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10 Oct Dickcissel, Koch property, Northampton County [DAVID KOCH ] 10 Oct HSR: Rose Tree Park (10 Oct 2008) 29 Raptors ["Hawkcount.org reports" ] 10 Oct Take time to act for endangered species [Scott Weidensaul ] 10 Oct Lawrence Co. [Mark Vass ] 10 Oct Eighty Four, Washington County [Lori DeThomas ] 10 Oct Chester County - New Garden/Kennett Twps [Joe Sebastiani ] 10 Oct Clay-colored Sparrow, Northampton County [Dustin Welch ] 10 Oct Fall Album [Herbert Flavell ] 10 Oct Churchville Report (Bucks Co) - Birds reported Oct 4-10 [William Keim ] 10 Oct Chickadees [Kae Tienstra ] 9 Oct HSR: Tuscarora Summit (08 Oct 2008) 59 Raptors ["Hawkcount.org reports" ] 9 Oct HSR: Tuscarora Summit (09 Oct 2008) 119 Raptors ["Hawkcount.org reports" ] 9 Oct White-crowned Sparrows - Beaver Co. [Mark Vass ] 9 Oct Junco Sighting in Washington [JCConkle ] 9 Oct Chester Co. Birding, LINCOLN'S SPARROWS [Chuck Chalfant ] 9 Oct HSR: Second Mountain (09 Oct 2008) 78 Raptors ["Hawkcount.org reports" ] 9 Oct Chambers Lake, Chester County [Richard Robinson ] 9 Oct HSR: Militia Hill (09 Oct 2008) 29 Raptors ["Hawkcount.org reports" ] 9 Oct HSR: Waggoner's Gap (09 Oct 2008) 368 Raptors ["Hawkcount.org reports" ] 9 Oct Sapsuckers, a Hummer, others, Koch property, Northampton County [DAVID KOCH ] 9 Oct Stone Mt., (09 Oct ) 90 Raptors [Greg Grove ] 9 Oct Am. Bittern, Newberry Twnshp, York County [Jason Miller ] 9 Oct Eastern PA Birdline: 10/9/2008 [Dave DeReamus ] 9 Oct HSR: Rose Tree Park (09 Oct 2008) 22 Raptors ["Hawkcount.org reports" ] 9 Oct Re: Hummer still here - Lancaster County ["Janet H.Austin" ] 9 Oct CORRECTION re: RBA western Pennsylvania, 5 October 2008 [Amy Taracido ] 9 Oct RBA western Pennsylvania, 5 October 2008 [Jarred and Amy Taracido ] 9 Oct Hummer still in philly [Matt Sharp ] 9 Oct Volunteer Opportunity - Quakertown Swamp Important Bird Area [Brian Byrnes ] 8 Oct White-throated Sparrow, Bradford Co. [Trudy Gerlach ] 8 Oct HSR: Second Mountain (08 Oct 2008) 221 Raptors ["Hawkcount.org reports" ] 9 Oct Todd Bird Club outing at Yellow Creek (Indiana Co.) [Marge Van Tassel ] 8 Oct Sweet Arrow Lake, Schuylkill Co. [Denise Donmoyer ] 8 Oct Delaware Valley RBA, 8 OCT 2008 [Stephen Kacir ] 8 Oct HSR: Militia Hill (08 Oct 2008) 6 Raptors ["Hawkcount.org reports" ] 8 Oct Lanco.,Cen.Park, Wed Group, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher [Chuck Chalfant ] 8 Oct HSR: Waggoner's Gap (08 Oct 2008) 182 Raptors ["Hawkcount.org reports" ] 8 Oct Central PA Birdline for 10.9.2008 ["Mark A. McConaughy" ] 8 Oct Western Sandpiper - Crawford Co. [Mark Vass ] 8 Oct Lapland Longspur - Presque Isle(10-7) [Mark Vass ] 8 Oct HSR: Rose Tree Park (08 Oct 2008) 32 Raptors ["Hawkcount.org reports" ] 8 Oct Chimney Swifts, Pittsburgh ["Kate St.John" ] 8 Oct Hummer still here - Lancaster County [Frank Haas ] 8 Oct warbler movement and window kills-Lehigh Co. [Peter Saenger ] 8 Oct Koch property, Northampton County [DAVID KOCH ] 8 Oct Palm Warbler (Western race) - Sewickley Heights Borough Park - Allegheny County [Bob & Mary Ann ] 8 Oct Re: coop, crows, beth., lehigh 10/6 ["Janet H.Austin" ] 8 Oct White-throated Sparrow + other observations, Venango ["Kate St.John" ] 8 Oct Wh. Crowned Spar. - Crawford Co. ["Thomas C. Nicolls" ] 8 Oct Erie County waterbird count [Jerry McWilliams ] 8 Oct White-throated Sparrow, Westmoreland County [Len & Linda Hess ] 8 Oct first white-throated sparrows [JCConkle ] Subject: Dickcissel, Koch property, Northampton County From: DAVID KOCH <davilene AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:44:51 -0700 I found it around 5 tonight in the same patch where there was a marsh wren over the weekend.   Arlene Koch Easton, PA Northampton County davilene AT verizon.net Subject: HSR: Rose Tree Park (10 Oct 2008) 29 Raptors From: "Hawkcount.org reports" <reports AT HAWKCOUNT.ORG> Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:10:32 -0400 Rose Tree Park Media, Pennsylvania, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 10, 2008 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Turkey Vulture 8 45 51 Black Vulture 8 16 28 Osprey 0 50 176 Northern Harrier 0 8 19 Mississippi Kite 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 1 17 76 Sharp-shinned Hawk 7 281 578 Cooper's Hawk 3 41 95 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 14 32 Broad-winged Hawk 0 26 4002 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 1 18 65 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 1 44 120 Merlin 0 13 31 Peregrine Falcon 0 12 20 Unknown Vulture 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 1 Unknown Buteo 0 0 5 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 2 Unknown Raptor 0 3 15 Total: 29 588 5316 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours Official Counter: Gary Becker, Jim Lockyer Observers: Jim Lockyer, Judy Mayer, Skip Conant Visitors: Lew & Judy Norton from Eureka, CA and Lisa Tull, Judy Lockyer Weather: Crystal clear blue skies with a dash of high cirrus clouds (25,000 ft) all day. Light winds (3-11 mph)from the N early switching to the ENE midday and SE by closing. Temperature 62-75 F. Raptor Observations: One adult Bald Eagle at 11:22 EDT. Non-raptor Observations: The park Pileated Woodpeckers (male and female) continued to show-off several times again today. Predictions: Sunny. Highs in the mid 70s. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Jim Lockyer (jim AT rtphawkwatch.org) Rose Tree Park Hawkwatch, Media, PA information may be found at: www.rtphawkwatch.org Subject: Take time to act for endangered species From: Scott Weidensaul <scottweidensaul AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:59:44 -0400 PABIRDers may recall the discussion two months ago regarding the administration's proposal to gut critical aspects of the Endangered Species Act, largely by vacating the requirement that other federal agencies consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service before approving projects (federal, state or private) that might impact listed species. This is the end-run around Congress that anti-conservationists have long sought. One result of the rule change would be that an agency could decide on its own there was no risk to an endangered bird, even if it lacked a single staff biologist qualified to make that judgement. The consultation rule is one of the most powerful tools protecting threatened and endangered species. Public comments are being accepted only through Oct. 14. Comments cannot be emailed or faxed, but can be made via the web. Go to: http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocumentDetail&o=0900006480701894 ...and click on "Add Comments." Fill out the required fields, write your comments, and click "Next Step" at the bottom, then "Submit" on the following page. If you enjoy seeing bald eagles, peregrine falcons, brown pelicans, Florida scrub-jays, piping plovers, or any of the other birds that have benefited from ESA protection, this is the very least you can do to prevent an appalling proposal from being enacted. Scott Weidensaul Schuylkill Haven, PA Subject: Lawrence Co. From: Mark Vass <mvas1200 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2008 12:34:06 -0700 I did a check of the ponds in New Beaver today   I had the following there   3Rivers gravel pond   1 Ring-necked Duck   14 Green-winged Teal   185 Canada Geese     Wampum-New Galillee Rd.   1 A. Wigeon   1 Green-winged Teal   23 Wood Duck   45 Mallard   1 Solitary Sandpiper   2 Green Heron     Mark Vass Beaver Co. Subject: Eighty Four, Washington County From: Lori DeThomas <loridee AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:36:02 -0400 I got a chance to do a little birding yesterday and work and a yellow-rumped warbler arrived here. My boss has me keep track and he prints out photos of all the birds I see here so everyone has gotten involved and always asks me to let them see pictures of the birds I see here. When I started here people mocked me about my birdwatching. Now everyone here is paying attention to and is curious about birds, which is great. I've been told these have been referred to as "butter butts", everyone here got a kick out of that. Lori DeThomas Eighty Four, Washington County Subject: Chester County - New Garden/Kennett Twps From: Joe Sebastiani <bunker17 AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:14:00 -0400 A 3 hour walk on private property near Kennett Square, Chester County included a large number of birds with 50 species found. Large numbers of sparrows have moved in, including lots of White-throats and good numbers of Song and Swamp. A single Lincoln's Sparrow was found among them. A few lingering warblers were around including Ovenbird and Black-throated Green plus the usual Palms and Yellow-rumps. 2 Bobolink in a large field made for a nice walk on a beautiful day. Joe Sebastiani If you are interested in attending a bird-banding session on this property on Saturday, please contact me. Full list from the morning is as follows: Canada Goose 34 Wood Duck 13 Great Blue Heron 1 Black Vulture 3 Turkey Vulture 12 Cooper's Hawk 2 Red-tailed Hawk 2 American Kestrel 3 Mourning Dove 10 Red-bellied Woodpecker 16 Downy Woodpecker 5 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 9 Eastern Phoebe 5 Blue-headed Vireo 7 Blue Jay 42 American Crow 10 Tree Swallow 9 Carolina Chickadee 17 Tufted Titmouse 18 White-breasted Nuthatch 6 Carolina Wren 11 House Wren 4 Golden-crowned Kinglet 4 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 10 Eastern Bluebird 24 American Robin 15 Gray Catbird 7 Northern Mockingbird 8 European Starling 20 Cedar Waxwing 15 Yellow-rumped Warbler 12 Black-throated Green Warbler 1 Palm Warbler 4 Ovenbird 1 Common Yellowthroat 11 Eastern Towhee 18 Chipping Sparrow 38 Field Sparrow 2 Savannah Sparrow 6 Song Sparrow 54 Lincoln's Sparrow 1 Swamp Sparrow 10 White-throated Sparrow 159 Northern Cardinal 33 Bobolink 2 Red-winged Blackbird 3 Common Grackle 1 House Finch 26 American Goldfinch 8 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Subject: Clay-colored Sparrow, Northampton County From: Dustin Welch <dwelch5951 AT AOL.COM> Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2008 13:30:01 -0400 10/10/08 East Allen Twp., Bath, Northampton County This morning while walking around the yard I came across a few Chipping Sparrows feeding at the edge of the corn field when I briefly came across a very pale backed individual.?Before I could get an ID they retreated further back into the corn.?About a half hour later the bird appeared again, this time giving me a about 30 seconds of view time, a gorgeous CLAY-COLORED SPARROW.? Not only a new yard bird but a life bird as well.?Too many hours I've spent amongst the Chipping Sparrows to finally arrive at this moment. I spent the next?2 hours waiting for the bird to return, finally showing itself again around 11:30 a.m. for about a minute.?Enough time to take some poor photos from about 50 feet away. Was wondering if I was ever gonna see one of these guys. Always wondered if it would be so obvious to tell the difference from a Chipping Sparrow when I saw one, well there is quite a difference between the two. photos: http://flickr.com/photos/wildpabirds/ Other birds, Blackpoll Warbler 1 Nashville Warbler 1 Yellow-rumpeds Golden-crowned Kinglet Bird on, Dustin Welch Bath, Northampton County Subject: Fall Album From: Herbert Flavell <herb1013 AT EPIX.NET> Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:18:19 -0700 You're invited to view my online photos at the Gallery. Enjoy!Hi there are 20 pictures in my new fall of 2008 album some pictures of the Finches that are still here. Other pictures of the fall colors at 1800 feet. And one of a BCChickadee eating nyjer seed. First time I have seen one do that.No sign in needed. You're invited to view these photos online at KODAK Gallery! Just click on View Photos to get started. http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=5ulowdp.6tdv5jrp&x=0&y=6vxm0z&localeid=en_US If you'd like to save this album, just sign in, or if you're new to the Gallery, create a free account. Once you've signed in, you'll be able to view this album whenever you want and order Kodak prints of your favorite photos. Enjoy! Instructions: Click view photos to begin. If you're an existing member you'll be asked to sign in. If not, you can join the Gallery for free. http://www.kodakgallery.com/Register.jsp Questions? Visit http://help.kodakgallery.com. ------------------------------------------------------------ The KODAK Gallery Customer Service Team Phone: 800-360-9098 / 512-651-9770 Outside of the US and Canada ------------------------------------------------------------ If you cannot see the links above, copy and paste the following URL directly into your browser: http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=5ulowdp.6tdv5jrp&x=0&y=6vxm0z&localeid=en_US Subject: Churchville Report (Bucks Co) - Birds reported Oct 4-10 From: William Keim <keimwj AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:06:06 +0000 Birds reported from Churchville Nature Center in Southampton Oct. 4-10 have included the following highlights: Wood Duck American Black Duck Green-winged Teal Great Blue Heron Great Egret Osprey Sharp-shinned Hawk Cooper's Hawk Merlin Solitary Sandpiper Lesser Black-backed Gull Chimney Swift Belted Kingfisher Eastern Phoebe Blue-headed Vireo Tree Swallow House Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet Hermit Thrush Wood Thrush Brown Thrasher Cedar Waxwing Northern Parula Magnolia Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler American Redstart Common Yellowthroat Eastern Towhee Meet for the weekly Bird Walk every Saturday at 7 AM in the Nature Center parking lot on Churchville Lane. All are welcome! Bill Keim Langhorne, Bucks Co, PA _________________________________________________________________ See how Windows connects the people, information, and fun that are part of your life. http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/msnnkwxp1020093175mrt/direct/01/ Subject: Chickadees From: Kae Tienstra <Kae_Tienstra AT KTPUBLICRELATIONS.COM> Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:06:01 -0400 A small flock of black-capped chickadees spent the afternoon in our shady front yard taking turns bathing (swimming!) in our ground based birdbath. No hummers since the end of September and we miss them. We will keep the hummingbird feeders out until after the hard frost in case any stray migrants need a drink on their way south. Kae Tienstra KT / PR & Literary Services 1905 Cricklewood Cove Fogelsville, PA 18051 610-395-6298 www.ktpublicrelations.com Visit our new blog: www.newliteraryagents.blogspot.com Subject: HSR: Tuscarora Summit (08 Oct 2008) 59 Raptors From: "Hawkcount.org reports" <reports AT HAWKCOUNT.ORG> Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2008 23:10:33 -0400 Tuscarora Summit Pennsylvania, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 08, 2008 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 2 2 Turkey Vulture 16 25 25 Osprey 1 12 98 Bald Eagle 1 4 37 Northern Harrier 0 10 17 Sharp-shinned Hawk 35 145 299 Cooper's Hawk 4 15 28 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 1 8 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 1540 Red-tailed Hawk 0 10 16 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 4 5 American Kestrel 1 5 21 Merlin 0 2 3 Peregrine Falcon 0 3 4 Unknown Accipiter 1 14 17 Unknown Buteo 0 0 4 Unknown Falcon 0 1 1 Unknown Eagle 0 3 3 Unknown Raptor 0 4 20 Total: 59 260 2148 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 14:00:00 Total observation time: 6 hours Official Counter: Dale L. Gearhart Observers: Al Nelson, Carl Garner Weather: Raptor Observations: Non-raptor Observations: ======================================================================== Report submitted by Dale L. Gearhart (dgearhart01 AT comcast.net) Subject: HSR: Tuscarora Summit (09 Oct 2008) 119 Raptors From: "Hawkcount.org reports" <reports AT HAWKCOUNT.ORG> Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2008 23:10:53 -0400 Tuscarora Summit Pennsylvania, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 09, 2008 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 2 4 4 Turkey Vulture 34 43 43 Osprey 0 11 97 Bald Eagle 3 6 39 Northern Harrier 4 14 21 Sharp-shinned Hawk 52 162 316 Cooper's Hawk 8 19 32 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 1 8 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 1540 Red-tailed Hawk 8 18 24 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 2 6 7 American Kestrel 2 6 22 Merlin 0 2 3 Peregrine Falcon 1 4 5 Unknown Accipiter 3 16 19 Unknown Buteo 0 0 4 Unknown Falcon 0 1 1 Unknown Eagle 0 3 3 Unknown Raptor 0 4 20 Total: 119 320 2208 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours Official Counter: Dale L. Gearhart Observers: Dale L. Gearhart, Ronda Barnett Weather: Raptor Observations: Non-raptor Observations: ======================================================================== Report submitted by Dale L. Gearhart (dgearhart01 AT comcast.net) Subject: White-crowned Sparrows - Beaver Co. From: Mark Vass <mvas1200 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2008 18:12:24 -0700 I spent some time at Independence Marsh today looking for sparrows   I was surprised to see 2 White-crowned Sparrows(adult & immature)   also seen were 2 Lincoln`s   several Swamp also   there is a lot of habitat here and I only checked out not even half of it   also seen was 1 Palm Warbler,1 Common Yellowthroat & 2 E. Phoebes     at the Ambridge Reservoir there were 4 Solitary Sandpipers there have been five there so I might have missed one or it left   also a Green Heron is still there     Mark Vass Beaver Co. Subject: Junco Sighting in Washington From: JCConkle <jcconkle AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2008 21:02:48 -0400 I saw my first Junco of the year, a single male. He was near the pond at Washington Park School. Lauren Conkle Washington Subject: Chester Co. Birding, LINCOLN'S SPARROWS From: Chuck Chalfant <chuckchalfant AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2008 20:38:04 -0400 Greetings, Stopped at Ramblewood Sewage treatment ponds at mid-day, and had my first RUDDY DUCK of the Fall along with 3 Lesser Yellowlegs, and 7 Greater Yellowlegs, 1 Killdeer, 2 Green-winged Teal, 2 Great Blue Herons. Moving right along to Struble Lake, to check out the swampy area north of boat ramp to see if any interesting sparrows were there. 3 Cormorant were on lake and not much else was visible. In the marsh and brush it was very birdy. Sparrows were 3 LINCOLN'S, 12 Swamp, 2 Field, 6 Song, 5 White-throated, and 6 Savannah Also saw there, many Yellow-rumped Warblers, 2 Indigo Bunting females, House Wren, Blue-headed Vireo, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Common Yellowthroat, Towhee My first HARRIER of the Fall was a beautiful male cruising low over the brushy field Honeybrook sewage ponds still held 10 Shovelers that have been there for 2 weeks at least. Good birding, Chuck Chalfant Happy Trails Chuck Chalfant Gap, Penna. E.Lancaster Co. chuckchalfant AT comcast.net Subject: HSR: Second Mountain (09 Oct 2008) 78 Raptors From: "Hawkcount.org reports" <reports AT HAWKCOUNT.ORG> Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2008 20:10:15 -0400 Second Mountain Ft. Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 09, 2008 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 18 18 Turkey Vulture 9 53 53 Osprey 1 38 120 Bald Eagle 1 8 69 Northern Harrier 0 11 32 Sharp-shinned Hawk 46 544 843 Cooper's Hawk 5 59 109 Northern Goshawk 2 4 10 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 7 16 Broad-winged Hawk 0 2 2272 Red-tailed Hawk 7 55 214 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 1 4 10 American Kestrel 4 26 78 Merlin 1 16 23 Peregrine Falcon 1 22 27 Unknown Accipiter 0 6 11 Unknown Buteo 0 0 4 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 2 12 Total: 78 875 3921 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 9 hours Official Counter: Fred Wilcox Observers: Bob Blauch, Brian Weaver, Ellis Blauch, Morris Cox, Sam Black Visitors: Mike Heilman Weather: A mild day with very little cloud cover and a gentle wind from the West/Northwest. Temperture range from 59 to 72. Raptor Observations: Adult BE at 12:48 over Stoney Creek. Immature GE at 1:13 over site. Non-raptor Observations: 73 blue jays, 1 red-bellied woodpecker, 1 flicker. An invasion of thousands of the brown Asian stick bugs Predictions: Plenty of sunshine and warm temperatures. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Dave Schwenk (secondmtn AT juno.com) Subject: Chambers Lake, Chester County From: Richard Robinson <birder18 AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2008 19:34:26 -0400 Just a few quick notes: 1st white-crowned sparrow this morning, with increasing numbers of swamp. Osprey seen thru the 7th. A (the?) mandarin duck re-appeared on the 8th. Ruddy duck first seen 10/5. Rick Robinson Chester County Subject: HSR: Militia Hill (09 Oct 2008) 29 Raptors From: "Hawkcount.org reports" <reports AT HAWKCOUNT.ORG> Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2008 20:10:55 -0400 Militia Hill Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 09, 2008 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 0 0 Osprey 1 51 213 Bald Eagle 0 8 59 Northern Harrier 1 8 30 Sharp-shinned Hawk 8 189 458 Cooper's Hawk 0 21 49 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 2 3 Broad-winged Hawk 6 20 8500 Red-tailed Hawk 2 14 24 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 8 57 174 Merlin 2 5 7 Peregrine Falcon 0 11 17 Unknown Accipiter 0 2 5 Unknown Buteo 0 5 8 Unknown Falcon 0 0 1 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 20 36 Total: 29 413 9584 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: Andrew Fayer Observers: Bert Filemyr, Hank Ballerstedt Weather: Raptor Observations: Non-raptor Observations: ======================================================================== Report submitted by Andrew Fayer (AndyFayer AT aol.com) Subject: HSR: Waggoner's Gap (09 Oct 2008) 368 Raptors From: "Hawkcount.org reports" <reports AT HAWKCOUNT.ORG> Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2008 20:10:59 -0400 Waggoner's Gap 40 km W of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 09, 2008 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- BV 12 26 26 TV 60 338 338 OS 5 65 341 BE 1 30 211 NH 4 25 61 SS 243 1923 3104 CH 20 164 365 NG 0 0 1 RS 3 13 20 BW 0 2 7205 RT 8 57 176 RL 0 0 0 GE 1 2 5 AK 1 47 240 ML 7 36 66 PG 2 23 36 UA 1 7 17 UB 0 2 15 UF 0 0 3 UE 0 0 3 UR 0 8 42 Total: 368 2768 12275 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 06:30:00 Observation end time: 17:00:00 Total observation time: 10.5 hours Official Counter: Dave Grove, Ron Freed Observers: Craig Houston, Dave Grove, Don Orris, Joe Lavella, Ron Freed Visitors: Kim Mihalek, Glenda Heiser, Holly, Garrison and Ben Smith, Dennis Small - 4. Weather: Sunny with thick valley haze, winds light and W. Raptor Observations: BE Ad 11:36 GE Ad 10:20 PG Juv 4:12 PG Ad 4:26 Non-raptor Observations: Monarchs - 22 ======================================================================== Report submitted by dave grove (waggap AT comcast.net) Waggoner's Gap Hawkwatch information may be found at: www.waggap.com Subject: Sapsuckers, a Hummer, others, Koch property, Northampton County From: DAVID KOCH <davilene AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2008 15:59:28 -0700 I spent an hour on the deck, from 4 to 5 this afternoon, and saw the following species. Three yellow-bellied sapsuckers suddenly appeared; two worked the branches of the white birch trees and the other hawked insects from the almost bare branches of a walnut tree. Overhead chimney swifts were moving through in small but steady numbers. At times they mixed in with flocks of robins. Yellow-rumped warblers were numerous, as were ruby-crowned kinglets. A flycatcher (ID unknown, probably a phoebe) flew over but I didn't get a good look at it. The ruby-throated hummingbird was not seen from the deck. Around noon it popped up from a pokeberry/honeysuckle/silky dogwood tangle in the front yard, fed on insects for a while, visited a few flowers, and then disappeared. Good birding.  Arlene Koch Easton, PA Northampton County davilene AT verizon.net Subject: Stone Mt., (09 Oct ) 90 Raptors From: Greg Grove <gwg2 AT PSU.EDU> Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2008 18:24:55 -0400 Stone Mt., Pa. Allensville, Pennsylvania, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 09, 2008 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- BV 10 45 45 TV 4 4 4 OS 1 26 79 BE 0 6 38 NH 0 11 17 SS 42 146 255 CH 10 30 60 NG 0 0 1 RS 0 7 11 BW 0 1 1894 RT 17 51 79 RL 0 0 0 GE 0 0 0 AK 2 18 32 ML 1 10 15 PG 1 15 15 UA 0 2 4 UB 0 0 0 UF 0 0 0 UE 0 0 0 UR 2 8 17 Total: 90 380 2566 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:30:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 6.5 hours Official Counter: Trudy Kyler Observers: Bob Frederick, Chuck Widmann, Trudy Kyler Visitors: Ron Crandall, Jean & Craig Miller of St. College Weather: Cloudy skies, giving way to clear blue. Made spotting very difficult Raptor Observations: Non-raptor Observations: ======================================================================== Report submitted by Trudy Kyler (DAVIDKYLER AT PENNSWOODS.NET) -- Gregory W. Grove, Ph.D. Instructor Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 301 Davey Lab, Penn State 814 865 2231 gwg2 AT psu.edu Subject: Am. Bittern, Newberry Twnshp, York County From: Jason Miller <Millerellim AT AOL.COM> Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2008 18:21:06 EDT This evening, 10-9-08, had a Bittern land in a willow scrub on the pond. There was a Bittern here in the spring. Must be a good stop over point. Also, on Tuesday, 10-7-08, had numerous Blue-headed Vireos, Yellow-rumped Warblers, and Black-throated Green Warblers. Late last week, not sure of the day Friday or Saturday, had a Blackburnian Warbler. Jason Miller Garriston Road Newberry Township, York County millerellim AT aol.com **************New MapQuest Local shows what's happening at your destination. Dining, Movies, Events, News & more. Try it out! (http://local.mapquest.com/?ncid=emlcntnew00000001) Subject: Eastern PA Birdline: 10/9/2008 From: Dave DeReamus <becard AT RCN.COM> Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2008 18:15:21 -0400 - RBA * Pennsylvania * Lehigh / Northampton Counties and Vicinity * October 9, 2008 * PAEA0810.09 - Birds mentioned MOURNING WARBLER MARSH WREN ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER NORTHERN GOSHAWK - Transcript Hotline: Eastern PA Birdline Date: October 9th at 6:00 PM Phone Number: (610) 252-3455 To Report by Phone: Call (610) 252-3455, press the (*) key and leave your message. To Report by E-Mail: Send to becard AT rcn.com with "Birdline" in subject heading. Compiler: Dave DeReamus My reporting area includes all of Lehigh and Northampton Counties with the northern edge of the area reaching Beltzville State Park and the southern edge reaching Peace Valley Park in Bucks County. Updates are typically done every Thursday, more often when necessary. You can visit the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society Website at http://www.lehigh.edu/~bcm0/lvas.html. You can visit my 'Eastern PA Birding' Website for photos and information at http://users.rcn.com/becard/home.html. This is Dave DeReamus, for the Eastern PA Birdline, sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society, recorded on October 9th at 6:00 PM. The next Audubon program will be held on October 14th at 7:00 PM at the Macungie Institute Auditorium at 510 E. Main Street in Macungie. Michael Godamski will do a program on "Wild Pennsylvania." Directions to many of the sites in this report can be found in the area's birding guidebook, "Birds of the Lehigh Valley and Vicinity". NOW FOR THE BIRDS! Sightings from the KIRKRIDGE area, Northampton County included: MOURNING WARBLER - 1 on 10/4. Also Blackburnian Warbler. Sightings from WILLIAMS TOWNSHIP, Northampton County included: MARSH WREN - 1 on 10/5. Also Merlin, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Winter Wren, Nashville, Blackpoll, and Tennessee Warbler, and Lincoln's, Grasshopper, and White-crowned Sparrow. Sightings from the BATH area, Northampton County included: Cape May Warblers - 2 on 10/3. Sightings from the KUNKLETOWN area, Monroe County included: Cape May and Tennessee Warbler. Sightings from BAKE OVEN KNOB, Lehigh County included: Bald Eagles - 13 on 10/3; 9 on 10/5 Osprey - 44 on 10/3 Sharp-shinned Hawks - 152 on 10/4 and 10/6; 143 on 10/8 Golden Eagle - 1 on 10/5 and 10/8 Merlins - 6 on 10/5 Peregrine Falcons - 6 on 10/3. Also Common Raven, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Winter Wren, and Blackpoll and Cape May Warbler. Sightings from the JORDAN CREEK PARKWAY, Lehigh County included: Scarlet Tanager. Sightings from the ALLENTOWN area, Lehigh County included: At Trout Creek Park: MARSH WREN - 1 on 10/7. Also Hooded and Blackpoll Warbler. And, at Lehigh Canal Park: Bald Eagle, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, and Bay-breasted Warbler. Sightings from PEACE VALLEY PARK, Bucks County included: ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER - 1 on 10/4. Also Great Egret, Northern Pintail, Bald Eagle, Solitary Sandpiper, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Winter Wren, Veery, Swainson's Thrush, Scarlet Tanager, and Lincoln's Sparrow. Sightings from MERRILL CREEK RESERVOIR in nearby New Jersey included: At the Scotts Mountain Hawkwatch: Bald Eagles - 8 on 10/3; 5 on 10/5 and 10/7 Osprey - 36 on 10/3 NORTHERN GOSHAWK - 1 on 10/4 and 10/7 Golden Eagle - 1 on 10/5 and 10/9 Merlins - 4 on 10/8 Peregrine Falcons - 10 on 10/3; 6 on 10/5. - End transcript Subject: HSR: Rose Tree Park (09 Oct 2008) 22 Raptors From: "Hawkcount.org reports" <reports AT HAWKCOUNT.ORG> Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2008 17:10:26 -0400 Rose Tree Park Media, Pennsylvania, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 09, 2008 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Turkey Vulture 5 37 43 Black Vulture 0 8 20 Osprey 0 50 176 Northern Harrier 1 8 19 Mississippi Kite 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 0 16 75 Sharp-shinned Hawk 8 274 571 Cooper's Hawk 4 38 92 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 14 32 Broad-winged Hawk 0 26 4002 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 0 17 64 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 3 43 119 Merlin 0 13 31 Peregrine Falcon 0 12 20 Unknown Vulture 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 1 Unknown Buteo 0 0 5 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 2 Unknown Raptor 0 3 15 Total: 22 559 5287 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours Official Counter: Gary Becker, Jim Lockyer Observers: Jim Lockyer, Skip Conant Visitors: Noel Kelly, Don Nejroni Weather: Hazy and overcast in the morning with sun breaking through in the afternoon. Light (9-12 mph) SW winds all day. Temperature, an unseasonable, 64-76 F. Raptor Observations: Not many raptors challenging the headwind on the Piedmont today. Non-raptor Observations: Canada Goose [23], The local Pileated Woodpeckers were observed several times today. Monarch Butterfly [4] Predictions: Sunny. Highs in the upper 70s. North winds 5 to 10 mph. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Jim Lockyer (jim AT rtphawkwatch.org) Rose Tree Park Hawkwatch, Media, PA information may be found at: www.rtphawkwatch.org Subject: Re: Hummer still here - Lancaster County From: "Janet H.Austin" <wordyjan AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2008 16:17:28 -0400 I still have hummers feeding on my fuchsias,here in Haverford,Delaware Co.not so far from you.Goldfinches are eating coreopsis and one male comes regularly to drink from the ant moat on the hummer feeder.No winter birds yet. On Oct 8, 2008, at 3:00 PM, Frank Haas wrote: We still have one hummingbird feeding here in eastern Lancaster County. However, it is feeding mostly on the Salvias and Cuphea and ignoring the feeders. This has been the pattern for the last week or so. In addition, the goldfinches are feeding heavily on the Coneflowers and Mexican Sunflowers. Frank Frank & Barb Haas fbhaas AT ptd.net Churchtown, PA "Wisdom begins with putting the right name to a thing." I vote.I rule. -motto for Haverford College non-partisan student group. Janet H.Austin Subject: CORRECTION re: RBA western Pennsylvania, 5 October 2008 From: Amy Taracido <meadowlark4 AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2008 13:51:59 -0400 CORRECTION to the 5 October 2008 bird alert for western Pennsylvania: On 10/4 at Pymatuning, 3-4 SANDHILL CRANES were seen, and NOT an Osprey. The Sandhill Cranes were reported by Jack Christman. Subject: RBA western Pennsylvania, 5 October 2008 From: Jarred and Amy Taracido <meadowlark4 AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2008 09:02:18 -0500 RBA *Pennsylvania *Pittsburgh and western Pennsylvania *PAWE10.05.08 Highlights: SANDHILL CRANE SANDERLING AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER (Erie County) BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO PHILADELPHIA VIREO COMMON RAVEN WINTER WREN MARSH WREN (Allegheny and Crawford Counties) GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH CAPE MAY WARBLER ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER (Allegheny, Erie, and Westmoreland Counties) PALM WARBLER PRAIRIE WARBLER BAY-BREASTED WARBLER PINE WARBLER LINCOLN'S SPARROW SWAMP SPARROW NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROW (Erie County) CLAY-COLORED SPARROW (Westmoreland County) PURPLE FINCH RUSTY BLACKBIRD Contributors: Jack Christman, Marcy Cunkelman, Michael Dietrich, Lori DeThomas, Mike Fialkovich, Chuck Herrold, Leonard Hess, Paul Hess, Marjorie Howard, Jerry McWilliams, Jack and Sue Solomon, Bob VanNewkirk, Marjorie VanTassel, Mark Vass, Bill Walbek, Carole Winslow, Dan Yagusic. Compiler: Amy Taracido Monday, 29 September 2008 through Sunday, 5 October 2008 ***This report is distributed by e-mail only. Compiler is not responsible for errors on websites who reproduce/reprint these reports. If you would like to receive western PA RBAs, contact meadowlark4 AT verizon.net ***"FOS"=first of season Transcript- ALLEGHENY COUNTY: On 9/29 at Sewickley Heights Park, sightings included 2 BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERS, 2 BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLERS, 1 HOODED WARBLER, 3 MAGNOLIA WARBLERS, 1 TENNESSEE WARBLER, 7 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, 1 BROWN THRASHER, 1 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET (MVas with Becky Smith); on 10/1, 1 LINCOLN'S SPARROW, several WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS (FOS), AMERICAN REDSTART, MAGNOLIA WARBLER, 2 BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLERS, HOODED WARBLER, 2 YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS, 2 SWAINSON'S THRUSHES, WOOD THRUSH, 2 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK (BV with Karyn Delaney); on 10/3, HOODED WARBLER, 3 BLACKPOLL WARBLERS, 3 BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERS, 3 BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLERS, OVENBIRD, 3 SWAINSON'T THRUSHES, 2 WOOD THRUSHES, YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, 2 EASTERN PHOEBES, 2 RED-EYED VIREOS, LINCOLN'S SPARROW (BV). At Wagner's Hollow Park on 10/1, 2 INDIGO BUNTINGS, 1 HOODED WARBLER, 1 YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER (BV). On 10/3 in Findlay Township, 1 LINCOLN'S SPARROW, 1 SWAMP SPARROWS, 13 INDIGO BUNTINGS, 2 EASTERN PHOEBES, 1 GRAY CATBIRD, 1 COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, and others (MVas). At Frick Park on 10/4, sightings included CAPE MAY WARBLER, BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER, BLACKPOLL WARBLER, NASHVILLE WARBLER, AMERICAN REDSTART, WINTER WREN, WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, INDIGO BUNTING, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, EASTERN PHOEBE (reported to JS by SS); also that day, MAGNOLIA WARBLER, BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER (CH). On 10/3 in East Liberty, 1 BLUE-HEADED VIREO, 1 SCARLET TANAGER, 1 ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, 1 PINE WARBLER, 1 BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER, 1 COMMON YELLOWTHROAT; on 10/5, 1 SWAINSON'S THRUSH, 1 MARSH WREN, 1 INDIGO BUNTING, 1 RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, 2 EASTERN PHOEBES, 1 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, 1 CAPE MAY WARBLER, 1 PINE WARBLER, 2 NASHVILLE WARBLERS, 1 COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, 1 PALM WARBLER, 3 WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS (DY). On 10/5 at Harrison Hills Park, 1 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, 1 GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH, 4 SWAINSON'S THRUSHES, 3 WOOD THRUSHES, 2 GRAY CATBIRDS, 1 WHITE-THROATED SPARROW (FOS) (PH). In a Pittsburgh backyards on 10/5, 1 BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER, 1 BLACKPOLL WARBLER (MF). BEAVER COUNTY: On 9/29 at the Ambridge Reservoir, MAGNOLIA WARBLER, NASHVILLE WARBLER, SCARLET TANAGER, RED-EYED VIREO (BW); on 10/3, 2 BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERS, 1 BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER, 2 TENNESSEE WARBLERS, 1 NASHVILLE WARBLER, 1 BLACKPOLL WARBLER, 1 CAPE MAY WARBLER, 1 MAGNOLIA WARBLER, 12 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, 3 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, 1 SCARLET TANAGER, 1 RED-EYED VIREO, 6 CEDAR WAXWINGS, 1 flyover COMMON RAVEN, 1 flyover NORTHERN HARRIER, 1 GREEN HERON, 5 SOLITARY SANDPIPERS; on 10/4, 5 RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, 4 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, 3 YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS, 1 WHITE-EYED VIREO, 1 INDIGO BUNTING, 7 GRAY CATBIRDS, 1 WINTER WREN, 2 EASTERN PHOEBES, 49 flyover TURKEY VULTURES, 4 BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERS, 2 BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLERS, 1 BLACKPOLL WARBLER, 1 BAY-BREASTED WARBLER, 1 CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, 1 PINE WARBLER, 5 NASHVILLE WARBLERS, 2 MAGNOLIA WARBLERS, 19 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS (MVas). At Raccoon Creek State Park on 9/29, WOOD THRUSH, SWAINSON'S THRUSH, OVENBIRD, MAGNOLIA WARBLER, TENNESSEE WARBLER, EASTERN PHOEBE, WHITE-THROATED SPARROW (FOS), OSPREY (BW). In Hopewell Township on 10/5, 2 RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS (BW). On 10/5 along Montgomery Dam Road in Potter Township, 1 GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH, 2 SWAINSON'S THRUSHES, 2 WOOD THRUSHES, 2 INDIGO BUNTINGS, 2 SCARLET TANAGERS, 6 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, 1 EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE, 2 GRAY CATBIRDS, 1 YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, 3 BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERS, 2 BLACKBURNIAN WARBLERS, 2 BAY-BREASTED WARBLERS, 6 BLACKPOLL WARBLERS, 2 NASHVILLE WARBLERS (MVas with Becky Smith). BUTLER COUNTY: At Moraine State Park on 9/29, 2 DARK-EYED JUNCOS (FOS), 3 GREAT EGRETS (reported to MVas by Debbie Darney). CLARION COUNTY: In Sligo on 10/4, 1 PRAIRIE WARBLER, many BLACKPOLL WARBLERS, BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERS, COMMON YELLOWTHROATS, PALM WARBLER, EASTERN PHOEBES, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, SWAMP SPARROWS, WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, EASTERN MEADOWLARKS (CW). CRAWFORD COUNTY: In Pymatuning on 10/4, sightings included 3 BALD EAGLES, 10 COMMON MERGANSERS, 2 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS, large flocks of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, 1 MARSH WREN, 13 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 5 LEAST SANDPIPERS, 12 NORTHERN SHOVELERS, 1 RUDDY DUCK, 50+ TREE SWALLOWS (BV), 1 OSPREY (JC). ERIE COUNTY: At Presque Isle State Park on 10/1, 1 GADWALL, 4 AMERICAN WIGEON, 1 AMERICAN BLACK DUCK, 5 NORTHERN PINTAILS, 2 GREEN-WINGED TEAL, 75 LESSER SCAUP, 4 COMMON LOONS, 85 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS, 4 SANDERLINGS, 1 adult BALD EAGLE, 2 immature PEREGRINE FALCONS, 4 KINGLET SP., 1 AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER (at Gull Point), 1 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER (at Leo's Landing), 1 NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROW (at Leo's Landing); on 10/2, 7 NORTHERN PINTAILS, 2 LESSER SCAUP, 1 WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, 40 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS, 6 SANDERLINGS (JM). FAYETTE COUNTY: On 10/5 at Jacobs Creek Dam, 1 GREEN HERON, 7 KILLDEER, 2 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, 1 PIED-BILLED GREBE, 1 AMERICAN COOT (LH). GREENE COUNTY: On 10/1 in Waynesburg, 4 RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS (MHo). INDIANA COUNTY: On 10/1 at Yellow Creek State Park, sightings included SPOTTED SANDPIPER, LINCOLN'S SPARROW, BLUE-HEADED VIREO, PHILADELPHIA VIREO, EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE, BLACKPOLL WARBLER, BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER, CAPE MAY WARBLER, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, MAGNOLIA WARBLER, TENNESSEE WARBLER, YELLOW WARBLER (MVan with Margaret Higbee, Lee Carnahan). Through 10/1 in Clarksburg, EASTERN PHOEBE, BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER, RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS, EASTERN TOWHEES, CEDAR WAXWINGS; on 10/3, ~36 flyover TURKEY VULTURES, 1 RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, PURPLE FINCHES (MC). LAWRENCE COUNTY: On 10/2 in New Beaver at the Three Rivers gravel pond, 1 hen RING-NECKED DUCKS, 7 GREEN-WINGED TEA; on 10/5, 1 RING-NECKED DUCK (MVas). At the Wampum-New Galilee Road marsh on 10/1, 43 NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS, 1 BLUE-WINGED TEAL, 1 SOLITARY SANDPIPER; on 10/5, 1 AMERICAN WIGEON, 3 GREEN-WINGED TEAL, 6 WOOD DUCKS, 1 PIED-BILLED GREBE, 1 GREEN HERON, 1 SOLITARY SANDPIPER, 8 NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS (MVas). SOMERSET COUNTY: At Deer Valley YMCA Camp from 9/28 to 10/3, 14 warbler species including CAPE MAY WARBLER, TENNESSEE WARBLER, BLACKPOLL WARBLER, PALM WARBLER, also BLUE-HEADED VIREO, YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, BALTIMORE ORIOLE, BALD EAGLES, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, HERMIT THRUSH, WOOD DUCK, AMERICAN BLACK DUCK (reported to JS by SS). VENANGO COUNTY: Near Franklin on 9/29, 5 adult BALD EAGLES (JC). WASHINGTON COUNTY: In Coal Center through 10/1, 2+ RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS (AT). Through 9/30 in Washington, 1 RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD (LD). On 10/3 at Greencove wetlands, 1 SANDHILL CRANE (MD). WESTMORELAND COUNTY: In Stahlstown through 10/1, 2+ RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS; also on 10/1, 4 TURKEY VULTURES, 1 NORTHERN HARRIER, 1 EASTERN PHOEBE; on 10/2, 2 MAGNOLIA WARBLERS, 1 CAPE MAY WARBLER, 4 DARK-EYED JUNCOS; on 10/3, 1 PHILADELPHIA VIREO, 3 SWAINSON'S THRUSHES, 2 BLACKPOLL WARBLERS, 1 COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, 4 EASTERN PHOEBES; on 10/4, 1 RUFFED GROUSE, 1 BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, 1 YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, 61 CEDAR WAXWINGS, 1 NORTHERN PARULA, 1 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, 1 TENNESSEE WARBLER, 1 NASHVILLE WARBLER, 1 MAGNOLIA WARBLER, 1 BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER, 1 BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER, 3 BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERS, 1 BLACKPOLL WARBLER, 1 BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER (LH). On 10/3 at Donegal Lake, 6 EASTERN PHOEBES; on 10/4, 2 PIED-BILLED GREBES, 1 GREEN HERON, 3 GADWALL, 1 SWAMP SPARROW, and others (LH). At Jacobs Creek Wetlands on 10/5, sightings included 50+ YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, 3 CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS, 2 SWAMP SPARROWS, 6 CEDAR WAXWINGS, 1 NASHVILLE WARBLER, 300+ RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS, 1 COMMON NIGHTHAWK, 3 BLACKPOLL WARBLERS, 1 EASTERN PHOEBE, 2 COMMON YELLOWTHROATS, 37 KILLDEER (LH). In New Stanton this week, 1 COMMON RAVEN, 1 EASTERN MEADOWLARK (MF). End transcript- Amy Taracido Washington Co., PA To send in reports: meadowlark4 AT verizon.net Thank you to all the contributors. Subject: Hummer still in philly From: Matt Sharp <gentrysharp AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2008 10:00:56 -0400 As of yesterday there was still at least one Ruby-throat in my yard. It was mainly feeding at the feeder though. I found the below site interesting on how to tell the sex of non adult males in fall. http://www.rubythroat.org/RTHUExternalMain.html In short: If there are red gorget feathers it is almost certainly a male though old females can very rarely show a red or dark gorget feather. If the throat is white you can't really tell the sex unless you can see the tip of the 6th primary. Pointed in males, round in females. Young males may tend to have more heavily gray streaked throats but only extremes can be aged based on that feature. The Howell guide suggests that feather wear may be a clue for aging in ad v young females but I have not seen any visible differences in the binocular views in my yard. So aging/sexing hummers at the feeders is something of an exercise in futility but still kinda of fun. -- Matt Sharp Phila. PA "All parts should go together without forcing. You must remember that the parts you are reassembling were disassembled by you. Therefore, if you can"t get them together again, there must be a reason. By all means, do not use a hammer." -- IBM maintenance manual, 1925 Subject: Volunteer Opportunity - Quakertown Swamp Important Bird Area From: Brian Byrnes <bbyrnes AT AUDUBON.ORG> Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2008 09:57:49 -0400 Dear PA Birders, You are all invited to join Audubon and our partners as we help to clean up and restore a portion of the Quakertown Swamp Important Bird Area in Bucks County on October 25th. Please see the details below and feel free to contact me with any questions. Thanks, Brian Byrnes Audubon PA Important Bird Area Coordinator Quakertown Swamp Important Bird Area Clean-Up and Restoration Volunteers Needed! When? Saturday, October 25th, 2008 9 AM to Noon (Rain Date: Sunday, October 26th, 1-4 PM*) Where? 1280 Doylestown Pike, Quakertown, PA 18951 Why? The Quakertown Swamp is one of two Audubon Important Bird Areas in Bucks County. Audubon Pennsylvania, Bucks County Audubon Society, Heritage Conservancy and Richland Township are partnering to help enhance the site’s habitat, starting with this clean-up and restoration project. Volunteers are needed to remove and sort trash and recyclables, as well as to plant some new trees and shrubs. Please RSVP to Brian Byrnes at bbyrnes AT audubon.org or 610-666-5593 ext. 106 by October 20th. All needed supplies will be provided, along with drinks and snacks. *In the event of rain on Friday or Saturday, please call Brian at the number above after 7:30 AM on the 25th; if the event is postponed the message will provide details. Subject: White-throated Sparrow, Bradford Co. From: Trudy Gerlach <tgswoods AT EPIX.NET> Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2008 21:49:54 -0400 I believe I recall that someone a while ago posted to the listserve that he was interested in hearing when the first migrant White-throated Sparrows were seen? Although there are a few summer White-throated Sparrow breeding observations in Bradford Co., in the lower elevations I see them only during migration season. Today I had the first migrants of the season, near Browntown (south of Wyalusing), Trudy Gerlach Bradford Co. tgswoods AT epix.net Subject: HSR: Second Mountain (08 Oct 2008) 221 Raptors From: "Hawkcount.org reports" <reports AT HAWKCOUNT.ORG> Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2008 22:10:23 -0400 Second Mountain Ft. Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 08, 2008 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 1 18 18 Turkey Vulture 21 44 44 Osprey 0 37 119 Bald Eagle 1 7 68 Northern Harrier 4 11 32 Sharp-shinned Hawk 151 498 797 Cooper's Hawk 18 54 104 Northern Goshawk 0 2 8 Red-shouldered Hawk 2 7 16 Broad-winged Hawk 1 2 2272 Red-tailed Hawk 9 48 207 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 2 3 9 American Kestrel 4 22 74 Merlin 3 15 22 Peregrine Falcon 2 21 26 Unknown Accipiter 2 6 11 Unknown Buteo 0 0 4 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 2 12 Total: 221 797 3843 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 16:30:00 Total observation time: 9.5 hours Official Counter: Dave Schwenk Observers: Brian Weaver, Fred Habbeger, Fred Wilcox, Gary Koppenhaver, John Nicholas, Morris Cox, Randy Brenner Visitors: Ray Bubb, 2 others Weather: Light-moderate south winds under mostly overcast skies. Temps 49-67. Raptor Observations: Adult BE AT 11:37, 2 adult GE AT 12:01 & 1:58 Non-raptor Observations: C geese 5, blue jays 39, Red Bel WP 2, flickers 3 ======================================================================== Report submitted by Dave Schwenk (secondmtn AT juno.com) Subject: Todd Bird Club outing at Yellow Creek (Indiana Co.) From: Marge Van Tassel <marvan70 AT NETZERO.NET> Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2008 00:58:26 GMT Highlights for Tues., Oct. 7, included:: 22 Pied-billed Grebes 1 Osprey 1 Cooper’s Hawk 2 Red-shouldered Hawks 1 Greater Yellowlegs 1 Lesser Yellowlegs 2 Solitary Sandpipers 2 Spotted Sandpipers 1 Wilson’s Snipe 1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 6 Blue-headed Vireos 1 Am. Pipit 1 Black-throated Blue Warbler 12 Yellow-rumped Warblers (conservative count) 1 Blackpoll Warbler 1 Common Yellowthroat Marjorie Van Tassel (Armstrong County) ____________________________________________________________ Win the battle of the bulge with great liposuction solutions. Click now! http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL2241/fc/Ioyw6i4t9jmXL26gT3tZMTXtsoJCgw4QKmlKAXU1fPULGrjGBwU8ZH/ Subject: Sweet Arrow Lake, Schuylkill Co. From: Denise Donmoyer <nightowl57 AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2008 20:38:59 -0400 Sweet Arrow Lake - 10/8 Yellow Rumped Warblers Golden Crowned Kinglets Downy, Hairy, Red Bellied, and Pileated Woodpeckers White-throated Sparrows Screech Owls Great Horned Owl Kestrel Red Tailed Hawk Bluebirds Kingfisher Spotted Sandpipers Great Blue Heron Green Heron Denise Donmoyer Sweet Arrow Lake Pine Grove, Schuylkill Co. nightowl57 AT verizon.net Subject: Delaware Valley RBA, 8 OCT 2008 From: Stephen Kacir <rba AT DVOC.ORG> Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2008 17:16:11 -0700 - RBA * PA, NJ, DE * Delaware Valley: Southeast PA, Central/Southern NJ & DE * PADV0810.08 * October 8, 2008 - Birds Mentioned Anhinga ++ Barnacle Goose + White-cheeked Pintail (WV) Swallow-tailed Kite + Mississippi Kite ++ Broad-billed Hummingbird (MA) Say's Phoebe (MA) Northern Wheatear + Le Conte's Sparrow + + (Details requested by NJBRC) ++ (Details requested by PORC) +++ (Details requested by DERC) Red-throated Loon Common Loon Pied-billed Grebe Horned Grebe Northern Gannet Brown Pelican American Bittern Little Blue Heron Tricolored Heron Yellow-crowned Night-heron Snow Goose Cackling Goose Brant Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter Black Scoter Ruddy Duck Mississippi Kite Northern Goshawk Red-shouldered Hawk Golden Eagle Merlin Peregrine Falcon American Golden-plover American Avocet Western Willet Whimbrel Hudsonian Godwit Marbled Godwit Western Sandpiper Stilt Sandpiper Ruff Long-billed Dowitcher Pomarine Jaeger Parasitic Jaeger Lesser Black-backed Gull Caspian Tern Forster's Tern Barn Owl Common Nighthawk Red-headed Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Pileated Woodpecker Olive-sided Flycatcher Great Crested Flycatcher Western Kingbird Blue-headed Vireo Philadelphia Vireo Common Raven Horned Lark Brown-headed Nuthatch Marsh Wren Gray-cheeked Thrush Bicknell's Thrush Swainson's Thrush American Pipit Brewster's Warbler Tennessee Warbler Orange-crowned Warbler Nashville Warbler Cape May Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Bay-breasted Warbler Kentucky Warbler Connecticut Warbler Mourning Warbler Hooded Warbler Wilson's Warbler Canada Warbler Yellow-breasted Chat Clay-colored Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Lark Sparrow Grasshopper Sparrow Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow Lincoln's Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Dickcissel Bobolink Yellow-headed Blackbird Rusty Blackbird Purple Finch - Transcript Hotline: Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert Email reports to: rba AT dvoc.org Compilers: Steve Kacir & Win Shafer -- Delaware Valley Ornithological Club Phone: (215) 240-7547 URL: http://www.dvoc.org/RBA/Current/Active/Index.htm Welcome to the October 8, 2008 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 a possible ANHINGA in Lebanon County, PA; BARNACLE GOOSE in Burlington County, NJ; SWALLOW-TAILED KITE in Cape May County, NJ; MISSISSIPPI KITE in Berks County, PA and LE CONTE'S SPARROW in Monmouth County, 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: A SWALLOW-TAILED KITE flew by the Nature Conservancy's Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge, Hidden Valley Ranch and the State Park's hawk watch on Oct 4. A MISSISSIPPI KITE was noted at the Cape May Point State Park Hawk Watch through Oct 4, and two were seen at Hidden Valley Ranch on Oct 3. Migrating BARN OWLS have been heard over Cape May lately. A GOLDEN EAGLE flew past the Cape May Point State Park Hawk Watch on Oct 7. Three PARASITIC JAEGERS and 20 BLACK SCOTERS were seen from Cape May Point State Park on Oct 1. A LARK SPARROW was at the State Park on Oct 2. Other highlights from Cape May Point State Park included TRICOLORED HERON, BRANT, WHIMBREL, STILT SANDPIPERS, PEREGRINE FALCONS, MERLINS and CAPE MAY WARBLERS. On Oct 4, an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was in a tree across the street from the Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge, and a PARASITIC JAEGER was seen from the beach. Two PARASITIC JAEGERS and a probable POMARINE JAEGER hunted the rips off Cape May on Oct 4, and another PARASITIC JAEGER was reported on Oct 7. A GRASSHOPPER SPARROW was on the steps of St Peter's Episcopal Church on Oct 7. A CONNECTICUT WARBLER was at Hidden Valley on Oct 3, and a BREWSTER'S WARBLER was there the next day. A VESPER SPARROW was at the Rea Farm on Oct 7. On Oct 3, Higbee Beach WMA had a GRASSHOPPER SPARROW. On Oct 2, two AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS flew past the Morning Flight Project at Higbee. That day a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER and LINCOLN'S SPARROW were at Higbee's "Tower Field." A DICKCISSEL flew by the Morning Flight Project on Oct 4, and 2 more were seen on Oct 7. Other highlights from Higbee this week were BRANT, SURF and BLACK SCOTERS, AMERICAN PIPITS, PHILADELPHIA VIREO, PURPLE FINCH, RUSTY BLACKBIRDS and warblers including CAPE MAY, BAY-BREASTED, TENNESSEE, CANADA and BLACKBURNIAN. The Villas WMA had an immature RED-HEADED WOODPECKER on Oct 5. MARBLED GODWITS, TRICOLORED HERONS and AMERICAN BITTERNS were seen on CMBO Back Bay Cruises this week. A HUDSONIAN GODWIT was at the Wetlands Institute Oct 5-6, and 3 MARBLED GODWITS and WESTERN WILLETS were there Oct 6. A WESTERN KINGBIRD was found along the Meadow Trail of the Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary on Oct 1. Sightings from the Avalon Sea Watch included RED-THROATED LOON, NORTHERN GANNETS, TRICOLORED HERONS, PARASITIC JAEGER, AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, BRANT, an unidentified EIDER, SURF SCOTER, BLACK SCOTER and WHITE-WINGED SCOTER. Atlantic County: On Oct 5, a RUFFED GROUSE crossed the Route 539 in the pinelands. On Oct 4, a DVOC field trip to the Tuckerton Marshes noted BROWN PELICANS, SALTMARSH SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS and both the nelsoni and subvirgatus subspecies of NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS. On Oct 5, Tuckerton had BROWN PELICAN, MERLIN, SALTMARSH SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS and LINCOLN'S SPARROWS. Later that day, the trip moved to the Brigantine Division of Edwin B Forsythe NWR, where the following birds were noted: 2 YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS, 5 AMERICAN AVOCETS, 6 STILT SANDPIPERS, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, WHITE- RUMPED and WESTERN SANDPIPERS. On Oct 6-7, Brigantine had AMERICAN AVOCETS and a juvenile RUFF. A female YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was at Brigantine on Oct 7. Monmouth County: A LE CONTE'S SPARROW was on the north side of the road that leads to Parking Area F at Sandy Hook on Oct 8. On Oct 3, a CONNECTICUT WARBLER flushed from brush along the edge of Sandy Hook's North Pond, and another CONNECTICUT was at Sandy Hook the next day. Other highlights from Sandy Hook this week were CAPE MAY, WILSON'S and NASHVILLE WARBLERS. Burlington County: A BARNACLE GOOSE was at John F Kennedy Lake in Burlington on Oct 6. Middlesex County: A WILSON'S WARBLER was at Plainsboro Preserve on Oct 5. Mercer County: A walk at Trenton Marsh turned up NASHVILLE and TENNESSEE WARBLER. Somerset County: On Oct 2, Hutcheson Memorial Forest had a BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER. A LINCOLN'S SPARROW was at Six Mile Run on Oct 5. Hunterdon County: On Oct 5, Cold Brook Preserve had a DICKCISSEL, 3 CONNECTICUT WARBLERS and 5 LINCOLN'S SPARROWS. Three NASHVILLE WARBLERS and a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT were at Holland Church WMA on Oct 8. Warren County: On Oct 8, the Glenhurst Meadows aka Warren Green Acres had a LINCOLN'S SPARROW at the parking lot and a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW at the Cross Trail. The Scott's Mountain Hawk Watch and Raccoon Ridge Hawk Watch noted PEREGRINE FALCONS, MERLINS and COMMON RAVENS this week. On Oct 4 & 7, single NORTHERN GOSHAWKS flew past Scott's Mountain, and a GOLDEN EAGLE was seen there on Oct 5. Bobcats were seen near Raccoon Ridge on Oct 4. NJ Extralimitals: A NORTHERN WHEATEAR was at the stable at Garret Mountain Reservation, Passaic County on Oct 4. A SWALLOW-TAILED KITE flew over Route 637 just past the intersection with Route 206 in Frankford, Sussex County on Oct 2. -------------------------------------------------------------- FOR DELAWARE: New Castle County: On Oct 1, Ashland Nature Center had a NASHVILLE WARBLER and SWAINSON'S THRUSH. A SWAINSON'S THRUSH, PILEATED WOODPECKER and DARK-EYED JUNCOS were at Ashland on Oct 8. Other highlights for Ashland were YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER and BLUE-HEADED VIREOS. The Ashland Nature Center Hawk Watch had RED-SHOULDERED HAWK and PEREGRINE FALCONS this week. A GOLDEN EAGLE flew by the hawk watch on Oct 4. Hoopes Reservoir's Hillside Mill Cove at Hoopes Reservoir had a HORNED GREBE on Oct 4. Two PIED-BILLED GREBES and a LINCOLN'S SPARROW were there on Oct 5. Kent County: A BROWN PELICAN, MERLIN and WESTERN SANDPIPERS were at Port Mahon Road on Oct 5. Sussex County: The Cape Henlopen State Park Hawk Watch noted COMMON LOONS, BRANT, RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, PEREGRINE FALCONS, MERLINS and WHIMBREL this week. A NORTHERN GOSHAWK and 2 DICKCISSELS flew by the hawk watch on Oct 6. On Oct 4, Cape Henlopen's Hawk Watch had set a new record for PEREGRINE FALCONS, with 95 PEREGRINES for the day. On Oct 3, the hawk watch noted 10 BLACK SCOTERS and a SURF SCOTER, and 6 BROWN PELICANS flew past on Oct 5. On Oct 7, SNOW GEESE and nearly 600 BLACK SCOTERS flew past Cape Henlopen's Hawk Watch. Thousands of SCOTERS and a PARASITIC JAEGER were seen from the hawk watch on Oct 8. On Oct 2, the area around Cape Henlopen's Gordons Pond had BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES and 10 BOBOLINKS. A MOURNING WARBLER was seen at the Gordons Pond parking lot that day. The Fowler Beach area of Prime Hook NWR had a HOODED WARBLER and SALTMARSH SHARP-TAILED SPARROW on Oct 5. The next day, a GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER was at Prime Hook's Headquarters area. On Oct 8, Abbott's Mill Nature Center had a PILEATED WOODPECKER. -------------------------------------------------------------- FOR PENNSYLVANIA: Philadelphia County: On Oct 2, a GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH was banded at Fairmount Park. Delaware County: The Rose Tree Park Hawk Watch had COMMON LOONS, RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, MERLINS, PEREGRINE FALCONS and PILEATED WOODPECKERS. Montgomery County: An AMERICAN BITTERN was incongruously near the warm season grasses at the Fort Washington State Park Headquarters Area on Oct 5, while a GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH and NASHVILLE WARBLER were at the park's Flourtown Day Use Area. A WILSON'S WARBLER was at Fort Washington on Oct 3. This week, the Militia Hill Hawk Watch at Fort Washington noted COMMON LOONS, COMMON NIGHTHAWK, MERLINS, PEREGRINE FALCONS and AMERICAN PIPITS. A SWAINSON'S THRUSH was at Norristown Farm Park on Oct 2. Bucks County: On Oct 2, seven COMMON NIGHTHAWKS were seen over turf farm fields near the David Library in Washington Crossing. On Oct 1, a LINCOLN'S SPARROW was at Tyler State Park in a field at the covered bridge entrance off Swamp Rd. On Oct 3, a NASHVILLE WARBLER was at the Spring Garden Mill entrance area of Tyler State Park. Two LITTLE BLUE HERONS were at Core Creek Park on Oct 1. Recent reports from Churchville Nature Center included MERLIN, RUDDY DUCK and LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL. The fields near the Newtown exit off I-95 had 15 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS on Oct 2. Peace Valley Park had a CONNECTICUT WARBLER on Oct 5. Two LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, MERLIN, 2 SWAINSON'S THRUSHES, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER and LINCOLN'S SPARROW were at Peace Valley on Oct 4. Northampton County: The Koch property had NASHVILLE WARBLERS and LINCOLN'S SPARROWS on Oct 3 & 5. On Oct 8, the Koch property had MERLINS, GRASSHOPPER SPARROW, 15 LINCOLN'S SPARROWS, NASHVILLE and TENNESSEE WARBLERS. A MARSH WREN was there on Oct 5. Two CAPE MAY WARBLERS were in Bath, East Allen Twp on Oct 3. Lehigh County: The Bake Oven Knob Hawk Watch noted RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, PEREGRINE FALCONS, MERLINS and COMMON RAVENS. A TENNESSEE WARBLER was there on Oct 1, and a CAPE MAY WARBLER was seen on Oct 6. Lancaster County: On Oct 7, an AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, 2 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, 2 CASPIAN TERNS and 5 FORSTER'S TERNS were at the Conejohela Flats. Lancaster Central Park had NASHVILLE WARBLER on Oct 8. Berks County: The Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Hawk Watch noted PEREGRINE FALCONS, MERLINS and PURPLE FINCHES this week, and 2 GOLDEN EAGLES were seen there on Oct 8. A SWAINSON'S THRUSH was seen there on Oct 1, and a NASHVILLE WARBLER was there on Oct 2. A CACKLING GOOSE was on Blue Marsh Lake on Oct 4, and HORNED LARKS were in the area on Oct 6. A MISSISSIPPI KITE was seen in Leesport on Oct 6. On Oct 5, SGL-110 had RUFFED GROUSE, COMMON RAVEN, 12 BLUE-HEADED VIREOS, HORNED LARK, TENNESSEE WARBLER and LINCOLN'S SPARROW. Nocturnal flight calls over Boyertown included SWAINSON'S and GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSHES, and a probable BICKNELL'S THRUSH called from the ground. Lebanon County: This week the Second Mountain Hawk Watch noted COMMON LOONS, PEREGRINE FALCONS, MERLINS and COMMON RAVENS. On Oct 3, a probable ANHINGA circled Second Mountain before soaring south. On Oct 4, a KENTUCKY WARBLER was at Second Mountain, and a GOLDEN EAGLE flew past. On Oct 5, Second Mountain noted 2 NORTHERN GOSHAWKS and a HOODED WARBLER. Carbon County: On Oct 2, Little Gap had TENNESSEE WARBLER and 2 LINCOLN'S SPARROWS. Pike County: The Pecks Pond area had a RUFFED GROUSE and COMMON RAVEN on Oct 5. -------------------------------------------------------------- EXTRALIMITAL REPORTS: NEW YORK: On Oct 4, a WESTERN KINGBIRD and LARK SPARROW were in the Fort Tilden area of Queens County. In Brooklyn, Kings County a LARK SPARROW was at Greenwood Cemetery on Oct 7, and a LE CONTE'S SPARROW was at Plum Beach on Oct 8. MASSACHUSETTS: On Oct 2, a SAY'S PHOEBE was at the Lot 7 boardwalk on Plum Island, Essex County. On Oct 3, the SAY'S PHOEBE had wandered to Sandy Point State Reservation. The Cape Cod BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD in Dennis, Barnstable County was seen as recently as Oct 5. WEST VIRGINIA: A WHITE-CHEEKED PINTAIL that has been at a pond in the Huntfield subdivision, west of Charles Town, Jefferson County was most recently reported on Oct 5. -------------------------------------------------------------- ANNOUNCEMENTS: On Nov 1 or Nov 2 (exact date to be determined), Frank Windfelder, Bill Murphy and Chris Walters will lead a DVOC field trip to Bake Oven Knob in Lehigh County, PA for migrating raptors. This is a good time of year for migrating Golden Eagles and Northern Goshawks. The trip will meet at the Bake Oven Knob Parking Lot at 8:30AM, and attendees should bring a packed lunch. Please contact Frank Windfelder if you plan on attending the field trip. Additional information, including trip reports from previous trips and contact information for the trip leaders can be found on the DVOC website: http://www.dvoc.org The next meeting of the DVOC is Thursday Oct 16 at 7:30pm at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, PA. The main program of the meeting features a presentation by Rob Fergus entitled "Urban Bird Ecology and Conservation." Steve Kacir will present an Ornithological Study entitled "Giving up the Heavens: Ten Flightless Birds." Details are on the website, and guests are always welcome. The DVOC Annual Banquet will take place on Thursday November 20. Please set aside November 20 for the Annual Banquet, which is always a great time. Speakers Clay & Pat Sutton will present "Birds & Birding at Cape May (a Bird Walk Through Time)," and book signing. The evening begins with a cash bar at 6PM, and dinner is served at 7pm. The cost is $46 per person. Menu choices, prices, and more information including the reservation form can be found on-line at: http://www.dvoc.org/Banquet/Banquet.htm At 7:30PM on October 17, the Wyncote Audubon Society will meet at the Plymouth Meeting House located at the intersection of Germantown and Butler Pikes in Plymouth Meeting, when Connie Goldman will present "A Rite of Spring - Migrants to Nebraska with the Sandhill Cranes." The program is free and open to the public. 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 AT dvoc.org. This is Steve Kacir, good birding to you all and thanks for calling, surfing and reporting. - End Transcript Steve Kacir rba AT dvoc.org DVOC Rare Bird Alert Committee Chair Academy of Natural Sciences Delaware Valley Ornithological Club Philadelphia Subject: HSR: Militia Hill (08 Oct 2008) 6 Raptors From: "Hawkcount.org reports" <reports AT HAWKCOUNT.ORG> Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2008 20:10:05 -0400 Militia Hill Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 08, 2008 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 0 0 Osprey 0 50 212 Bald Eagle 0 8 59 Northern Harrier 1 7 29 Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 181 450 Cooper's Hawk 0 21 49 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 1 2 Broad-winged Hawk 0 14 8494 Red-tailed Hawk 0 12 22 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 2 49 166 Merlin 0 3 5 Peregrine Falcon 0 11 17 Unknown Accipiter 0 2 5 Unknown Buteo 0 5 8 Unknown Falcon 0 0 1 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 1 20 36 Total: 6 384 9555 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: Andrew Fayer Observers: Dick Flavell, Jamie Stewart Weather: Raptor Observations: Non-raptor Observations: ======================================================================== Report submitted by Andrew Fayer (AndyFayer AT aol.com) Subject: Lanco.,Cen.Park, Wed Group, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher From: Chuck Chalfant <chuckchalfant AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2008 18:39:15 -0400 Greetings, October 8, 2008. Lanco.Cen.Park Lancaster Pa. Temp. 38 to 58 deg.F. Mostly cloudy Slight breeze midday Participants, 11 Birding 8:00 to Noon Total species count-43 Today our group walked a loop that circled "Rockford", home of General Hand of the Revolutionary War, which is in Lancaster Central Park. It included birding above Rockford in the reclaimed area of the old landfill, along City view Drive, and around the Rockford estate itself. We then went to the Wildflower Area and birded there for an hour till noon. Birding was a little slow, but we managed to see 43 species. There was a nice group of Deer under the apple trees when we arrived, including an 8 point buck. A "probable" Coopers Hawk was one of only two raptors seen. The other was a "probable" Great Horned Owl, which we only got a very brief look at as it flew low and entered the woods. A nice movement of Chimney swifts were usually overhead, a good look at 2 immature Yellow- belied Sapsuckers was nice. Phoebe's were plentiful and the only Flycatcher,other interesting birds were, an immature White-eyed Vireo, House Wren, as well as Carolina Wren, Ruby-Crowned Kinglet, and a surprise Blue-gray Gnatcatcher that I don't often find this time of year. Eastern Bluebirds were around, and many hundred's of Robins, as well as lots of Blue Jays were overhead all morning. Nashville Warbler, as well as Black-throated Green Warbler were nice but not many of group saw them, and Gary Shirk saw a N.Parula, Chipping Sparrows were fairly common, but other Sparrows were not numerous, 1 Savannah, only a couple of Song, and a sprinkling of White Throated Sparrows. Lots of Gold Finch, including one with a white spot on top of it's head, and quite a few House Finch Birds of interest. All numbers are just estimates, birds were not actually counted. Wood Duck----4 near environmental center Cooper's Hawk----1--probable Great-horned Owl----1--probable Chimney Swifts----40 Kingfisher---2 Yellow-belied Sapsucker----2 Red-belied Woodpecker----10 N.Flicker----5 Eastern Phoebe----10 White-eyed Vireo----1--juv. Blue Jay----50 White-breasted Nuthatch----1 Carolina Wren----4 House Wren----1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet----5 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher----1 Eastern Bluebird----8 Amer.Robin----200+ Nashville Warbler----1 N.Parula----1 Black-throated green Warbler----1 Chipping Sparrow----10+ Savannah Sparrow----1 Song Sparrow----5 White-throated Sparrow----10 Com.Grackle----5 House Finch----20+ Am. Goldfinch----50+ Total Species count 43 After birding with the group I headed south for Octoraro Lake, to see if there were many shorebirds. In no particular order, here are the additional species seen at Octorao. Blue Gill Road Gr.Yellowlegs----22 Semi-palm Sandpipers----12 Green-winged Teal----6 Golden-crowned Kinglet----3---first of Fall for me Ruby-crowned Kinglet----6 White-throated Sparrow----5 Song Sparrow----2 Screech Owl----1 Great-blue Heron----10 Great Egret----4 Red-tailed Hawk----1 These were at the Chesco side of lake Black ducks----4 Ring-billed Gulls----5 Dbl.Crested Cormorant----5 Killdeer----25 Good birding, Chuck Chalfant Happy Trails Chuck Chalfant Gap, Penna. E.Lancaster Co. chuckchalfant AT comcast.net Subject: HSR: Waggoner's Gap (08 Oct 2008) 182 Raptors From: "Hawkcount.org reports" <reports AT HAWKCOUNT.ORG> Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2008 18:10:13 -0400 Waggoner's Gap 40 km W of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 08, 2008 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- BV 0 14 14 TV 27 278 278 OS 1 60 336 BE 5 29 210 NH 4 21 57 SS 107 1680 2861 CH 20 144 345 NG 0 0 1 RS 1 10 17 BW 0 2 7205 RT 9 49 168 RL 0 0 0 GE 0 1 4 AK 2 46 239 ML 2 29 59 PG 1 21 34 UA 1 6 16 UB 0 2 15 UF 0 0 3 UE 0 0 3 UR 2 8 42 Total: 182 2400 11907 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 9 hours Official Counter: Dave Grove Observers: Craig Houston, Deb Gingrich, Joe Lavella, Keith Gingrich Weather: Thickening, lowering clouds, moderate S wind Raptor Observations: BE Juv 12:08 BE Ad 11:01,3:23(3) PG A 10:51 Non-raptor Observations: Monarchs 8. Blue Jays 197. ======================================================================== Report submitted by dave grove (waggap AT comcast.net) Waggoner's Gap Hawkwatch information may be found at: www.waggap.com Subject: Central PA Birdline for 10.9.2008 From: "Mark A. McConaughy" <TimeTraveler AT MSN.COM> Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2008 18:01:16 -0400 Central PA Birdline - RBA * Pennsylvania * Central Pennsylvania * October 9, 2008 * PACE08010.09 Bird Highlights ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER (Centre and Dauphin Cos.) - Transcript Hotline: Central Pennsylvania Birdline Date: October 9, 2008 To Report: TimeTraveler AT msn.com Compiler: Mark A. McConaughy Coverage: Central Pennsylvania, Susquehanna River Drainage System Transcriber: Mark A. McConaughy Welcome to Pennsylvania Audubon's and the Patriot-News' Birdline. This Birdline covers sightings made primarily during the week prior to Thursday, October 9, 2008. NOTE: Please send to me any reports for the next birdline by early Tuesday next week. The birdline will be posted on Tuesday evening because I will be out of town at a conference the rest of the week. BEDFORD/SOMERSET COUNTIES: Allegheny Front Hawk Watch reported tabulating 24 TURKEY VULTURES, 5 OSPREY, 4 BALD EAGLES, 13 NORTHERN HARRIERS, 160 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 21 COOPER'S HAWKS, 1 NORTHERN GOSHAWK, 1 BROAD-WINGED HAWK, 92 RED-TAILED HAWKS, 6 AMERICAN KESTRELS, 7 MERLINS and 5 PEREGRINE FALCONS between October 2 and 7 (TD, TB, RM, MJ, KJ, EH, JR, GF, NF, BSt, EG, JJ, BG, DJ). CENTRE COUNTY: Scotia Barrens yielded 1 CAPE MAY WARBLER on October 4 (JV). A PEREGRINE FALCONS, 1 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, 3 CAPE MAY WARBLERS and 1 LINCOLN'S SPARROW were seen at Bald Eagle State Park on October 4 (RW). CUMBERLAND COUNTY: Waggoner's Gap Hawk Watch reported counting 14 BLACK VULTURES, 253 TURKEY VULTURES, 57 OSPREY, 24 BALD EAGLES, 16 NORTHERN HARRIERS, 1492 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 113 COOPER'S HAWKS, 9 RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, 2 BROAD-WINGED HAWKS, 40 RED-TAILED HAWKS, 1 GOLDEN EAGLE, 44 AMERICAN KESTRELS, 27 MERLINS and 17 PEREGRINE FALCONS between October 2 and 7 (CH, DG, RF, DO, GW). Among the birds seen along a 3 mile stretch of the Big Spring on October 4 were 4 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 1 CAPE MAY WARBLER and 1 RUSTY BLACKBIRD (VG). DAUPHIN COUNTY: An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was observed during a nature walk at Wildwood Park in northern Harrisburg on October 5 (CR). FRANKLIN COUNTY: Tuscarora Summit Hawk Watch reported counting 2 BLACK VULTURES, 9 TURKEY VULTURES, 11 OSPREY, 3 BALD EAGLES, 10 NORTHERN HARRIERS, 110 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 11 COOPER'S HAWKS, 1 RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, 10 RED-TAILED HAWKS, 4 GOLDEN EAGLES, 4 AMERICAN KESTRELS, 2 MERLINS and 3 PEREGRINE FALCONS between October 2 and 7 (DGe). HUNTINGDON/MIFFLIN COUNTIES: Stone Mountain Hawk Watch reported counting 35 BLACK VULTURES, 24 OSPREY, 6 BALD EAGLES, 11 NORTHERN HARRIERS, 96 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 18 COOPER'S HAWKS, 7 RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, 1 BROAD-WINGED HAWK, 30 RED-TAILED HAWKS, 15 AMERICAN KESTRELS, 9 MERLINS and 14 PEREGRINE FALCONS between October 2 and 7 (TK, DK, NB, DB, GG). HUNTINGDON COUNTY: Shaver's Creek Environmental Center produced 1 MERLIN, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES and 2 LINCOLN'S SPARROWS on October 4 (GG). LANCASTER COUNTY: Conejohela Flats produced 3 immature BALD EAGLES, 2 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, 1 AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, 3 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 6 LEAST SANDPIPERS, 2 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, 2 CASPIAN TERNS and 5 FORSTER'S TERNS on October 5 (BS, TA, DSc, EW). LEBANON COUNTY: Second Mountain Hawk Watch reported counting 17 BLACK VULTURES, 23 TURKEY VULTURES, 26 OSPREY, 5 BALD EAGLES, 4 NORTHERN HARRIERS, 307 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 35 COOPER'S HAWKS, 5 RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, 1 BROAD-WINGED HAWK, 39 RED-TAILED HAWKS, 1 GOLDEN EAGLE, 16 AMERICAN KESTRELS, 11 MERLINS and 16 PEREGRINE FALCONS between October 2 and 7 (MC, DS, RB, RP, GL, FW, GK). SCHUYKILL/BERKS COUNTY: Hawk Mountain Sanctuary reported counting 11 TURKEY VULTURES, 98 OSPREY, 18 BALD EAGLES, 10 NORTHERN HARRIERS, 908 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 102 COOPER'S HAWKS, 2 RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, 12 BROAD-WINGED HAWKS, 34 RED-TAILED HAWKS, 78 AMERICAN KESTRELS, 22 MERLINS and 29 PEREGRINE FALCONS between October 2 and 7 (LG). Blue Mountain Route 183 Hawk Watch tabulated 5 BLACK VULTURES, 21 TURKEY VULTURES, 8 OSPREY, 6 BALD EAGLE, 1 NORTHERN HARRIER, 344 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 22 COOPER'S HAWKS, 1 RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, 10 RED-TAILED HAWKS, 16 AMERICAN KESTRELS, 2 MERLINS and 2 PEREGRINE FALCON between October 3 and 5 (SF). YORK COUNTY: One MERLIN was seen at Rocky Ridge Park in the city of York on October 4 (BH, JH). Closing Announcements: If you miss the usual Thursday postings of the Central PA Birdline on BIRDEAST and PABIRDS, I will also be posting it on my page web site at: http://people.delphiforums.com/MCCONAUGHY/currentbl.htm The address for the home page of the web site is: http://people.delphiforums.com/MCCONAUGHY/index.html Also, people can access both the current and older birdlines at: http://groups.msn.com/CentralPABirdlinebackupfiles/messages.msnw *PORC = Pennsylvania Ornithological Record Committee. Rare bird sightings should be documented with written descriptions and photographs whenever possible and sent to PORC for review. Send PORC reports to Nick Pulcinella, 613 Howard Road, West Chester, PA 19380. The following people have contributed to this birdline: Tom Amico (TA), Gloria Bickel (GB), Tony Barle (TB), Nick Bolgiano (NB), Randy Brenner (RB), Don Bryant (DB), Dick Cleary (DC), Morris Cox (MC), Tom Dick (TD), Scott Fisher (SF), Gene Flament (GF), Nancy Flament (NF), Ron Freed (RF), Vern Gauthier (VG), Dale Gearhart (DGe), Laurie Goodrich (LG), Bob Gorsuch (BG), Ed Gowarty (EG), Dave Grove (DG), Greg Grove (GG), Eric Hall (EH), Barry Horton (BH), Jenni Horton (JH), Craig Houston (CH), Karen Jackson (KJ), Merle Jackson (MJ), Dean Jobe (DJ), Jack Julian (JJ), Gary Koppenhaver (GK), David Kyler (DK), Trudy Kyler (TK), Gayle Lawrence (GL), Rosemary McGlynn (RM), Don Orris (DO), Richard Pohner (RP), Chris Rebert (CR), Jim Rocco (JR), Bob Schutsky (BS), David Schutsky (DSc), Dave Schwenk (DS), Ron Singer (RS), Darrell Smith (DS), Bob Stewart (BSt), Joe Verica (JV), Gene Wagner (GW), Fred Wilcox (FW), Rick Wiltraut (RW) and Eric Witmer (EW). I apologize if I have misspelled their names and I will also refrain from naming that person on request. -End Transcript ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mark A. McConaughy TimeTraveler AT msn.com Bushy Run Battlefield P.O. Box 486 Harrison City, PA 15636-0468 (724) 527-5585 x103 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Subject: Western Sandpiper - Crawford Co. From: Mark Vass <mvas1200 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2008 15:00:26 -0700 I was a Pymatuning today   at the fish hatchery there are 5 ponds that sit side by side and are to the right when entering the parking lot   three of the ponds have been let down   There was a WESTERN SANDPIPER in one of the ponds I had really good looks at this bird   other shorebirds here   4 Least Sandpiper 3 Greater Yellowlegs 12 Lesser Yellowlegs   waterfowl seen at the hatchery   5 Common Merganser 11 Gadwall 7 Green-winged Teal 13 Shoveler   it started to rain while I was there   I stopped at the spillway and there were  good numbers of swallows flying over the lake I did see 3 Chimney Swifts and watched an adult Bald Eagle flying to a perch on Ford Island   I got to Miller`s Ponds and saw some ducks taking off and one of them was the BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK        it came back and put down here   the rain was picking up and fog was forming so I decided to head home     Mark Vass Beaver Co.   Subject: Lapland Longspur - Presque Isle(10-7) From: Mark Vass <mvas1200 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2008 14:46:00 -0700 I was at Presque Isle yesterday   It was windy with strong gusty winds out of the northeast   My best bird of the day was a LAPLAND LONGSPUR that I found at Gull Point the bird was in winter plumage    also seen there were several Palm Warblers and a flock of 33 Mourning Doves   no shorebirds were seen there   seen on Gull Point Trail was a E. Phoebe and nice was a flock of White-crowned Sparrows   there was a small flock of puddle ducks in Thompson Bay that was with Mallards 1 Pintail,2 Green-winged Teal,6 A. Wigeon & 2 Gadwall   also there were 8 Pied-billed Grebes and a Greater Yellowlegs   I had a Hermit Thrush on Pine Tree Trail   I spent some time at Leo`s looking for sharp-tailed sparrow but did not see any   I did have 4 Marsh Wrens,a Wilson`s Snipe and a Common Yellowthroat   lot of the winter birds were seen while in the park White-throated Sparrows,Kinglets,Juncos,Yellow-rumps and saw 1 Brown Creeper   when I was leaving the park there were 14 Wild Turkeys feeding along the road     Mark Vass Beaver Co.  Subject: HSR: Rose Tree Park (08 Oct 2008) 32 Raptors From: "Hawkcount.org reports" <reports AT HAWKCOUNT.ORG> Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2008 18:10:40 -0400 Rose Tree Park Media, Pennsylvania, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 08, 2008 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Turkey Vulture 14 32 38 Black Vulture 0 8 20 Osprey 4 50 176 Northern Harrier 1 7 18 Mississippi Kite 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 0 16 75 Sharp-shinned Hawk 9 266 563 Cooper's Hawk 1 34 88 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 13 31 Broad-winged Hawk 1 26 4002 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 0 17 64 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 1 40 116 Merlin 0 13 31 Peregrine Falcon 1 12 20 Unknown Vulture 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 1 Unknown Buteo 0 0 5 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 2 Unknown Raptor 0 3 15 Total: 32 537 5265 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:30:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 7.5 hours Official Counter: Dave Washabaugh, Holly Merker, Janet Crawford, Jim Lockyer Observers: Holly Merker, Jim Lockyer, John D'Amico, Judy Mayer, Kevin Loughlin, Skip Conant Visitors: Today we hosted students from Radnor Middle School's 7th grade Watershed Program. Eight curious and enthusiastic students, along with their inspiring teacher, Banny Ackerman, joined us today for a raptor migration workshop. Though the migrant hawks were slow, a resident Red-tailed allowed the students to take long and satisfying looks while it hunted and flew from perch to perch. A great little snapshot of "a day in the life of a hawk" encouraging the students enthusiasm for raptors. Weather: Southerly (S-SW) winds today, 3-12 mph. High clouds overcasting the sky much of the day. Sunny, and mild, temps 52-65 degrees Fahrenheit. Raptor Observations: As we expected with southerly winds, it was a slow day for raptor migration over our site. A Peregrine was spotted at 12:53 EDT, flying low over the site. Two adult Bald Eagles were noted in the 3-4 hour (EDT), but were not counted as they seemed to be foraging in the reservoir nearby. Non-raptor Observations: One Monarch Butterfly. Five Common Loons, all heading due east. Predictions: Cloudy with rain likely in the morning, then partly sunny in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 70s. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60 percent. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Holly Merker (holly AT rtphawkwatch.org) Rose Tree Park Hawkwatch, Media, PA information may be found at: www.rtphawkwatch.org Subject: Chimney Swifts, Pittsburgh From: "Kate St.John" <kstjohn001 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2008 14:17:04 -0700 A small flock of Chimney Swifts just wheeled by over my office in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh Kate St. John, Pittsburgh Visit my blog at: http://www.wqed.org/birdblog Subject: Hummer still here - Lancaster County From: Frank Haas <fbhaas AT PTD.NET> Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2008 15:00:15 -0400 We still have one hummingbird feeding here in eastern Lancaster County. However, it is feeding mostly on the Salvias and Cuphea and ignoring the feeders. This has been the pattern for the last week or so. In addition, the goldfinches are feeding heavily on the Coneflowers and Mexican Sunflowers. Frank Frank & Barb Haas fbhaas AT ptd.net Churchtown, PA "Wisdom begins with putting the right name to a thing." Subject: warbler movement and window kills-Lehigh Co. From: Peter Saenger <psaenger AT MUHLENBERG.EDU> Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2008 13:28:04 -0400 The past few days have been very good for migrant warblers in the Lehigh County area. Unfortunately it has also been bad for these neotropical migrants hitting windows. Just in the past three days where I walk into our science buildings I have found three Blackpoll Warblers, one Cape May Warbler, also the remains of a cardinal. Since 8 September I have found a total of 10 window kills and this is only between two buildings. If you find any window kills, please report them to us- follow the links from Dr. Klem's web page, to the Acopian Center for Ornithology, then Birds and Windows. www.muhlenberg.edu/depts/biology/faculty/klem.html Thank you, Peter G. Saenger Allentown, Pa Subject: Koch property, Northampton County From: DAVID KOCH <davilene AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2008 10:25:21 -0700 I budgeted an hour for a walk through the fields midmorning today but birds were plentiful and it took me 2 hours. There obviously was a pretty good fallout last night. Swamp sparrpws were all over and  white-crowned sparrows are now here in small flocks of both adult and immature birds. White-throated numbers have picked up dramatically. Lincoln's (at least 15) were in every field, as were Savannah's. One grasshopper sparrow, found yesterday by Dustin Welch, was a good find as I seldom get them here. Other migrant species of note were indigo buntings, ruby-crowned kinglets, a rose-breasted grosbeak, and palm, yellow-rumped, Nashville, and Tennessee warblers. Interesting to find Tennessee's down in goldenrod fields. Two different merlins coursed through the fields at times, temporarily putting the sparrows and other down for a while. Yesterday there were still two ruby-throated hummingbirds here. Dustin saw them at the big row of cannas. So far today I haven't seen any but it's already October 8, so we'll see.   Arlene Koch Easton, PA Northampton County davilene AT verizon.net Subject: Palm Warbler (Western race) - Sewickley Heights Borough Park - Allegheny County From: Bob & Mary Ann <van126 AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2008 12:36:01 -0400 This morning while birding in the park, I found 2 Palm Warblers (Western race) actively foraging in the field by the parking lot. The only other warbler I observed was a Magnolia. White-throated Sparrows were numerous along the Cabin Hollow Trail, and Ruby-crowned Kinglets were common in brushy habitats. A Blue-headed Vireo and a Swainson's Thrush were seen in the same Sassafras tree on the Butterfly Trail. Good birding, Bob VanNewkirk Allegheny County Subject: Re: coop, crows, beth., lehigh 10/6 From: "Janet H.Austin" <wordyjan AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2008 12:04:16 -0400 Hi Grant,So far no winter birds here yet. Julie's book is nifty.As an artist,myself,I think her work is beautifully done.The text is in her usual winning style.I recommend it highly! I met her husband,many years ago,when he joined a group fo birders who enjoyed a chatroom on AOL, sponsored by Birdwatchers'Digest.When I went home I ordered something from BWD by phone.I told the order taker what a wonderful time we had with Bill Thompson,Jr. on the trip- such a great guy etc.The woman I was talking to revealed herself as Bill's mother.I was glad I said a lot of good stuff without knowing who she was! Jan Austin On Oct 6, 2008, at 11:56 AM, Grant Stevenson wrote: my wintering Coop is back. the crows ignored it while it took up the sentinel's position on the street light in my parking lot backyard Julie Zickefoose has a new book of her essays and paintings called LETTERS FROM EDEN. Go to www.juliezickefoose.com. Grant Stevenson http://pahawkowl.livejournal.com I vote.I rule. -motto for Haverford College non-partisan student group. Janet H.Austin Subject: White-throated Sparrow + other observations, Venango From: "Kate St.John" <kstjohn001 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2008 08:22:57 -0700 Sorry it took a while for me to send this. Last Sunday (10/5/08) I hiked the Allegheny River Trail in Venango County. I started at the Kennerdell Bridge and attempted to walk to Fisherman's Cove (6 miles one way) - but that was way too long & the trail beyond Ridge Trail junction was too rugged to allow anything more than a slow pace. So I gave up after about a mile of the rugged part...and sat down for a while. Birds seen/heard in no particular order: (* on those interesting to me) Canada Geese on the river 4 or 5 Common Mergansers flying upriver because a boat went by a kettle of 42 Turkey Vulture circled over Kennerdell just as I arrived in mid-morning * Red-tailed hawk Crows Blue Jays Great-blue Heron Pileated Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Red-bellied Woodpecker Belted Kingfisher Black-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse Ruby-crowned Kinglet * Golden-crowned Kinglet * Eastern Phoebe Eastern Towhee Gray Catbird White-throated Sparrow * Song Sparrow, singing Dark-eyed Junco ... wondering if this is a migrant Northern Cardinal feeding young! * American Goldfinch Kate St. John, Pittsburgh Visit my blog at: http://www.wqed.org/birdblog Subject: Wh. Crowned Spar. - Crawford Co. From: "Thomas C. Nicolls" <tcnicolls AT ALLTEL.NET> Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2008 10:52:51 -0400 10-08-08 - I have at least 7 White-crowned Sparrows at my feeder at the moment. Clare Nicolls Crawford County - Spring Township tcnicolls AT alltel.net Subject: Erie County waterbird count From: Jerry McWilliams <jerrymcw AT AOL.COM> Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2008 10:44:45 -0400 Waterbird count October 8, 2008 Location: Sunset Point at Presque Isle State Park Time:  7:10 AM to 8:40 AM Weather: variably cloudy, wind south to 10 mph, temp. 53 F, waves less than a foot. Comments:   Very little movement, but surprisingly the few ducks seen were mostly scoters.   Waterbirds recorded:   Canada Goose—2 American Black Duck—1 Lesser Scaup—8 Surf Scoter—2 Surf/Black Scoter—9 Common Loon—9 Sanderling—2 Jerry McWilliams Erie, Erie County, Pa. jerrymcw AT aol.com Subject: White-throated Sparrow, Westmoreland County From: Len & Linda Hess <lnlhess AT LHTOT.COM> Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2008 09:40:24 -0400 We had our first White-throated Sparrow in the yard yesterday afternoon. I had one about 3/4 of a mile down the road last week. Linda & Len Hess Stahlstown Westmoreland County Subject: first white-throated sparrows From: JCConkle <jcconkle AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2008 09:07:47 -0400 Yesterday, (October 7th), I saw my first WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS in my neighborhood in Washington. Other new species I've seen recently include WINTER WREN, YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS (juveniles), RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, SWAINSON'S THRUSH and BLUE-HEADED VIREO. Also new is a MOCKINGBIRD I saw last week. This is the first sighting I've ever had of this species in my neighborhood. I've been looking for this bird ever since, but haven't been able to get a second sighting. I'm still seeing EASTERN PHOEBES, CATBIRDS, GREEN-THROATED, BLACKPOLL and MAGNOLIA WARBLERS and plenty of CEDAR WAXWINGS. One species I haven't seen at all this fall is NASHVILLE WARBLER. I saw lots of them last fall, and a singing one during spring migration this year. I've also had a decrease in TENNESSEE WARBLER sightings. On the other hand, I've had an increase in HOODED, BLACK-THROATED BLUE and WILSON'S WARBLER sightings. I've had the pleasure of seeing a number of adult male HOODED WARBLERS this fall, and they are absolutely the most beautiful warblers I've ever seen. MAGNOLIA WARBLERS, as usual, have been the most prevalent warblers in my neighborhood this fall. Yesterday I saw a large number of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, and I'm hoping they will stay around long after all the other warbler species are gone. Lauren Conkle Washington