private
property at Dutch Neck Rd near Port Penn. Four CATTLE EGRETS were at
Grey Fox Farm on Apr 4. That day, five LITTLE BLUE HERONS were at Grier’s
Pond. Two RING-NECKED PHEASANTS were in a farm field on the north side
of Dutch Neck Rd on Mar 31. White Clay Creek had LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSHES
on Apr 2. On Apr 1, the Evening Heron Survey at Delaware City reported
18 LITTLE BLUE HERONS, 3 CATTLE EGRETS, 38 GLOSSY IBISES and a PEREGRINE
FALCON. Ashland Nature Center reported PALM WARBLER.
Kent County:
Click
Here for Kent County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Apr 4, a RUFF was near the Night-heron roost at
Bear Swamp in Bombay Hook NWR. On Apr 1 & 4, a hen LONG-TAILED DUCK
was on Raymond Pool at Bombay Hook. On Apr 5, a LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER
was at the flooded field at the intersection of the roads leading to
the Allee House and Finis Pool, and another LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER was
on the mudflats at the refuge. Other sightings from Bombay Hook included
AMERICAN AVOCETS, BLACK-NECKED STILT, displaying AMERICAN WOODCOCKS,
PURPLE MARTINS and RUSTY BLACKBIRD. Ted Harvey WA had AMERICAN AVOCETS
on Apr 4.
Sussex County:
Click
Here for Sussex County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A SWALLOW-TAILED KITE flew past the Cape Henlopen
State Park Hawk Watch on Apr 4. On Apr 1, an estimated 10,000 SCOTERS
were off Cape Henlopen, with 122 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS as well as the
more numerous SURF SCOTERS and BLACK SCOTERS. A ROYAL TERN was seen
from the Cape Henlopen State Park Hawk Watch on Apr 5. Other sightings
from Cape Henlopen State Park included RED-THROATED LOONS, NORTHERN
GANNETS, LITTLE BLUE HERON, PIPING PLOVERS, MERLINS, PEREGRINE FALCONS,
BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES. Indian River Inlet
still had LONG-TAILED DUCKS, SCOTERS and GREAT CORMORANTS. CANVASBACKS
were still on Silver Lake in Rehoboth through Apr 1.
Rehoboth Bay near Camp Arrowhead had HORNED
GREBES and BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH. On Apr 3, Prime Hook NWR had an EASTERN
KINGBIRD and a HOUSE WREN. On Apr 1-3, Fowler Beach had up to 4 BLACK-NECKED
STILTS, 120 AMERICAN AVOCETS and 24 BONAPARTE’S GULLS. Two LESSER
BLACK-BACKED GULLS were on the beach south of Fowler Beach on Apr 1.
That day, Slaughter Beach at Evans Ave had 14 AMERICAN AVOCETS. Assawoman
WA had PILEATED WOODPECKER and BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH. Abbott’s
Mill Nature Center had a LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH at the Isaac’s
Tract swamp forest on Apr 1. A YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER worked the pines
around the nature center at Abbott’s Mill on Apr 6. Other birds
at Abbott’s Mill included RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, PINE WARBLER
and Five-lined Skinks. A LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH appeared at Oak Grove
on Apr 4. On Apr 2, Redden State Forest had WILD TURKEY, 5 BLACK-NECKED
STILTS, a WILLET and a YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER.
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.
Recent sightings from John Heinz NWR at Tinicum included
nesting BALD EAGLES and WILD TURKEY.
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 Apr 3, an AMERICAN PIPIT was at the Brandywine
River floodplain wetlands along Brandywine Dr. Marsh Creek State Park
had COMMON LOONS Apr 1-4. Chambers Lake had a COMMON LOON on Mar 31.
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.
Peace Valley Park had a RED-BREASTED MERGANSER on
Apr 3 and fifteen WILD TURKEYS on Apr 2. Other birds at Peace Valley
included LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, PILEATED WOODPECKER, PALM WARBLER
and PINE WARBLER. The Churchville Nature Center had PINE WARBLERS.
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 Apr 5. On Apr 4, Graver’s hill had HORNED
LARKS and 2 territorial VESPER SPARROWS. On Apr 5, a VIRGINIA RAIL called
from School Rd in the northern part of the county. That evening, two
BARRED OWLS called from the south side of Bear Swamp. A YELLOW-THROATED
WARBLER sang near the Bethlehem Boat Club on Apr 6. A LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH
was at Henry’s Woods.
Lehigh County:
Click
Here for Lehigh County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Apr 6, a VESPER SPARROW sang from the farm fields
of SGL 205. That day, HORNED LARKS sang and displayed at the farm fields
of SGL 205, and a LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH sang from the creek valley.
Reports of LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH came from the Leaser Lake area. PURPLE
MARTINS were in Slatedale on Apr 3.
Schuylkill County:
Click
Here for Schuylkill County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSHES were singing at SGL 160. Sweet
Arrow Lake had PILEATED WOODPECKER, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH and PINE WARBLER.
Berks County:
Click
Here for Berks County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
The Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Hawk Watch reported COMMON
LOONS, PEREGRINE FALCONS, MERLINS and COMMON RAVENS.
Lancaster County:
Click
Here for Lancaster County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Mar 31, two SHORT-EARED OWLS were seen from tour
stop #3 at Middle Creek WMA. Other birds at Middle Creek included TUNDRA
SWANS and PILEATED WOODPECKERS. On Apr 4, a DUNLIN was at Avocet Point
on the Conejohela Flats, while two hen WILD TURKEYS were on Green Island.
On Mar 31, BONAPARTE’S GULLS and RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS were
at the Susquehanna River. Octoraro Reservoir had WILD TURKEYS and PINE
WARBLERS. Theodore A Parker III Natural Area in East Drumore Twp had
LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH on Apr 2. That day, 2 YELLOW-THROATED WARBLERS
were at Conestoga River Park in Conestoga Twp. A nesting pair of PEREGRINE
FALCONS was seen from Safe Harbor Park. The Serpentine Barrens at Black
Barren Rd and Happy Hollow Rd had RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES.
Lebanon County:
Click
Here for Lebanon County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
The SANDHILL CRANE was at Lake Duffy or the surrounding
wet areas of SGL 145 through Apr 4. On Apr 3, an EASTERN KINGBIRD was
at Gingrich Rd near Eckert Rd.
Carbon County:
No reports
Monroe County:
No reportsa
Pike County:
No reports
Wayne County:
No reports
PA Extralimitals:
On Apr 2, a LITTLE GULL was spotted from West Fairview
in Dauphin County.
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 Apr 15, 2010, featuring
a program by Dyana Z Furmansky, entitled “Rosalie Edge, Hawk of
Mercy.” The meeting takes place at The Academy of Natural Sciences
in Philadelphia at 7:30PM. The meeting after that will take place on May
6 featuring a program by Andy Wilson. 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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