| Current
report - Wednesday August 11, 2010
- Birds Mentioned
Click Here for species
accounts for many of these birds
Black-bellied Whistling-duck(NJ)+
Black-bellied Whistling-duck(PA)+
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)
Pied-billed Grebe
Brown Pelican
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Little Blue Heron
Tricolored Heron
Green Heron
Black-crowned Night-heron
Yellow-crowned Night-heron
Glossy Ibis
Blue-winged Teal
Lesser Scaup
King Eider
Bald Eagle
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Wild Turkey
Common Moorhen
Black-bellied Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Piping Plover
Black-necked Stilt
American Avocet
Solitary Sandpiper
Spotted Sandpiper
Whimbrel
Marbled Godwit
Ruddy Turnstone
Red Knot
White-rumped Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Dunlin
Stilt Sandpiper
Short-billed Dowitcher
Long-billed Dowitcher
Wilson's Snipe
Wilson's Phalarope
Bonaparte's Gull
Gull-billed Tern
Caspian Tern
Royal Tern
Sandwich Tern
Forster's Tern
Least Tern
Black Tern
Black Skimmer
Eurasian Collared-dove
Black-billed Cuckoo
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Pileated Woodpecker
Eastern Kingbird
Common Raven
Bank Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Wood Thrush
Blue-winged Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
American Redstart
Prothonotary Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush
Louisiana Waterthrush
Mourning Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Canada Warbler
Scarlet Tanager
Lark Sparrow
Blue Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Bobolink
Orchard Oriole
Baltimore Oriole
Pine Siskin
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.
I'm Cindy Ahern, your guide for birding in the Greater
Philadelphia Region. This week, we highlight reports of BLACK-BELLIED
WHISTLING-DUCK in Cape May County, NJ, and in Berks 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.
At Cape May Point State Park, the Three BLACK-BELLIED
WHISTLING-DUCKS continued on Lighthouse Pond through August 11. Four
SANDWICH TERNS along with ROYAL TERNS were on the beach at Cape May
Point State Park on August 11. Bunker Pond had
MARBLED GODWITS on August 6. Other highlights from Bunker Pond
included GULL-BILLED TERN with young & 3 TRICOLORED HERONS. Bunker
Pond continues to draw high numbers of waders and shorebirds with low
water levels exposing mud flats. On August 11, small parties of BOBOLINK
flew out over the bay. On August 5, two AMERICAN AVOCETS were at Cape
May Point State Park. Other highlights reported that day included BROWN
PELICAN, PIPING PLOVER, PECTORAL SANDPIPER, STILT SANDPIPER, SHORT-BILLED
DOWITCHER, and BLACK SKIMMER. Migration reports are starting to trickle
in from the Cape May Point State Park
Hawk Watch with sightings of PEREGRINE FALCON and BROAD-WINGED HAWKS.
The subadult drake KING EIDER has been observed as recently as August
9 at the Concrete Ship with the best viewing opportunity from Alexander
Ave. Sightings from The Nature Conservancy's Cape May Migratory Bird
Refuge reported a WILSON'S PHALAROPE, seen as recently as August 10.
The WILSON'S PHALAROPE is best viewed through a scope at the back edges
of the east path ponds. Other sightings from TNC included PIPING PLOVER,
SPOTTED and SOLITARY SANDPIPER, MARBLED GODWIT, 1 WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER,
BLUE GROSBEAK. HIGBEE'S BEACH WMA saw many migrants moving through this
week, including INDIGO BUNTING, YELLOW, BLACK-AND-WHITE, PROTHONOTARY,
and PRAIRIE WARBLERS, AMERICAN REDSTART, and NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH. A
WORM-EATING WARBLER was observed in trees in the first field. Other
birds observed at the dike at Higbee's included BLACK TERN, BALD EAGLE,
GREEN HERON, TRICOLORED HERON, MARBLED GODWIT, WHIMBREL, EASTERN KINGBIRDS,
ORCHARD ORIOLES, and a single LARK SPARROW. Five WILD TURKEYS have been
observed this week in the field across New England Rd. from the car-park
at Hidden Valley.
A BROWN PELICAN was observed from a whale watch boat flying over the
Two-Mile Bridge. On August 8, Jake's Landing had a pair of RED-BREASTED
NUTHATCHES.
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.
On August 7, five AMERICAN AVOCETS were observed at
the Brigantine Division of the Edwin B. Forsythe NWR along the north
dike just before Jenn's Trail. On August 9, Brigantine had WHIMBREL,
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, LEAST TERNS,
GULL-BILLED TERN, CASPIAN TERN, SPOTTED SANDPIPER & RUDDY TURNSTONE.
On August 11, reports from Brigantine included PECTORAL SANDPIPERS,
BALD EAGLES, GULL-BILLED TERNS, STILT SANDPIPERS and great numbers of
common shorebirds and waders.
Monmouth County:
Click
Here for Monmouth County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
At least thirty pairs of nesting BLACK SKIMMERS have
been reported from Sandy Hook's false hook (NO ACCESS area). This represents
the first reports of Black Skimmers nesting at Sandy Hook since 1985.
Other sightings from Sandy Hook this week included BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER,
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, SPOTTED SANDPIPER, RUDDY TURNSTONE, SHORT-BILLED
DOWITCHER, BLACK TERN, ROYAL TERN, and a juvenile COMMON MOORHEN. DUNLIN
were reported from the False Hook on August 6.
Burlington County:
Click
Here for Burlington County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was reported from Palmyra on
August 8. The same day, a YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO was observed in Palmyra,
and another in Rancocas.
Cumberland County:
Click
Here for Cumberland County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A notable 160+ SNOWY EGRETS were reported from the
Matt's Landing Rd. area of Heislerville WMA.
Camden County:
Click
Here for Camden County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO was observed in the Borough
Pine Valley on August 10.
Ocean County:
Click
Here for Ocean County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
RED KNOTS & SANDWICH TERNS were reported from
Island Beach State Park on August 7.
Salem County:
Click
Here for Salem County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS were noted staging at Riverwinds.
Gloucester County:
Click
Here for Gloucester County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
Floodgates had CASPIAN TERNS and BLACK TERNS in addition
to FORSTER'S TERNS on August 9.
Hunterdon County:
Click
Here for Hunterdon County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On August 7, reports from Spruce Run Reservoir included
SPOTTED SANDPIPER, SOLITARY SANDPIPER and PECTORAL SANDPIPER.
Middlesex County:
CLIFF SWALLOWS continue at Lake Nelson in Piscataway.
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.
Lord Stirling had LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH, AMERICAN
REDSTARTS, BLACK-AND-WHITE, BLUE-WINGED, MAGNOLIA, YELLOW, and PRAIRIE
WARBLERS, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, and OVENBIRD.
Morris County:
No reports
Union County:
No reports
Bergen County:
No reports
NJ Extralimitals:
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.
A CANADA WARBLER, AMERICAN REDSTART, OVENBIRD, BLACK
AND WHITE WARBLER, YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, PILEATED WOODPECKER, INDIGO
BUNTING, and BALTIMORE ORIOLES were at Brandywine Creek State Park on
August 7.
Kent County:
Click
Here for Kent County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
Ted Harvey WA had a nice selection of shorebirds,
including RUDDY TURNSTONE, SPOTTED SANPIPER, and RED KNOT on August
7.
Ted Harvey also hosted TRICOLORED HERON and LITTLE BLUE HERON, and two
SEDGE WRENS called from the north side of the road. Reports from BOMBAY
HOOK NWR this week included AMERICAN AVOCET, STILT SANDPIPER, and LONG-BILLED
DOWITCHER. Large numbers of waders and shorebirds are favoring Bear
Swamp Pool, which is currently more active than both Shearness and Raymond.
A good number of AMERICAN AVOCETS were observed in Raymond Pool on August
11. Blackbird State Forest Tybout Tract hosted a BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO
on August 10. The Cypress Complex Tract at Blackbird State Forest reported
BLACK-BILLED and YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOOS plus NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, PROTHONOTARY
and BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLERS. BLUE GROSBEAK and BALD EAGLES were also
observed in the area.
Sussex County:
Click
Here for Sussex County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On August 6, a juvenile WHITE IBIS was observed at
Prime Hook NWR in the first pond on Prime Hook Rd. A MARBLED GODWIT,
3 TRICOLORED HERONS, and many common shorebirds were also present at
Prime Hook on August 8. Other sightings from Prime Hook included SOLITARY
SANDPIPER, WILSON'S SNIPE, YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO Fowler's Beach had MARBLED
GODWIT and a BONAPARTE'S GULL on August 8. Cape Henlopen State Park
had a SANDWICH TERN on August 8. Despite the low water levels in the
impoundment, impressive numbers of shorebirds were observed along Broadkill
Beach Rd. in the grass at the far eastern end, including a number of
PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, BLACK-NECKED STILT with chick, STILT SANDPIPERS,
and SPOTTED SANDPIPERS.
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
Reports from John Heinz NWR this week included
juvenile LITTLE BLUE HERON, SNOWY EGRET, LESSER SCAUP, SPOTTED SANDPIPER,
CASPIAN TERN, YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, and BLUE GROSBEAK.
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 August 7, Bucktoe Creek Preserve had AMERICAN REDSTART
and NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH. Approximatlye 40 GREAT EGRETS were noted roosting
in a Willow tree at Struble Lake this week.
Montgomery County:
Click
Here for Montgomery County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.No Reports
The GLOSSY IBIS continued through August 7 at the
Church Rd. Natural Area of Green Lane Reservoir. Other reports from
the Church Rd. area included 2 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON, SEMIPALMATED
PLOVER, SOLITARY SANDPIPER, SPOTTED SANDPIPER, PECTORAL SANDPIPER, and
BANK SWALLOWS on August 7, and CASPIAN TERN and BALD EAGLE on August
11.
Bucks County:
Click
Here for Bucks County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
Reports from the Churchville Nature Center this week
include SOLITARY SANDPIPER & SPOTTED SANDPIPER.
Bradford Dam had a juvenile LITTLE BLUE HERON this week.
Northampton County:
Click
Here for Northampton County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
The Whitehall EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES were reported
through August 11, and have been seen on the wire by the intersection
of Freemansburg Ave. and Wagner Dr. When birding this area, please keep
safety and courtesy to others on the road in mind and respect private
property and the local residents. Freemansburg Ave is a very busy road.
Lehigh County:
Click
Here for Lehigh County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
Reports from Bake Oven Knob included RED-TAILED HAWK,
AMERICAN KESTRELS, COMMON RAVENS, YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, SCARLET TANAGER,
INDIGO BUNTING.
Schuylkill County:
Click
Here for Schuylkill County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On August 5, Sweet Arrow Lake had 4 GREAT EGRETS,
SPOTTED SANDPIPER, WOOD THRUSH, PILEATED WOODPECKER, and AMERICAN KESTREL.
AMERICAN KESTREL was reported from Hawk Mountain.
Berks County:
Click
Here for Berks County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A PINE SISKIN has been visiting a private feeder through
August 5.
Two BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCKS have been reported in Mohnton through
August 7. The ducks are in the Wyomissing Creek along with a number
of Mallards and Domestic Ducks. The pond off Route 222 east of Kutztown
at Sittler's golf reports SOLITARY SANDPIPER, PECTORAL SANDPIPER and
SPOTTED SANDPIPER. Nocturnal flight calls of YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, and
VEERY were heard in Boyertown.
Lancaster County:
Click
Here for Lancaster County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
SGL 156 had a MOURNING WARBLER on August 9. A boat
trip out of the Lower Susquehanna river turned up BLACK TERNS, FORSTER'S
TERNS, COMMON TERN, PIED-BILLED GREBE, BALD EAGLES, and PEREGRINE FALCON.
PEREGRINE FALCONS and a CASPAIN TERN were observed in the area of Columbia
River Park. Highlights from Conejohela Flats included a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER
at Avocet Point on August 7. Other sightings from the Conejohela Flats
included SOLITARY SANDPIPER, SPOTTED SANDPIPER, PECTORAL SANDPIPER,BLUE-WINGED
TEAL, PIED-BILLED GREBE, BONAPARTE'S GULL, and MERLIN. A juvenile YELLOW-CROWNED
NIGHT HERON has been reported in Gap as recently as August 11. PEREGRINE
FALCONS have been reported from Columbia.
Lebanon County:
Click
Here for Lebanon County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
Reports from the Second Mountain Hawkwatch included
OSPREY, BALD EAGLE, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, COOPER'S HAWK, BROAD-WINGED
HAWK, RED-TAILED HAWK, and AMERICAN KESTREL
The CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOW was heard through August 6 along Tomstown Rd.
Please use caution in this area, as training is scheduled during the
next few weeks and artillery is firing nearby.
Carbon County:
No reports
Monroe County:
No reports
Pike County:
No reports
Wayne County:
No reports
PA Extralimitals:
No reports
Extralimital Reports
CONNECTICUT: a WHITE-TAILED KITE in Stratford, has been
reported through August 8.
Announcements
On August 28, Steve Kacir will lead a DVOC field
trip to the Johnson Sod Farms. The trip will meet at 7:30 AM at Grier's
Lane just past the intersection of Grier's Lane and Route 77. Target species
include UPLAND SANDPIPER, AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, AND
BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER. Please contact Steve if you plan on attending.
Additional information including the past trip reports, a Google Map with
the trip meeting location and contact information for the trip leader
can be found on the DVOC website: http://www.dvoc.org
On August 29, Frank Windfelder will lead a DVOC field
trip to Palmyra
Cove Nature Park. The trip will meet at 6:45 AM in the parking lot.
Target species include early migrants such as GOLDEN-WINGED & MOURNING
WARBLERS, YELLOW-BELLIED, LEAST AND OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS, and a visit
to the cove for water birds. Please contact Frank if you plan on attending.
Additional information including the past trip reports, a Google Map with
the trip meeting location and contact information for the trip leader
can be found on the DVOC website: http://www.dvoc.org
The final informal summer meeting of the DVOC takes
place on September
2 at 7:30pm at the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge in Philadelphia,
PA. This informal meeting's short presentations will
include: "Global Warming: The Impact on Birds", presented by
Phil Witmer; "Bird-Safe Glass Demonstration Project at Heinz",
presented by Gary Stolz; and "Identification of Wigeon", presented
by Frank
Windfelder. The meeting after that will be a regular meeting on
September 16 at 7:30pm, at the Academy of Natural Sciences of
Philadelphia, featuring a program by Adrian Binns, "A Naked Safari:
Tales of East Africa". Details are on the website, and guests are
always welcome.
See Life Paulagics is running a pelagic trip out of
Lewes, DE on August 15, with spaces still available. The trip is scheduled
to run from 4:00 AM to about 8:00 PM, and the cost is $195 per person
including proper tip for the mates.
We plan to be in Baltimore and Wilmington Canyons at the edge of the Continental
Shelf. A major target is the WHITE-FACED STORM-PETREL, which we've found
multiple times in these deep canyon waters. Other target birds that we've
found on past trips include LONG-TAILED JAEGER, LEACH'S STORM-PETREL,
BRIDLED TERN, SOUTH POLAR SKUA, ARCTIC TERN, and even SABINE'S GULL. Birds
we have seen more commonly include AUDUBON'S, CORY'S, and GREATER SHEARWATER,
WILSON'S STORM-PETREL, POMARINE JAEGER, and RED-NECKED PHALAROPE. We'll
also be looking for whales, dolphins, sea turtles, and other creatures.
Our boat is the Thelma Dale IV, a stable 85' boat that we've used
often, and we'll be sailing from Fisherman's Wharf in Lewes, DE..
There is a cabin, bench, and table space, a full walk-around deck below,
a birdable upper deck, and separate rest room for the ladies.
Note that although fishing is not an important part of the trip, we will
have several lines out for tuna, mahi mahi, or whatever else might show
up.
See Life Paulagics is dedicated to provide an appropriate number of friendly,
helpful, and approachable leaders for all of our trips. We use radios
with headsets to get the word of any sightings around the boat quickly.
It is important to us to get the participants on the birds and make sure
they are comfortable with the IDs, not just create a big trip list.
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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On this page....
Links
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
|
Click Here for Jack
Siler's eBird Rarities Map