- RBA
* PA, NJ, DE
* Delaware Valley: Southeast PA, Central/Southern NJ & DE
* PADV0911.04
* November 11, 2009
- Birds Mentioned
Pacific Loon (NJ)+
Great White Heron (DE)+
Ash-throated Flycatcher (NJ)+
Western Kingbird (DE)+
(NJ)+ (Details requested by NJBRC)
(PA)+ (Details requested by PORC)
(DE)+ (Details requested by DERC)
Red-throated Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Brown Pelican
Great Cormorant
American Bittern
Tricolored Heron
Yellow-crowned Night-heron
Cackling Goose
Brant
Tundra Swan
Eurasian Wigeon
King Eider
Common Eider
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Common Goldeneye
Northern Goshawk
Golden Eagle
Peregrine Falcon
Northern Bobwhite
Virginia Rail
Common Moorhen
Sandhill Crane
American Golden-plover
American Avocet
Spotted Sandpiper
Marbled Godwit
Red Knot
Western Sandpiper
White-rumped Sandpiper
Purple Sandpiper
Long-billed Dowitcher
Parasitic Jaeger
Black-headed Gull
Iceland Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Forster's Tern
Black Skimmer
Common Nighthawk
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Red-headed Woodpecker
Western Kingbird
Northern Shrike
White-eyed Vireo
Common Raven
Cliff Swallow
Cave Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Marsh Wren
American Pipit
Orange-crowned Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Scarlet Tanager
Clay-colored Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Lark Sparrow
Seaside Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Lapland Longspur
Snow Bunting
Indigo Bunting
Dickcissel
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Rusty Blackbird
Baltimore Oriole
Purple Finch
- Transcript
Hotline: Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert
Email reports to: rba@dvoc.org
Compiler: Steve Kacir, Delaware Valley Ornithological Club
Phone: (215) 240-7547
Voice of the Delaware Valley RBA: Cindy Ahern & Win Shafer
URL: http://www.dvoc.org/RBA/Current/Active/Index.htm
Welcome to the Nov 4, 2009 edition of 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 Region of
Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
I'm Steve Kacir your guide for birding in the Greater Philadelphia
Region. This week, we highlight reports of PACIFIC LOON in Cape
May County, NJ; GREAT WHITE HERON & WESTERN KINGBIRD in Sussex
County, DE and ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHERS in Cape May and Monmouth
Counties, NJ. Remember to check out our website for additional
content and information:
http://www.dvoc.org/RBA/Current/Active/Index.htm
--------------------------------------------------------------
FOR NEW JERSEY:
Cape May County:
Six COMMON EIDERS were spotted from the St Peter's Jetty on Oct 28.
Twenty COMMON EIDERS were at the jetty off the end of Whilldin Ave.
The flock of COMMON EIDERS off Cape May Point grew to 22 EIDERS on
Nov 3, seen from jetties around Cape May Point State Park to Coral
Ave. On Nov 4, the COMMON EIDER flock had dropped to 9 EIDERS seen
from the St Mary's and St Peter's jetties. On Nov 2, a CAVE
SWALLOW was spotted from the hawk watch platform at Cape May Point
State Park. A DICKCISSEL was seen from the platform on Nov 4. The
Cape May Point State Park Hawk Watch spotted GOLDEN EAGLES on Oct
29 & Nov 2-4, and a NORTHERN GOSHAWK made the count on Nov 4. The
park's Lighthouse Pond had two subadult EURASIAN WIGEONS on Oct 31-
Nov 3, and one was still there on Nov 4. A juvenile COMMON MOORHEN
was at Lighthouse Pond on Nov 3. A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was at the
south side of the Bunker Pond on Oct 30-31. Other birds seen at
the hawk watch platform and elsewhere in the state park included
AMERICAN BITTERN, CLIFF SWALLOW, PRAIRIE WARBLER and PURPLE
FINCHES. A River Otter was on Lily Lake on Nov 3. A BLACK SCOTER
was on the East Pool at The Nature Conservancy (TNC) Cape May
Migratory Bird Refuge on Nov 2. That day, a MARSH WREN was heard
at the refuge, and PARASITIC JAEGERS were seen offshore of the
refuge. Two VIRGINIA RAILS called from the refuge on Nov 1. Other
sightings from the TNC Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge included
AMERICAN PIPITS, SEASIDE SPARROW, RUSTY BLACKBIRD and PURPLE
FINCHES.
A YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD flew over the Morning Flight Project at
the Higbee Beach WMA dike on Oct 29. That day, the Morning Flight
also noted WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, RED-THROATED LOON and 15 WHITE-
RUMPED SANDPIPERS. On Oct 30, a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER and 27
WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS were at the Higbee dike. Other reports
from Higbee mentioned AMERICAN PIPITS, INDIGO BUNTING and RUSTY
BLACKBIRD. On Nov 1, a VESPER SPARROW was in the pumpkin patch at
the Rea Farm. A MAGNOLIA WARBLER was at the Rea Farm on Oct 29. A
WESTERN KINGBIRD was at Hidden Valley Ranch on Oct 29-31. A
WESTERN KINGBIRD was at the Villas WMA on Oct 31. Three COMMON
EIDERS were flying over Delaware Bay offshore from the Villas on
Nov 3. A possible NORTHERN SHRIKE was reported from the bayshore
near the Villas on Oct 30. On Nov 4, a SANDHILL CRANE was heard
then spotted in the salt hay farm across Dennis Creek from the
parking lot at Jake's Landing.
On Nov 4, an ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER was reportedly near the
southern base of the toll bridge at the south end of Nummy Island
on the west side of the road. On Oct 29, Stone Harbor Point had
RED KNOTS and MARBLED GODWITS. On Nov 3, PURPLE SANDPIPERS were
spotted on the jetty in front of the Avalon Sea Watch. A PACIFIC
LOON and RED-NECKED GREBE flew by the Avalon Sea Watch on Nov 2.
The Sea Watch reported a KING EIDER on Oct 31, COMMON EIDERS on Oct
28-Nov 4 and PARASITIC JAEGERS on Oct 28-Nov 1 & Nov 4. Other
sightings from the Avalon Sea Watch included RED-THROATED LOONS,
BROWN PELICANS, HORNED GREBE, WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, RED KNOT,
PURPLE SANDPIPERS and BONAPARTE'S GULLS. Two COMMON EIDERS were
off Sea Isle City on Oct 29. That day, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS were
at Whale Beach.
Cumberland County:
An AMERICAN PIPIT was on the dike at Maple Ave on Nov 2. A
juvenile YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was at the Husted's Landing
Marina on Oct 31.
Atlantic County:
A TRICOLORED HERON and AMERICAN AVOCET were at the Brigantine
Division of Edwin B Forsythe NWR on Oct 28. On Nov 1, fifteen
BLACK SKIMMERS were at Malibu Beach WMA.
Monmouth County:
On Oct 29, the ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER was near the bench on the
east side of Marlu Lake at Thompson Park in Lincroft. The ASH-
THROATED FLYCATCHER was past Marlu Lake at the back side of a trail
that loops through brushy habitat at the park on Oct 30. On Nov 1,
an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was at Thompson Park in Lincroft. On Nov
3, a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was near the maintenance building at the
east end of Randolph St on Sandy Hook. That day, two COMMON EIDERS
were on the cove north of C Lot, and Sandy Hook's north pond had a
COMMON MOORHEN Oct 31-Nov 2. A LARK SPARROW was at the south end
of K Lot on Nov 1. That day, a first-year ICELAND GULL was on the
beach at B Lot, and a SNOW BUNTING was on the beach at F Lot that
day. On Nov 4, two COMMON EIDERS, a drake WHITE-WINGED SCOTER and
a hen HARLEQUIN DUCK were seen off C Lot, and six more COMMON
EIDERS were at the end of Fisherman's Trail. Six SNOW BUNTINGS
were at the False Hook on Nov 1, and a juvenile AMERICAN GOLDEN-
PLOVER was there Oct 31-Nov 1. A LAPLAND LONGSPUR and 2 SNOW
BUNTINGS were at Sandy Hook on Oct 31. Other birds at Sandy Hook
included RED-THROATED LOONS, AMERICAN PIPITS, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH
and RUSTY BLACKBIRDS.
Burlington County:
On Nov 4, a drake and hen WHITE-WINGED SCOTER were seen on the
Delaware River from the Riverton Yacht Club.
Gloucester County:
A NORTHERN BOBWHITE called near High Hill Rd on Nov 3. On Nov 3,
three GREAT CORMORANTS were on the orange channel marker, seen from
the National Park dredge spoils area.
Camden County:
On Nov 2, five SURF SCOTERS were on Penbryn Pond in Berlin.
Somerset County:
Two to four RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were at Colonial Park in
Franklin Twp on Nov 3.
Hunterdon County:
On Oct 28, a DICKCISSEL was at Cold Brook Reserve.
Warren County:
Five SANDHILL CRANES were at the field near the Upper Beers Farm at
Merrill Creek Reservoir on Oct 30, seen from the Scott's Mountain
Hawk Watch that day as well. The Scott's Mountain Hawk Watch
reported GOLDEN EAGLES on Oct 29 & Nov 2 and NORTHERN GOSHAWK on
Nov 2-3. The Raccoon Ridge Hawk Watch reported NORTHERN GOSHAWK on
Nov 1 & 3 and GOLDEN EAGLES on Nov 1-3. Other sightings from
Raccoon Ridge included COMMON LOONS, COMMON RAVENS, AMERICAN
PIPITS, SNOW BUNTINGS and Black Bear. Spruce Run Reservoir had a
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER on Nov 2, and a SNOW BUNTING was at Spruce Run
on Oct 31.
Union County:
Six CACKLING GEESE were at Warinanco Park on Nov 4. A RED-HEADED
WOODPECKER was at Lenape Park on Nov 4.
--------------------------------------------------------------
FOR DELAWARE:
New Castle County:
The Ashland Nature Center Hawk Watch reported GOLDEN EAGLES on Oct
29-30 and NORTHERN GOSHAWK on Nov 2 and two NORTHERN GOSHAWKS on
Nov 4. A BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE was near the hawk watch hill at
Ashland on Oct 29. Other birds at Ashland included COMMON LOONS,
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, BALTIMORE ORIOLE and PURPLE FINCHES. On Oct
31, two CATTLE EGRETS and nearly 100 AMERICAN PIPITS were at the
Middletown Auto Park. Two CATTLE EGRETS were seen from Route 9
near Taylors Bridge.
Kent County:
A SANDHILL CRANE flew over fields in the southwest section of
Bombay Hook NWR on Nov 2. On Oct 29, Bombay Hook had AMERICAN
AVOCETS on the mudflats opposite the north end of Shearness Pool.
Other birds at Bombay Hook included WESTERN SANDPIPERS and
PEREGRINE FALCON.
Sussex County:
A GREAT WHITE HERON (Great Blue Heron subspecies) was at Bethany
Beach on Nov 1-3. To reach the spot where the GREAT WHITE HERON
was discovered, head south on DE Route 1 past Indian River Inlet
until the first traffic light after the inlet. Turn right onto
Fred Hudson Rd at the light, and then drive nearly to the end of
the road where it meets Cedar Neck Rd at a T-intersection. About
0.1 miles before the intersection, there is a pond on the right
side of the road (north of the road) just before the entrance to
the Bethany Lakes development.
On Nov 2, a WESTERN KINGBIRD perched on power lines just east of
the parking lot at the main battery of Fort Miles in Cape Henlopen
State Park. A HARLEQUIN DUCK and 2 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS flew past
the Cape Henlopen State Park Hawk Watch on Oct 29. Seven COMMON
EIDERS flew by the hawk watch on Oct 30, and PURPLE SANDPIPERS were
seen from the hawk watch on Nov 2. A GOLDEN EAGLE flew past the
Cape Henlopen Hawk Watch on Nov 3. Six WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS passed
by the radar tower area of Cape Henlopen State Park on Nov 4. That
day, a BALTIMORE ORIOLE was spotted from the road between the hawk
watch platform and the radar tower. A BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE was
near the parking lot for the bathhouse at Cape Henlopen on Nov 2.
Other sightings from Cape Henlopen included COMMON NIGHTHAWK, RED-
BREASTED NUTHATCHES, RUSTY BLACKBIRDS and PURPLE FINCHES. A
SCARLET TANAGER was at the Abbott's Mill Nature Center on Nov 3.
--------------------------------------------------------------
FOR PENNSYLVANIA:
Delaware County:
The Rose Tree Park Hawk Watch reported a GOLDEN EAGLE on Nov 1.
Other sightings from Rose Tree Park included COMMON LOONS and
PURPLE FINCH.
Chester County:
On Oct 29, a SANDHILL CRANE was on the far bank of the main pond at
Kurtz Fish Ponds. On Nov 3, two COMMON GOLDENEYES were on Chambers
Lake in Hibernia County Park. That day, Hibernia Park also had a
SPOTTED SANDPIPER, WHITE-EYED VIREO, LINCOLN'S SPARROW and PURPLE
FINCHES. On Nov 2, Bucktoe Creek Preserve had all seven species of
woodpecker one might expect to find in the region, including RED-
HEADED WOODPECKER.
Montgomery County:
An immature male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD was feeding on Salvias on
private property in Pottstown on Nov 3. The homeowner, Kathy, is
willing to receive visiting birders, and those interested in seeing
the RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD should contact her by email at
bella_trix@comcast.net On Nov 3, a BRANT was feeding at the side
of Royersford Rd in Royersford.
Bucks County:
Churchville Nature Center had LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS on Oct 31
and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH on Oct 29.
Northampton County:
A male RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD was still visiting feeders on
private property in Palmer Twp, Easton through Oct 30. A BALTIMORE
ORIOLE was at the Koch property through Nov 2.
Lehigh County:
Eighteen AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS were in a field at the
intersection of Schantz Rd and Route 100 on Oct 29. The Bake Oven
Knob Hawk Watch reported NORTHERN GOSHAWKS on Nov 1 & Nov 3-4 and
GOLDEN EAGLES on Oct 29-30 & Nov 1-3. On Nov 1, ten TUNDRA SWANS
and 18 BRANT passed by Bake Oven Knob. Other sightings from Bake
Oven Knob included COMMON LOONS, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, COMMON
RAVENS and PURPLE FINCHES. Three BRANT were on a retention pond in
Bath on Oct 29.
Schuylkill County:
The Schuylkill/Berks County line area of SGL 110 had 7 COMMON
RAVENS on Oct 30.
Berks County:
Two SURF SCOTERS and several WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS were on Blue
Marsh Lake at Blue Marsh National Recreation Area on Nov 4. The
Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Hawk Watch reported GOLDEN EAGLES on Oct 30
& Nov 1-4, with seven GOLDEN EAGLES tallied on Nov 1. Hawk
Mountain reported NORTHERN GOSHAWKS on Nov 1-2 & Nov 4. Other
sightings from Hawk Mountain included COMMON LOONS, AMERICAN PIPIT
and PURPLE FINCHES. The RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD visiting Harold Lebo's
yard was still present as of Oct 30. A COMMON RAVEN was at Lake
Ontelaunee on Oct 29, and a BLACK SCOTER was there on Nov 1. Sixty
BRANT and a COMMON RAVEN were seen from SGL 110 on Nov 3.
Lancaster County:
A GREAT CORMORANT was spotted from the small boat ramp at Peach
Bottom. A BRANT was at Avocet Point at the Conejohela Flats on Oct
31. Other sightings from the flats noted BONAPARTE'S GULLS and an
American Mink. Two BLACKPOLL WARBLERS were at the grounds of the
Lancaster Area Sewer Authority on Oct 31. Ten FORSTER'S TERNS were
on Conowingo Pond on Oct 29. On Oct 31, as GOLDEN EAGLE was at the
dam at Middle Creek WMA, and three COMMON RAVENS were at Middle
Creek that day. On Nov 4, Lancaster County Central Park had flyby
COMMON LOONS and PURPLE FINCHES.
Lebanon County:
The SANDHILL CRANE at Lake Duffy in SGL 145 was reported as
recently as Oct 30. Other birds in the area included RUSTY
BLACKBIRD and PURPLE FINCHES. The Second Mountain Hawk Watch
reported GOLDEN EAGLES on Oct 30-Nov 2 & Nov 4 and NORTHERN GOSHAWK
on Nov 1-2 & Nov 4. Other sightings from Second Mountain included
COMMON LOONS and COMMON RAVENS.
Carbon County:
On Nov 4, seven LONG-TAILED DUCKS were on the lake off of the Pine
Run Boat Launch at Beltzville State Park.
--------------------------------------------------------------
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
On Nov 14, Debbie Beer will lead a DVOC Field Trip to Okehocking
Preserve in Chester County, PA. The trip will focus on sparrows,
raptors and finches. The trip will meet at the main parking lot on
Route 3 (West Chester Pike) at 8:00AM. More information about this
and other DVOC field trips can be found on the DVOC website:
http://www.dvoc.org/
The next meeting of the DVOC will be on Nov 5 at the Academy of
Natural Sciences in Philadelphia at 7:30PM. The meeting will
feature a program by Jeff Holt and Bert Filemyr entitled "The
Composite Prints of Audubon's Birds of America - The Rarest of the
Rare." Details are on the website, and guests are always welcome.
The meeting after that will be the DVOC Annual Banquet on Nov 19.
The DVOC Annual Banquet will take place on Nov 19, 2009 at the
Sheet Metal Workers' Hall in Philadelphia, when Rick Wright will
present "The Most Beautiful of the Whole Beautiful Lot: Wood
Warblers of the American Southwest." Reservations are due on Nov
16. Additional information and a downloadable reservation form can
be found on the DVOC website:
http://www.dvoc.org/Banquet/Banquet.htm
See Life Paulagics is running a special eight-hour pelagic trip out
of Cape May for the Waterbird Society on Nov 8. The remaining
space on the trip is now open to the public, and there was still
room available as of Nov 3. Those interested in participating in
this trip can find more information on-line 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 birding events and
planned pelagic trips, please email rba@dvoc.org. This is Steve
Kacir, good birding to you all and thanks for calling, surfing and
reporting.
- End Transcript
Steve Kacir
rba@dvoc.org
DVOC Rare Bird Alert Committee Chair
Academy of Natural Sciences
Delaware Valley Ornithological Club
Philadelphia
For Birdeast archives, and to join, leave, or change address, see:
http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdeast.html
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