DVOC Main Page > Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert
Last updated Friday, July 16, 2010 12:06 PM

Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert - Wednesday July 14, 2010
brought to you from Philadelphia by the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club and the Academy of Natural Sciences

The phone number to report sightings or hear the current RBA is 215-240-7547. You may leave your sightings after the recording or hit the one (1) key at any time to skip the recording and leave a message. The Hotline will be updated every Wednesday afternoon or evening. The Hotline will also be updated in the event any especially important rarities appear in the Delaware Valley Region such as Ivory Gull, Long-billed Murrelet, Red-footed Falcon, etc.

This spoken word version of the hotline is an abbreviated version of what's available here. Our current announcers for the RBA are Win Shafer and Cindy Ahern, though, there will doubtlessly be others who contribute in this respect. Please call in and enjoy the Hotline, and feel free to call that number to report rarities.

Submit reports to or 215-240-7547
(Submission guidelines)

How can we make this RBA better? Submit your thoughts to

Click Here for Jack Siler's eBird Rarities Map

Current report - Wednesday July 14, 2010

- Birds Mentioned
Click Here for species accounts for many of these birds

Magnificent Frigatebird (NJ)+
White-faced Ibis (NJ)+
Willet (PA)+
South Polar Skua (NJ)+
Chuck-will's-widow (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)


Cory's Shearwater
Greater Shearwater
Wilson's Storm-petrel
Northern Gannet
Brown Pelican
Least Bittern
Little Blue Heron
Black-crowned Night-heron
Yellow-crowned Night-heron
Egyptian Goose
Tundra Swan
Eurasian Wigeon
American Wigeon
Northern Pintail
Surf Scoter
Ruddy Duck
Northern Bobwhite
Piping Plover
Black-necked Stilt
American Avocet
Willet
Upland Sandpiper
Whimbrel
Western Sandpiper
Stilt Sandpiper
Ruff
Black-headed Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Gull-billed Tern
Caspian Tern
Sandwich Tern
Least Tern
Black Tern
Black-billed Cuckoo
Whip-poor-will
Red-headed Woodpecker
Cliff Swallow
Pine Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Prothonotary Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Grasshopper Sparrow
Saltmarsh Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Blue Grosbeak
Bobolink
Baltimore Oriole


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 WHITE-FACED IBIS in Cape May County, NJ; WILLETS in Montgomery County, PA; RUFFS in Kent County, DE; SOUTH POLAR SKUA and MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD in Atlantic County, NJ and the continuing CHUCK-WILL’S-WIDOW in Lebanon 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.

An AMERICAN WIGEON and a EURASIAN WIGEON were at the Lighthouse Pond of Cape May Point State Park on July 9-10. Other sightings from the state park included PIPING PLOVER, WESTERN SANDPIPER, GULL-BILLED TERN, CASPIAN TERN and BLUE GROSBEAK. On July 13, a WHITE-FACED IBIS was in front of the observation platform at The Nature Conservancy (TNC) Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge. Other sightings from TNC Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge included NORTHERN GANNET, AMERICAN WIGEON, PIPING PLOVER, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, the nesting BLACK-BILLED CUCKOOS and BOBOLINKS. A SANDWICH TERN roosted on the beach at Cape May Point on July 13. Migrants pushing past the dike at Higbee Beach WMA included PROTHONOTARY WARBLER, BALTIMORE ORIOLE and BOBOLINKS. Higbee also sported PRAIRIE WARBLER, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT and BLUE GROSBEAK. TNC Cape Island Preserve had a NORTHERN BOBWHITE on July 9. A BROWN PELICAN was on the pilings at Poverty Beach on July 9. On July 12, a WHIMBREL was seen from the Skimmer’s Salt Marsh Safari Trips out of Dolphin Cove Marina. On July 9, a moribund GREATER SHEARWATER was picked up from the beach at Sea Isle City, but sadly died later that evening. A late Cape May Whale Watch trip report from July 3 included sightings of NORTHERN GANNET, CORY’S SHEARWATERS and WILSON’S STORM-PETRELS at Five Fathom Bank. Belleplain State Forest had HOODED WARBLER and WORM-EATING WARBLER.

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.

Atlantic County:
Click Here for Atlantic County Birding Resources including an interactive map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.

A MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD was photographed over the beach at Atlantic City on July 13. A SOUTH POLAR SKUA was three miles offshore from Atlantic City on July 9. Other birds seen off Atlantic City that day included CORY’S SHEARWATERS, GREATER SHEARWATERS and WILSON’S STORM-PETRELS. A NORTHERN PINTAIL and an UPLAND SANDPIPER were at the Brigantine Division of Edwin B Forsythe NWR on July 10. This week, Brigantine also hosted WESTERN SANDPIPER, CASPIAN TERN, BLUE GROSBEAK, SALTMARSH SPARROW, BOBOLINK and 2 American Mink. Malibu Beach WMA had YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON.

Monmouth County:
Click Here for Monmouth County Birding Resources including an interactive map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.

A SURF SCOTER was at Ware Creek on July 11. On July 12, Conaskonk Point had SALTMARSH SPARROWS. A pair of GULL-BILLED TERNS flew over the tidal flats at the end of Fisherman’s Trail at Sandy Hook on July 12. Those tidal flats also attracted PIPING PLOVER, WESTERN SANDPIPER and LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL that day. A BLACK TERN was at the flats on July 11.

Burlington County:
Click Here for Burlington County Birding Resources including an interactive map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc. was still at Whitesbog through June 12.

The injured TUNDRA SWAN was still at Whitesbog through July 13, when Whitesbog also had a WILLET and 7 GULL-BILLED TERNS.

Cumberland County:
Click Here for Cumberland County Birding Resources including an interactive map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.

A YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was at Stow Creek Landing on July 9.

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.

A BLUE GROSBEAK was at East Amwell Twp on July 7.

Middlesex County:

Three CLIFF SWALLOWS were at the Raritan Ave bridge on July 11. That day, a nesting CLIFF SWALLOW was at the Route 18 bridge in Johnson Park in Piscataway, while an EGYPTIAN GOOSE was at the river. A YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON flew over East Brunswick on July 9.

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.

No reports

Kent County:
Click Here for Kent County Birding Resources including an interactive map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.

A black RUFF molting out of breeding plumage was at Raymond Pool in Bombay Hook NWR on July 11; this seems to be the same RUFF that was at Raymond on June 6. The black RUFF that was at Taylor’s Gut appears to be a different individual. A white RUFF, retaining a good amount of breeding plumage, was at Raymond Pool on July 8-10. To sum up, Kent County has hosted at least 3 different RUFFS this July. On July 11, an adult BLACK-HEADED GULL flew from Raymond Pool to Shearness Pool; it was also seen on July 7. A LEAST BITTERN briefly flew along the dike road at Bear Swamp on July 11. A BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO called from a copse of trees at the southeast corner of Bear Swamp that day. Other reports from Bombay Hook mentioned LITTLE BLUE HERON, BLACK-NECKED STILT, AMERICAN AVOCET, STILT SANDPIPER, WESTERN SANDPIPER, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT and BLUE GROSBEAK.


2 Pictures of the Raymond Pool Ruff by Sandra Keller

As many as 4 BLACK TERNS and 8 GULL-BILLED TERNS were at the north pond of Ted Harvey WA through July 11. On July 11, an UPLAND SANDPIPER was seen 40 yard from the side of Route 9 at Dover Air Force Base. The bird was in a field across from the entrance to the Air Mobility Command Museum. Please respect all Route 9 stipulations about stopping around the base and all Air Force Base regulations when birding around the Air Force Base to avoid encounters with the military police. Derek Stoner has suggested setting up a scope at the Air Mobility Command Museum within the base to look for UPLAND SANDPIPER, as base security apparently is less concerned with use of optics at that location. Taylor’s Gut had WESTERN SANDPIPER and BOBOLINK.

 

Sussex County:
Click Here for Sussex County Birding Resources including an interactive map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.

A flock of 70 LEAST TERNS were at Fowler Beach at Prime Hook NWR on July 11. Cape Henlopen State Park had PIPING PLOVERS.


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.

No reports

Montgomery County:
Click Here for Montgomery County Birding Resources including an interactive map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.No Reports

The Church Rd mudflats at Green Lane Reservoir had eight species of shorebird on July 10, including a WHIMBREL and 2 WILLETS – the first WILLETS to be seen in the area since the ‘70s. Possibly the same WHIMBREL was spotted again at the Church Rd mudflats on July 14. An immature LITTLE BLUE HERON was at Deep Creek Lake on July 9. An injured BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO was found in Media and taken to White Flicker bird rehab in Ambler. The now recovered CUCKOO will soon be released in the Ambler area.

Bucks County:
Click Here for Bucks County Birding Resources including an interactive map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.

Churchville Nature Center had a RUDDY DUCK on July 10. Other sightings from Churchville included BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON and PINE WARBLER.

Northampton County:
Click Here for Northampton County Birding Resources including an interactive map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.

A BLUE GROSBEAK was at the Koch property on July 9. A BLUE GROSBEAK was at PPL Martins Creek on July 13.

Lehigh County:
Click Here for Lehigh County Birding Resources including an interactive map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.

No reports

Schuylkill County:
Click Here for Schuylkill County Birding Resources including an interactive map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.

A DARK-EYED JUNCO sang near the village of Kaska on July 7.

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 July 9, nine RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were tallied along Williams Run Rd between the intersection of Williams Run Rd and Smyrna Rd and the town of Christiana. That day, GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS were also in the area of Williams Run Rd and Smyrna Rd.

Lebanon County:
Click Here for Lebanon County Birding Resources including an interactive map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.

The CHUCK-WILL’S-WIDOW and local WHIP-POOR-WILLS were still singing at Fort Indiantown Gap through July 13; the bird has been heard along Tomstown Rd near Cold Springs Rd and more recently near Neuins Lane in Grantville. Neuins Lane is the road leading to the Second Mountain Hawk Watch.

Carbon County:

No reports

Monroe County:

No reports

Pike County:

No reports

Wayne County:

No reports

PA Extralimitals:

No reports


Extralimital Reports

No reports

 

Announcements


On July 17, Lynn Jackson will lead a joint Wyncote Audubon & DVOC field trip to Bombay Hook NWR. Please contact Lynn Jackson for details on this trip if you plan on attending. Additional information including the 2009 Trip Report and contact information for the trip leader can be found on the DVOC website: http://www.dvoc.org

The next meeting of the DVOC is the annual picnic on July 31, hosted by Paul and Anita Guris. The rain date for the picnic is Aug 1. The picnic begins at 1:00PM at Paul & Anita’s place in Green Lane, PA. Please RSVP for the picnic by July 23 if you intend to attend. More information about the picnic can be downloaded from the DVOC website: http://www.dvoc.org

The next informal summer meeting of the DVOC takes place on August 5 at 7:30pm at Palmyra Cove Nature Park in Palmyra, NJ. This informal meeting’s short presentations will include “Rushton Farm Bird Banding Station” by Lisa Kiziuk & Doris McGovern and a new installment on Tom Bailey’s famous Birding Quiz. The next informal meeting will be on September 2 at the John Heinz NWR at Tinicum

See Life Paulagics is running pelagic trips out of Lewes, DE on August 15 (sign-up by July 10) and August 19-20 (sign-up by July 25) and out of Belmar, NJ on Aug 22 (sign-up by July 20). These trips focus on summer seabirds and cetaceans, including White-Faced Storm-petrel. 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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General Guidelines for Submission

- Rarities
- Good concentrations (e.g. 8 sp. of shorebirds at Green Lane)
- High numbers (e.g. 2,000 Common Mergansers at Peace Valley)
- Early/late occurrences (1st Indigo Bunting, lingering Phoebe)
- Unusual breeders
- BRIEF report on out of area mega rarities(e.g. Red-footed Falcon or even a stint in MA)
- Announcements (DVOC meetings and field trips, Academy events, CBC dates and pelagics!)

 

 

 

 

 

What is the Delaware Valley?

The Delaware Valley is the name given to the region that lays on either side of the Delaware River, centered on Philadelphia. This consists of southeastern Pennsylvania, central and southern New Jersey and the state of Delaware.
The following counties fall within our boundaries.
(Click on a county name for information specific to the county)

In Pennsylvania;
Berks County
Bucks County
Carbon County
Chester County
Delaware County

Lancaster County

Lebanon County

Lehigh County
Monroe County
Montgomery County
Northampton County
Philadelphia County
Pike County
Schuylkill County
Wayne County

In New Jersey;
Atlantic County
Burlington County

Camden County

Cape May County

Cumberland County

Gloucester County

Hunterdon County

Mercer County

Middlesex County

Monmouth County

Ocean County
Salem County

Somerset County
Union County
Warren County

In Delaware;
New Castle County
Kent County

Sussex County

 

 

DVOC Rare Bird Alert Committee
Steve Kacir - Chair
Cindy Ahern
Bert Filemyr
Paul Guris
Mike Lyman
Nate Rice
Win Shafer