Delaware Valley RBA, 28 OCT 2009

[Steve Kacir]

- RBA

* PA, NJ, DE
* Delaware Valley: Southeast PA, Central/Southern NJ & DE
* PADV0910.28
* October 28, 2009

- Birds Mentioned

Pacific Loon (NJ)+
Wood Stork (DE)+
Wood Stork (PA)+
Roseate Spoonbill (NJ)+
Barnacle Goose (NJ)+
Purple Gallinule (NJ)+
Arctic Tern (PA)+
Ash-throated Flycatcher (NJ)+
Black-throated Gray Warbler -Extralimital- (PA)+
Le Conte's Sparrow -Extralimital- (NJ)+
     (NJ)+ (Details requested by NJBRC)
     (PA)+ (Details requested by PORC)
     (DE)+ (Details requested by DERC)
Red-throated Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Northern Fulmar
Cory's Shearwater
Greater Shearwater
Northern Gannet
Brown Pelican
Great Cormorant
American Bittern
Yellow-crowned Night-heron
Snow Goose
Cackling Goose
Brant
Ringed Teal
King Eider
Common Eider
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Northern Goshawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
Golden Eagle
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Ruffed Grouse
Northern Bobwhite
Sora
Common Moorhen
Sandhill Crane
American Golden-plover
Piping Plover
American Avocet
Western Willet
Marbled Godwit
Red Knot
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper
White-rumped Sandpiper
Dunlin
Stilt Sandpiper
Long-billed Dowitcher
Wilson's Snipe
Parasitic Jaeger
Bonaparte's Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Royal Tern
Common Tern
Forster's Tern
Long-eared Owl
Short-eared Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Western Kingbird
Common Raven
Horned Lark
Cave Swallow
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Marsh Wren
American Pipit
Tennessee Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Clay-colored Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Nelson's Sparrow
Saltmarsh Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Indigo Bunting
Dickcissel
Bobolink
Rusty Blackbird
Purple Finch
Pine Siskin

- Transcript

Hotline: Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert
Email reports to: rba@...
Compiler: Steve Kacir, Delaware Valley Ornithological Club
Phone: [phone]
Voice of the Delaware Valley RBA: Cindy Ahern & Win Shafer
URL: http://www.dvoc.org/RBA/Current/Active/Index.htm

Welcome to the October 28, 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 Warren
County, NJ; WOOD STORK in New Castle County, DE and Montgomery
County, PA; ROSEATE SPOONBILL and PURPLE GALLINULE in Atlantic
County, NJ; ARCTIC TERN in Wayne County, PA and ASH-THROATED
FLYCATCHER 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:
On Oct 26, a WESTERN KINGBIRD spent some time around the Cape May
Point State Park Hawk Watch before relocating to Davy's Lake.
Afterwards, the WESTERN KINGBIRD returned to the hawk watch, then
flew towards The Nature Conservancy (TNC) Cape May Migratory Bird
Refuge.  A COMMON MOORHEN was spotted from the hawk watch platform
on Oct 21-23, and a SORA was at the park on Oct 22.  A PARASITIC
JAEGER was spotted from the Hawk Watch on Oct 22.  Three PINE
SISKINS and a CAPE MAY WARBLER were spotted from the hawk watch on
Oct 21.  A STILT SANDPIPER and 2 NORTHERN GOSHAWKS passed by the
hawk watch on Oct 25.  On Oct 25, two LONG-EARED OWLS flew over the
yellow trail at Cape May Point State Park, heading towards TNC Cape
May Migratory Bird Refuge.  That day, three AMERICAN BITTERNS were
also spotted from the park.  An AMERICAN BITTERN and 3 WHITE-WINGED
SCOTERS were spotted from the state park on Oct 26.  Other reports
from the Cape May Point State Park included RED-THROATED LOONS,
NORTHERN GANNETS, SURF SCOTERS, BLACK SCOTERS, RED-SHOULDERED
HAWKS, BROAD-WINGED HAWKS, MERLINS, PEREGRINE FALCONS, WILSON'S
SNIPES, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, AMERICAN PIPITS, RUSTY BLACKBIRDS
and PURPLE FINCHES.  Three LONG-EARED OWLS and a VESPER SPARROW
were at TNC Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge on Oct 23.  A VESPER
SPARROW was at the dunes between the refuge and the state park on
Oct 21.  A COMMON EIDER flew past the refuge on Oct 26.  Other
sightings from the refuge included AMERICAN BITTERNS, LESSER BLACK-
BACKED GULL and AMERICAN PIPITS.

On Oct 23, the Cape May Bird Observatory Morning Flight Project
spotted a COMMON EIDER and a STILT SANDPIPER from the dike at
Higbee Beach WMA.  On Oct 22, the Morning Flight Project reported
23,717 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS and a PARASITIC JAEGER.  The Higbee
dike had WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS on Oct 21-23 & Oct 26, with a high
count of 42 WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS on Oct 22.  An ORANGE-CROWNED
WARBLER, NASHVILLE WARBLER and TENNESSEE WARBLER were noted at the
Morning Flight on Oct 21.  DICKCISSELS were spotted at the Morning
Flight on Oct 21 & 26.  Other sightings from the Morning Flight
Project included BROWN PELICAN, BRANT, SURF SCOTERS, BLACK SCOTERS,
BROAD-WINGED HAWK, MERLINS, PEREGRINE FALCON, RED-BREASTED
NUTHATCHES, AMERICAN PIPITS, BOBOLINK, RUSTY BLACKBIRDS and PURPLE
FINCHES.  Higbee Beach WMA had a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW on Oct 22 and
LINCOLN'S SPARROW on Oct 23.  Five VESPER SPARROWS were at the
Magnesite Plant on Oct 22.  Five VESPER SPARROWS were at the Rea
Farm on Oct 22.  The Rea Farm had WILSON'S SNIPES and MERLIN on Oct
24.  On Oct 25, the Two Mile Beach Unit of Cape May NWR had a
PIPING PLOVER, 5 WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS and 40 RED KNOTS.  On Oct
21, SALTMARSH SPARROWS and 1-2 NELSON'S SPARROWS were at Two Mile
Landing off Ocean Dr.  A drake COMMON EIDER was seen off the St
Peter's jetty on Oct 24, and a PARASITIC JAEGER was spotted off
Cape May Point on Oct 23.  That day, a female COMMON EIDER was
spotted off Coral Ave.  Another COMMON EIDER was off Cape May Point
on Oct 22.  That day, a PARASITIC JAEGER flushed roosting Skimmers
and Terns at Second Ave.  On Oct 27, a SNOW BUNTING was at the
corner of Wilmington Ave at Poverty Beach.

A YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was on Thorofare Island on Oct 24.
The Stone Harbor Point and Nummy Island area had reports of MARBLED
GODWITS through the week, with 11 MARBLED GODWITS at Stone Harbor
Point on Oct 23 & Oct 27.  Hundreds of RED KNOTS, including dozens
of juveniles, were at the Stone Harbor and Nummy Island area Oct
23-27.  On Oct 27, Stone Harbor Point had 45 WESTERN WILLETS, 35
WESTERN SANDPIPERS and 4 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS.  On Oct 20, Stone
Harbor had 3 COMMON EIDERS.  On Oct 26, the Avalon Sea Watch
spotted a KING EIDER and 20 COMMON EIDERS.  On Oct 24, a HARLEQUIN
DUCK flew past the Avalon Sea Watch.  The sea watch reported COMMON
EIDER on Oct 21 & 24.  On Oct 23, the sea watch reported a hen KING
EIDER and over 15,000 SURF SCOTERS.  The sea watch spotted
PARASITIC JAEGERS on Oct 22-26.  Two MARBLED GODWITS passed the sea
watch on Oct 25.  On Oct 27, a DICKCISSEL was seen from the Avalon
Sea Watch, and 14 COMMON EIDERS made the count.  Other species
reported from the sea watch included RED-THROATED LOONS, BROWN
PELICANS, GREAT CORMORANTS, BRANT, WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, BLACK
SCOTERS, LONG-TAILED DUCKS, BONAPARTE'S GULLS and AMERICAN PIPITS.
On Oct 21, four GREATER SHEARWATERS and 2 CORY'S SHEARWATERS were
seen from a boat out of Sea Isle City.  A NORTHERN FULMAR, CORY'S
SHEARWATERS and GREATER SHEARWATERS were spotted from a boat off
Avalon and Sea Isle City on Oct 22.

Atlantic County:
The ROSEATE SPOONBILL at the Brigantine Division of Edwin B
Forsythe NWR was reported as recently as Oct 25.  A PURPLE
GALLINULE was at the Gull Pond at Brigantine on Oct 21.  A COMMON
MOORHEN and AMERICAN AVOCET were at Brigantine on Oct 25.  Other
sightings from Brigantine included AMERICAN BITTERN, BRANT.  On Oct
21, CORY'S SHEARWATERS and GREATER SHEARWATERS were spotted from a
boat off Atlantic City.

Ocean County:
A late report from Oct 20 noted 24 GREATER SHEARWATERS and 4 CORY'S
SHEARWATERS seen from a boat offshore of Barnegat.

Monmouth County:
On Oct 26-27, an ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER was at Thompson Park in
Lincroft.  To reach the spot where the ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER was
seen, enter the main entrance of the park from Route 520.  Follow
signs for the Marlu Lake parking area, and the FLYCATCHER was
spotted in a wooded area behind the parking lot and to the left of
the lake.  That day, NASHVILLE WARBLERS were at Thompson Park and
Big Brook Park.  A CAVE SWALLOW was seen at the north end of Sandy
Hook on Oct 24.  On Oct 25, a SHORT-EARED OWL was near the Salt
Pond at the north end of Sandy Hook.  That day, a SORA was at Plum
Island, and an AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER was at the end of the
Fisherman's Trail.  Two VESPER SPARROWS were at Sandy Hook's K Lot
on Oct 22.  Other recent sightings from Sandy Hook included WHITE-
WINGED SCOTERS and RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, MERLIN, BONAPARTE'S GULLS
and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES.  An AMERICAN BITTERN was at Assunpink
WMA on Oct 23.

Gloucester County:
On Oct 27, a loose flock of 10 RED-THROATED LOONS followed by a
single RED-THROATED LOON flew up the Delaware River past the
National Park dredge spoils.  That day, a VESPER SPARROW was at the
north dike area of the dredge spoils, and RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were at
the north woods.

Hunterdon County:
On Oct 27, the Califon BARNACLE GOOSE was in the field behind the
daycare center at Sliker Rd and County Rd 513.  A BRANT was at
Pascale Park in Tewksbury on Oct 27.

Warren County:
A PACIFIC LOON was reported from Merrill Creek Reservoir on Oct 23,
and a SURF SCOTER was on the reservoir on Oct 25.  GOLDEN EAGLES
flew past the Scott's Mountain Hawk Watch on Oct 21 & 26, and a
NORTHERN GOSHAWK made the count on Oct 23.  Other highlights from
Scott's Mountain included RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, MERLIN and
PEREGRINE FALCONS.  On Oct 21, Warren Green Acres (aka Glenhurst
Meadows) had 2 VESPER SPARROWS, which were found at the perimeter
of the parking lot.  A PURPLE FINCH was singing at Warren Green
Acres that day.  A NORTHERN GOSHAWK and 3 GOLDEN EAGLES were
spotted from the Raccoon Ridge Hawk Watch on Oct 25.  Other
sightings from Raccoon Ridge included RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, MERLINS
and COMMON RAVENS.

NJ Extralimitals:
On Oct 26-28, a LE CONTE'S SPARROW was at Overpeck County Park in
Leonia, Bergen County.  The LE CONTE'S SPARROW was at the northeast
corner of the farthest field.  To reach this field, go south on
Grand Ave at its intersection with Fort Lee Rd.  Turn right onto
Roosevelt Place and follow it to the parking lot for the Overpeck
Park ball fields.  At the northeast corner of the lot is a gated
gravel service road.  Follow the service road about 100yds until a
T-intersection with another path marked by a post with blue and
white blazes.  Bear left and pass over a garbage-filled canal until
a field appears on the left, up a small rise and through the trees.
Go up a short path to this field where the LE CONTE'S SPARROW was
found.
--------------------------------------------------------------
FOR DELAWARE:

New Castle County:
On Oct 25, a WOOD STORK flew past the Ashland Nature Center Hawk
Watch, later seen at the Militia Hill Hawk Watch in Montgomery
County, PA.  A PINE SISKIN was on a feeder at Ashland Nature Center
on Oct 20.  A LINCOLN'S SPARROW was at Ashland on Oct 22.  Other
sightings from the Ashland included RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, MERLINS
and PEREGRINE FALCONS.

Kent County:
Recent reports from Bombay Hook NWR included sightings of thousands
of SNOW GEESE, ROYAL TERN, AMERICAN AVOCET, PEREGRINE FALCON,
NORTHERN BOBWHITE, AMERICAN PIPIT and the pair of escaped RINGED
TEAL.

Sussex County:
On Oct 22, over 2200 SNOW GEESE flew past the Cape Henlopen State
Park Hawk Watch.  Other highlights from the Cape Henlopen Hawk
Watch included NORTHERN GANNETS, RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, BROAD-WINGED
HAWKS, MERLINS and PEREGRINE FALCONS.
--------------------------------------------------------------
FOR PENNSYLVANIA:

Philadelphia County:
Two VESPER SPARROWS were in the garden area at Benjamin Rush State
Park on Oct 21.  A GREAT CORMORANT was at the Philadelphia Naval
Yard on Oct 27.  On Oct 28, three BRANT were on the ball fields at
Pennypack on the Delaware.

Delaware County:
The Rose Tree Park Hawk Watch reported COMMON LOONS, RED-SHOULDERED
HAWKS and MERLIN.

Chester County:
A PURPLE FINCH and AMERICAN PIPIT were at Okehocking Preserve on
Oct 26.

Montgomery County:
On Oct 25, a WOOD STORK flew over the Militia Hill Hawk Watch in
Fort Washington State Park.  This was probably the same WOOD STORK
spotted earlier at the Ashland Nature Center Hawk Watch in New
Castle County, DE.  The Militia Hill Hawk Watch also reported a
NORTHERN GOSHAWK that day.  Other sightings from Militia Hill this
week included RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, MERLINS and PEREGRINE FALCONS.
On Oct 25, a MARSH WREN was skulking between the farm pond and the
bird blind at Norristown Farm Park.

Bucks County:
On Oct 24, Franklin Lot #5 near Warminster Community Park had 3
WILSON'S SNIPES and a BOBOLINK.  On Oct 22, a VESPER SPARROW was at
LaSalle Pond, which is just at the entrance to the LaSalle
University campus on Lower Silver Lake Rd, south of the Newtown
Bypass.  On Oct 21, a LINCOLN'S SPARROW was at the Garden of
Reflection in Lower Makefield Park.  LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS have
been seen in the fields at Shady Brook Farm, located at the
intersection of the Newtown Bypass (Route 332) and Stony Hill Rd.
On Oct 27, fifty LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were at Peace Valley
Park.  A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was at the Churchville Nature
Center on Oct 24.

Northampton County:
On Oct 27, sixteen AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS were in a plowed field
on Silvercrest Rd just off PA Route 512 on the outskirts of Bath,
and a DUNLIN was seen off Silvercrest Rd that day.  A RUBY-THROATED
HUMMINGBIRD was at a feeder in Palmer Twp through Oct 25.  On Oct
24, thirty-five PINE SISKINS were reported from north Bethlehem.
On Oct 27, twenty-four LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were at Nazareth
Quarry.  Recent sightings from the Koch property included WILSON'S
SNIPE, NASHVILLE WARBLER and PURPLE FINCHES.

Lehigh County:
On Oct 27, an AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER was in a field near Route 100 and  
Schantz Rd in Fogelsville.  The Bake Oven Knob Hawk Watch
reported GOLDEN EAGLES on Oct 22 & Oct 25-26, with 6 GOLDEN EAGLES
on Oct 25 and 4 GOLDEN EAGLES on Oct 26.  On Oct 26, Bake Oven Knob
had 2 NORTHERN GOSHAWKS and a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK.  Ten PINE SISKINS
were seen from Bake Oven Knob on Oct 21.  This week, Bake Oven Knob
also reported COMMON LOONS, RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, MERLINS,
PEREGRINE FALCONS and COMMON RAVENS.  A CACKLING GOOSE was at the
ponds on Nestle Way Rd on Oct 27.

Schuylkill County:
On Oct 25, Scott Weidensaul's Saw-whet Owl banding project with the
Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art caught 24 NORTHERN SAW-WHET
OWLS at the Hidden Valley site.  The project caught a total of 127
NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS from Oct 1 through Oct 25.

Berks County:
A RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD was still visiting salvia flowers on private
property in Lebo through Oct 22.  The Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Hawk
Watch reported GOLDEN EAGLES on Oct 22 & Oct 25-26, with 5 GOLDEN
EAGLES on Oct 25 and two GOLDEN EAGLES on Oct 26.  NORTHERN
GOSHAWKS flew past Hawk Mountain on Oct 24 & 26.  Other sightings
from Hawk Mountain included COMMON LOON, RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS,
MERLINS, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, COMMON RAVENS, HORNED LARKS and
PURPLE FINCH.  On Oct 25, SGL 110 had a RUFFED GROUSE and PURPLE
FINCH.

Lancaster County:
An immature female RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD was banded in East Earl Twp
on Oct 22.  On Oct 25, the Susquehanna River had a RED-THROATED
LOON, 2 COMMON LOONS and a FORSTER'S TERN.  On Oct 25, a BRANT flew
over Avocet Point at the Conejohela Flats.  That day, the
Conejohela Flats also had 10 DUNLIN, BONAPARTE'S GULLS and a COMMON
TERN.  Two SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, an INDIGO BUNTING and RUSTY
BLACKBIRDS were at Avocet Point on Oct 22.  A CACKLING GOOSE was at
the juvenile detention center off Chesapeake Street on Oct 26.

Lebanon County:
The SANDHILL CRANE at Lake Duffy in SGL 145 was reported as
recently as Oct 24.  While this CRANE has seemingly acclimated
itself to human presence, birders should be respectful of the CRANE
and not approach it too closely.  The Second Mountain Hawk Watch
spotted GOLDEN EAGLES on Oct 21 & Oct 25-26.  On Oct 26, two
NORTHERN GOSHAWKS flew past Second Mountain.  Other sightings from
Second Mountain included COMMON LOONS, RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS,
PEREGRINE FALCONS and COMMON RAVENS.

Carbon County:
Five SURF SCOTERS were at Beltzville State Park Oct 24-26.  On Oct
24, Beltzville State Park had 52 BRANT, 9 BLACK SCOTERS and a
DUNLIN.  An immature NORTHERN GOSHAWK was at Beltzville on Oct 27.
An AMERICAN BITTERN and a SURF SCOTER were at Beltzville on Oct 23,
and three RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES were there on Oct 26.

Wayne County:
On Oct 24, Lake Wallenpaupack had an ARCTIC TERN, 2 HORNED GREBES,
30 BLACK SCOTERS, 15 SURF SCOTERS and 4 BRANT.

PA Extralimitals:
The BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER at Big Spring Creek near Newville,
Cumberland County was last seen on Oct 25.  On Oct 24, six WHITE-
WINGED SCOTERS and 40 BLACK SCOTERS were on Lake Scranton in
Lackawanna County.
--------------------------------------------------------------
ANNOUNCEMENTS:

On Nov 1, Frank Windfelder and Chris Walters will lead a DVOC Field
Trip to Bake Oven Knob in PA for migrating raptors, keep in mind
that daylight saving time ends the night before, and Eastern
Standard Time goes into effect on Nov 1.  The trip will meet at the
Bake Oven Knob parking lot at 8:30AM sharp.  Participants should
bring a packed lunch.  More information about these 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 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.  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@....  This is Steve
Kacir, good birding to you all and thanks for calling, surfing and
reporting.

- End Transcript

Steve Kacir
rba@... 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:
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