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Updated on Friday, October 19 at 06:01 PM ET
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Cape Henlopen Hawk Watch
Delaware, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 19,  2007
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species   Day's Count    Month  Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- --------------  --------------
Black Vulture               
Turkey Vulture         
Osprey     
Bald Eagle                 
Northern Harrier       
Sharp-shinned Hawk   
Cooper's Hawk     
Northern  Goshawk             
Red-shouldered Hawk          
Broad-winged Hawk            
Red-tailed Hawk               
Rough-legged Hawk           
Golden Eagle           
American Kestrel   
Merlin    
Peregrine Falcon           
Unknown         

Total:                   
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation  start time: 08:00:00 
Observation end   time: 14:30:00 
Total  observation time: 6.5 hours

Official Counter: Susan  Gruver

Observers:        Kathy  Boyd

Visitors:
2


Weather:
miserable weather, very  overcast and grey all day, a few showers, which
sent us home at 10:30, then  it poured, we returned at 2, much the same
conditions,

temp  22-23c,wind S, force 2,clcv 100%, humi 100%

Raptor  Observations:


Non-raptor Observations:


Predictions:
mix  of clouds and sun, high 72, wind W  10-20
========================================================================
Report  submitted by Sue Gruver (srgruver AT aol.com)




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Forrest Rowland reporting....

Ashland Nature Center
Hockessin, Delaware, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 19, 2007
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                
Turkey Vulture               
Osprey                       
Bald Eagle                   
Northern Harrier             
Sharp-shinned Hawk          
Cooper's Hawk                
Northern Goshawk             
Red-shouldered Hawk          
Broad-winged Hawk            
Red-tailed Hawk              
Rough-legged Hawk            
Golden Eagle                 
American Kestrel             
Merlin                       
Peregrine Falcon             
Unknown                                    

Total:                      
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 10:00:00 
Observation end   time: 15:45:00 
Total observation time: 3.75 hours

Official Counter: Forrest Rowland

Observers:        

Visitors:
Matt Sarver and Matt Medler came by Ashland to see some "Southern" birds
before he heads back to New York. For those who could not make it to
this past Wednesday's DOS meeting, Matt gave a wonderfully informative
presentation on the Boreal forest, its depletion and exploitation, birds
of note and concern, and conservation. He works with the Boreal Songbird
Initiative, and I implore anyone who has interest in the Boreal forest
to check out their website. It was great to get to talk with him on the
hill. 


Weather:
Rain was the word today. High temp recorded was 25C, with light winds
out
of the SSE. The rain set in at noon, and continued, on and off, until
2:45p. 

Raptor Observations:
Managed to see a few birds before they got too wet. 

Non-raptor Observations:
A couple late migrants recorded today included Nashville and
Black-throated
Green Warblers, Red-eyed Vireo, and a Scarlet Tanager. The latter start
arriving in south America in about a week to 10 days, so this bird
better
get moving. 

Predictions:
High of 69F, with moderate winds out of the West, and mostly sunny.
Could
be a good day!
========================================================================
Report submitted by Joe Sebastiani (joe AT delawarenaturesociety.org)
 information may be found at:
www.delawarenaturesociety.org

Forrest Rowland reporting....

Ashland Nature Center
Hockessin, Delaware, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 19, 2007
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                
Turkey Vulture               
Osprey                       
Bald Eagle                   
Northern Harrier             
Sharp-shinned Hawk          
Cooper's Hawk                
Northern Goshawk             
Red-shouldered Hawk          
Broad-winged Hawk            
Red-tailed Hawk              
Rough-legged Hawk            
Golden Eagle                 
American Kestrel             
Merlin                       
Peregrine Falcon             
Unknown                                    

Total:                      
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 10:00:00 
Observation end   time: 15:45:00 
Total observation time: 3.75 hours

Official Counter: Forrest Rowland

Observers:        

Visitors:
Matt Sarver and Matt Medler came by Ashland to see some "Southern" birds
before he heads back to New York. For those who could not make it to
this past Wednesday's DOS meeting, Matt gave a wonderfully informative
presentation on the Boreal forest, its depletion and exploitation, birds
of note and concern, and conservation. He works with the Boreal Songbird
Initiative, and I implore anyone who has interest in the Boreal forest
to check out their website. It was great to get to talk with him on the
hill. 


Weather:
Rain was the word today. High temp recorded was 25C, with light winds
out
of the SSE. The rain set in at noon, and continued, on and off, until
2:45p. 

Raptor Observations:
Managed to see a few birds before they got too wet. 

Non-raptor Observations:
A couple late migrants recorded today included Nashville and
Black-throated
Green Warblers, Red-eyed Vireo, and a Scarlet Tanager. The latter start
arriving in south America in about a week to 10 days, so this bird
better
get moving. 

Predictions:
High of 69F, with moderate winds out of the West, and mostly sunny.
Could
be a good day!
========================================================================
Report submitted by Joe Sebastiani (joe AT delawarenaturesociety.org)
 information may be found at:
www.delawarenaturesociety.org

Down in Smyrna yesterday afternoon(10/18), I swung by Woodland Beach
WMA.  The ponds behind Tony Florio's old house contained 9 American
Avocet, dozens of Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, and a flock of 200+
Dunlin.  Taylor's Gut held a flock of 3,000+ Snow Geese and small
numbers of Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, and Green-winged Teal.
The marshes along Duck Creek(Smyrna River) held lots of rails, mostly
Sora and Virginia, that sounded off intermittently.  A Wilson' Snipe and
Blue-winged Teal also were notable observations in the marsh.

 

The weekly bird survey at Middle Run this morning(10/19) turned up a few
species of note, with a Black-and-white Warbler and Red-eyed Vireo
earning the title of "lingering neo-tropical migrants."  According to
Birds of Delaware, both these birds are at the outer limit of late fall
dates.  A couple of Hermit Thrushes and two Dark-eyed Juncos are recent
arrivals.

 

 

Good birding,

 

Derek Stoner

Hockessin, DE

Yesterday, 10/18/07, I observed a breeding plumage Eared Grebe at the
icebreakers off Lewes. Features I first noted were an erect posture and longish
neck, making the bird appear different than what I expect for a Horned Grebe. I
then looked with binoculars, and noted the neck was all black - front, sides 
and 

back for entire length of neck. Looking at the head, there were orange markings
on the side of the head. These were not solid, but rather they were feathery 
and 

flared toward the back of the head. I focused primarily on the head and neck,
but did note the body was generally dark.

The bird did not fly, but rather swam north out of sight. I fished there for
several hours watching for it to return, but it did not.

Bill Fintel
Lewes, DE

Hello all,
I just wanted to report, for those who don't read the hawkwatch reports, the 
good birds of yesterday's field time. The best, by far, was a Red-headed 
Woodpecker that flew past the hawkwatch at 2:45pm. It came in with 40+ 
Bluebirds, 25+ House Finch/Purple Finch (first truly mixed flock I've seen this 
Fall), some YR Warblers, etc. It was a beautiful adult bird that come over my 
head, flew back to the tallest Elms breaking the treeline (horizon) behind me 
and perched. It was flying/foraging in the tree for about 10 minutes, before 
heading down towards Red Clay Creek. 


Interestingly enough, yesterday was also a good day for RH Woodpecker at Cape 
May. This was the case with the two sightings at Ashland in September. They 
coincided with sightings of this woodpecker there, as well. Maybe there was a 
little migratory push of them? 


A Nashville Warbler was in the hedgerow yesterday, mixed in with literally 
hundreds of birds feeding on the berries and insects. This mix was impressive. 
We birded that one hedgerow for 30 minutes. Of course there were many Purple 
Finch, including some males, seen, Cedar Waxwing, numerous Robins, Catbird, 12 
White-crowned Sparrow, many White-throats, even a few Lincoln's left over (5). 


A good day, overall, despite the fog. 

Good Birding,

Forrest Rowland
Hawk Watch Coordinator
Ashland Nature Center/Hawkwatch Hill

       
---------------------------------

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Comparte todo lo que sabes sobre besos en:
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HIghlights of Bombay Hook and Port Mahon Road today:

Savannah sparrows as usual were all along the dike road.  The  
shorebirds were there in good number and variety�� dunlin were very  
abundant, numbering in the thousands.  Other shorebirds seen:    
Greater Yellowlegs, one lesser yellowlegs, stilt sandpiper, pectoral  
sandpiper, least and semi palm sandpiper, semipalmated plover,  
avocet.  Lots of ducks had arrived, with green wing teal and pintail  
the primary ones.   Also mallards.   The snow geese were in great  
abundance and I believe the count plane was going back and forth.



We drove up to Port Mahon Road where Royal terns were in great  
abundance � 50 plus or minus.  At the end of the road in the turn- 
around area by the boat landing, we were surprised to see  30 semi  
palm plover along with a few peeps and dunlin all resting in the soft  
gravel where the cars don�t drive  While there, several cars drove  
around the circle, avoiding the birds, and both seemed oblivious of  
the other. Interesting how calm the birds were with cars driving in  
circles around them.



The major butterfly of the day, by far, was Buck-eye.



Sally O'Byrne

Mike Smith

Cape Henlopen Hawk Watch
Delaware, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 18,  2007
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species   Day's Count    Month  Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- --------------  --------------
Black Vulture               
Turkey Vulture         
Osprey     
Bald Eagle                 
Northern Harrier       
Sharp-shinned Hawk   
Cooper's Hawk     
Northern  Goshawk             
Red-shouldered Hawk          
Broad-winged Hawk            
Red-tailed Hawk               
Rough-legged Hawk           
Golden Eagle           
American Kestrel   
Merlin    
Peregrine Falcon           
Unknown          

Total:                   
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation  start time: 08:00:00 
Observation end   time: 11:30:00 
Total  observation time: 3.5 hours

Official Counter: Lorraine  Logan

Observers:        Jeanne Shaw, Susan  Gruver

Visitors:
3


Weather:
temp 20-24c,wind SW force  1-2,clcv40-90%,visb 5-10k,humi 98%,baro 30.05

Raptor  Observations:
there was 2 adult and 2 juv B. Eagles, at one point 2 of the  Eagles were
fighting with an Osprey for his fish, the Osprey dropped it and  one of the
Eagles picked it up

Non-raptor Observations:
Yellow  Rumped Warblers, DCCO and Scoters

Predictions:
cloudy early, 50%  chance of thunderstorms in the pm, high 75, wind S  15-25
========================================================================
Report  submitted by Sue Gruver (srgruver AT aol.com)





************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com

Forrest Rowland reporting....

Ashland Nature Center
Hockessin, Delaware, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 18, 2007
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                
Turkey Vulture               
Osprey                       
Bald Eagle                   
Northern Harrier             
Sharp-shinned Hawk          
Cooper's Hawk                
Northern Goshawk             
Red-shouldered Hawk          
Broad-winged Hawk            
Red-tailed Hawk              
Rough-legged Hawk            
Golden Eagle                 
American Kestrel             
Merlin                       
Peregrine Falcon             
Unknown                                    

Total:                      
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 11:00:00 
Observation end   time: 16:00:00 
Total observation time: 5 hours

Official Counter: Forrest Rowland

Observers:        

Visitors:
Andrew Leidig was the lone visitor to the Hawkwatch today, and he was on
the walk this morning. I had a nice conversation with myself though, to
pass the time, this afternoon. I managed to offend myself in less than 5
minutes...


Weather:
Fog in the morning hours kept us off the hill, but birding, nonetheless.
The fog burned off around midday, and gave way to a high temp of 28C.
Winds
light out of the S, and cloud cover fairly constant above 75%. 

Raptor Observations:
A great afternoon, despite the weather. Sharpies really made a show
today
(3rd highest count), but decent diversity with all 3 falcons seen. 

Non-raptor Observations:
Red-headed Woddpecker is back!!! Actually, most likely a different bird
than in September of course. It was a gorgeous adult bird. Hung out near
the hilltop for over 10 minutes, but never close enough to photograph.
Plenty of Bluebirds (50+) and Purple Finch (20) today, as well as
Sparrows.


Predictions:
A stormy forecast, with winds out of the SE. 
========================================================================
Report submitted by Joe Sebastiani (joe AT delawarenaturesociety.org)
 information may be found at:
www.delawarenaturesociety.org

- RBA

* PA, NJ, DE
* Delaware Valley: Southeast PA, Central/Southern NJ & DE
* PADV0710.18
* October 18, 2007

- Birds Mentioned

Cassin's Kingbird (NY)
Le Conte's Sparrow (NY)
  + (Details requested by NJBRC)
  ++ (Details requested by PORC)
  +++ (Details requested by DERC)
Red-throated Loon
Common Loon
Pied-billed Grebe
Northern Gannet
American White Pelican
Brown Pelican
Great Cormorant
American Bittern
Little Blue Heron
Tricolored Heron
Cattle Egret
Greater White-fronted Goose
Snow Goose
Ross's Goose
Cackling Goose
Brant
Common Eider
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Bald Eagle
Northern Goshawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Golden Eagle
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Sora
Common Moorhen
American Coot
American Golden-plover
American Avocet
Solitary Sandpiper
Willet
Marbled Godwit
Western Sandpiper
White-rumped Sandpiper
Parasitic Jaeger
Black-headed Gull
Bonaparte's Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Caspian Tern
Black Skimmer
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Eastern Screech-owl
Great Horned Owl
Barred Owl
Red-headed Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Pileated Woodpecker
Western Kingbird
Blue-headed Vireo
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Winter Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Gray-cheeked Thrush
Swainson's Thrush
American Pipit
Tennessee Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Palm Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Connecticut Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
American Tree Sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow
Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Snow Bunting
Dickcissel
Bobolink
Rusty Blackbird
Purple Finch
Common Redpoll
Pine Siskin

- Transcript

Hotline: Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert
Email reports to: rba AT dvoc.org
Compilers: Steve Kacir, Michael Lyman, Rob Hynson & Tony
Croasdale -- Delaware Valley Ornithological Club
Phone:
URL: http://www.dvoc.org/RBA/Current/Active/Index.htm

Welcome to the Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert, a service
provided by the joint efforts of the Academy of Natural Sciences
of Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club
(DVOC), covering the Delaware Valley Region of Delaware, New
Jersey and Pennsylvania.

I'm Steve Kacir your guide for birding in the Greater
Philadelphia Region.  For October 18, 2007 we highlight reports
of AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, NORTHERN GOSHAWK, GOLDEN EAGLE,
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, WESTERN KINGBIRD, DICKCISSEL, SNOW
BUNTING and PINE SISKIN.  Remember to check out our website for
additional content and information:

http://www.dvoc.org/RBA/Current/Active/Index.htm

Exclusive website content gleaned from the Local Notes reported
at this evening's DVOC meeting will be added to the website on
Friday.

EXTRALIMITAL:

A juvenile LE CONTE'S SPARROW was at Fort Tilden in NY Oct 13-
14.  On Oct 13, a CASSIN'S KINGBIRD was at the intersection of
West Lake Dr and Gloucester Ave in Montauk, NY.

Raptor Migration:

This week BALD EAGLES made regular appearances at hawk watches
throughout the region.  MERLINS were less regular, but still
reliable.  PEREGRINE FALCONS made appearances at most hawk
watches, but were only reliable at Cape May Point State Park in
Cape May County, NJ.  BROAD-WINGED HAWKS trickled through, with
the only regular sightings coming from the Cape May Point.  In
contrast, RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS were seen almost daily throughout
the region.  GOLDEN EAGLE and NORTHERN GOSHAWK sightings are on
the rise.  GOLDEN EAGLES were reported from Pennsylvania hawk
watches at Militia Hill in Montgomery County, Hawk Mountain
Sanctuary in Berks County, Little Gap in Northampton County and
Bake Oven Knob in Lehigh County.  The hawk watches at Raccoon
Ridge and Scott's Mountain in Warren County, NJ also reported
GOLDEN EAGLES.  NORTHERN GOSHAWKS were less reliable than GOLDEN
EAGLES; sightings came from Hawk Mountain, Little Gap, Bake Oven
Knob and the Ashland Nature Center Hawk Watch in New Castle, DE.
COMMON RAVENS flew past Raccoon Ridge and Bake Oven Knob.


For New Jersey:

LINCOLN'S SPARROWS were at The Nature Conservancy's Cape May
Migratory Bird Refuge in Cape May County on Oct 15, and AMERICAN
PIPITS landed on an island near the east path.  A FOX SPARROW
was at the refuge on Oct 17.  A flock of 5 CACKLING GEESE flew
past Cape May Point State Park's Hawk Watch on Oct 12, and a
COMMON EIDER was near the Bunker on Oct 11.  AMERICAN PIPITS
were at the State Park on Oct 13 & 15.  Single WESTERN KINGBIRDS
were sighted at the park Oct 17-18; 2 PINE SISKINS and a RED-
HEADED WOODPECKER were there Oct 18.  PARASITIC JAEGERS have
been seen regularly around the point, with 11 jaegers over the
bay on Oct 14.

On Oct 13, the Morning Flight at Higbee Beach WMA had AMERICAN
PIPITS, 2 DICKCISSELS, PURPLE FINCHES and CAPE MAY WARBLERS.
PINE SISKINS were reported from Higbee Oct 13-15, and a
LINCOLN'S SPARROW was at Higbee on Oct 15.  A DICKCISSEL and
YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO were at the Villas WMA on Oct 14.  A
WESTERN KINGBIRD flew by Reed's Beach on Oct 13, along with
PURPLE FINCHES, LINCOLN'S SPARROW, YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, BRANT,
BLACK and SURF SCOTERS.  On Oct 14, a ROSS'S GOOSE flew by the
Reed's Beach Big Sit; AMERICAN BITTERN, PURPLE FINCHES, RUSTY
BLACKBIRD and PINE SISKIN were also reported.  A VESPER SPARROW
was in the weedy area by the jetty at Reed's Beach on Oct 15.

The Avalon Sea Watch had TRICOLORED HERONS and an AMERICAN
GOLDEN-PLOVER on Oct 11.  The Sea Watch also recorded RED-
THROATED LOONS, NORTHERN GANNETS, RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS, GREAT
CORMORANTS, PARASITIC JAEGERS, BROWN PELICANS, BONAPARTE'S GULLS
and all three SCOTER species this week.  On Oct 13, 2 YELLOW-
BILLED CUCKOOS and a CONNECTICUT WARBLER flew in off the ocean
at the Sea Watch.  On Oct 11, Stone Harbor had WESTERN WILLETS,
WESTERN SANDPIPERS, CASPIAN TERNS, BRANT and 11 MARBLED GODWITS.

On Oct 14, Edwin B Forsythe NWR's Brigantine Division in
Atlantic County had a COMMON MOORHEN, AMERICAN BITTERN and
YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO at the Gull Tower.  A juvenile BLACK
SKIMMER, BRANT and 2 MARBLED GODWITS were seen from the
Southwest Pool, and the AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN was in the East
Pool.  Five AMERICAN AVOCETS were at the cross dike, and the
Northwest pool had a TRICOLORED HERON.

On Oct 13, Monmouth County's Sandy Hook had an AMERICAN-GOLDEN
PLOVER at North Beach, and RED-THROATED LOON, AMERICAN PIPIT and
PURPLE FINCHES were noted.  LINCOLN'S SPARROWS were reported Oct
13-14, and VESPER SPARROWS were seen Oct 13 & 15.  AMERICAN
BITTERNS were sighted Oct 13-15.  On Sunday, a GRASSHOPPER
SPARROW was at Sandy Hook's north end, and a RUSTY BLACKBIRD was
at the end of Fisherman's Trail.  On Oct 15, a NORTHERN GOSHAWK
was sighted near the officers' quarters, and a female COMMON
EIDER was off Sandy Hook Point.  A SORA fed in the tidal creek
along the Spermaceti Cove boardwalk.  NELSON'S and SALTMARSH
SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS were at Plum Island, and other notable
birds from Oct 15 included an IPSWICH SAVANNAH SPARROW and a
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW at the end of Fisherman's Trail.

A basic-plumaged adult BLACK-HEADED GULL was perched on the High
Street Boardwalk at Bivalve in Cumberland County on Oct 14.
Salem County had 2 COMMON MOORHENS at the Sunset Rd area of
Mannington Marsh on Oct 16, with CATTLE EGRETS, a TRICOLORED
HERON and 14 LITTLE BLUE HERONS also in the area.

On Oct 13, Warren Green Acres aka the Glenhurst Meadows in
Somerset County had CLAY-COLORED SPARROW, SWAINSON'S THRUSH and
TENNESSEE WARBLER.  LINCOLN'S SPARROWS and PURPLE FINCHES were
there Oct 13-14.  On Oct 15, Hutcheson Memorial Forest had 4
LINCOLN'S SPARROWS.


For Delaware:

Ashland Nature Center in New Castle County had a flyby COMMON
LOON, SNOW GEESE and a CAPE MAY WARBLER on Oct 12.  A Big Sit at
the Hawk Watch on Oct 14 had 81 species including BARRED and
GREAT HORNED OWLS, EASTERN SCREECH-OWL, GRAY-CHEEKED and
SWAINSON'S THRUSHES, LINCOLN'S SPARROW, WINTER WREN, AMERICAN
PIPIT, PILEATED WOODPECKER, YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, BLACK-
CAPPED CHICKADEE, BLUE-HEADED VIREO, NASHVILLE and BLACKPOLL
WARBLERS.  PURPLE FINCHES were at Ashland Oct 14 & 16-17.
Ashland had AMERICAN PIPITS, MAGNOLIA and BLACK-THROATED BLUE
WARBLERS on Oct 17.  On Oct 13, Brandywine Creek State Park had
PALM WARBLER, WHITE-CROWNED and LINCOLN'S SPARROWS.  A YELLOW-
BELLIED SAPSUCKER and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW were at Fort DuPont
State Park that day.

On Oct 11, Bombay Hook NWR in Kent County had YELLOW-BELLIED
SAPSUCKER, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, CAPE MAY and PALM WARBLERS
near Bear Swamp.  AMERICAN AVOCETS were found throughout the
refuge, and BOBOLINKS were in the field before the Raymond Tower
parking lot.

In Sussex County, 14 COMMON LOONS flew past the Cape Henlopen
State Park Hawk Watch on Oct 11, and SURF SCOTERS and a BLACK
SKIMMER were at the point.  BRANT were seen at Cape Henlopen the
next day.  On Oct 13, a COMMON EIDER, 12 LESSER BLACK-BACKED
GULLS, BROWN-HEADED and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES were reported
from the Hawk Watch.  The next day, BROWN PELICANS and 9 RED-
THROATED LOONS flew by.  The view from the hawk watch on Oct 15
included BLUE-HEADED VIREO and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS.


For Pennsylvania:

A Big Sit at John Heinz NWR at Tinicum in Philadelphia County
tallied 63 species on Oct 14, including RUDDY DUCK, BALD EAGLES,
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, BROAD-WINGED and
RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS.  A HOODED MERGANSER was at the refuge that
day as well.  A PURPLE FINCH sang from the pipeline cut the
previous day, and a SORA called at the horseshoe before the
observation tower on Oct 12.  FDR Park's avifauna included
YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, AMERICAN COOT, PIED-BILLED GREBE,
BLACK-THROATED BLUE and BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERS Oct 15-16.
A WINTER WREN was at Philadelphia City Hall on Oct 17.

A private residence in Chadds Ford, Delaware County had 6 PINE
SISKINS on Oct 14.  The Rose Tree Park Hawk Watch had an
AMERICAN PIPIT and PURPLE FINCHES on Oct 17, and that day a
VESPER SPARROW was in a cornfield in Gradyville.

Peace Valley Park in Bucks County had 2 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS on
Lake Galena and a GRASSHOPPER SPARROW at Sailor's Point on Oct
11.  An AMERICAN PIPIT flew by on Oct 12. Two BONAPARTE'S GULLS
and PURPLE FINCHES were at the park on Oct 13.  LESSER BLACK-
BACKED GULLS are being regularly sighted at Peace Valley and
Nockamixon State Park with a high count of 65 at Peace Valley on
Oct 14.  A BRANT was at Nockamixon Oct 13-14, and another was at
Peace Valley on Oct 14.  COMMON LOONS were on Lake Nockamixon
Oct 11-12, and RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS were seen Oct 14 at Peace
Valley, Nockamixon and Lake Towhee Park.  An Oct 13 a bird walk
at Silver Lake Park sighted BLUE-HEADED VIREO, PURPLE FINCH,
MAGNOLIA and BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLERS.  Robin Run Reservoir
had an AMERICAN TREE SPARROW on Oct 14.  The lagoon at
Washington Crossing Historic Park had a SOLITARY SANDPIPER and
BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE on Oct 16.  The Churchville Nature Center
bird walk on Oct 13 noted SOLITARY SANDPIPER, YELLOW-BELLIED
SAPSUCKERS, BLUE-HEADED VIREOS, PURPLE FINCHES, TENNESSEE and
NASHVILLE WARBLERS.  A flock of 4-6 NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES was
in the area of Elm Ave that day as well.  Core Creek Park on Oct
17 hosted PIED-BILLED GREBE, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, YELLOW-
BELLIED SAPSUCKER and WINTER WREN.

In Northampton County, PURPLE FINCHES and YELLOW-BELLIED
SAPSUCKERS were at the Koch Property on Oct 13, with LINCOLN'S
SPARROWS seen Oct 11, 13 & 18.  A WILSON'S WARBLER and PINE
SISKINS were on the property recently.  On Oct 13, flooded
fields along Allegheny Rd had a WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER and a
MERLIN.  The partitioned goldenrod fields in Washington Township
had a CLAY-COLORED, AMERICAN TREE, 2 FOX, and over 15 LINCOLN'S
SPARROWS along with an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER on Oct 16.

At Lancaster County Central Park, a CONNECTICUT WARBLER was near
the Golf Rd entrance on Oct 14.  Birds around Brunner Island on
Oct 15 included a WINTER WREN and a LINCOLN'S SPARROW.  A GRAY-
CHEEKED THRUSH was at Lehigh Canal Park in Lehigh County on Oct
16, and a MARSH WREN and MERLIN were at the Allentown Wastewater
Treatment Center that day.  The Treatment Center had 7 NORTHERN
ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS and 10 COMMON MERGANSERS on Oct 17.

On Oct 14, SGL 110 in Berks County had a WINTER WREN, 3 PINE
SISKINS and 3 PURPLE FINCHES, and a SNOW BUNTING was found there
on Oct 17.  Lake Ontelaunee had 7 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE on
Oct 12.  Hawk Mountain Sanctuary reported RUSTY BLACKBIRD and
COMMON LOON on Oct 14; 40 BLUE-HEADED VIREOS, 63 RUBY-CROWNED
and 32 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS were counted the day before.  A
CACKLING GOOSE flew by Hawk Mountain on Oct 12, and 9 PINE
SISKINS were noted Oct 11.  On Oct 16, 23 PINE SISKINS and 40
PURPLE FINCHES flew past Hawk Mountain

An extralimital COMMON REDPOLL visited birdfeeders at a private
residence in York County on Oct 15.


*** ANNOUNCEMENTS ***

On November 3 or 4, depending on whether conditions, Frank
Windfelder, Bill Murphy and Chris Walters will lead a DVOC field
trip to Bake Oven Knob in Berks County, PA.  The trip will meet
at the parking lot at 8:30AM.  There is no field trip fee, and
members and non-members are welcome to attend.  Please contact
the trip leader if you plan on attending, and if you go bring a
packed lunch.  Details can be found on the website:
http://www.dvoc.org

The next meeting of the DVOC is on Thursday October 18 at 7:30PM
at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, when Jeff
Wells will present "Three Secrets About Bird Conservation They
Don't Want You to Know."  Adrian Binns will present the
Ornithological Study "Newcomers to the Delaware Valley."
Details are on the website, and guests are welcome.

See Life Paulagics has a pelagic trip out of Lewes, DE scheduled
for Saturday October 20. Last year's trip at that time of year
found North America's second Cape Verde Shearwater. For more
information, call  or visit http://www.paulagics.com

On Oct 19 at 7:30pm, Wildlife Photographer Kevin Karlson will
present "Birds and Wildlife of S. Alaska and the Arctic Tundra"
at the Plymouth Meeting Friends located at the intersection of
Germantown and Butler Pikes in Plymouth Meeting, PA.  The
program is sponsored by the Wyncote Audubon Society, and is free
and open to the public.  On Oct 20, Cliff Hence will lead a
Wyncote Audubon field trip to Cape May, NJ.  The field trip will
meet at Cape May Point State Park's parking lot in front of the
Hawk Watch Platform at 9:00am.  Call Cliff at  or
email cwhenceiii AT aol.com for details.

The DVOC's own Frank Windfelder broke the record for a
Philadelphia Big Year on Oct 14, with bird #226, a VESPER
SPARROW near Rawn St and the Delaware River.  For those keeping
score, the bird that tied him the record was an AMERICAN GOLDEN-
PLOVER.  Congratulations Frank!

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, PA

To all,
 I have a couple thoughts to add to Chris's excellent analysis. I have some 
experience with the Assowaman Bay flock of geese from doing the Bethany area on 
the Rehoboth CBC. To me this flock seems much smaller than those at Prime Hook 
or Bombay Hook and I have never been able to pick out anything unusual. This 
flock often goes out on the ocean, even beyond the horizon. It always seems 
strange to me to see a flock of Snows coming in off the ocean. Does anyone know 
what attracts them out there? 


 As far as the Seaford CBC, we have 1 record of Ross's and 2 of Cackling. We 
always have large numbers of Snow Geese recorded, but the majority are 
flyovers. There seems to be trouble finding a large flock on the ground in 
order to scrutinize it on count day. In 12 or so years of doing the Middleford 
territory, I do not recall ever having a flock on the ground. 


 On the other hand, when I have found sizable flocks of geese on the ground 
around Oak Grove, I have had reasonably good success. I estimate that I have 
found a Ross or Cackling >50% with a flock of 5000 or more geese. In general, I 
think any flock greater than 10000 geese holds at least one. 


Good Birding,
Glen Lovelace III
Seaford, DE



-----Original Message-----
From: Delaware Birding [mailto:de-birds AT Princeton.EDU]On Behalf Of
Bennett Chris (DNREC)
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2007 9:58 AM
To: de-birds AT Princeton.EDU
Subject: Re: [de-birds] Ross's Goose Question


Roger, 

 

I'm sure you have received responses from others already - but thought
I'd give you my impressions as well.  Ross's Geese (ROGO) are seen
regularly every year among the  thousand snow geese that winter
here in Delaware.  The number varies from year to year - from a few to
as many as a half dozen or more.  The most I've ever seen at once was a
group of four with a small flock of Snows along RT 9 near the Air Force
Base.  There are three main concentration areas for Snow Geese while
they are here.  By far the two largest are Prime Hook(PHNWR) and Bombay
Hook(BHNWR) National Wildlife Refuges.  These also happen to be the
locations where ROGO are encountered most frequently.

 

I have the most experience searching for ROGO at PHNWR. There are three
sites within the refuge where geese tend to concentrate in large numbers
and are fairly accessible from roads.  The first is the south
impoundment along Broadkill Beach Road (RT 16).  In past years the
impoundment which is probably in the neighborhood of 20 - 40 acres has
been filled with geese standing shoulder to shoulder from one end to the
other - with tens of thousands of geese present.  However, with this
year's drought and problems with the tidal plumbing system of the
impoundment it is dry as a bone and unless we get a lot of rain in the
near future or a coastal storm with unusually high tides I doubt that
geese will use it much this year.  The second concentration area is the
marshes on either side of Prime Hook Beach Road.  The third reliable
site is actually not within the refuge - but adjacent to it - the ag
fields along Cods Road between Prime Hook Beach Road and Fowlers Beach
Road.

 

At BHNWR Raymond, Shearness and Bear Swamp Pools are the best places to
look for geese.  At low tide the tidal flats opposite Shearness Pool can
have large flocks of feeding geese as well.  The ag fields in and around
the refuge can be productive as well.

 

Something to keep in mind when looking for geese at both refuges is
their daily movement patterns. The geese spend the night on the
impoundments and marsh areas and leave first thing in the morning to
feed in the ag fields north, south and west of the refuge.  They start
returning as early as late morning - though the bulk begin to fly back
into the refuges form early to late afternoon.  At PHNWR large flocks
often feed in the fields along RT 1 anywhere between Slaughter Beach and
Lewes and can be scanned from the shoulder of RT 1 or side roads.

 

The third location which usually has a large flock of wintering geese is
Little Assawoman Bay and the Asssawoman Wildlife Area.  Little Assawoman
Bay is the southernmost of the inland Bays between Bethany Beach and
Fenwick Island.  The wildlife area is located on the west side of the
bay.  I have very little experience with this flock and of the three it
gets the least attention.  Aside from these three sites, flocks of geese
may be encountered just about anywhere in Sussex and Kent Counties
either feeding in ag fields or resting on ponds, impoundments or
Delaware Bay.  I have had large flocks just about everywhere along RT 9
between BHNWR and the Ted Harvey Conservation Area, on Milford Neck, in
Ag Fields between Frederica and Lewes, the ponds west of Milford,
Gordons Pond (Cape Henlopen State Park area north of Rehoboth Beach) and
in Western Sussex County (during the Seaford CBC).  There are certainly
a nearly unlimited number of opportunities to search for ROGO in
Delaware.  If only the suckers weren't so good at hiding behind snow
geese!

 

Good Luck.

 

Chris Bennett

Natural Resource Management Specialist

Environmental Stewardship Program

Delaware Division of Parks and Recreation

89 Kings Highway

Dover, DE 19901

Phone:

Fax:

 

"The last word in ignorance is the man who says of an animal or plant:
'What good is it?'"

 

Aldo Leopold   A Sand County Almanac

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Delaware Birding [mailto:de-birds AT Princeton.EDU] On Behalf Of
Roger J. Masse
Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2007 6:55 PM
To: de-birds AT Princeton.EDU
Subject: [de-birds] Ross's Goose Question

 

I am sure that with some effort, Ross's Geese are encountered each year
with 

the huge numbers of Snow Geese that over winter here in DE.  I am
wondering 

just how frequently this species has been observed by folks?  Are there
any 

spots that are more dependable in terms of providing good, relatively
close 

looks at flocks of Snow's?  Thanks,

 

Roger J. Masse

Roger, 

 

I'm sure you have received responses from others already - but thought
I'd give you my impressions as well.  Ross's Geese (ROGO) are seen
regularly every year among the  thousand snow geese that winter
here in Delaware.  The number varies from year to year - from a few to
as many as a half dozen or more.  The most I've ever seen at once was a
group of four with a small flock of Snows along RT 9 near the Air Force
Base.  There are three main concentration areas for Snow Geese while
they are here.  By far the two largest are Prime Hook(PHNWR) and Bombay
Hook(BHNWR) National Wildlife Refuges.  These also happen to be the
locations where ROGO are encountered most frequently.

 

I have the most experience searching for ROGO at PHNWR. There are three
sites within the refuge where geese tend to concentrate in large numbers
and are fairly accessible from roads.  The first is the south
impoundment along Broadkill Beach Road (RT 16).  In past years the
impoundment which is probably in the neighborhood of 20 - 40 acres has
been filled with geese standing shoulder to shoulder from one end to the
other - with tens of thousands of geese present.  However, with this
year's drought and problems with the tidal plumbing system of the
impoundment it is dry as a bone and unless we get a lot of rain in the
near future or a coastal storm with unusually high tides I doubt that
geese will use it much this year.  The second concentration area is the
marshes on either side of Prime Hook Beach Road.  The third reliable
site is actually not within the refuge - but adjacent to it - the ag
fields along Cods Road between Prime Hook Beach Road and Fowlers Beach
Road.

 

At BHNWR Raymond, Shearness and Bear Swamp Pools are the best places to
look for geese.  At low tide the tidal flats opposite Shearness Pool can
have large flocks of feeding geese as well.  The ag fields in and around
the refuge can be productive as well.

 

Something to keep in mind when looking for geese at both refuges is
their daily movement patterns. The geese spend the night on the
impoundments and marsh areas and leave first thing in the morning to
feed in the ag fields north, south and west of the refuge.  They start
returning as early as late morning - though the bulk begin to fly back
into the refuges form early to late afternoon.  At PHNWR large flocks
often feed in the fields along RT 1 anywhere between Slaughter Beach and
Lewes and can be scanned from the shoulder of RT 1 or side roads.

 

The third location which usually has a large flock of wintering geese is
Little Assawoman Bay and the Asssawoman Wildlife Area.  Little Assawoman
Bay is the southernmost of the inland Bays between Bethany Beach and
Fenwick Island.  The wildlife area is located on the west side of the
bay.  I have very little experience with this flock and of the three it
gets the least attention.  Aside from these three sites, flocks of geese
may be encountered just about anywhere in Sussex and Kent Counties
either feeding in ag fields or resting on ponds, impoundments or
Delaware Bay.  I have had large flocks just about everywhere along RT 9
between BHNWR and the Ted Harvey Conservation Area, on Milford Neck, in
Ag Fields between Frederica and Lewes, the ponds west of Milford,
Gordons Pond (Cape Henlopen State Park area north of Rehoboth Beach) and
in Western Sussex County (during the Seaford CBC).  There are certainly
a nearly unlimited number of opportunities to search for ROGO in
Delaware.  If only the suckers weren't so good at hiding behind snow
geese!

 

Good Luck.

 

Chris Bennett

Natural Resource Management Specialist

Environmental Stewardship Program

Delaware Division of Parks and Recreation

89 Kings Highway

Dover, DE 19901

Phone:

Fax:

 

"The last word in ignorance is the man who says of an animal or plant:
'What good is it?'"

 

Aldo Leopold   A Sand County Almanac

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Delaware Birding [mailto:de-birds AT Princeton.EDU] On Behalf Of
Roger J. Masse
Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2007 6:55 PM
To: de-birds AT Princeton.EDU
Subject: [de-birds] Ross's Goose Question

 

I am sure that with some effort, Ross's Geese are encountered each year
with 

the huge numbers of Snow Geese that over winter here in DE.  I am
wondering 

just how frequently this species has been observed by folks?  Are there
any 

spots that are more dependable in terms of providing good, relatively
close 

looks at flocks of Snow's?  Thanks,

 

Roger J. Masse

I am sure that with some effort, Ross's Geese are encountered each year with 
the huge numbers of Snow Geese that over winter here in DE.  I am wondering 
just how frequently this species has been observed by folks?  Are there any 
spots that are more dependable in terms of providing good, relatively close 
looks at flocks of Snow's?  Thanks,

Roger J. Masse

The Delaware Valley Ornithological Club is happy to announce that Dr.  
Jeffrey Wells is coming all the way from Maine to speak to us on  
Thursday.  Jeff is the author of "Birder's Conservation Handbook: 100  
North American Birds at Risk", and will be presenting his program  
"Three Secrets About Bird Conservation They Don't Want You to Know".   
Books will be available at the meeting for Jeff to sign.  More  
information and directions can be found at:

     http://dvoc.org


Jeff is also the Senior Scientist at the Boreal Songbird Initiative, a  
group dedicated to promoting the importance of the boreal forests, the  
source of so many of our migrants.  You can read more about them at:

     http://borealbirds.org/


All are welcome.  The meeting starts at 7:30 with club business.  Jeff  
will present at about 8:15-8:30.


-PAG

Paul A. Guris
Vice President, Delaware Valley Ornithological Club
paul AT paulagics.com

Forrest Rowland reporting...

Ashland Nature Center
Hockessin, Delaware, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 17, 2007
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                
Turkey Vulture               
Osprey                       
Bald Eagle                   
Northern Harrier             
Sharp-shinned Hawk          
Cooper's Hawk               
Northern Goshawk             
Red-shouldered Hawk          
Broad-winged Hawk            
Red-tailed Hawk              
Rough-legged Hawk            
Golden Eagle                 
American Kestrel             
Merlin                       
Peregrine Falcon             
Unknown                                    

Total:                      
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 09:15:00 
Observation end   time: 15:45:00 
Total observation time: 6.5 hours

Official Counter: Forrest Rowland, Joe Sebastiani

Observers:        

Visitors:
Frank Rohrbacher came up to the hill today, to see/photograph the
Black-capped Chickadees that are coming to our feeders, and enjoy some
raptors. Walt Gibson was  first-timer to the watch, and spent most of
the
day. Drik Robinson, Larry Bryce, Gerry Teig, Pete Zeigler, and Fred
Knobloch all visited today, as well, at least for an hour or two. 


Weather:
Winds calm to light, mostly out of the S-SSW. High temp today a warm
27C.
That last cold front fooled me into thinking it was Fall! No
precipitation,
but fairly heavy fog until 10:40a. Cloud cover was never more than 10%. 

Raptor Observations:
Sharp-shinned Hawks were still the most numerous today, as expected. Two
more Peregrines were exciting to see, one quite close, soared, for a few
minutes above us. 

Non-raptor Observations:
3 American Pipit flew over us this morning, and Purple Finches are
numerous, lately. We had a late Black-throated Blue Warbler and a late
Magnolia Warbler, as well, today. 
========================================================================
Report submitted by Joe Sebastiani (joe AT delawarenaturesociety.org)
 information may be found at:
www.delawarenaturesociety.org

Forrest Rowland reporting...

Ashland Nature Center
Hockessin, Delaware, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 17, 2007
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                
Turkey Vulture               
Osprey                       
Bald Eagle                   
Northern Harrier             
Sharp-shinned Hawk          
Cooper's Hawk               
Northern Goshawk             
Red-shouldered Hawk          
Broad-winged Hawk            
Red-tailed Hawk              
Rough-legged Hawk            
Golden Eagle                 
American Kestrel             
Merlin                       
Peregrine Falcon             
Unknown                                    

Total:                      
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 09:15:00 
Observation end   time: 15:45:00 
Total observation time: 6.5 hours

Official Counter: Forrest Rowland, Joe Sebastiani

Observers:        

Visitors:
Frank Rohrbacher came up to the hill today, to see/photograph the
Black-capped Chickadees that are coming to our feeders, and enjoy some
raptors. Walt Gibson was  first-timer to the watch, and spent most of
the
day. Drik Robinson, Larry Bryce, Gerry Teig, Pete Zeigler, and Fred
Knobloch all visited today, as well, at least for an hour or two. 


Weather:
Winds calm to light, mostly out of the S-SSW. High temp today a warm
27C.
That last cold front fooled me into thinking it was Fall! No
precipitation,
but fairly heavy fog until 10:40a. Cloud cover was never more than 10%. 

Raptor Observations:
Sharp-shinned Hawks were still the most numerous today, as expected. Two
more Peregrines were exciting to see, one quite close, soared, for a few
minutes above us. 

Non-raptor Observations:
3 American Pipit flew over us this morning, and Purple Finches are
numerous, lately. We had a late Black-throated Blue Warbler and a late
Magnolia Warbler, as well, today. 
========================================================================
Report submitted by Joe Sebastiani (joe AT delawarenaturesociety.org)
 information may be found at:
www.delawarenaturesociety.org

Cape Henlopen Hawk Watch
Delaware, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 17,  2007
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species   Day's Count    Month  Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- --------------  --------------
Black Vulture               
Turkey Vulture         
Osprey     
Bald Eagle                 
Northern Harrier       
Sharp-shinned Hawk   
Cooper's Hawk     
Northern  Goshawk             
Red-shouldered Hawk          
Broad-winged Hawk            
Red-tailed Hawk               
Rough-legged Hawk           
Golden Eagle           
American Kestrel   
Merlin    
Peregrine Falcon           
Unknown         

Total:                   
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation  start time: 08:00:00 
Observation end   time: 14:30:00 
Total  observation time: 6.5 hours

Official Counter: Susan  Gruver

Observers:        Kathy  Boyd

Weather:
temp 19-24c,wind WSW/SW force 1-2,clcv-hazy 0-40%,visb  10-15k. humi
45%,baro 30.07

Raptor Observations:


Non-raptor  Observations:


Predictions:
mostly cloudy, 30% chance of late  showers,wind S 10-20 high  78
========================================================================
Report  submitted by Sue Gruver (srgruver AT aol.com



************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com

Cape Henlopen Hawk Watch
Delaware, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 16,  2007
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species   Day's Count    Month  Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- --------------  --------------
Black Vulture               
Turkey Vulture         
Osprey     
Bald Eagle                 
Northern Harrier       
Sharp-shinned Hawk   
Cooper's Hawk     
Northern  Goshawk             
Red-shouldered Hawk          
Broad-winged Hawk            
Red-tailed Hawk               
Rough-legged Hawk           
Golden Eagle           
American Kestrel   
Merlin    
Peregrine Falcon           
Unknown         

Total:                   
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation  start time: 08:00:00 
Observation end   time: 13:00:00 
Total  observation time: 5 hours

Official Counter: Dennis  Foley

Observers:        Jay Foley, Susan  Gruver

Visitors:
8


Weather:
temp 18-22c,wind  ESE/SE,force 0-1,clcv 70-80%,visb 15k  

Raptor  Observations:


Non-raptor Observations:
5 Great Blue Heron,  AT 50  dolphin,, AT 850 DCCO 

Predictions:
sun with a few clouds, high 77,wind S  10-15
========================================================================
Report  submitted by Sue Gruver  (srgruver AT aol.com)






************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com

Hello all,
Forrest Rowland here. I was browsing through various interesting sightings and 
comments made by birders/banders in the states adjacent to us. It would appear 
that RB Vole and Meadow Vole populations in the North may have had a hard year. 
Recent bird sightings support that - 


Pennsylvania Owl banders are reporting some record high catches of Saw-Whet 
Owl....a few sites getting 40+ individuals banded over the weekend. As of 
today, New York, Pennsylvania, and now New Jersey, are all reporting 
Rough-legged Hawks. Not sure what will come, but the birds seem to be steadily 
coming South. 


With regards to the ongoing finch flight, a Common Redpoll was reported from a 
feeder in York Co. Pennsylvania yesterday, and various reports of Evening 
Grosbeaks from adjacent states are starting to filter in, as well. Again, just 
wanted to mention these in the hopes that DE birders will continue to watch 
their feeders, and the skies, closely. 


I realize this isn't exactly Delaware birding information, but, for those who 
aren't quite as obsessive about it as I am, I reckoned the info would be good 
to share. 


Good Birding,

Forrest Rowland
Hawk Watch Coordinator
Ashland Nature Center/Hawkwatch Hill

       
---------------------------------

�S� un mejor besador!
Comparte todo lo que sabes sobre besos en:
http://telemundo.yahoo.com/promos/mejorbesador.html

Forrest Rowland reporting....

Ashland Nature Center
Hockessin, Delaware, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 16, 2007
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture               
Turkey Vulture              
Osprey                       
Bald Eagle                   
Northern Harrier            
Sharp-shinned Hawk          
Cooper's Hawk               
Northern Goshawk             
Red-shouldered Hawk          
Broad-winged Hawk            
Red-tailed Hawk             
Rough-legged Hawk            
Golden Eagle                 
American Kestrel             
Merlin                       
Peregrine Falcon             
Unknown                      

Total:                     
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 08:30:00 
Observation end   time: 15:30:00 
Total observation time: 7 hours

Official Counter: Forrest Rowland

Observers:        

Visitors:
Relatively few people were out for this great day, but Bob and Helena
Warrington, and Carol Majors (3 volunteer watchers) were there for the
better part of the day. Andrew Leidig showed up earliy in the morning,
and
stayed through lunch. This was his first visit to the watch, and his
timing
was perfect. It was also nice to meet Judy Kennedy, who spent the
afternoon
on the Hill. Molly Daly, Caitlin Brigham, and Amanda Goldberg came by
late
in the afternoon, after the intense numbers, but in time to see plenty. 


Weather:
High temp a very pleasant..almost warm...25C. Winds calm to light out of
the WSW. No precipitation, but plenty of cloud cover to help us spot the
birds. 

Raptor Observations:
Third highest day count yet!!! New high counts for Sharp-shinned Hawk
(crushed the previous record), Cooper's Hawk (ditto)...NORTHERN GOSHAWK
1...., Red-shouldered Hawk, and Red-tailed Hawk. The birds were constant
and steady, from 9am through to nearly 3pm, when the movement abruptly
decreased. A wind shift might have been the factor. 

Non-raptor Observations:
Lots of other species today, but still awaiting Pine Siskin for our
feeder.
Lots of Purple Finch, including at least two separate males. Also, a
small
group (5) of flyover finches, all red, calling...they did not perch for
a
better view, but we'll be on the lookout. They were suspect for
Crossbill

Predictions:
Hard to beat today's...
========================================================================
Report submitted by Joe Sebastiani (joe AT delawarenaturesociety.org)
 information may be found at:
www.delawarenaturesociety.org

Forrest Rowland reporting....

Ashland Nature Center
Hockessin, Delaware, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 16, 2007
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture               
Turkey Vulture              
Osprey                       
Bald Eagle                   
Northern Harrier            
Sharp-shinned Hawk          
Cooper's Hawk               
Northern Goshawk             
Red-shouldered Hawk          
Broad-winged Hawk            
Red-tailed Hawk             
Rough-legged Hawk            
Golden Eagle                 
American Kestrel             
Merlin                       
Peregrine Falcon             
Unknown                      

Total:                     
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 08:30:00 
Observation end   time: 15:30:00 
Total observation time: 7 hours

Official Counter: Forrest Rowland

Observers:        

Visitors:
Relatively few people were out for this great day, but Bob and Helena
Warrington, and Carol Majors (3 volunteer watchers) were there for the
better part of the day. Andrew Leidig showed up earliy in the morning,
and
stayed through lunch. This was his first visit to the watch, and his
timing
was perfect. It was also nice to meet Judy Kennedy, who spent the
afternoon
on the Hill. Molly Daly, Caitlin Brigham, and Amanda Goldberg came by
late
in the afternoon, after the intense numbers, but in time to see plenty. 


Weather:
High temp a very pleasant..almost warm...25C. Winds calm to light out of
the WSW. No precipitation, but plenty of cloud cover to help us spot the
birds. 

Raptor Observations:
Third highest day count yet!!! New high counts for Sharp-shinned Hawk
(crushed the previous record), Cooper's Hawk (ditto)...NORTHERN GOSHAWK
1...., Red-shouldered Hawk, and Red-tailed Hawk. The birds were constant
and steady, from 9am through to nearly 3pm, when the movement abruptly
decreased. A wind shift might have been the factor. 

Non-raptor Observations:
Lots of other species today, but still awaiting Pine Siskin for our
feeder.
Lots of Purple Finch, including at least two separate males. Also, a
small
group (5) of flyover finches, all red, calling...they did not perch for
a
better view, but we'll be on the lookout. They were suspect for
Crossbill

Predictions:
Hard to beat today's...
========================================================================
Report submitted by Joe Sebastiani (joe AT delawarenaturesociety.org)
 information may be found at:
www.delawarenaturesociety.org

Wildlife Photographer Kevin Karlson will present a program entitled 
“Birds and Wildlife of S. Alaska and the Arctic Tundra” on Friday, Oct. 
19th at 7:30PM at the Plymouth Meeting Friends located at the 
intersections of Germantown and Butler Pike in Plymouth Meeting.  This 
program is sponsored by the Wyncote Audubon Society and is free and 
open to the public.  Kevin Karlson is a wildlife photographer 
specializing in  birds. Living near Cape May, NJ, he has over 80,000 
images representing most of the major bird families in North America. 
To see some of these images, browse the photo galleries, or contact 
Kevin for specific needs.  He recently co-authored a comprehensive 
volume called The Shorebird Guide. This innovative work proposes a 
simpler and more effective approach to field identification of birds. 
He is also President of Jaeger Tours, Inc., a birding/nature tour 
company
This photographic journey takes us from incredible picturesque 
locations in S. Alaska to the rugged Arctic Tundra coastal plain in 
extreme N. Alaska. During this whirlwind tour, striking photos of 
birds, wildlife and scenery will be accompanied by natural history 
information and stories of Kevin's personal journeys to this magical 
land. As a biologist working in the Alaskan Arctic from 1992-95, Kevin 
compiled one of the finest collection of bird photos available. In this 
frozen world of extremes, many of the world's most intriguing birds and 
wildlife choose to breed and raise their young.  Life and death 
struggles unfold as creatures interact with nature in one of the most 
undisturbed places on earth.
FIELD TRIPS
There will be a Birding Field Trip on Saturday, Oct. 20 to Cape May, 
NJ. Meet 9AM at the Cape May Point State Park parking lot in front of 
the hawkwatch platform for hawks and other fall migrants. For more 
information contact Cliff Hence, or email 
cwhenceiii AT aol.com.
Nov. 10 (Sat) FIELD TRIP to Bake Oven Knob. Good time for eagles and 
late migrating raptors. Meet at Borders across from Montgomeryville 
Mall (northbound side of 309) at 7:30 AM or in the parking lot at Bake 
Oven at 8:30. Bring lunch, water and hiking boots for the climb. 
Leader: Andy Fayer, or email AndyFayer AT aol.com.
NEXT PROGRAM
Nov. 16 (Fri)  PROGRAM, Plymouth Meeting House (PMH) 7:30 PM. 
Butterflies of the Lower Rio Grande Valley with Naomi Murphy. Naomi has 
made numerous trips to the Valley to watch and photograph its 
butterflies. The area is well known for its rich biodiversity, where 
you can see as many butterflies in the four county area in the lower 
Rio Grande as in the entire Eastern region of North America.




________________________________________________________________________
Email and AIM finally together. You've gotta check out free AOL Mail! - 
http://mail.aol.com

 
Andy Urquhart, Dave Brannan and I enjoyed a  lovely and active morning at 
Grass Dale on Sunday. 
Ann Rydgren 
Hockessin 
October 14,  2007 Grass Dale 32  species  
Canada Goose                           6 
Turkey Vulture                           4 
Kestrel                                      1 
Ring-billed Gull                          1 
Herring Gull                               4 
Red-Bellied Woodpecker            3 
Downy Woodpecker                   5 
Flicker                                      8 
Tree Swallow                             15 
Blue Jay                                    14 
American Crow                          14 
Titmouse                                   1 
Carolina Wren                            7 
Ruby-crowned Kinglet                 1 
Bluebird                                    1 
Robin                                        139 
Catbird                                      2 
Mockingbird                               11 
Brown Thrasher                          2 
Yellow-rumped Warbler               2 
Starling                                     13 
Common Yellowthroat                1 
Cardinal                                    6 
Eastern Towhee                         1 
Song Sparrow                            6 
Swamp Sparrow                         10 
White-crowned Sparrow              1 
White-throated Sparrow              18 
Red-winged Blackbird                 30 
Common Grackle                       1 
House Finch                              8 
Goldfinch                                   1



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Hello all:

Here are the bird sightings from Bombay Hook NWR for the period 10/7-13/2007.

Snow Goose (current population ~4000)
Wood Duck
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Ring-necked Pheasant
Belted Kingfisher
Yello-bellied Sapsucker
Eastern Phoebe
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Gray-cheeked Thrush
Cape May Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Palm Warbler
American Redstart
Blue Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Eastern Towhee
White-crowned Sparrow
Eastern Meadowlark
Baltimore Oriole (imm.)

Frank Rawling
Friends of Bombay Hook
http://www.friendsofbombayhook.org
http://fws.gov/northeast/bombayhook

P.S. My FOS Dark-eyed Junco's at the Visito'rs Center this morning.
 
Tina Watson
Middletown, DE


       

____________________________________________________________________________________ 

Looking for a deal? Find great prices on flights and hotels with Yahoo! 
FareChase. 

http://farechase.yahoo.com/

Hello all,
  Forrest Rowland reporting...
   
 Today Holly Merker and Tom Raub, from Rose Tree Creek Hawk Watch, came to 
Ashland today to visit the site. They spent 3 hours and saw 64 individual 
raptors! 

   
 I wanted to thank them for coming out today, as Monday is our day off from the 
Watch. Unfortunately, I wasn't there to meet them, but it was great to have our 
nearest neighbors come out. 

   
 Also, a belated thank you to all who came out to join in the Big Sit, 
yesterday. 81 is a GREAT count, and I think fun was had by all. 

   
  Take care and Good birding,
   
  Forrest Rowland
   
  Hawk Watch Coordinator
  Ashland Nature Center/Hawkwatch Hill
   
   

       
---------------------------------

�S� un mejor asador!
Aprende todo sobre asados en:
http://telemundo.yahoo.com/promos/mejorasador.html

Forrest Rowland with a late report from Saturday....

Ashland Nature Center
Hockessin, Delaware, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 13, 2007
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture               
Turkey Vulture              
Osprey                       
Bald Eagle                   
Northern Harrier             
Sharp-shinned Hawk          
Cooper's Hawk               
Northern Goshawk             
Red-shouldered Hawk          
Broad-winged Hawk            
Red-tailed Hawk             
Rough-legged Hawk            
Golden Eagle                 
American Kestrel             
Merlin                       
Peregrine Falcon             
Unknown                                    

Total:                     
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 09:00:00 
Observation end   time: 16:00:00 
Total observation time: 7 hours

Official Counter: Forrest Rowland

Observers:        

Visitors:
20 visitors


Weather:
High winds pushing 25kph, and generally a mild day. High temp was 17C,
and
the winds direction was fairly constant, out of the West, with high
clouds,
making the watch very enjoyable. No precipitation.

Raptor Observations:
Lots of Sharpies!!! A new high count, at 66 birds. They were constant.
Also
new highs for Turkey Vulture and RE-tailed Hawk. 

Non-raptor Observations:
More geese. Few monarchs.

Predictions:
Big Sit! Hoping for a good high count, and many visitors to join us. 
========================================================================
Report submitted by Joe Sebastiani (joe AT delawarenaturesociety.org)
 information may be found at:
www.delawarenaturesociety.org

The next meeting of the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club (DVOC) is this
Thursday, October 18, 2007. Details at http://www.dvoc.org)

The meeting will be held at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia
at 7:30 pm. Enter from 19th Street. 

Agenda:

Club business, committee reports, and local notes.

Program - Jeff Wells - "Three Secrets About Bird Conservation They Don't
Want You to Know"
Jeff Wells, author of the upcoming Princeton University Press publication
"Birder's Conservation Handbook: North America's 100 Birds of Conservation
Concern", will talk about his views on the state of birds and bird
conservation in North America. In a wide-ranging presentation covering
everything from global warming to lingerie, Kleenex, donut holes, and the
Argentinean economy, Dr. Wells will describe the best-kept secrets of bird
conservation and tell about some amazing conservation opportunities that
still exist including protection of the Boreal--North America's Great Bird
Nursery.

Ornithological Studies - Adrian Binns - Newcomers to the Delaware Valley


All are welcome.

------------------------------------------------------------

Bert Filemyr
Meadowbrook, PA

Cape Henlopen Hawk Watch
Delaware, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 15,  2007
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species   Day's Count    Month  Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- --------------  --------------
Black Vulture               
Turkey Vulture         
Osprey     
Bald Eagle                 
Northern Harrier       
Sharp-shinned Hawk   
Cooper's Hawk     
Northern  Goshawk             
Red-shouldered Hawk          
Broad-winged Hawk            
Red-tailed Hawk               
Rough-legged Hawk           
Golden Eagle           
American Kestrel   
Merlin    
Peregrine Falcon           
Unknown          

Total:                   
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation  start time: 08:00:00 
Observation end   time: 11:00:00 
Total  observation time: 3 hours

Official Counter: Dave  Weber

Observers:        Diane Kane, Susan  Gruver

Weather:
temp 18c,wind East force 1,clcv 25%,visb 20k,humi  30%,baro 30.16

Raptor Observations:


Non-raptor  Observations:
we had a nice flock of white-throated sparrows,one  white-crowned sparrow,
junoc,RC Kinglets,yellow rumped warbler,one  blue-headed vireo,red-breasted
nuthatches

5 Great Blue Heron,many tree  swallows,Monarch butterflies still moving

Predictions:
partly cloudy,  high 73,wind ESE  5-10
========================================================================
Report  submitted by Sue Gruver (srgruver AT aol.com



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Ashland Nature Center
Hockessin, Delaware, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 14, 2007
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                
Turkey Vulture              
Osprey                       
Bald Eagle                   
Northern Harrier             
Sharp-shinned Hawk          
Cooper's Hawk               
Northern Goshawk             
Red-shouldered Hawk          
Broad-winged Hawk            
Red-tailed Hawk              
Rough-legged Hawk            
Golden Eagle                 
American Kestrel             
Merlin                       
Peregrine Falcon             
Unknown                      

Total:                      
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 09:00:00 
Observation end   time: 17:00:00 
Total observation time: 8 hours

Official Counter: Forrest Rowland, Joe Sebastiani

Observers:        Bob Strahor, Derek Stoner, Joe Sebastiani, Judy
Montgomery,
                  Pete Zeigler, Sally O'Byrne

Visitors:
71 visitors


Weather:
Light wind ouf of the NW; 16-22 deg C; 0-10% cloud cover; no precip; 

Raptor Observations:


Non-raptor Observations:
Big Sit Day at the Hawk Watch tallied 81 species.  See Derek Stoner's
report on de-birds list-serve, 10/14.
========================================================================
Report submitted by Joe Sebastiani (joe AT delawarenaturesociety.org)
 information may be found at:
www.delawarenaturesociety.org

Ashland Nature Center
Hockessin, Delaware, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 14, 2007
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                
Turkey Vulture              
Osprey                       
Bald Eagle                   
Northern Harrier             
Sharp-shinned Hawk          
Cooper's Hawk               
Northern Goshawk             
Red-shouldered Hawk          
Broad-winged Hawk            
Red-tailed Hawk              
Rough-legged Hawk            
Golden Eagle                 
American Kestrel             
Merlin                       
Peregrine Falcon             
Unknown                      

Total:                      
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 09:00:00 
Observation end   time: 17:00:00 
Total observation time: 8 hours

Official Counter: Forrest Rowland, Joe Sebastiani

Observers:        Bob Strahor, Derek Stoner, Joe Sebastiani, Judy
Montgomery,
                  Pete Zeigler, Sally O'Byrne

Visitors:
71 visitors


Weather:
Light wind ouf of the NW; 16-22 deg C; 0-10% cloud cover; no precip; 

Raptor Observations:


Non-raptor Observations:
Big Sit Day at the Hawk Watch tallied 81 species.  See Derek Stoner's
report on de-birds list-serve, 10/14.
========================================================================
Report submitted by Joe Sebastiani (joe AT delawarenaturesociety.org)
 information may be found at:
www.delawarenaturesociety.org

Hello,

The Delaware Valley Ornithological Club and The Academy of Natural  
Sciences in Philadelphia  proudly announce the new Delaware Valley  
Rare Bird Alert Hotline. The phone number to report sightings or hear  
the current RBA is .  You may leave your sightings after  
the�recording or hit the one (1) key at any time to skip the recording  
and leave a message.   The Hotline will be updated every Thursday  
afternoon and a weekend rap-up update will be recorded every Monday  
morning.  The Hotline will also be updated in the event any especially  
important rarities appear in the Delaware Valley Region such as Ivory  
Gull, Long-billed Murrelet, Red-footed Falcon, etc.

This spoken word version of the hotline will be an abbreviated version  
of what's available at http://www.dvoc.org with a focus on rarities  
and vagrants, and providing an in-the-field resource for directions to  
rare vagrants and the like.  Our current announcer for the RBA will be  
Tony Croasdale, though, there will doubtlessly be others who  
contribute in this respect.  Please call in and enjoy the Hotline, and  
feel free to call that number to report rarities.

Thanks, and have fun out there,
Steve


Steve Kacir
rba AT dvoc.org
DVOC Rare Bird Alert Committee Chair
Academy of Natural Sciences
Delaware Valley Ornithological Club
Philadelphia, PA

Fellow DE-birders:

 

Sunday, October 14th, 2007, is International Big Sit Day("Birding's Most
Sedentary Event").  Over 200 teams worldwide compete to see how many
species they can observe from one spot during this 24-hour period.   A
team of Delaware birders named Twitching Talons availed themselves of
the opportunity to spend a glorious October day spotting birds, with
Hawk Watch Hill at Ashland Nature Center as the chosen site to sit and
watch. 

 

We began our watch at 4:30am, and the owls announced themselves in
order:  Barred, Eastern Screech, and Great-horned.  Flight notes of
Gray-cheeked, Swainson's, and Hermit Thrushes came down from a sky that
also provided glimpses of more than a dozen meteors blazing bright
against the black of night.  

 

A classic assembly of songsters took part in a beautiful dawn chorus:
Winter and House Wren, White-throated and Lincoln's Sparrow, Brown
Thrasher, Northern Mockingbird, Gray Catbird, and Eastern Towhee.  An
American Pipit flew by our watch, as did a few Pileated Woodpeckers and
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers.

 

Strategically-placed bird feeders and liberal application of seed upon
lawn within our view drew in a solid assortment of needed birds:
White-crowned and Savannah Sparrow(and our lone House Sparrow!),
Black-capped Chickadee, and Purple Finch.  For the day, we tallied 34
Purple Finches!

 

The thickets near the Hawk Watch attracted Ruby- and Golden-crowned
Kinglets, as well as a handsome pair of Blue-headed Vireos. Warblers
that came by included Black-and-white, Nashville, Black-throated Green,
Blackpoll, Yellow-rumped, Palm, and American Redstart.

 

By 10:00am, we had tallied 68 species and prospects looked great(our
goal was 70 species).  However, the limitation of being restricted to a
17-foot circle soon became starkly apparent.  Adding a bunch of new
species is ever-more difficult after a reaching a certain species
threshold, but our team rose to the challenge.

 

Raptors dependably started moving, and Red-tailed Hawk, Osprey, American
Kestrel, Northern Harrier, and Bald Eagle soon joined the list.  A
surprising Eastern Wood-Peewee visited the hill, and a Chimney Swift was
plucked from the swarms of Tree Swallows.    

 

The late-afternoon push yielded Merlin, Red-shouldered Hawk, and a lone
Broad-winged Hawk- species number 80!  

 

At 6:50pm, a hen Mallard winged past the hill and quacked twice.  And
with that, the Big Sit reached a fine ending at dusk, with the Twitching
Talons snagging 81 species from a hill in the Piedmont of Northern
Delaware.  Fourteen-and-one-half hours of birding effort by a total of
71 visitors during the course of the day!   

 

A very special thank-you goes to Forrest Rowland, Bill Stewart, Sally
O'Byrne, Matt Sarver, Lauren Morgans, Judy Montgomery, Carol Majors, Bob
Strahorn, Jim Lewis, Joe and Ellen Sebastiani, and Pete Zeigler for
being tremendous teammates and contributors to our birding efforts.  As
team captain, I simply went along for the (stationary) ride and enjoyed
watching great birders practice their craft.  Thanks to all for making
the first annual Hawk Watch Hill Big Sit a success.  

 

Good birding,

 

Derek Stoner

Hockessin, DE

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

Cape Henlopen Hawk Watch
Delaware, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 14,  2007
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species   Day's Count    Month  Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- --------------  --------------
Black Vulture               
Turkey Vulture         
Osprey     
Bald Eagle                 
Northern Harrier       
Sharp-shinned Hawk     
Cooper's Hawk       
Northern  Goshawk             
Red-shouldered Hawk          
Broad-winged Hawk            
Red-tailed Hawk               
Rough-legged Hawk           
Golden Eagle           
American Kestrel   
Merlin    
Peregrine Falcon           
Unknown         

Total:                   
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation  start time: 08:00:00 
Observation end   time: 14:15:00 
Total  observation time: 6.25 hours

Official Counter: Bruce  Lantz

Observers:        Diane Kane, Kathy Boyd, Susan  Gruver

Visitors:
thanks to Michael and  Rob

10


Weather:
wind NW all day, force 1-2,temp 14-20c,clcv  0-25%,visb 20k,

Raptor Observations:
One B. Eagle with  fish

Non-raptor Observations:
9-Red-throated Loons,2 Brown  Pelican,25-30 Dolphin

Predictions:
sunny high 70,winds light and  variable
========================================================================
Report  submitted by Sue Gruver (srgruver AT aol.com)



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Good evening,

The siskin number grew to six by noontime.  I was able to get a few  
pics of a group of five at the feeder, I'll be interested in seeing  
what tomorrow brings.  Really enjoy hearing their buzzy, hectic song.

Bill Stewart

Morning,

We just had two Pine Siskins at the thistle feeder in our backyard  
which is one mile into PA in Chadds Ford.  Nice, nice surprise.  We  
have had RBNU's since August and our first Black-capped Chickadee  
showed up a week ago.  Interestingly, no junco as of yet.

Bill Stewart

Today at Ft. DuPont SP I had No. Flicker, Hairy, Yellow-Bellied, Downy, and 
Red-bellied Woodpecker in that order, all within 10 minutes of arriving at the 
parking lot. Not bad for an area with limited forest patches, most of it - 
introduced White Poplar. Also Common Yellowthroat, Phoebe, and an adult 
White-crowned Sparrow. 


John Janowski

Cape Henlopen Hawk Watch
Delaware, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 13,  2007
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species   Day's Count    Month  Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- --------------  --------------
Black Vulture               
Turkey Vulture         
Osprey     
Bald Eagle                 
Northern Harrier       
Sharp-shinned Hawk   
Cooper's Hawk     
Northern  Goshawk             
Red-shouldered Hawk          
Broad-winged Hawk            
Red-tailed Hawk               
Rough-legged Hawk           
Golden Eagle           
American Kestrel   
Merlin   
Peregrine Falcon              
Unknown             

Total:   
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation  start time: 08:00:00 
Observation end   time: 13:00:00 
Total  observation time: 5 hours

Official Counter: Susan  Gruver

Observers:        Bruce Peterjohn, David  Weber, Diane Kane

Visitors:
thanks to Dave,John and Dave
5  vistors


Weather:
wind W/NW, force 1-2,temp 12-16c,clcv 10-25%,visb  20k,humi 93-39%,baro
29.96

Raptor Observations:
almost all Raptors  seemed to be coming across the bay from Cape May

Non-raptor  Observations:
8-Great Blue Heron,Brown-Headed and Red-Breasted  Nuthatches,8-Wood Ducks,1
common Eider,5 Common Loon,12 Lesser Black-Backed  Gulls loafing on the
water

Predictions:
Sunny high 69,wind NW  10-15
========================================================================
Report  submitted by Sue Gruver  (srgruver AT aol.com)






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This morning Mike Smith and I spent several hours at Brandywine Creek  
State park, with sparrows as the goal, and we weren't disappointed.   
We started at the admission booth and walked to the nature center via  
the fields.   We had great looks at every bird we targeted, except  
White throats which we heard singing but only glimpsed.  Here are the  
approx. numbers - we weren't counting very diligently:

Song sparrow - 20
Savannah  - 40
White throat - 2
White crowned - 3 (1 juv.)
Field - 25
Swamp - 5
Lincoln's - 5
Chipping - 30

Other birds:    palm warbler, cedar waxwing, house finch and  
goldfinch (no purple),  ruby-crowned kinglet, bluebird, kingfisher,  
red-tailed hawk, flicker, phoebe

The notable butterfly was buckeye - they were quite common.

On another note.......  This afternoon at 4th and West , in downtown  
Wilmington, I had a Mourning Cloak butterfly.



Sally O'Byrne

Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you for that post.  Last night on the radar 
I saw what might have been the beginning of a flight from NJ to DE over 
Delaware Bay.  This morning (somewhat late, unfortunately) I saw echoes 
between Cape May and Cape Henlopen moving about 20 mph when the air at 
the surface at Georgetown was still.  I thought those echoes should be 
birds, and your post has made that much more likely.  Maybe I can make 
what I have been reading about interpreting radar really work.

The only problem is there was no clear evidence on radar of movement 
upstate and no activity that I could detect on the ground up here, 
although I got out later than I should have.  Maybe I should move to 
Rehoboth.

Sharon Lynn wrote:
> I spent an enjoyable 15 minutes birding off my deck this morning. There must 
have been 200 YELLOW RUMPED WARBLERS. Mixed in were RUBY CROWNED 
KINGLETS,CHIPPING SPARROWS, and a male BLACK THROATED BLUE WARBLER. RED 
BREASTED NUTHATCHES CALLED FROM EVERYWHERE. But the highlight for me was seeing 
3 pairs of PURPLE FINCHES eating from the pods of a tulip poplar tree. 

> I wish I didn't have to work today.
> Sharon Lynn
> Rehoboth Beach 
>
>   


-- 
Maurice Barnhill 
mvb AT udel.edu  [Use ReplyTo, not From]
[bellatlantic.net is reserved for spam only]
Department of Physics and Astronomy
University of Delaware
Newark, DE 19716

I spent an enjoyable 15 minutes birding off my deck this morning. There must 
have been 200 YELLOW RUMPED WARBLERS. Mixed in were RUBY CROWNED 
KINGLETS,CHIPPING SPARROWS, and a male BLACK THROATED BLUE WARBLER. RED 
BREASTED NUTHATCHES CALLED FROM EVERYWHERE. But the highlight for me was seeing 
3 pairs of PURPLE FINCHES eating from the pods of a tulip poplar tree. 

I wish I didn't have to work today.
Sharon Lynn
Rehoboth Beach

RBA
* Delaware
* Statewide
* October 12, 2007
* DEST0710.12

*Birds mentioned
Snow Goose 
Cackling Goose
Green-winged Teal
Northern Pintail
Northern Shoveler
Ring-necked Duck
Common Loon
Great Cormorant
Northern Gannet
Black Vulture
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Ring-necked Pheasant
Sora
Virginia Rail
American golden Plover
Black-bellied Plover
Semipalmated Plover
American Avocet
Whimbrel
Greater Yellowlegs
Least Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper
White-rumped Sandpiper
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Wilson's Snipe
Royal Tern
Caspian Tern
Black Skimmer
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Eastern Wood Pewee
Red-eyed Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Blue-headed Vireo
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown-headed Nuthatch
House Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
Swainson's Thrush
Gray-cheeked Thrush
Veery
Easter Bluebird
Cape May Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Black-throated blue Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Black and White Warbler
American Redstart
Ovenbird
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Blue Grosbeak
Chipping Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Purple Finch

Transcript
Hotline:       Birdline Delaware
Date:            October 12, 2007
Number:      302/
To Report:   Andy Ednie  (VOICE)
                          (FAX)
Compiler:   Andy Ednie (ednieap AT verizon.net)
Coverage:    Delaware, Delmarva Peninsula, nearby Delaware Valley, Southern
New Jersey, Maryland
Transcriber: Andy Ednie (ednieap AT verizon.net)

for Friday, October 12th, from the Delaware Museum of Natural History in
Greenville, I'm Andy Ednie and this is the Birdline Delaware. 

The times are a changing. The first RING-NECKED DUCK of the season was
reported at Hoopes' Reservoir from the Rt. 82 causeway this week. Also seen
was an adult BALD EAGLE feeding on a dead fish by Carpenter's Cove. A
SWAINSON'S THRUSH and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH were found by Hillside Mill Rd. 

SNOW GEESE are back in force in central Delaware. A flock of 1000 birds was
seen off North Little Creek Rd, just west of Cartanza Rd. yesterday. A
CACKLING GOOSE was in a flock of ~450 SNOW GEESE at Prime Hook Beach Road
last weekend. 

The first GREAT CORMORANT was seen at the breakwater off Lewes last week and
2 NORTHERN GANNETS were seen from Herring Point at Cape Henlopen State Park.
BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES are still being reported in the pines by the hawk
watch/picnic area. BLACK SKIMMER, ROYAL and CASPIAN TERNS are also still
being seen at the point, along with COMMON LOON. 

ROYAL TERN, plus an interesting collection of sandpipers were reported at
Fowler's Beach. Shorebirds seen included AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER, WHIMBREL,
WHITE-RUMPED and BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER, and WILSON'S SNIPE. 

A CASPIAN TERN and an immature LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was found yesterday
on the rock at Battery Park in New Castle. There was also a severely oiled
RING-BILLED GULL, possible from the recent oil spill in Paulsboro on
Wednesday. 

65 AMERICAN AVOCETS were counted at Leatherbury Flats opposite Shearness
Pool in Bombay Hook NWR on Sunday. The only decent birding at "the hook" is
at low tide right now due to low water levels. NORTHERN PINTAIL, SHOVELER,
GREEN-WINGED TEAL and SEMIPALMATED and BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, DUNLIN,
WHITE-RUMPED, LEAST and WESTERN SANDPIPER are still present. 

The first WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS of the season were reported this week.
Three birds, 2 adults and a juvenal, were at Ashland Nature Center on
Tuesday. A single adult WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW was at the entrance booth to
Brandywine Creek State Park yesterday. There was a load of SPARROWS at
Brandywine Creek yesterday, including CHIPPING, FIELD, SAVANNAH, 3
LINCOLN'S, SWAMP, and WHITE-THROATED. So far, there has only been a single
report of DARK-EYED JUNCO. 

NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS were also reported at Fowler's Beach and also
at Mispillion Inlet.


BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES were reported at several locations, including a pair
coming to the feeders at Ashland Nature Center. A bird, described as a
possible hybrid BLACK-CAPPED X CAROLINA CHICKADEE, was seen at Rockland
Mills. First identified by the slower scold, the bird was larger in size,
but had a shorter tail to wing ratio and lacked white in the wing.
BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE and PURPLE FINCHES were reported this week from the
Ramsey Rd. area of Brandywine Creek State Park. 

Two PURPLE FINCHES and 4 RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES were found along Barley
Mill Rd. near Mt Cuba. There was also a huge flock of THRUSHES coming into
the holly berries there including 75 AMERICAN ROBINS, 11 GRAY-CHEEKED, 5
SWAINSON'S, 9 WOOD THRUSH, 3 VEERY, and 2 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS. YELLOW-THROATED
VIREO and PINE WARBLER were also nearby. 

Several people are reporting RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES at their feeders. A
BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER was seen eating suet at a feeder at Red Mill
Pond near Milton this week. Hope that stays for Christmas, right Frank!

A CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER was found at Brandywine Creek State Park on
Wednesday, with PALM WARBLER, HOUSE WREN, and BLUE-HEADED VIREO. 

Below the canal, a late RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD is still coming to a
feeder near Port Penn, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS were reported and a
RING-NECKED PHEASANT was found. PHEASANT use to be common at Augustine Beach
Wildlife Area near Port Penn, so let's hope somebody is helping them to come
back. 

RED-EYED and BLUE-HEADED VIREOS were reported at Flint Woods near
Centerville on Wednesday. Also reported were PALM WARBLER and 6 species of
Woodpecker. 

Ashland Nature Center had an interesting collection of late lingering birds,
including EASTERN WOOD PEWEE, RED-EYED VIREO, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, and
MAGNOLIA, PALM, BLACKPOLL, BLACK-THROATED GREEN, and BLACK AND WHITE
WARBLER, OVENBIRD and REDSTART. 

Ashland Hawk watch had a record day of 57 SHARPIES (SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS)
today, plus 12 BALD EAGLES and SNOW GOOSE, COMMON LOON, and CAPE MAY
WARBLER. Previously, the best day at the hawk watch was Tuesday, with 23
OSPREY, 4 BROAD-WINGS, A RED-SHOULDERED, 6 MERLINS, AND 3 PEREGRINE FALCONS.
On Sunday16 BLACK VULTURES and 15 BROAD-WINGS were reported. Fly-bys at the
hawk watch this week included WILSON'S SNIPE, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, PECTORAL
SANDPIPER, and AMERICAN PIPIT. 

The hawk watch at Cape Henlopen had a banner day on Sunday with 6 BALD
EAGLES, 15 NORTHERN HARRIERS, 14 MERLINS, and 5 PEREGRINES. 

Back downstate at Prime Hook NWR, a BLUE GROSBEAK was still present. Several
LINCOLN'S SPARROWS were seen there also. Last week we mentioned SORA'S being
seen along the Dike Trail behind the headquarters. Last Saturday, 25 SORAS
and a VIRGINIA RAIL were found along that trail. My friend, Howard Brokaw
once mentioned that there were lots of rails in Delaware marshes this time
of year. I guess we just aren't lucky enough to see these secretive birds
usually. 

And now for this week's special feature, from 1450 WILM News Radio. You can
hear the birdline on the radio on Wednesdays at 5:55 and 8:55 am and again
at 6:55 pm. Here now, is this week's feature:

You might have noticed that the days are getting shorter. Even though the
temperature has been in the 80's, it's a sure sign that winter is just
around the corner. Now is then time to start your winter bird feeding. 

Each fall, the Ontario Field Naturalist reports their prediction of winter
bird migration with their "Winter Finch Forecast".  Base on seed crops, this
is a little more scientific then predictions found in the National Enquirer.
This year there was a massive seed crop failure through Ontario, speculating
hope of winter finch irruptions through the Northeast. Native Mountain Ash,
which provides berries for PINE GROSBEAK and BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS failed. So
maybe we'll see these rare northern species. Acorn crops are low, so there
has already been a major flight of BLUE JAYS (Blue Jay SFx) to our feeders. 

As early as July, northern migrants began to arrive. RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES
were found in conifers and feeders in northern Delaware. RED-BREASTED
NUTHATCHES are smaller then our native WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH, with a
deep-blue back, eye stripe, and red belly. Their song, (Red-breasted
Nuthatch SFx) sounds like a tin horn. PURPLE FINCHES arrived in September;
these northern nesters have been rare in Delaware in recent years, arrived
at an unprecedented early date. 

Already, PINE SISKINS have been reported along the ridges in Pennsylvania.
The rare COMMON and HOREY REDPOLL are expected this year due to widespread
crop failure of birch and alder. BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, the northern cousin
of our CAROLINA CHICKADEE is predicted to move south, along with the even
more rare BOREAL CHICKADEE. 

If you want to lure a northern visitor into your feeder, you have to start
early. Birding is like any other sport, with the anticipation of the coming
season. Who knows, this might be the year. Okay, so I switched from the
Phillies to the Sox this week!

I'll be back here next week and would appreciate your reports. Please call
 or email me at ednieap AT verizon.net. Special thanks to Chris
Bennett, Frank Rohrbacher, Derek Stoner, and Bill Fintel for their reports.
I'm Andy Ednie, good birding. 

-end transcript

Cape Henlopen Hawk Watch
Delaware, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 12,  2007
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species   Day's Count    Month  Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- --------------  --------------
Black Vulture               
Turkey Vulture         
Osprey     
Bald Eagle                 
Northern Harrier       
Sharp-shinned Hawk   
Cooper's Hawk     
Northern  Goshawk             
Red-shouldered Hawk          
Broad-winged Hawk            
Red-tailed Hawk               
Rough-legged Hawk           
Golden Eagle           
American Kestrel   
Merlin   
Peregrine Falcon              
Unknown             

Total:   
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation  start time: 08:00:00 
Observation end   time: 14:30:00 
Total  observation time: 6.5 hours

Official Counter: Kathy  Boyd

Observers:        Bill Fintel, David Weber,  Susan Gruver

Visitors:
thanks to Sally  Fintel

7


Weather:
VERY WINDY ALL DAY  WNW/NW/WNW/NW  force 5,temp14-18c,clcv 50-15%,visb 20k
humi 67%,baro  29.63



Raptor Observations:


Non-raptor  Observations:
1 Chimney Swift,12 Brant, dolphin, DCCO  

Predictions:
less windy West 5-10, sunny high  66
========================================================================
Report  submitted by Sue Gruver (srgruver AT aol.com



************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com

Forrest Rowland reporting....

Ashland Nature Center
Hockessin, Delaware, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 12, 2007
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture               
Turkey Vulture              
Osprey                      
Bald Eagle                  
Northern Harrier             
Sharp-shinned Hawk          
Cooper's Hawk               
Northern Goshawk             
Red-shouldered Hawk          
Broad-winged Hawk            
Red-tailed Hawk              
Rough-legged Hawk            
Golden Eagle                 
American Kestrel            
Merlin                       
Peregrine Falcon             
Unknown                      

Total:                     
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 09:00:00 
Observation end   time: 16:00:00 
Total observation time: 7 hours

Official Counter: Forrest Rowland

Observers:        

Visitors:
So many visitors today! Jeff Gordon came by early, and we got a few
early
flybys. Darwin Palmer was with us for most of the day on the hill, an
esteemed veteran of hawkwatching, and a pleasure to meet. The rest of
the
long list of guests: Rod and Sue Welles, Pete Zeigler, his brother John
Jr.
and his father John Sr., Rob Walton, Amy and Keith Delaney, Carol Majors
(finally got to be here for most fo a great day!!), Veronica Marine,
Donna
Guretsky, Kyle, Tyler, and Ben Mayhew, Sally O'byrne, Amanda Goldberg
and
Caitlin Brigham.


Weather:
A blustery Fall day, with gusts to over 35mph, average winds being
between
20 and 30kph. Winds were mostly out of the WNW. High temp today 16C,
with
no precipitation. High, numerous, clouds aided the watch today, as did
the
long awaited Fall weather. 

Raptor Observations:
A very rewarding day, with a new high count for Sharp-shinned Hawks. 

Non-raptor Observations:
Instead of Monarchs, we coutned migrating Waterfowl. A Common Loon
flyover
provided the First for the season. A Snow Geese, mixed in with the
thousands of Canadas, was our FOS, as well. A Cape May Warbler popped in
to
the nearest bush, out of the sky, calling to get our attention on the
way
in. Very close, good looks. The total for Canada Geese today - 9005!
========================================================================
Report submitted by Joe Sebastiani (joe AT delawarenaturesociety.org)
 information may be found at:
www.delawarenaturesociety.org

I was out at the point at CHSP yesterday morning prior to a ferry trip
across the bay and had 20 minutes or so to scan what could be seen of
the water and beach on either side.  There wasn't much out of the
ordinary though I did have a pair of Surf Scoters on the water near the
inner breakwater and a single Black Skimmer on the bay side beach.
Someone I talked to later in the day said he had 5 Skimmers on the tip
of the point Wednesday afternoon.  In Delaware waters on the ferry
crossing to NJ I had a single Peregrine, Northern Harrier and Common
Loon all heading towards DE.

Chris Bennett
Milford, DE

Hello all:

Please join us for the following program to be held at Bombay Hook NWR on 
10/13/2007 from 10:00am to 12:00 noon. 


Saturday, October 13, 2007 10:00 am - 12 noon The Birds and the Bees and…the 
Beetles? Why We Should Care About Pollinators by Dr. Michael Higgins 

 Pollinators encompass a diverse group of organisms, from insects such as bees, 
beetles, and butterflies, to hummingbirds and even some species of bats. 
Pollinators are crucial for the reproduction of many plants, which in turn 
provide food and shelter for a multitude of other species. Many of the foods we 
enjoy are dependent upon pollinators. Without pollinators, most ecosystems 
would simply collapse, and humans would endure a very bland diet. 

 This talk explores the importance and diversity of pollinators, with special 
attention to the native pollinators. There will be a brief discussion on the 
apparent decline of pollinators and tips on what you can do at home to support 
these oftentimes small but remarkable creatures. 

 Dr. Michael Higgins is an entomologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, National Wildlife Refuge System. 


Cheers and Good Birding

Frank Rawling
http://www.friendsofbombayhook.org
http://bombayhook.fws.gov

Forrest Rowland reporting...
   
 The hawkwatch was not held today due to rain. Though the weather did become 
slightly more favorable around 2p, scattered drizzle, high winds, and a low 
ceiling, did not allow for much movement. Normal observations will be resumed 
tomorrow morning, 9:30a. The weather conditions appear very good for hawk 
migration over the next 3-4 days. 

   
  Good birding,
   
  Forrest Rowland
  Hawk Watch Coordinator
  Ashland Nature Center/Hawkwatch Hill

       
---------------------------------

�S� un mejor ambientalista!
Encuentra consejos para cuidar el lugar donde vivimos en:
http://telemundo.yahoo.com/promos/mejorambientalista.html

Cape Henlopen Hawk Watch
Delaware, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 11,  2007
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species   Day's Count    Month  Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- --------------  --------------
Black Vulture               
Turkey Vulture         
Osprey     
Bald Eagle                 
Northern Harrier       
Sharp-shinned Hawk   
Cooper's Hawk     
Northern  Goshawk             
Red-shouldered Hawk          
Broad-winged Hawk            
Red-tailed Hawk               
Rough-legged Hawk           
Golden Eagle           
American Kestrel   
Merlin   
Peregrine Falcon              
Unknown             

Total:   
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation  start time: 08:00:00 
Observation end   time: 14:30:00 
Total  observation time: 6.5 hours

Official Counter: Susan  Gruver

Observers:        Carole Toomey, David Weber,  Jeanne Shaw, Lorraine Logan

Visitors:
5


Weather:
wind  WNW/NW/WNW force 1/3/4,temp 16/16/14/14,clcv 100%,visb 3-15%,humi
100-77%,  baro 29.57



overcast all day and a lot of fog in the  am.

Raptor Observations:


Non-raptor Observations:
 AT 1000  DCCO,14 Common Loon,25-30 Canada Geese,and many 100's tree swallows,
still a  few monarch butterflies

Predictions:
partly cloudly,high 67, wind WNW  20-30
========================================================================
Report  submitted by Sue Gruver (srgruver AT aol.c



************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com

- RBA

* PA, NJ, DE
* Delaware Valley: Southeast PA, Central/Southern NJ & DE
* PADV0710.11
* October 11, 2007

- Birds Mentioned

Anhinga +
Roseate Spoonbill +
Calliope Hummingbird +
Pine Grosbeak +++
  + (Details requested by NJBRC)
  ++ (Details requested by PORC)
  +++ (Details requested by DERC)
Red-throated Loon
Commmon Loon
Pied-billed Grebe
Northern Fulmar
Northern Gannet
American White Pelican
Brown Pelican
Great Cormorant
American Bittern
Cattle Egret
Black-crowned Night-heron
Snow Goose
Cackling Goose
Mandarin Duck
Ring-necked Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Common Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Bald Eagle
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
American Kestrel
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Ring-necked Pheasant
Ruffed Grouse
Clapper Rail
Virginia Rail
Sora
Black-bellied Plover
American Golden-plover
Semipalmated Plover
Willet
Whimbrel
Marbled Godwit
Red Knot
White-rumped Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Dunlin
Stilt Sandpiper
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Ruff
Long-billed Dowitcher
Wilson's Snipe
Parasitic Jaeger
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Caspian Tern
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Eastern Screech-owl
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Pileated Woodpecker
Yellow-throated Vireo
Blue-headed Vireo
Common Raven
Tree Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Winter Wren
Sedge Wren
Marsh Wren
Gray-cheeked Thrush
Swainson's Thrush
American Pipit
Tennessee Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-throated Warbler
Pine Warbler
Palm Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Connecticut Warbler
Canada Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Clay-colored Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Lark Sparrow
Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow
Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow
Seaside Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Blue Grosbeak
Dickcissel
Bobolink
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Rusty Blackbird
Purple Finch
Pine Siskin

- Transcript

Hotline: Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert
Email reports to: rba AT dvoc.org
Compilers: Steve Kacir, Michael Lyman & Rob Hynson
            Delaware Valley Ornithological Club
Phone:
URL: http://www.dvoc.org/RBA/Current/Active/Index.htm

Welcome to the Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert, a service
provided by the joint efforts of the Academy of Natural Sciences
of Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club
(DVOC), covering the Delaware Valley Region of Delaware, New
Jersey and Pennsylvania.

I'm Steve Kacir your guide for birding in the Greater
Philadelphia Region.  For October 11, 2007 we highlight reports
of ANHINGA, ROSEATE SPOONBILL, CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD and PINE
GROSBEAK.  Remember to check out our website for additional
content and information:

http://www.dvoc.org/RBA/Current/Active/Index.htm

Our new phone service is starting up this week, providing a
spoken word version of the RBA and a way for you to call in your
sightings.  Tony Croasdale will be reading the RBA, call in to
 to listen in or report.

Raptor Migration:

BROAD-WINGED HAWKS continued to trickle through the region this
week, with few hawk watches reporting that species on a daily
basis.  BALD EAGLE, AMERICAN KESTREL, SHARP-SHINNED and COOPER'S
HAWKS were seen daily or nearly so across the region, and
PEREGRINE FALCONS and MERLINS were noted on several days at most
locations this week.  RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS were seen at the Rose
Tree Park Hawk Watch in Delaware County, PA; Hawk Mountain
Sanctuary in Berks County, PA and most reliably at the Ashland
Nature Center Hawk Watch in New Castle County, DE.  Cape May
Point State Park's Hawk Watch in Cape May County had an
excellent raptor flight on Oct 7 including 681 SHARP-SHINNED
HAWKS, 115 MERLINS and 53 PEREGRINE FALCONS.  COMMON RAVENS flew
past Kirkridge Lookout in Northampton County PA and the Raccoon
Ridge Hawk Watch in Warren County, NJ.

For New Jersey:

The CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD at Brian and Karen Johnson's house in
Eldora, Cape May County was last seen Oct 6 when the bird was
visiting the backyard feeders.

A juvenile RUFF was at Cape May Point State Park on Oct 6, and
an ANHINGA flew over Cape Island on Oct 10.  A DICKCISSEL has
been feeding near the Hawk Watch platform through Oct 7.  A
YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER and flyby AMERICAN PIPITS were seen Oct
5, and a LINCOLN'S SPARROW was there on Oct 10.  PARASITIC
JAEGERS, NORTHERN GANNETS and BLACK SCOTERS were seen from the
beach at Cape May Point and The Nature Conservancy's Cape May
Migratory Bird Refuge.  A DICKCISSEL called overhead from the
Migratory Bird Refuge on Oct 8.  A female BLUE GROSBEAK was
found at the Rea Farm on Oct 6.  The Morning Flight at Higbee
Beach WMA on Oct 7 included a BLUE GROSBEAK, a CLAY-COLORED
SPARROW, a CONNECTICUT and 6 CAPE MAY WARBLERS, and a GRAY-
CHEEKED THRUSH called from the woods.  On Oct 8, the Morning
Flight included AMERICAN PIPITS and YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO.  The
next day the flight included a BAY-BREASTED WARBLER, and Two
Mile Landing Rd had SALTMARSH SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS and CLAPPER
RAILS.

A NORTHERN FULMAR was sighted 6 miles east of Cape May Inlet.
Highlights from the Avalon Sea Watch included COMMON and RED-
THROATED LOONS, NORTHERN GANNETS, all three SCOTER species,
PARASITIC JAEGERS and BROWN PELICANS with 6 MARBLED GODWITS on
Oct 6.  Nummy's Island had 50 WESTERN WILLETS and 7 MARBLED
GODWITS through Oct 6.

The ROSEATE SPOONBILL and AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN were reported
through Oct 7 at Edwin Forsythe NWR's Brigantine Division in
Atlantic County, and a female YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was by the
Gull Tower Oct 6.  Other notable sightings last weekend included
AMERICAN BITTERN near the Gull Tower, migrant PEREGRINE FALCONS,
BOBOLINKS, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, RUDDY DUCKS and STILT
SANDPIPERS.  A leucistic or albino TREE SWALLOW was at
Brigantine on Saturday, and a LARK SPARROW was the intersection
of the dike loop and the road to the Gull Tower on Oct 8.
CASPIAN TERNS have at the refuge through the week, and 130 SNOW
GEESE, PEREGRINE FALCONS and a MERLIN were seen Oct 10.

A number of NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS, including both
subvirgatus and nelsoni subspecies, have been found with more
numerous SALTMARSH SHARP-TAILED and SEASIDE SPARROWS at the end
of Great Bay Blvd in Tuckerton, Ocean County.  Other birds in
the area this weekend included an adult BALD EAGLE; MERLIN; 10
RED KNOTS; PINE, PALM and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS.

On Oct 9, Money Island Rd in Salem County had 7 LINCOLN'S
SPARROWS, and there was a SEDGE WREN at the trail to the west
bird blind.  Rancocas State Park in Burlington County had a
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW at the leaf dump area on Oct 5, and a
WINTER WREN on Oct 7.  That day, Palmyra Cove Nature Park had 4
LINCOLN'S SPARROWS, GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK,
and YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER.  On Oct 10, Palmyra had a YELLOW-
BREASTED CHAT, 2 LINCOLN'S SPARROWS, White's Bog had 2 LINCOLN'S
SPARROWS at the dikes by the cranberry bogs on Oct 5.

On Oct 7, Cold Brook Preserve in Hunterdon County had LINCOLN'S
and VESPER SPARROWS; ORANGE-CROWNED, TENNESSEE and CANADA
WARBLERS.  A CLIFF SWALLOW north of the Bull's Island State Park
Bridge flew between the park and Bucks County, PA on Oct 8.
Warren Green Acres aka the Glenhurst Meadows in Somerset County
had a LINCOLN'S SPARROW on Oct 7.


For Delaware:

A RING-NECKED DUCK was at Hoopes Reservoir in New Castle County
on Oct 10, and a SWAINSON'S THRUSH was found along nearby
Hillside Mill Rd on Oct 6.  A RING-NECKED PHEASANT made an
appearance at Dutch Neck Rd.  A BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE and
PURPLE FINCHES were found along Barley Mill Rd near Ashland
Nature Center.  GRAY-CHEEKED and SWAINSON'S THRUSHES were in the
Holly & Dogwood thicket on Oct 7, and YELLOW-THROATED VIREOS
were singing at Ashland that day.  On Oct 9, an AMERICAN PIPIT
and 2 WILSON'S SNIPES flew past the hawk watch.  Ashland and
Flint Woods Preserve both had LINCOLN'S SPARROWS and 6 species
of woodpecker including YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER and PILEATED
WOODPECKER on Oct 11.  Other birds at Ashland that day included
BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK and PURPLE FINCH.
The same day, Brandywine Creek State Park had a LINCOLN'S
SPARROW, PURPLE FINCH, CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, YELLOW-BELLIED
SAPSUCKER, BLUE-HEADED VIREO and PILEATED WOODPECKER.

On Oct 5, Armstrong Farm in Smyrna, Kent County had WILSON'S
SNIPE; BLUE GROSBEAKS; TENNESSEE, PINE and BLACKPOLL WARBLERS.
The same day 21 CATTLE EGRETS were at the Delaware Correctional
Center.  SALTMARSH SHARP-TAILED and SEASIDE SPARROWS were in a
marsh along Lighthouse Rd and right below the deck at the DuPont
Nature Center in Mispillion Harbor on Oct 5, and a leucistic
GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL lounged on a piling just north of the
Center.

In Sussex County, there was an uncorroborated report of a
possible PINE GROSBEAK at Rehobeth Beach last week.  On Oct 4, a
CLAPPER RAIL hid under the Cape Henlopen State Park Fishing Pier
on a waterpipe, perhaps it had gotten lost in the fog.  A GREAT
CORMORANT was on an icebreaker off Lewes on Oct 6.  BROWN-HEADED
NUTHATCHES were seen from the Cape Henlopen State Park Hawk
Watch Oct 7-8.  Five LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were on the beach
Oct 5, and NORTHERN GANNETS were seen from Herring Point on Oct
6.  Two BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS were at the south impoundment
along Broadkill Beach Rd at Prime Hook NWR on Oct 4 and another
was seen on Oct 6 at Fowlers Beach.  That day, Fowlers Beach
also hosted an arctic PEREGRINE FALCON, NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED
SPARROW and WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, and the next day 2 WHIMBRELS
and an AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER were at the sod bank near the
overwash at Fowler's.  On Saturday morning, the dike trail had
20 SORAS, a VIRGINIA RAIL and a LINCOLN'S SPARROW.  The
Boardwalk Trail had BLUE GROSBEAKS, and the Black Farm Trail had
a CAPE MAY and a BLACKPOLL WARBLER.  A CACKLING GOOSE was in
with a flock of 450 SNOW GEESE at Prime Hook Rd, and the
Broadkill Beach Rd impoundments had 30-40 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS.


For Pennsylvania:

This week, John Heinz NWR at Tinicum in Philadelphia County had
SORA, YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER and CLAY-COLORED SPARROW near the
horseshoe before the observation tower.

On Oct 5, 6 COMMON MERGANSERS, BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS and
92+ LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were seen from the Morrisville
Levee in Bucks County.  YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS, BALD EAGLES,
and LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were seen regularly at Peace
Valley Park.  Peace Valley's Sailor's Point had 5 LINCOLN'S
SPARROWS on Oct 4 and another on Oct 8.  Other notable sightings
for the area included PURPLE FINCH, BLUE-HEADED VIREO and ROSE-
BREASTED GROSBEAK.  Large brightly colored chickadees have also
been at Peace Valley since Sep 30, and may be the start of a
BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE irruption.  On Oct 7, BLACK-CAPPED
CHICKADEE flocks were noticeable throughout nearby Nockamixon
State Park. PINE SISKINS were in Quakertown on Oct 8.  A RUSTY
BLACKBIRD and BLUE-HEADED VIREO were at Core Creek Park on Oct
8.  Pine Run had a NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROW and a SEDGE
WREN on Oct 10; they were in tall grass and weeds on high ground
50-75 yards from the construction trucks near the dam.

On Oct 5 Kirkridge Lookout in Northampton County hosted BLUE-
HEADED VIREOS and CAPE MAY WARBLERS.  That day, an adult male
DICKCISSEL was at Riverview Golf Course just before Easton.  On
Sunday, the Koch property had ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, MERLIN,
MARSH WREN, LINCOLN'S SPARROW, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES and a red
phase EASTERN SCREECH-OWL in a kestrel box.  An ORANGE-CROWNED
WARBLER was at the Koch Property Oct 7-8.

In Chester County, BOBOLINKS, PEREGRINE FALCON, PECTORAL
SANDPIPERS, WILSON'S SNIPE, MANDARIN and RING-NECKED DUCKS were
at Chambers Lake and Hibernia Park.  A PEREGRINE FALCON, MERLIN
and AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER were at Chambers Lake on Oct 9, and a
flock of SNOW GEESE flew overhead.  LINCOLN'S SPARROWS were in
the weeds along a jogging path at Church Farm School.

In Lancaster County, a NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROW, 16
AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS, 5 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, BLACK-BELLIED
PLOVERS, WILSON'S SNIPES, AMERICAN PIPITS and MARSH WRENS were
reported from the Susquehanna River at Bainbridge on Oct 4.  On
Oct 11, birds around Bainbridge and Brunner's Island included
AMERICAN BITTERN, MERLIN, SORA, BLACK-BELLIED and SEMIPALMATED
PLOVERS, 15 AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS, 4 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, 3
NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS and RUSTY BLACKBIRDS.  The
Conejohela Flats still has excellent birding with AMERICAN
GOLDEN-PLOVER, BLACK-BELLIED and SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, a first
winter STILT SANDPIPER, 65 PIED-BILLED GREBES, SORA, MERLIN,
PEREGRINE FALCON and LINCOLN'S SPARROW on Oct 5.  A STILT
SANDPIPER was on the Lebanon County side of Middle Creek WMA on
Oct 8.

On Oct 6, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Berks County witnessed the
migration of 330 PURPLE FINCHES, some SWAINSON'S THRUSHES, 25
CAPE MAY and 30 BLACKPOLL WARBLERS.  On Oct 7, 131 YELLOW-RUMPED
WARBLERS were recorded, and 114 PURPLE FINCHES were noted Oct 9.
SGL 110 had excellent birding on Oct 7, with WINTER WRENS,
LINCOLN'S SPARROW, RUFFED GROUSE, BLUE-HEADED VIREO, PURPLE
FINCHES, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES and BLACK-THROATED BLUE
WARBLERS.  A WINTER WREN was at the Monocacy Hill Recreation
Area Oct 9.


*** ANNOUNCEMENTS ***

On November 3 or 4, depending on whether conditions, Frank
Windfelder, Bill Murphy and Chris Walters will lead a DVOC field
trip to Bake Oven Knob in Berks County, PA.  The trip will meet
at the parking lot at 8:30AM.  There is no field trip fee, and
members and non-members are welcome to attend.  Please contact
the trip leader if you plan on attending, and if you go bring a
packed lunch.  Details can be found on the website:
http://www.dvoc.org

The next meeting of the DVOC is on Thursday October 18 at 7:30PM
at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, when Jeff
Wells will present "Three Secrets About Bird Conservation They
Don't Want You to Know."  Details are on the website, and guests
are welcome.

See Life Paulagics has a pelagic trip out of Lewes, DE scheduled
for Saturday October 20. Last year's trip at that time of year
found North America's second Cape Verde Shearwater. For more
information, call  or visit http://www.paulagics.com

The back section of Bombay Hook NWR in Kent County, DE will be
closed for muzzleloader deer hunting on Oct 12.  This will
include Bear Swamp and Finis Pool.

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, PA

Hello all,
 Forrest reporting...indoors...sheltered from the rain that recently drenched 
me. Great to see some real precipitation! This should help the foliage out a 
lot...and consequentially, the birds. 

   
 Providence was on our side this morning, given that it didn't spit a single 
drop of rain on us until after 10am, our normal quitting time. It curtailed a 
long look we were having at a well-perched Lincoln's Sparrow, but all in the 
group saw the bird well, one of two I heard this morning. All said, it was a 
great morning, really. We appeared to experience a fairly high turnover during 
the past two days. Many warblers arrived yesterday morning, along with a large 
flock of White-throated Sparrows. Today, some warblers lingered, but Kinglets 
stole the show, and White-throated Sparrows were relatively few. Swamp Sparrows 
were in force, with at least 10 being present in the marsh. 

   
  Here's the complete list of this mornings highlights:
   
  Osprey  1
  Northern Harrier  1
  Sharp-shinned Hawk  2
  Cooper's Hawk  1
  Ring-billed Gull  1...one of 4 seen so far this season
  6 species of Woodpecker (Pileated heard only) including 2 YB Sapsucker
  Eastern Wood-Pewee  2
  Eastern Phoebe  3
  Red-eyed Vireo  1
  Red-breasted Nuthatch  2
  House Wren  1
  Golden-crowned Kinglet  8
 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 18 (one sat preening, showing his crown, for a full 3 
minutes) 

  Brown Thrasher   1
  Magnolia Warbler   3
  Black-throated Blue Warbler   3
  Yellow-rumped Warbler   15-20
  Black-throated Green Warbler   4
  Palm Warbler    10
  Blackpoll Warbler  2
  Black-and-White Warbler   1
  American Redstart   1
  Ovenbird   1
  Lincoln's Sparrow   2
  Swamp Sparrow   10+
  Rose-breasted Grosbeak   1
  Purple Finch   1 (calling/singing)
   
 PS - WHILE WRITING this report, Joe and I are watching two Black-capped 
Chickadees at the feeder outside the office window....NICE!!!! 

   
  Good birding!!!
   
  Forrest Rowland 
  Hawk Watch Coordinator
  Ashland Nature Center/Hawkwatch Hill
   
   
   
   

       
---------------------------------

�S� un mejor ambientalista!
Encuentra consejos para cuidar el lugar donde vivimos en:
http://telemundo.yahoo.com/promos/mejorambientalista.html

Greetings,

 

You are invited to join the Delmarva Ornithological Society (DOS) on the
evening of Wednesday, October 17, for our monthly meeting, held at the
Ashland Nature Center in Hockessin.

 

This month, we will be welcoming Matt Medler from The Boreal Songbird
Initiative. Spanning 2.3 million square miles, the Boreal Forest of North
America is a critical breeding habitat for billions of songbirds, raptors,
and waterfowl. Matt Medler, Science Coordinator for the Boreal Songbird
Initiative, will explain the vital work being done to protect this important
ecosystem that is home to more than 300 species of breeding birds. Through
rich and captivating images, explore the bounty of birds in this vast and
wondrous landscape. 

 

The meeting begins at 7:00 pm with light refreshments and a social
"half-hour", followed by a brief business meeting. The main program will
begin about 7:45 - 8:00 pm.

 

Hope to see many of you there!

 

Anthony T. Gonzon, Jr.

 

DOS Program Chair

 

atgonzon AT udel.edu


 

Hello all,
 Forrest Rowland reporting the exciting decision by Derek Stoner and myself to 
participate in the national Big Sit. The date is this Sunday, October 14th, 
from 4:30am to 7:00pm. 

   
 A Big Sit, which I imagine most of you have heard of, is similar to a Big Day, 
in some regards. The goal is to see as many species as possible within 24 
hours, as in a Big Day. There are some stark differences, however. 

   
 First of these is that the team is restricted to no bigger than a 
17-foot-diameter area, where the count will take place. No birds seen, while 
outside the circle, can be counted, unless seen by someone inside the circle. 
Another rule that is quite different from a Big Day (and set up in the name of 
camaraderie) is that everyone/anyone interested is encouraged to participate! 
The exact phrasing in the Big Sit Rules of Play states: "There is no limit to 
how many people can occupy one circle", and makes clear that visiting 
observers' contributions are welcome. So...come out and join the team! 

   
 We were forewarned to bring food, drink, even cooking supplies and a ladder 
(for visibility) among other various items (cushions..pillows) that might make 
the day more comfortable. So, those who like to stay for more than a short 
period of time are encouraged to bring any of these items they wish, though we 
will set up a cooler/drinks, etc. for the general public. 

   
 The Sit circle will be, in essence, the Hawkwatch Hill. The adirondack chairs 
are, of course, going to be in the circle, as will the picnic table. We welcome 
all visitors to come for as long, or as short, a time as they please. We hope 
to see you there this Sunday! 

   
  Good Birding,
   
  Forrest Rowland
  Hawk Watch Coordinator
  Hawkwatch Hill/Ashland Nature Center 

       
---------------------------------

�S� un mejor fot�grafo!
Perfecciona tu t�cnica y encuentra las mejores fotos en:
http://telemundo.yahoo.com/promos/mejorfotografo.html

Check out David Lapuma's website. www.woodcreeper.com to see the up to date 
bird radar for the northeast. 




Sharon Liebner
Bear, De