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Recent Postings from
The Pennsylvania Birding List

Updated on Thursday, November 29 at 04:00 PM ET
The most recently received Mail is at the top.

hello

the bird was reported at least 3 times today.  I was out there around 
3:30pm and it was last reported at 2:20pm.

There were 3 other birders there when I left, I was only able to stay 
for a few minutes.

Regarding Sunday visits, the family is okay with visits on sundays 
from here on out.  They know this is an important and desired bird, 
so just respect their privacy if they don't come out of the 
house.  It was just this past sunday when they requested not to have 
anyone come as they had a large gathering for their church services.

Also, they do have a sign-in book that they would like everyone to 
sign names and locations and anything else you wish to sign.

There has also been large flocks of Pine Siskins frequenting the feeders.

Also, feel free to bring some fruit or feed to them, as I am sure 
that would be helpful.  The grapes have been the mainstay of interest 
for the Oriole.  It hasn't touched the oranges or tangerines yet.  I 
don't believe they have tried grape jelly yet, but the peanut butter 
suet is its other choice of food.

On the homefront here, I was able to see/hear a House Wren on Monday 
and I saw a Gray Catbird on Tuesday, both in Mifflintown.

Chad Kauffman
Mifflintown, PA

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This was posted today on NJBirds. Just over the river from Bucks CO. Keep you 
eyes peeled. 


This afternoon at 2:30PM I had a small flock of about 8 Redpolls. They were 
along the hedge row at the back of the parking lot of building 830 Bear Tavern 
Road in West Trenton. To reach this spot take Route 29 north of Trenton, enter 
Route 95 North and get off at the first exit. Turn left going over the 95 
Overpass. The building complex is on the right at the light. If you are coming 
south on 95 Bear Tavern Rd is exit 2 just before reaching the Deleware River. 
Take a right and the buildings will be on your right. 

Susan Phelon
Long Branch


Doug Filler
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze1sgx0/index.html

This is absolutely typical behavior of the Black Vulture.  They, like  Turkey 
Vultures, roost in communal flocks.  
 
They are slowly advancing north of their historical range, following their  
cousins, the Turkey Vulture, to carrion food supplies. Turkey locates food by 

smell, Black's cannot smell, so there seems to be a commensal relationship  
between the two species.  

Jim  Smith - Naturalist
PPL Holtwood Environmental Preserve
Lancaster County,  PA
39.849 deg. N - 76.326 deg.  W




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Last week I was in New Hope at the Bucks County Playhouse. I believe that there 
were black vultures (between 50 and 100) on the roof of one of the buildings 
near the parking lot . 


My husband and I had been in New Hope about a month ago and drove by the same 
building but without a good look and late in the day, I thought at the time 
they were turkey vultures. It struck me as unusual to see them all perched on 
the roof at that time, but I quickly forgot about it. Seeing the same thing 
again such a long time later, I was wondering could they have been black 
vultures (none had the adult red head of the turkey vulture) and is this normal 
behavior for this bird? 


Mary Ellen

Was such a nice day that I decdided to bird part of the Big Spring for 
lunch. Nothing unusual except for a flock of 20 SNOW GEESE calling 
overhead heading from the Northwest to the Southeast. They just about came 
directly over me, so I also go a decent look.
Vern Gauthier
Newville

I made the trip to Dave Troyer's  place this morning and viewed the Bullock's 
for about fifteen minutes from about 10:00 to 10:15.
 
Many thanks to Dave for his wonderful hospitality and to Chad Kauffman for 
bringing it to our attention and providing directions and updates on the bird.
 
Dick Cleary



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- RBA

* PA, NJ, DE
* Delaware Valley: Southeast PA, Central/Southern NJ & DE
* PADV0711.29
* November 29, 2007

- Birds Mentioned

Pink-footed Goose (NY)
Barnacle Goose +
Barrow's Goldeneye +
White-winged Dove +
Lesser Nighthawk +
Ash-throated Flycatcher +
Loggerhead Shrike ++
Cave Swallow +
Cave Swallow ++
Townsend's Solitaire +
Bullock's Oriole +
Bullock's Oriole ++
   + (Details requested by NJBRC)
   ++ (Details requested by PORC)
   +++ (Details requested by DERC)
Red-throated Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Northern Gannet
Brown Pelican
Great Cormorant
American Bittern
Greater White-fronted Goose
Ross's Goose
Cackling Goose
Tundra Swan
Eurasian Wigeon
Green-winged Teal
Canvasback
King Eider
Common Eider
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Common Goldeneye
Bald Eagle
Northern Goshawk
Rough-legged Hawk
Golden Eagle
Northern Bobwhite
Sandhill Crane
American Avocet
Least Sandpiper
Purple Sandpiper
Bonaparte's Gull
Iceland Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Caspian Tern
Barn Owl
Long-eared Owl
Short-eared Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Red-headed Woodpecker
Least Flycatcher
Great Crested Flycatcher
Western Kingbird
Northern Shrike
Common Raven
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown-headed Nuthatch
American Pipit
Orange-crowned Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Vesper Sparrow
Lapland Longspur
Snow Bunting
Rusty Blackbird
Baltimore Oriole
Purple Finch
Red Crossbill
White-winged Crossbill
Common Redpoll
Pine Siskin
Evening Grosbeak

- Transcript

Hotline: Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert
Email reports to: rba AT dvoc.org
Compilers: Steve Kacir, Michael Lyman, Rob Hynson and
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 November 29, 2007 we highlight reports
of PINK FOOTED and BARNACLE GEESE, KING EIDER, BARROW'S
GOLDENEYE, LESSER NIGHTHAWK, WHITE-WINGED DOVE, CAVE SWALLOW,
NORTHERN and LOGGERHEAD SHRIKES, WESTERN KINGBIRD, ASH-THROATED
FLYCATCHER, TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE, BULLOCK'S ORIOLE, COMMON
REDPOLL, EVENING GROSBEAK, WHITE-WINGED and RED CROSSBILLS.
Remember to check out our website for additional content and
information:

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

Extralimital New York Rarity Roundup:

At Montauk, the BARNACLE GOOSE and PINK-FOOTED GOOSE were last
reported Nov 28, while the WESTERN KINGBIRDS and ASH-THROATED
FLYCATCHER were last reported Nov 25.  Montauk has had COMMON
REDPOLLS and dozens of RED CROSSBILLS as well, with a high count
of 46 on Nov 23.  Another ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER was at Staten
Island Nov 25 & 27.  A WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL was at Central
Park on Nov 22.  A first year male KING EIDER was at Jones Beach
on Nov 23.  CAVE SWALLOWS have been reported from Long Island
through the week.

For New Jersey:

On Nov 21, Cape Island in Cape May County had 2 SANDHILL CRANES
at the Lighthouse Pond of Cape May Point State Park.  CAVE
SWALLOWS roosted at Congress Hall at the Cape May city
beachfront through the week.  They were also reported from the
Hawk Watch and around Cape May, with a high count of 98 on Nov
23.  The Cape May Point State Park Hawk Watch reported NORTHERN
GOSHAWKS Nov 23-25.  A WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL flew past the Hawk
Watch on Nov 23, and a LESSER NIGHTHAWK roosted in a cedar next
to the Hawk Watch on Nov 25.

The Cape May BARNACLE GOOSE spent the week roosting on Lily Lake
or at The Nature Conservancy's Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge,
with an appearance at Hidden Valley Ranch on Nov 22.  On Nov 26
an EVENING GROSBEAK and 82 SNOW BUNTINGS flew over the Cape May
Migratory Bird Refuge.  Hidden Valley had a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT
on Nov 21, and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS were noted at Hidden
Valley, Higbee Beach WMA and Cape Island Creek Preserve this
week.  On Nov 28, the Villas WMA's Ponderlodge area had a WHITE-
WINGED DOVE by the courtyard and the smaller swimming pool near
the old main building of the former golf course.  RED-HEADED
WOODPECKERS and 125 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were also in the area.
LONG-EARED OWLS have been reported in the area, including a
cooperative owl roosting at the State Park.  A BARN OWL and
NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS called from Cape May.  SHORT-EARED OWLS
have been reported recently from Jake's Landing.  On Nov 28, a
drake BARROW'S GOLDENEYE flew past the Avalon Sea Watch.

The ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER north of West Cape May was reported
through Nov 27.  Other notable birds found in this area included
WESTERN KINGBIRD and a flyby EVENING GROSBEAK on Nov 25.  A late
LEAST FLYCATCHER south of the end of Wilson Ave was still
present as of Nov 28.  As you head north out of West Cape May
village on Broadway, which becomes Seashore Rd, look for Wilson
Ave on the right.  Wilson Ave is a block long and runs into a
dead end.  Park there and continue a few feet farther east,
where the end of Wilson crosses a dirt road.  There is a
pedestrian gate, a railroad track and then the Nature
Conservancy property "Cape Island Creek."  The bird was seen
along the dirt road south of Wilson Ave, but it was also seen
along the railroad tracks.

An adult male BULLOCK'S ORIOLE has been seen as recently as Nov
28 at the "Hidden Valley Extension" on Bayshore Rd in Cape May.
The area is part of the Hidden Valley tract and WMA property.
Head north on Bayshore Rd from Sunset Blvd, and go past the Rea
Farm and look for Stimpson Ln on the right.  A few hundred yards
to the north of Stimpson Ln, but before the Hidden Valley riding
stable, there is a green milepost sign marked "1" on the right
side of the road.  Directly across from the mile marker, on the
west side of Bayshore Rd, a mowed path leads through a tangle of
bushes and cedars before it dead-ends.  Waiting at the edge of
Bayshore Rd in this area has been suggested as the best strategy
for seeing the BULLOCK'S ORIOLE.  Other birds present included
BALTIMORE ORIOLES, a BLACKPOLL WARBLER and two significant flyby
birds on Nov 28: BARNACLE GOOSE and EVENING GROSBEAK.

Edwin B Forsythe NWR's Brigantine Division in Atlantic County
hosted TUNDRA SWANS and CAVE SWALLOW on Nov 25.  A NORTHERN
SHRIKE was at Great Bay Blvd in Tuckerton, Ocean County on Nov
22.  Wells Mills County Park had a WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL in
some cedars near a propane tank by the nature center that day.
Recently, Barnegat Lighthouse State Park had COMMON EIDERS,
HARLEQUIN DUCKS, PURPLE SANDPIPERS and a CASPIAN TERN.

CAVE SWALLOWS were reported from Sandy Hook in Monmouth County
on Nov 22 & 24.  An ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER and a TOWNSEND'S
SOLITAIRE have been seen at the flagpole area and the new
restroom at the Boy Scout Camp at Sandy Hook through Nov 28.  A
lingering GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER and a WESTERN KINGBIRD
frequented the former corral near the garden area at Sandy Hook
through Nov 28.

On Nov 24, a CAVE SWALLOW roosted at Newport Landing, Cumberland
County.  On Nov 22, two NORTHERN SHRIKES were reported from the
Franklin Parker Preserve in Burlington County, and the shrikes
were reported through Nov 24. To reach the Preserve from the
intersection of Rt 563 & Rt 532 in Chatsworth take Rt 532 W
towards Tabernacle/Medford. In a short distance you will see a
large lake on your right and the road will bend sharply right
(currently minor shoulder work occurring there).  Immediately
turn left on to a dirt road. Park along the road and walk past
the two gates to the old cranberry bogs. The shrikes have been
active near several pools in the back of this section of bogs.
VESPER SPARROWS were seen at Franklin Parker, and a RED
CROSSBILL flew over the preserve on Nov 25.  Florence had LESSER
BLACK-BACKED GULLS and 2 ICELAND GULLS on Nov 24.

Eight COMMON REDPOLLS were at a hedgerow at the back of the
parking lot for 830 Bear Tavern Rd in West Trenton, Mercer
County.

A NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen from the Scott's Mountain Hawk Watch
at Warren County's Merrill Creek Reservoir on Nov 25, and a
BROWN PELICAN was on the reservoir Nov 27.  This week, the
Scott's Mountain Hawk Watch also reported a LONG-TAILED DUCK, 54
RED-THROATED LOONS, GOLDEN EAGLES and 12 SNOW BUNTINGS.  COMMON
RAVENS were noted from the Raccoon Ridge Hawk Watch, and a
GOLDEN EAGLE was seen on Nov 25.  On Nov 23, 3 SANDHILL CRANES
were seen at a field on Randolph Rd between Schoolhouse Rd and
Weston Canal Rd in Franklin, Somerset County.  The cranes were
later reported from Randolph Rd near South Bound Brook Nov 24 &
28.  A pair of EVENING GROSBEAKS was at a private feeder in
Warren on Nov 28.

Outside the Delaware Valley, a EURASIAN WIGEON was at the marsh
at Liberty State Park in Hudson County on Nov 27.


For Delaware:

In New Castle County, a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL called from Barley
Mill Rd on Nov 23, and two other SAW-WHET OWLS were noted near
Hockessin this week.  The Ashland Nature Center Hawk Watch
reported a GOLDEN EAGLE on Nov 21 & 24 and an AMERICAN PIPIT on
Nov 28.  The Nature Center's feeders hosted numerous PURPLE
FINCHES daily, with sporadic PINE SISKINS.

On Nov 23, Cartanza Rd in Kent County had hundreds of HORNED
LARKS and 2 LAPLAND LONGSPURS.  The same day, reports from
Bombay Hook NWR included AMERICAN AVOCETS and TUNDRA SWAN.

In Sussex County, SNOW BUNTINGS were at Fowler Beach on Nov 22.
At dawn the next day, 2 AMERICAN BITTERNS flew past Fowler
Beach, while WILSON'S SNIPES called and flushed from the marsh
edges.  A LEAST SANDPIPER and ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK were also in the
area.  A juvenile NORTHERN GOSHAWK and 24 NORTHERN BOBWHITES
were found at the Prime Hook NWR Headquarters area that day.
Along Broadkill Beach Rd, BALD EAGLES and 5000 GREEN-WINGED TEAL
were noted.  In Rehobeth, Silver Lake had 2 CANVASBACKS on Nov
23, and a private feeder had 2 PINE SISKINS the next day.  On
Nov 23, Rehobeth Bay had HORNED GREBE, SURF SCOTERS and BRANT,
while Indian River Inlet had BONAPARTE'S GULLS, GREAT CORMORANT,
NORTHERN GANNET, PURPLE SANDPIPER, RED-THROATED LOON and LONG-
TAILED DUCK.  Cape Henlopen State Park hosted BROWN-HEADED and
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES Nov 23-24.  The Cape Henlopen Hawk Watch
had a NORTHERN GOSHAWK and 3-4 CAVE SWALLOWS on Nov 24.  That
day, 2 COMMON REDPOLLS foraged with juncos at the junction of
Queens Rd and Cape Henlopen Dr at Cape Henlopen State Park.


For Pennsylvania:

The John Heinz NWR at Tinicum in Philadelphia County hosted
AMERICAN BITTERN and a roosting NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL on Nov 23.
On Nov 25, the refuge had a female COMMON GOLDENEYE and a
juvenile NORTHERN GOSHAWK.  On Nov 26, a BARN OWL called from
Tinicum in the area of the old field and the refuge airboat
launch at Haul Rd.

In Delaware County, the Rose Tree Park Hawk Watch noted 8 BLACK
SCOTERS and a GOLDEN EAGLE on Nov 23, and 10 TUNDRA SWANS on Nov
24.  An EVENING GROSBEAK flew by the Darlington Tract in the
town of Wawa on Nov 24, and, the next day, a NORTHERN SHRIKE was
found there along with NORTHERN GOSHAWK and RING-NECKED
PHEASANT.  The SHRIKE was most recently reported on Nov 27.  To
reach the Darlington Tract from Route 1 and Route 452, take
Route 1 South and turn right onto Darlington Rd.  Go about a
quarter of a mile and cross a small bridge that spans Chester
Creek; then park on the right in a small parking area.  Walk a
third of a mile on Darlington Rd going to the right as you leave
the parking area.  Walk until you see the next driveway on the
left (Rooster Tail Farm) and just before the driveway there is a
trail on the left that heads uphill.  Follow the trail for about
100 yards until the trail splits.  Take the left fork and follow
another 100 yards to a row of trees at the top of the hill,
which is the spot the SHRIKE has been frequenting.

A HORNED GREBE was at Marsh Creek Lake in Chester County on Nov
22.  On Nov 26, a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was at Upper
Perkiomen Valley County Park in Montgomery County.   On Nov 21,
Bucks County had AMERICAN PIPITS at the fields of Shady Brook
Farm at the intersection of Route 322 and Stony Hill Rd and at
the entrance across from Lindenhurst Rd.  Single COMMON REDPOLLS
were at feeders at the Maple Knoll Farms on Nov 24 and at
Tinicum Township the next day.  Peace Valley Park's Lake Galena
had LONG-TAILED DUCKS on Nov 23 & 25, and 2 CACKLING GEESE on
Nov 25.  Other recent sightings from Peace Valley included
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS and PURPLE FINCHES.  Recent sightings
from the Churchville Nature Center included PURPLE FINCHES,
TUNDRA SWANS and a COMMON LOON.  A first winter ICELAND GULL was
at Graver's Hill in Northampton County on Nov 22.  The Little
Gap Hawk Watch had a CACKLING GOOSE, 5 NORTHERN GOSHAWKS and 2
GOLDEN EAGLES on Nov 23; the next day 8 EVENING GROSBEAKS and 2
NORTHERN GOSHAWKS were seen.

On Nov 22, a ROSS'S GOOSE was discovered in Lancaster County at
Greenfield Estates on the East side of Lancaster between Pitney
Rd and William Penn Way.  Four EVENING GROSBEAKS flew over a
yard in Akron on Nov 22.  A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK flew over fields
off Route 741 east of the Strasburg Railroad on Nov 27.  In
Lebanon County, the Second Mountain Hawk Watch had GOLDEN
EAGLES, NORTHERN GOSHAWKS and both LOON species this week.  On
Nov 23, Second Mountain reported 4 GOLDEN EAGLES, 4 NORTHERN
GOSHAWKS and a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, and 3 GOLDEN EAGLES the next
day.  The Lehigh Gap Nature Center in Lehigh County had 37
COMMON REDPOLLS and 16 PINE SISKINS on Nov 25.  This week the
Bake Oven Knob Hawk Watch had COMMON RAVENS, NORTHERN GOSHAWKS
and GOLDEN EAGLES.  On Nov 23 Bake Oven Knob reported 5 GOLDEN
EAGLES, 4 NORTHERN GOSHAWKS, 12 LONG-TAILED DUCKS and PINE
SISKINS.  On Nov 24 Berks County had a BLACK SCOTER at Lake
Ontelaunee and a COMMON RAVEN near Boyertown.  On Nov 26, a
juvenile RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was seen in Oley Township.  Hawk
Mountain Sanctuary this week had GOLDEN EAGLES and NORTHERN
GOSHAWKS. On Nov 23, Hawk Mountain had 6 NORTHERN GOSHAWKS and 7
GOLDEN EAGLES.  Four COMMON REDPOLLS were there on Nov 25, and
winter finches on Nov 28 included 91 PURPLE FINCHES, 2 PINE
SISKINS, 14 EVENING GROSBEAKS and 5 COMMON REDPOLLS.

Outside the Delaware Valley, a NORTHERN SHRIKE was photographed
at Beltzville State Park in Carbon County, and a flyby COMMON
REDPOLL was also noted there.  LOGGERHEAD SHRIKES continued to
be seen near the intersection of Pumping Station Rd and
Cunningham Rd, outside of Gettysburg in Adams County through Nov
24.  An estimated 2-3 SHRIKES have been seen in that area.  A
SNOWY OWL perched on a roof on the west side of Chambersburg,
Franklin County on Nov 26.

A male BULLOCK'S ORIOLE was photographed at a David Troyer's
feeders in Juniata County, and was most recently reported on Nov
28.  To reach the property from Route 22/322, take the
Mifflintown/McAlisterville Exit for Route 35.  Head north into
the small village of Oakland Mills and turn left onto Oakland
Rd.  You will see signs for the Lost Creek Shoe Shop, which is
the Troyers' business.  Once on Oakland Rd go less than a mile
and pull into the Shoe Shop parking lot on the left.  Across the
road will be two driveways, and the one on the left belongs to
David Troyer.  DO NOT PULL INTO THE DRIVEWAY, as you will likely
spook the bird.  Walk up the driveway, and the feeders will be
on the far left.  The Troyers request that you stay as far to
the right of the house and driveway as possible, walk back
around the house and look from the other side of the house.  DO
NOT VISIT on Sunday; please respect the Amish and the Troyers'
religious obligations.  You can stop in the shoe store for
updates.


*** ANNOUNCEMENTS ***

The next meeting of the DVOC is the Annual DVOC Banquet, which
will take place on Wednesday, December 5, 2007.  The deadline
for reservations is this Sunday Dec 2.  Please join us for the
upcoming DVOC banquet. Note the day and date which is a
departure from our usual Thursday evening in November. Our
speaker, Dr. Don Kroodsma, is a Professor Emeritus of Biology at
the University of Massachusetts. He is THE man in the science of
bird song, which he has studied for thirty years. Dr. Kroodsma
has written a book about the art and science of birdsong in
which he demonstrates its diversity through 30 carefully chosen
examples. His focus and approach to this study is unique
inasmuch as he tours the US on his bicycle, collecting bird
songs along the way. Dr. Kroodsma maintains that there is no
better way to hear a continent sing than by bicycle.
Complete information is available on the DVOC website:
http://www.dvoc.org/Banquet/Banquet2007.htm

The Delmarva Ornithological Society (DOS) is asking birders to
post winter American Kestrel sightings in the state of Delaware.
This marks the club's second year of mapping winter sightings
from Nov 15 to Mar 15.  Last year nearly 150 reports were
mapped.  Please use the web site www.dosbirds.org and the user-
friendly map tool to locate and document your sightings.

In Pennsylvania, Scott Weidensaul would like to be immediately
contacted about potential vagrant hummingbirds at feeders this
fall, so that these birds can be trapped, identified and banded.
Scott can be reached at scottweidensaul AT verizon.net or .  Remember to leave your hummingbird feeders up for
these late arrivals.

A hybrid LESSER BLACK-BACKED X HERRING GULL hatched and was
banded this past summer at Appledore Island in Maine.  The bird
has a large white-on-green "N02" band on the left leg, and a
silver ring on the right.  If you see this bird, please contact
Bill Etter or email us at rba AT dvoc.org and we will forward the
sightings to the interested parties.  For photos of this gull,
visit http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v230/billetter/Apple/

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

This morning an estimated 5000 Snow Geese
were seen flying over Plainfield Township.

Also, 100 Horned Larks were in a field on Hower Road, in the
same township.

Kathy Sieminski
Plainfield Township
Northampton County

 
Waterbird  count  
November 29,  2007 
Location: Sunset  Point at Presque Isle State Park 
Time:  7:20 AM to 9:20 AM 
Weather: Mostly  cloudy, wind SW to 10 mph changing to W with increasing wind 
gusts to 25 mph,  waves three feet increasing to five or six feet, temp. 41 F 
falling to 37 F.  
Comments:  Despite the approaching front, there was  much less movement today 
than yesterday.  Highlight this morning was an adult Little Gull flying west 
with about 300 Bonaparte’s Gulls. Most waterbirds were moving west, except 

swans which were flying in all  directions. 
Waterbirds  recorded: 
Canada  Goose—1 
Tundra  Swan—50 
American  Wigeon—3 
American Black  Duck—4 
Mallard—2 
Canvasback—1 
Ring-necked  Duck—1 
Greater  Scaup—34 
Lesser  Scaup—59 
Surf  Scoter—1 
White-winged  Scoter—4 
Black  Scoter—1 
Long-tailed  Duck—1 
Common  Goldeneye—8 
Red-breasted  Merganser—643 
Red-throated  Loon—1 
Common  Loon—4 
Horned  Grebe—23 
Little  Gull—1 
Jerry  McWilliams 
Erie, Erie County,  Pa. 
jerrymcw AT aol.com



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Central PA Birdline
- RBA
* Pennsylvania
* Central Pennsylvania
* November 29, 2007
* PACE0711.29
Bird Highlights
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (Luzerne Co.)
ROSS'S GOOSE (Lancaster Co.)
SNOWY OWL (Franklin Co.)
LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE (Adams Co.)
NORTHERN SHRIKE (Carbon & Columbia Cos.)
LAPLAND LONGSPUR (Adams Co.)
BULLOCK'S ORIOLE (Juniata Co.)
COMMON REDPOLL (Carbon, Columbia & McKean Cos.)
EVENING GROSBEAK (Clinton, Franklin [?], Juniata, Lancaster & McKean 
Cos.)
-Transcript
Hotline: Central Pennsylvania Birdline
Date: November 29, 2007
To Report: TimeTraveler AT email.msn.com
Compiler: Mark A. McConaughy
   TimeTraveler AT email.msn.com
Coverage: Central Pennsylvania, Susquehanna River
Drainage System
Transcriber: Mark A. McConaughy

Welcome to Pennsylvania Audubon's and the Patriot-News' Birdline. This 
Birdline covers sightings made primarily during the week prior to 
Thursday, November 29, 2007.

ADAMS COUNTY:
The 2 LOGGERHEAD SHRIKES continue to be observed along Pumping Station 
Road near Cunningham Road through at least November 27 (TJ, AM, SC, BE, 
MO). A flock of HORNED LARKS and 1 LAPLAND LARKSPUR were also found in a 
field near the location of the shrike on November 22 (MW)

CARBON COUNTY:
Beltzville State Park produced 1 BRANT, BLACK SCOTER, RED-THROATED 
LOONS, RED-NECKED GREBES, 1 NORTHERN SHRIKE, HORNED LARKS, AMERICAN 
PIPITS, SNOW BUNTINGS and COMMON REDPOLL between November 21 and 25 
(DHa, DW, JD).

CENTRE COUNTY:
Two BALD EAGLES, 1 NORTHERN HARRIER, 1 SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, 1 COOPER'S 
HAWK, 1 NORTHERN GOSHAWK, 1 RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, 47 RED-TAILED HAWKS and 
15 GOLDEN EAGLES were seen from Jo Hayes Vista between November 22 and 
27 (CW, CG).

Bald Eagle State Park produced SNOW GOOSE, TUNDRA SWAN, AMERICAN TREE 
SPARROW and PURPLE FINCH on November 23 (TM). A NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen 
on November 24 along the paved road to the marina (BSn).

CLINTON COUNTY:
Two EVENING GROSBEAKS were seen at a feeder in Swissdale on November 23 
(WL).

COLUMBIA COUNTY:
A NORTHERN SHRIKE was found north of Rohrsburg in Greenwood Valley on 
November 22 (DGr).

At least 10 COMMON REDPOLLS and some PINE SISKINS were visiting feeders 
in Orangeville last week (DGr).

CUMBERLAND COUNTY:
Waggoner's Gap Hawk Watch tabulated 10 BLACK VULTURES, 28 TURKEY 
VULTURES, 18 BALD EAGLES, 13 NORTHERN HARRIERS, 13 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 
18 COOPER'S HAWKS, 22 NORTHERN GOSHAWK, 14 RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, 287 
RED-TAILED HAWKS, 2 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, 20 GOLDEN EAGLES, 1 AMERICAN 
KESTREL and 1 MERLIN between November 22 and 28 (RF, CH, DG, GW, JL).

FRANKLIN COUNTY:
PINE SISKINS are regularly visiting feeders along Heisey Road and a 
possible EVENING GROSBEAK was heard calling on November 22 (BK).

A SHORT-EARED OWL was observed flying away from Heisey Road Orchard on 
November 25 (BK).

A SNOWY OWL was seen and photographed perched on a house roof on the 
west side of Chambersburg on November 26 (BK). Unfortunately, it flew 
off and was not relocated.

HUNTINGDON/MIFFLIN COUNTIES:
Stone Mountain Hawk Watch reported 9 TURKEY VULTURES, 1 OSPREY, 4 BALD 
EAGLES, 1 NORTHERN HARRIER, 2 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 1 COOPER'S HAWK, 1 
NORTHERN GOSHAWK, 6 RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, 55 RED-TAILED HAWKS, 16 GOLDEN 
EAGLES, 1 AMERICAN KESTREL and 1 PEREGRINE FALCON between November 22 
and 27 (NB, TK, DK, GG, DB, JK, CW).

JUNIATA COUNTY:
A flock of 20 EVENING GROSBEAKS were seen in Juniata Forest behind 
Oakland Mills on November 21 (AT).

A BULLOCK'S ORIOLE is coming to David Troyer's feeders in Oakland Mills 
from November 23 to 28 (AT, DT, CK, BH, JH, FH, BM). DO NOT VISIT ON 
SUNDAY. The Amish normally like to spend the day to themselves anyhow, 
but they are holding church services at David's and do not wish to have 
ANY visitors that day. Directions: From Route 22/322, take the 
Mifflintown/McAlisterville Exit for Route 35. Head north approx 5 miles 
into the small village of Oakland Mills, turn left onto Oakland Road. If 
you come to the Exxon station, you went too far. You will see signs for 
Lost Creek Shoe Shop, which is the Troyer's business. Once on Oakland 
Road, go back less than 1 mile and pull into the parking lot on the left 
for the Shoe Shop. Across the road you will see 2 driveways, the one on 
the left is David Troyer's and the one on the right is Aden Troyer's. DO 
NOT pull into the driveway or drive up, as you will probably spook the 
birds. Walking up the driveway, you will see feeders to the left, but 
they are asking for you to stay as far right as you can of the house and 
driveway, walk back around the house and look from the other side of the 
house. You can also view from their laundry room as we did and then we 
quietly went back outside the house to view and take pictures.

LANCASTER COUNTY:
A ROSS'S GOOSE was spotted on November 22 at Greenfield Estates between 
Pitney Road and William Penn Way on the east side of the city of 
Lancaster (DSt).

Up to 9 PINE SISKINS were seen at feeders in Akron and 4 EVENING 
GROSBEAKS flew over the property on November 22 (BC).

A PEREGRINE FALCON flew over Chickies Rock on November 22 (SF).

A GOLDEN EAGLE was seen from Face Rock Overlook on November 23 (SG, KG).

A MERLIN was seen in Peach Bottom village between November 23 and 26 
(BSc).

There were at least 8 BALD EAGLES near the Esbenshade farm east of 
Strasburg on November 25 (SG). On November 27, a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was 
seen flying over these fields off Route 741 and 9 BALD EAGLES were 
present (TR).

A PINE SISKIN visited feeders in the southern part of the county on 
November 27 (AO).

LEBANON COUNTY:
Second Mountain Hawk Watch reported counting 18 BLACK VULTURES, 4 TURKEY 
VULTURES, 12 BALD EAGLES, 5 NORTHERN HARRIERS, 9 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 4 
COOPER'S HAWKS, 4 NORTHERN GOSHAWKS, 2 RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, 105 
RED-TAILED HAWKS, 1 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK and 8 GOLDEN EAGLES between 
November 22 and 27 (FW, RB, BW, DS, RP, GL, RS, EB).

LUZERNE COUNTY:
A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was seen with a flock of CANADA GEESE at 
Harvey's Lake on November 23 (CB).

MCKEAN COUNTY:
One COMMON REDPOLL and 6 EVENING GROSBEAKS were seen in Bullis Mills on 
November 21 (JF).

SCHUYKILL/BERKS COUNTY:
Hawk Mountain Sanctuary reported counting 22 BLACK VULTURES, 1 TURKEY 
VULTURE, 12 BALD EAGLES, 3 NORTHERN HARRIERS, 73 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 11 
COOPER'S HAWKS, 9 NORTHERN GOSHAWKS, 4 RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, 177 
RED-TAILED HAWKS, 12 GOLDEN EAGLES and 2 MERLINS between November 22 and 
27 (LG). There also were 4 COMMON REDPOLLS on November 25 (LG).

YORK COUNTY:
A BALTIMORE ORIOLE was found along the LA-HO trail in Codorus State Park 
on November 25 (BM).

One PINE SISKIN visited a town of York feeder on November 26 (AP).

Closing Announcements:

If you miss the usual Thursday postings of the Central PA Birdline on 
BIRDEAST and PABIRDS, I will also be posting it on my page web site at:
http://people.delphiforums.com/MCCONAUGHY/currentbl.htm
The address for the home page of the web site is:
http://people.delphiforums.com/MCCONAUGHY/index.html
Also, people can access both the current and older birdlines at:
http://groups.msn.com/CentralPABirdlinebackupfiles/messages.msnw

*PORC = Pennsylvania Ornithological Record Committee. Rare bird 
sightings should be documented with written descriptions and photographs 
whenever possible and sent to PORC for review. Send PORC reports to Nick 
Pulcinella, 613 Howard Road, West Chester, PA 19380.

The following people have contributed to this birdline: Christopher 
Bohinski (CB), Randy Brenner (RB), Don Bryant (DB), Bruce Carl (BC), 
Steve Collins (SC), Jonathan DeBalko (JD), Brian Erb (BE), John Fedak 
(JF), Ron Freed (RF), Laurie Goodrich (LG), Chet Gottfried (CG), Karena 
Gregg (KG), Scott Gregg (SG), Doug Gross (DGr), Dave Grove (DG), Greg 
Grove (GG), Frank Haas (FH), Barry Horton (BH), Jenni Horton (JH), Craig 
Houston (CH), Chad Kauffman (CK), Bob Keener (BK), Dave Kyler (DK), 
Trudy Kyler (TK), Wayne Laubscher (WL), Joe Lavella (JL), Gayle Lawrence 
(GL), Trey McCuen (TM), Andy McGann (AM), Bob Moul (BM), Mike O'Brien 
(MO), Andrew Odell (AO), Ann Pettigrew (AP), Richard Pohner (RP), Tom 
Raub (TR), Bob Schutsky (BSc), Dave Schwenk (DS), Jerry Skinner (JSk), 
Darrell Smith (DSm), Bob Snyder (BSn), Derek Stoner (DSt), Aden Troyer 
(AT), David Troyer (DT), Gene Wagner (GW), Mike Weible (MW), Dustin 
Welch (DW), Linda Whitesel (LW), Chuck Widmann (CW) and Fred Wilcox 
(FW). I apologize if I have misspelled their names and I will also 
refrain from naming that person on request.
-End Transcript

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mark A. McConaughy     TimeTraveler AT email.msn.com
Bushy Run Battlefield
P.O. Box 486
Harrison City, PA   x103
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I was getting so excited about the bald eagle pair at Moraine State Park. Now I 
see someone killed an immature bald eagle in Butler County. 
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07332/.stm 


I hope the Game Commission catches whoever did it!

Kate St. John, Pittsburgh

Rose Tree Park
Media, Pennsylvania, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 28, 2007
-------------------------------------------------------------------

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

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

Observation start time: 09:15:00 
Observation end   time: 15:30:00 
Total observation time: 6.25 hours

Official Counter:        Holly Merker, Janet Crawford

Observers:        Janet Crawford, Jim Lockyer, Skip Conant

Weather:
Partly cloudy with N-NNE-SSE-S winds at 3-15 MPH. Temperature 37-43F.

Raptor Observations:
2 Adult BEs at 1155

Non-raptor Observations:
8 Snow Geese

Predictions:
Partly sunny. Highs in the mid 50s. South winds 5 to 10 mph, becoming west
10 to 15 mph in the afternoon.
========================================================================
Report submitted by Janet Crawford (janet AT rtphawkwatch.org)
Rose Tree Park Hawkwatch, Media, PA information may be found at:
www.rtphawkwatch.org

Debbie Darney called me to let me know she had a N. Shrike at the swimming area 
parking lot on the south shore of Moraine S.P. today. 

The bird was an immature 
This bird most likely is the same bird that Kate St. John found near here


Mark Vass
Beaver Co.

Second Mountain
Ft. Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 28, 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 Accipiter            
Unknown Buteo                
Unknown Falcon               
Unknown Eagle                
Unknown Raptor               
Mississippi Kite             
Swainson's Hawk              

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

Observation start time: 08:30:00 
Observation end   time: 16:30:00 
Total observation time: 8 hours

Official Counter:        Dave Schwenk

Observers:        Gary Koppenhaver, Randy Brenner, Tom Power

Weather:
Light northwest winds at start becoming southwest by early PM. 40% high
thin cirrus cloud cover, temps 30-40.

Raptor Observations:
2 adult bald eagles low over Blu Mtn  AT 10:40, Sub Ad golden eagle  AT 2:35 med
hi crossing over the ridge just east of the site. 

Non-raptor Observations:
7-800 Canadian geese, 15-20 distant snow geese or swans?
========================================================================
Report submitted by Dave Schwenk (secondmtn AT juno.com)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/21/AR2007112102420_pf.html 


It was a lovely double page spread in the center of the Book World section. 4 
titles reviewed 

Includes Scott Weidensaul's  Of a Feather

Sorry for the late posting - am just unpacking things from the  weekend trip.

Dallas DiLeo
Pittsburgh

Today at Hawk Mountain, with fellow counters Phil Campbell and Rob Feldman, 
migrating raptor numbers were low but northern finches made up for it, at least 
to me. Several flocks of purple finches passed by on the north side, as did two 
pine siskins. One decent sized flock of evening grosbeaks came out of the north 
and crossed over and passed by on the south. The highlight for me was a small 
flock of common redpolls that put down and fed on the catkins of a birch (gray, 
I think) tree at the edge of the lookout on the south side, down to the left of 
the large hemlock there. Then they crossed over to the north side right in 
front of us and went down ridge. Several weeks ago I saw pine siskins in that 
same tree. 


Arlene Koch
Easton, PA
Northampton County
davilene AT verizon.net

If anyone is heading up to Oak Mills, PA to see the Bullock's Oriole I would 
like to join you in the ride. I live in Avondale and if your route is through 
Rt. 41 that would be perfect. 



Dirk Robinson
Avondale, PA
Chester County
Southeastern, PA

Waggoner's Gap
40 km W of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 28, 2007
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
BV                           
TV                           
OS                           
BE                           
NH                           
SS                           
CH                           
NG                           
RS                           
BW                           
RT                          
RL                           
GE                           
AK                           
ML                           
PG                           
UA                           
UB                           
UF                           
UE                           
UR                           

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

Observation start time: 07:30:00 
Observation end   time: 16:00:00 
Total observation time: 8.5 hours

Official Counter:        Dave Grove, Ron Freed

Observers:        Carl Rojahn, Charlie Albin, Dave Grove, Dave Smith,
                  Deb Gingrich, Joe Lavella, Keith Gingrich, Pat Freed,
                  Ron Freed

Visitors:
Robert McLaughlin - 1.


Weather:
Sunny and clear, gusty NW/N winds diminished through the morning and went
SE in the PM.

Raptor Observations:
GE Ad 8:15

Non-raptor Observations:
Canada Geese 82.
========================================================================
Report submitted by dave grove (waggap AT comcast.net)
Waggoner's Gap Hawkwatch information may be found at:
www.waggap.com

A beautiful drive to Oakland Mills and a gorgeous bird in David Troyer's 
yard. Wow! If you have a chance to see this one, don't miss it. I got to 
the feeder area about 8:50AM and within 5 minutes I saw the Bullock's in 
the top of the tallest pine tree nearest the driveway.  I didn't have 
wait long for it to fly down for a grape feast. It was comical to see it 
getting the fruit from the grape shell. Sort of beat it around like a 
Robin would beat a worm.  It came back about 45 minutes later and I 
managed to get a few pix while it was on the branches. A very photogenic 
species.  While I was waiting for the oriole to return I was entertained 
by tons of birds including about 20 Pine Siskens.

  PHOTOS:   http://www.pbase.com/rcm1840/bullocks_oriole

Thanks to the great hospitality offered by all of the Troyer family 
allowing visitors to their yard and home.

Thanks also to Chad Kauffman for keeping everyone informed of the bird's 
status.

Good Birding,
Bob
-- 

Bob Moul (Yelowlegs AT Comcast.net)
Adams County, PA USA

  "PROTECTING NATURE THROUGH EDUCATION"
                                      Photo Galleries:
                         http://www.pbase.com/rcm1840
                http://bob.moul.oiseaux.net/index.en.html

Greetings from Holtwood,
 
Four of us started out this morning in subfreezing  weather along the  Lower 
Susquehanna River at WisslerRun park, where we watched one DCCormorant,  one 
GBlack-backed and 250+ Ring-billed Gulls fishing the turbulance generated by  
the Muddy Run effluent.  The reservoir behind us had high water levels and  
held only 200+ Canada Geese, small flocks of Black Ducks and even smaller 
groups 

of Mallards.  Here also we had two adult Bald Eagles and three immature,  one 
of which was a HY juvenile.  As temperatures rose, Turkey and Black  Vultures 
became more numerous, evidently finding  thermals as they kettled  high above 
the gorge.
 
We then trekked to Susquehannock SP and hiked portions of three trails,  
mostly to just get away from the wind along the river below!  The parks  woods 
were very quiet - our best birds were a total of three different Pileated  
Woodpeckers, two of which made themselves known by constant call back and forth 
to 

each other as a Red-tailed Hawk cruised by, weaving through the tops of very  
tall Tulip Poplars.  This park can almost guarantee Pileated sightings at  any 
time of the day.  Even though non may be seen or heard, their presence  is 
obvious from the work they show on almost every dead snag in the park. Another 

welcome sight from the Overlook Trail was a pair of adult Eagles  ,soaring 
and wheeling in playful/courtship flight?! A little early for here, but  not 
unheard of.
 
Sparrows and Parids were way down. In fact we were only able to dig  out a 
total of 29 species, which includes flocks of Starlings, Icterids and Rock  
Pigeons!
 
Next week we visit Conowingo Dam and Susquehanna SP (MD).  We will  meet 
below the power plant at the wooden observation area at 8:00, BUT WILL STAY 
THERE 

UNTIL 9:00  to accomodate any late-comers before moving on.
 
 
Jim  Smith - Naturalist
PPL Holtwood Environmental Preserve
Lancaster County,  PA
39.849 deg. N - 76.326 deg. W



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Waterbird  count  
November 28,  2007 
Location: Sunset  Point at Presque Isle State Park 
Time:  7:15 AM to 9:45 AM 
Weather: Cloudy,  wind light from the south, temp. 28 to 31 F, waves two to 
three feet dropping to  about a foot later. 
Comments:  There was a strong movement of  Red-breasted Mergansers that was 
steady throughout the survey.  There were a few scaup moving as  well,  most 
scaup were out too far  to identify to species.  Other  waterbird movement was 
up a little from yesterday.  Nearly all birds were moving  west. 
Waterbirds  recorded: 
Canada  Goose—8 
Tundra  Swan—4 
Mallard—18 
Canvasback—34 
Redhead—17 
Ring-necked  Duck—5 
Greater  Scaup—15 
Lesser  Scaup—48 
Unidentified  scaup—556 
Surf  Scoter—3 
White-winged  Scoter—14 
Surf/Black  Scoter—1 
Long-tailed  Duck—3 
Bufflehead—3 
Common  Goldeneye—19 
Red-breasted  Merganser—4777 
Red-throated  Loon—4 
Common  Loon—5 
Horned  Grebe—53 
Jerry  McWilliams 
Erie, Erie County,  Pa. 
_jerrymcw AT aol.com_ (mailto:jerrymcw AT aol.com) 



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Talked to Jane Bullis this morning, naturalist at Merrill Creek. She said a 
check this morning did not turn up the pelican, so it may be floating around on 
another body of water nearby, maybe in PA. 



Rick Wiltraut
Environmental Education Specialist
Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center
835 Jacobsburg Road
Wind Gap, PA 18091
rwiltraut AT state.pa.us

Fax:

National Aviary News
Contact: Laura Ellis,

National Aviary Premiers Indoor Free-flight Bird Show

The National Aviary has added a new indoor bird show to its roster of
interactive activities, giving visitors the opportunity to see beautiful
rare and endangered birds in flight in the intimate setting of the Aviary
Atrium.

Flights of the North Shore: Bird Myths and More launches Saturday, December
1 and features a varied cast, including Sarabi, a Black Vulture; Gryphon, a
Snowy Owl; Beatrice, a Green Aracari; and Melon, a Red-fronted Macaw. One of
the Aviary's African Penguins  -- Stanley, Elvis, Patrick or Simon --  will
also make an appearance at each show.

Each bird will demonstrate natural behaviors and some will fly freely just
inches above the heads of the audience, giving guests a true bird's eye
view. National Aviary trainers will present information on common
misperceptions many people have about birds. Visitors will learn about the
featured species, their unique adaptations, and the threats the birds
currently face in the wild. At the end of the show, with the help of Melon,
the Red-fronted Macaw, audience members will have the opportunity to
contribute to conservation work that protects African Penguins and other
coastal shore birds of South Africa.

"This new program enables visitors to experience close interaction with
birds they will not see on exhibit or in our popular summer bird show," says
National Aviary CEO Linda Dickerson. "This memorable learning experience
will resonate with adults and children alike - the birds fly so close you
can see the wonderful detailing in their plumage and feel the rush of wind
as they move overhead.

"Our trainers have been working diligently with the birds to familiarize
them with the Atrium space and to flying in front of an audience," adds
Dickerson. "Their persistence has resulted in a show that is both
inspirational and entertaining."

 Flights of the North Shore: Bird Myths and More opens December 1 and runs
Wednesdays through Sundays, at 10:30 am and 1:30 pm. Show included in
general admission: $9 adults; $8 seniors; $7.50 children 2 and up. Children
under 2 admitted free. More information at www.aviary.org
  or by calling .

###
The National Aviary inspires a respect for nature through an appreciation of
birds.

National Aviary
700 Arch Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
www.aviary.org 

NATIONAL AVIARY NEWS


Critically Endangered Guam Rail Begins Journey to Guam November 29


(PITTSBURGH - November 28, 2007)  It's one small step for a shy, flightless
bird, but one giant leap for a species that few would consider remarkable
were it not for the exceptional efforts that have been made to save it from
extinction.

On November 29, a critically endangered Guam Rail that hatched March 24,
2006 at the National Aviary will be sent to Guam, the country from which its
ancestors hailed. There, under careful watch of conservationists, it will
contribute to efforts to repopulate its species through a protected breeding
program.

Native only to the island of Guam, this reclusive brown, grey and black bird
dropped to just 10 recorded wild living birds in the 1980s when its
populations were nearly annihilated due to the accidental introduction of
the brown tree snake after World War II. The ground-dwelling Rail literally
had nowhere to hide, and with extinction imminent, conservationists
collected the last remaining birds and placed them in captive breeding
programs.

The Guam Rail's numbers have grown to a few hundred birds, all descendents
of the remaining 10 birds. Some live on the nearby island of Rota where they
have been reintroduced, some in captive breeding programs on the island of
Guam, and some in mainland U.S. zoos where they are managed by the AZA
(Association of Zoos & Aquariums) Guam Rail Species Survival Plan.

Since hatching, the Aviary's Guam Rail has been ducking out of sight of
visitors to the Tropical Forest. On Thursday he will leave the National
Aviary for the San Diego Zoo, from which he will be shipped to a protected
area on Guam.

The National Aviary is open seven days a week, 9 am to 5 pm. Admission is $9
adults; $8 seniors; $7.50 children 2 and up. Under 2 admitted free. Parking
is free. More information at www.aviary.org   or by
calling .

National Aviary
700 Arch Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15212

###

The National Aviary inspires respect for nature through an appreciation of
birds.

To Tom & All:

Let's try this again. Send button is too close to the save button! Here is
the whole thing.

The question has been raised as to are the Shrikes near Gettysburg both
Loggerheads with Northerns' moving down at this time of year (and there are
plenty of reports).

These were both Loggerheads. A (one?) individual bird has been seen off and
on since spring. Over the summer it (one?) was not seen as much but
hopefully was somewhere nearby. And even more hopefully possibly nesting?
Plenty of similar habitat away from viewable areas. Two birds, at the same
time, have been observed on more than one occasion.

My experience is that the Loggerheads work from a low perch (fence row
vegetation or from wires) and often sit for quite a while if the food supply
is not active/easy too get. Maybe the warm weather has something to do with
insect supply as these birds seem to barely get back to the wire/fence/bush
and down they go again.

The Northerns, to me at least, seem to prefer to sit in the top of the
tallest tree, even better if it is open/has a snag. I have seen them on
wires including away from the coast where they often end up (tailwinds and
inexperience I guess an many are juveniles) and are then found. I remember
one in Loudon County, VA that sat on the wires running back away from the
road but there was a tree line on two sides and it also sat in the taller
trees.

I have not noticed much tail bobbing in these guys which I believe is more
pronounced in the Northern.

Mike O'Brien
Fairfield, Admas County, PA

On Nov 27, 2007 9:16 PM, Tom Johnson  wrote:

> Any idea whether or not both of the shrikes were Loggerhead?  This
> would be a pretty important distinction, as Northerns are moving now,
> and if indeed they are both Loggerheads, that would be quite important
> as this was one of the last sites were Loggerhead Shrike bred in PA.
> Tom
>
> On Nov 27, 2007 7:33 PM, Michael OBrien  wrote:
> > To all:
> >
> > Swung by the place the Shrikes have been hanging out since spring today
> > around 4 PM. Had one fly across the road about 1/2 mile before the
> > intersection where they are regularly seen.  When I got to the
> intersecti
> > on,
> > I had one on the edge/old fence row across from the farm entrance where
> i
> > t
> > sits on white fence slats. So this made two as it could not have beaten
> m
> > e
> > there. And even though they move around the area, they hunt and progress
> > along the wires/vegetion. They do not pick up and do 50 mph straight
> away
> >  to
> > another place, so I knew there were two.
> >
> > There have been two for sure several times there this year.
> >
> > After I saw the second I turned around but lost it. I drove 100 yards to
>
> > the
> > intersection and it (one) flew up to the wire where there was another.
> Bo
> > th
> > were sitting on the same wire with a Kestrel.
> >
> > The question now becomes are there 3 in the area. I doubt the other bird
>
> > came the 1/2 mile or so to here as little time had elapsed but will
> never
> >
> > know for sure.
> >
> > Maybe take another look later this week.
> >
> > Mike O'Brien
> > Fairfield, Adams County, PA
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Thomas Brodie Johnson
> Ithaca, NY
> tbj4 AT cornell.edu
> mobile: 
>

hello all

as per phone call from Aden Troyer the bird was seen this morning and 
they had visitors there already.  This would be at David Troyers 
feeders across the road from the Lost Creek Shoe Shop in Oakland Mills.

Chad Kauffman
Mifflintown, PA

############################
### www.juniatacounty.com ######
#####Get a free quote now######
############################  

In Minnesota where we regularly get Snowy Owls in winter, we find Snowy
Owls perch regularly on buildings, in both urban and rural settings.
They are known to go rooftop to rooftop along the Mississippi between
the University of MN and St Thomas University in some winters. When the
birds are under regular observation, as at Minneapolis Airport or in
Duluth Harbor, it appears the Owls spend much more time perched on the
ground, the harbor ice, or atop a small clump of snow. The standard
procedure at the airport is to find an owl-like clump of snow, usually
at least 1/4 mile away, fix your scope on it and wait for it to turn its
head. The birds are much more active at dawn or dusk and specialize in
feeding on Jackrabbits at the airport. I have a great picture taken by
Erika Sitz of a Snowy on one side of a fence staring down a Jack on the
other side. These are powerful birds and a joy to watch in the wild.
Falconers in MN are always wary of unseen Snowies when they fly their
birds in the winter season. It seems Snowies have a penchant for
dispatching Peregrines and Gyrs that are mantling their prey.

Mark Alt
Brooklyn Center, MN
(formerly from Westmoreland County, PA)

-----Original Message-----
From: Bird discussion list for Pennsylvania
[mailto:PABIRDS AT LIST.AUDUBON.ORG] On Behalf Of Bob Keener
Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2007 4:21 PM
To: PABIRDS AT LIST.AUDUBON.ORG
Subject: Re: [PABIRDS] Snowy Owl/Franklin CO

Hi All,
I again looked at the house in Hamilton Heights,
Chambersburg, where the Snowy Owl was perched and the
amount of "whitewash" on both sides of the peak of the
roof makes me think that this bird was using the perch
for maybe a couple of days.

It makes me scratch my head, because it is in a new
housing development and I'm wondering what would
attract  a Snowy Owl there?  I did notice a few
pigeons and doves perched on some of the nearby homes.
 Would they be food for this bird?

Just wondering,
Bob Keener


--- Bob Keener  wrote:

> Dear PA Birders,
> 
> I got a call this afternoon that a Snowy Owl was
> seen
> perched on a house roof located on the west side of
> Chambersburg, but that it had already flown away.  I
> drove by on my way home from work to look around the
> area.
> 
> I did drive around the neighborhood and could not
> relocate it. I stopped and talked to the family and
> they showed me pictures (Good clear pics!!) and it
> looks like a first year female with lots of dark
> barring as pictured in Sibley.
> At this point they wish to not disclose their
> address,
> but will contact us if it returns. 
> 
> Maybe this is going to be a good owl winter!! 
> 
> Bob Keener
> 
> 
>      
>
________________________________________________________________________
____________
> Be a better pen pal. 
> Text or chat with friends inside Yahoo! Mail. See
> how.  http://overview.mail.yahoo.com/
> 



 
________________________________________________________________________
____________
Never miss a thing.  Make Yahoo your home page. 
http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

Dear Birders/Banders,

We have just updated the Powdermill bird banding website with two pages of
notes and photo highlights covering the month of October.  It was a busy
month of banding (3,374 birds of 75 species banded) with a number of unusual
captures (avian and non-avian!).

The direct link to the October summary is:

http://www.westol.com/%7Ebanding/Fall2007_October.html

But, you may want to start at the home page, which also has been revised for
late fall:

http://www.westol.com/%7Ebanding/index.htm

Posted banding totals are current through November 25,

http://www.westol.com/%7Ebanding/Fall2007_DailyTotals.htm

and we will try to post complete November banding notes and photo
highlights by the end of this weekend.

Best,

Bob Mulvihill and Adrienne Leppold
-- 
Powdermill Avian Research Center
1847 Route 381
Rector, PA 15677

mulvihill AT pabirdatlas.org

Hi
 The Delaware County Northern Shrike was seen again today at the Darlington 
Tract in the area previously seen. See below. 


ogcoll AT aol.com wrote To: owlguarente AT YAHOO.COM
Subject: Northern Shrike...
Date: Tue, 27 Nov 2007 21:26:
From: ogcoll AT aol.com

 Hello....I follow the PA Birding Listserv and I saw your posting regarding the 
Northern Shrike along Darlington Road in Delaware County. 

    
 I don't have access to post to the PA listserv, but I went today and found the 
bird in the exact spot as was described. If you would care to pass this info 
along and keep the thread alive about the sighting, I'd appreciate your help. 

 
 Thank you!
 
 Steve Glynn
 NJ Audubon Member
 Millville, NJ
  
---------------------------------
 More new features than ever.  Check out the new AOL Mail!
 
 


Al Guarente
Back to Nature Feed Store
1176 N Middletown Rd
Media, Pa 19063

       
---------------------------------
Get easy, one-click access to your favorites.  Make Yahoo! your homepage.

Greetings birders,

My sister observed a single Pine Siskin at our feeders this morning in
southern Lancaster County.  Needless to say, she was quite excited.

Good birding,

Andrew Odell
Lancaster County

hello all

as per phone call from Aden Troyer this evening, he was informed by 
his family that the bird was seen at least 6 times today at the 
feeder of David Troyer.

It may have been there more often, but that is how many visitors 
reported the bird to the family, since most of the males were still 
out hunting.

I will be working the next 3 days and will report any updates as I get them.

A friend of mine was out today and got some fabulous pictures that I 
hope he allows me to share with everyone.

Chad Kauffman
Mifflintown, PA

############################
### www.juniatacounty.com ######
#####Get a free quote now######
############################  

Just saw a post that a Brown Pelican was seen today at Merrill Creek Reservoir, 
just across the Delaware River from Northampton County, PA. Keep your eyes 
open! 



Rick Wiltraut
Environmental Education Specialist
Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center
835 Jacobsburg Road
Wind Gap, PA 18091
rwiltraut AT state.pa.us

Fax:

   Many times, snowies pick new housing tracts precisely because 
they're so bare and open, surrounded by what used to be farmland -- 
in other words, something closer to the open tundra landscape they 
left in the Arctic, rather than a more established neighborhood with 
large trees. I suspect the snowies that wind up roosting on a house 
get reported a lot more frequently than those that winter in open 
farmland, even though there may well be more of the latter than the 
former.

   Scott Weidensaul
   Schuylkill Haven, PA






>Hi Bob:
>
>Not sure what the habitat was there before it became "housing construction"
>but this type of activity often disrupts enough of whatever there was in the
>way of local non-human housing or even cover, thus chasing out/causing
>movement of the critters that made their home there. So, they may be good
>pickin' for owls and others. If the owl happened by and had some luck with
>lunch or dinner, it may have stayed until it got all that it could. I have a
>new house going up next to me on what is (was) farmland - 2 acres this time.
>After this started, I had two Kestrels hanging out including one sitting on
>my garage along with a short stay by a Cooper's Hawk.  Do not know if the
>house building played that big a part but it is the fist time in my 5 years
>here I had a Kestrel other than a flyby or a stopover migrant.
>
>Mike O'Brien
>Fairfield, Adams County, PA
>
>On Nov 27, 2007 5:20 PM, Bob Keener  wrote:
>
>>  Hi All,
>>  I again looked at the house in Hamilton Heights,
>>  Chambersburg, where the Snowy Owl was perched and the
>>  amount of "whitewash" on both sides of the peak of the
>>  roof makes me think that this bird was using the perch
>>  for maybe a couple of days.
>>
>>  It makes me scratch my head, because it is in a new
>>  housing development and I'm wondering what would
>>  attract  a Snowy Owl there?  I did notice a few
>>  pigeons and doves perched on some of the nearby homes.
>>   Would they be food for this bird?
>>
>>  Just wondering,
>>  Bob Keener
>>
>>
>>  --- Bob Keener  wrote:
>>
>>  > Dear PA Birders,
>>  >
>>  > I got a call this afternoon that a Snowy Owl was
>>  > seen
>>  > perched on a house roof located on the west side of
>>  > Chambersburg, but that it had already flown away.  I
>>  > drove by on my way home from work to look around the
>>  > area.
>>  >
>>  > I did drive around the neighborhood and could not
>>  > relocate it. I stopped and talked to the family and
>>  > they showed me pictures (Good clear pics!!) and it
>>  > looks like a first year female with lots of dark
>>  > barring as pictured in Sibley.
>>  > At this point they wish to not disclose their
>>  > address,
>>  > but will contact us if it returns.
>>  >
>>  > Maybe this is going to be a good owl winter!!
>>  >
>>  > Bob Keener
>>  >
>>  >
>>  >
>>  >
>>
>> 

>>____________________________________________________________________________________ 

>>  > Be a better pen pal.
>>  > Text or chat with friends inside Yahoo! Mail. See
>>  > how.  http://overview.mail.yahoo.com/
>>  >
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> 

>>____________________________________________________________________________________ 

>>  Never miss a thing.  Make Yahoo your home page.
>>  http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs
>>

To all:

Swung by the place the Shrikes have been hanging out since spring today
around 4 PM. Had one fly across the road about 1/2 mile before the
intersection where they are regularly seen.  When I got to the intersection,
I had one on the edge/old fence row across from the farm entrance where it
sits on white fence slats. So this made two as it could not have beaten me
there. And even though they move around the area, they hunt and progress
along the wires/vegetion. They do not pick up and do 50 mph straight away to
another place, so I knew there were two.

There have been two for sure several times there this year.

After I saw the second I turned around but lost it. I drove 100 yards to the
intersection and it (one) flew up to the wire where there was another. Both
were sitting on the same wire with a Kestrel. 
 
The question now becomes are there 3 in the area. I doubt the other bird
came the 1/2 mile or so to here as little time had elapsed but will never
know for sure.

Maybe take another look later this week.

Mike O'Brien
Fairfield, Adams County, PA

Bob, I was wondering the same thing because Paul Lehmann found an adult male 
Bullock's oriole in Cape May this morning. 


Bob Moul  wrote: Does anyone have any recent news on 
Aden Troyer's Bullock's Oriole? 


Thanks,
Bob
-- 

Bob Moul (Yelowlegs AT Comcast.net)
Adams County, PA USA

"PROTECTING NATURE THROUGH EDUCATION"
Photo Galleries:
http://www.pbase.com/rcm1840
http://bob.moul.oiseaux.net/index.en.html



Arlene Koch
Easton, PA
Northampton County
davilene AT verizon.net

Hi Bob:

Not sure what the habitat was there before it became "housing construction"
but this type of activity often disrupts enough of whatever there was in the
way of local non-human housing or even cover, thus chasing out/causing
movement of the critters that made their home there. So, they may be good
pickin' for owls and others. If the owl happened by and had some luck with
lunch or dinner, it may have stayed until it got all that it could. I have a
new house going up next to me on what is (was) farmland - 2 acres this time.
After this started, I had two Kestrels hanging out including one sitting on
my garage along with a short stay by a Cooper's Hawk.  Do not know if the
house building played that big a part but it is the fist time in my 5 years
here I had a Kestrel other than a flyby or a stopover migrant.

Mike O'Brien
Fairfield, Adams County, PA

On Nov 27, 2007 5:20 PM, Bob Keener  wrote:

> Hi All,
> I again looked at the house in Hamilton Heights,
> Chambersburg, where the Snowy Owl was perched and the
> amount of "whitewash" on both sides of the peak of the
> roof makes me think that this bird was using the perch
> for maybe a couple of days.
>
> It makes me scratch my head, because it is in a new
> housing development and I'm wondering what would
> attract  a Snowy Owl there?  I did notice a few
> pigeons and doves perched on some of the nearby homes.
>  Would they be food for this bird?
>
> Just wondering,
> Bob Keener
>
>
> --- Bob Keener  wrote:
>
> > Dear PA Birders,
> >
> > I got a call this afternoon that a Snowy Owl was
> > seen
> > perched on a house roof located on the west side of
> > Chambersburg, but that it had already flown away.  I
> > drove by on my way home from work to look around the
> > area.
> >
> > I did drive around the neighborhood and could not
> > relocate it. I stopped and talked to the family and
> > they showed me pictures (Good clear pics!!) and it
> > looks like a first year female with lots of dark
> > barring as pictured in Sibley.
> > At this point they wish to not disclose their
> > address,
> > but will contact us if it returns.
> >
> > Maybe this is going to be a good owl winter!!
> >
> > Bob Keener
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
> 
____________________________________________________________________________________ 

> > Be a better pen pal.
> > Text or chat with friends inside Yahoo! Mail. See
> > how.  http://overview.mail.yahoo.com/
> >
>
>
>
>
> 
____________________________________________________________________________________ 

> Never miss a thing.  Make Yahoo your home page.
> http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs
>

Hi All, 
 My husband, who is the Rare Book Librarian at the State Library in Harrisburg 
sent me these couple of quotes from Alexander Wilson's American Ornithology 
series. And one of the quotes had to do with owls eating bats.. The quote is 
below and a link to the actual plate is 

http://xroads.virginia.edu/~public/wilson/50.html (you can enlarge the plate a 
couple of times by clicking on it). If you would like to see more of Wilson's 
plates you can go to 

http://xroads.virginia.edu/~public/wilson/front.html
 Also below the quote is an entertaining story from Wilson's text about the 
Great Horned Owl. 

 Enjoy... And if anyone has information or thoughts about owls preying upon 
bats, please send it on. I imagine the list would enjoy another somewhat 
literary discussion. 

   Ann Bodling
   Elizabethtown, Lancaster Co
   Thistlebrook AT juno.com
  
 �Another favorite prey of most of our Owls is the bat, one species of which is 
represented at fig. 4, as it hung during the day in the woods where I found 
it.� (Alexander Wilson, American Ornithology; or, the Natural History of the 
Birds of the United States. Philadelphia: Bradford and Inskeep, 1812. Vol. 6, 
p. 60). Then he goes on to describe bats. This is at the end of his chapter on 
the �White, or Barn Owl,� after he describes the meadow mouse. 


But here�s a better story about Great Horned Owls: �It preys on young rabbits, 
squirrels, rats, mice, Partridges, and small birds of various kinds. It has 
been often known to prowl about the farm house, and carry off chickens from 
roost. A very large one, wing-broken while on a foraging excursion of this 
kind, was kept about the house for several days, and at length disappeared no 
one knew how. Almost every day after this hens and chickens also disappeared, 
one by one, in an unaccountable manner, till in eight or ten days very few were 
left remaining. The fox, the minx and weasel were alternately the reputed 
authors of this mischief, until one morning, the old lady herself rising before 
day to bake, in passing towards the oven, surprized her late prisoner the Owl 
regaling himself on the body of a newly killed hen! The thief instantly made 
for his hole under the house, from whence the enraged matron soon dislodged him 
with the brush handle, and without mercy dispatched him. In this snug retreat 
were found the greater part of the feathers, and many large fragments, of her 
whole family of chickens.� (Alexander Wilson, American Ornithology; or, the 
Natural History of the Birds of the United States. Philadelphia: Bradford and 
Inskeep, 1812. Vol. 6, p. 53). 

 

 This morning I had a Rough-legged Hawk coursing low, over the fields off of 
Route 741 east of the Strasburg Railroad, where the eagles are routinely seen. 
There were 9 Bald Eagles, 8 Red-tailed Hawks and a kestrel in the area also. 
The Rough-legged Hawk continued south over Route 741 and disappeared. 

   
                Tom Raub
  Strasburg, Lancaster County
Reply to: traub at paonline dot com

       
---------------------------------
Be a better pen pal. Text or chat with friends inside Yahoo! Mail. See how.

hey all,

 Had the pleasure to observe a nice size flock of Snow Geese fly over this 
morning near the intersection of Rt 100 and Shoemaker Rd in Pottstown. They 
came out of the sun and were heading northwest(possibly toward Ontelaunee?) 
Probably around 500 birds in three groups. The largest flock was really 
fighting the wind, it started out as a normal overlapping W but morphed into a 
disorganized ball which looked like starlings, then got somewhat organized. 
Quite a sight. At the shopping center pond nearby, among the 200 or so Canada 
Geese were three birds with interesting plumage. I guess hybrids. The chinstrap 
was smudgy and grayish, the bill was light, maybe pink with a dark tip. There 
was little contrast between the neck and breast because the breast was darkish. 
The rest of the body was standard canada. Interesting. 


 At Riverfront Park, heard a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker vocalizing, a first for 
me. It was giving a catbird-like mew call. Otherwise, the park had the usual 
woodland species. 


       Good birding,
       Patrick O'Donnell
       Boyertown, Berks Co

Stone Mt., Pa.
Allensville, Pennsylvania, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 27, 2007
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
BV                           
TV                           
OS                           
BE                           
NH                           
SS                           
CH                           
NG                           
RS                           
BW                           
RT                          
RL                           
GE                           
AK                           
ML                           
PG                           
UA                           
UB                           
UF                           
UE                           
UR                           
SW                           

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

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

Official Counter:        Greg Grove, Nick Bolgiano

Observers:        Greg Grove, Nick Bolgiano

Weather:
Strong West wind. 3C.  Heavy overcast to pt cloudy

Raptor Observations:
GE - all adult

1008, ,1235,



ad BE at 1450 - ties the previous season record for BE (53)



The Osprey was the latest in the season we've ever recorded here.

Non-raptor Observations:
110 Tundra Swans
========================================================================
Report submitted by Greg Grove (gwg2 AT psu.edu)

Second Mountain
Ft. Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 27, 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 Accipiter            
Unknown Buteo                
Unknown Falcon               
Unknown Eagle                
Unknown Raptor               
Mississippi Kite             
Swainson's Hawk              

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

Observation start time: 08:00:00 
Observation end   time: 16:00:00 
Total observation time: 8 hours

Official Counter:        Gayle Lawrence

Observers:        Morris Cox, Randy Miller, Sam Black

Weather:
Clouds (with a bit of drizzle) slowly gave way to a mix of clouds and sun.
Temps ranged from 6-8 degrees C; moderate to strong WNW to NW winds.

Raptor Observations:
4th year BE  AT  1:05
Juv. BE  AT  1:40

Non-raptor Observations:
1 Common & 1 Red-throated Loon
Ravens
========================================================================
Report submitted by Dave Schwenk (secondmtn AT juno.com)

I had today off so I went to check out Moraine and Lake Oneida
Here is what I had


Moraine S.P.

~300 Ruddy Duck

1 Ring-necked Duck

8 Lesser Scaup

14 Bufflehead

49 Gadwall

11 A. Wigeon

27 Pied-billed Grebe

1 Common Loon

2 Mute Swan

52 Bonaparte`s Gull

2 Great Blue Heron


Lake Oneida

1 Osprey

25 Hooded Merganser

1 Ruddy Duck

4 Black Duck

there was a flock of Canada Geese here with short necks
I assume these would be the lesser race


Mark Vass
Beaver Co.

Rose Tree Park
Media, Pennsylvania, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 27, 2007
-------------------------------------------------------------------

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

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

Observation start time: 09:00:00 
Observation end   time: 15:30:00 
Total observation time: 6.5 hours

Official Counter:        Janet Crawford, Jim Lockyer

Observers:        Doris McGovern, Janet Crawford, Jim McConnell

Weather:
Partly cloudy and windy with WNW-NW-W winds at 15-21 MPH. Temperature
50-52F.

Raptor Observations:
1 Adult BE at 1353

Non-raptor Observations:


Predictions:
Sunny. Highs in the upper 40s. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph in the morning,
then 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
========================================================================
Report submitted by Janet Crawford (janet AT rtphawkwatch.org)
Rose Tree Park Hawkwatch, Media, PA information may be found at:
www.rtphawkwatch.org

Does anyone have any recent news on Aden Troyer's Bullock's Oriole?

Thanks,
Bob
-- 

Bob Moul (Yelowlegs AT Comcast.net)
Adams County, PA USA

  "PROTECTING NATURE THROUGH EDUCATION"
                                      Photo Galleries:
                         http://www.pbase.com/rcm1840
                http://bob.moul.oiseaux.net/index.en.html

Waggoner's Gap
40 km W of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 27, 2007
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
BV                           
TV                           
OS                           
BE                           
NH                           
SS                           
CH                           
NG                           
RS                           
BW                           
RT                          
RL                           
GE                           
AK                           
ML                           
PG                           
UA                           
UB                           
UF                           
UE                           
UR                           

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

Observation start time: 07:15:00 
Observation end   time: 16:30:00 
Total observation time: 9.25 hours

Official Counter:        Dave Grove, Ron Freed

Observers:        Dave Grove, Don Orris, Joe Lavella, Mark Scarff, Pat Freed,
                  Ron Freed, Shorty Lowe

Visitors:
Tim Kline, Dara Webber, 7


Weather:
Early drizzle, then cloudy in the morning, clearing to mostly sunny in the
afternoon, with NW winds atarting out strong and gusty, diminishing through
the day.

Raptor Observations:
BE Juv 2:47
GE Juv 11:50
GE Un (2) 9:05

Non-raptor Observations:
Loons - 2
Tundra Swans - 77
========================================================================
Report submitted by dave grove (waggap AT comcast.net)
Waggoner's Gap Hawkwatch information may be found at:
www.waggap.com

Hi The master list of previous participants has disappeared at PEEC. If anyone 
on the listserv has participated or wants to work this CBC (takes in most of 
the Deleware Water Gap NRA) please contact Chris Turn birder3 AT verizon.net. The 
count will take place 12/30. 

Hi All,
I again looked at the house in Hamilton Heights,
Chambersburg, where the Snowy Owl was perched and the
amount of "whitewash" on both sides of the peak of the
roof makes me think that this bird was using the perch
for maybe a couple of days.

It makes me scratch my head, because it is in a new
housing development and I'm wondering what would
attract  a Snowy Owl there?  I did notice a few
pigeons and doves perched on some of the nearby homes.
 Would they be food for this bird?

Just wondering,
Bob Keener


--- Bob Keener  wrote:

> Dear PA Birders,
> 
> I got a call this afternoon that a Snowy Owl was
> seen
> perched on a house roof located on the west side of
> Chambersburg, but that it had already flown away.  I
> drove by on my way home from work to look around the
> area.
> 
> I did drive around the neighborhood and could not
> relocate it. I stopped and talked to the family and
> they showed me pictures (Good clear pics!!) and it
> looks like a first year female with lots of dark
> barring as pictured in Sibley.
> At this point they wish to not disclose their
> address,
> but will contact us if it returns. 
> 
> Maybe this is going to be a good owl winter!! 
> 
> Bob Keener
> 
> 
>      
>

____________________________________________________________________________________ 

> Be a better pen pal. 
> Text or chat with friends inside Yahoo! Mail. See
> how.  http://overview.mail.yahoo.com/
> 



 
____________________________________________________________________________________ 

Never miss a thing.  Make Yahoo your home page. 
http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

     Last night I put up a little feeding station at
the fiance's parent's house in Mercer County.  I
wasn't surprised, but was still amazed at how fast the
birds found it.  When I got back from Pymatuning this
morning there was a chickadee dropping regular seed on
the ground for about 6 Juncos and the thistle feeder
had 3 Goldfinches.  Less than half a day!
     Yes, they are being coached about "winter
finches".

Scott Kinzey
Allegheny County


 
____________________________________________________________________________________ 

Never miss a thing.  Make Yahoo your home page. 
http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

t
>
> 11/25/07
>         After leaving Kirby Park, I saw a red-tail perched in a  
> tree on Public Square.
>
>   1) Canada Goose                       35
>   2) Mallard                            1
>   3) Cooper's Hawk                      1
>   4) Peregrine Falcon           1
>   5) Ring-billed Gull                   12
>   6) Rock Pigeon                        6
>   7) Mourning Dove                      20
>   8) Red-bellied Woodpecker     3
>   9) Downy Woodpecker           5
> 10) Hairy Woodpecker            2
> 11) Northern Flicker            1
> 12) Blue Jay                            4
> 13) American Crow                       5
> 14) Black-capped Chickadee      13
> 15) Tufted Titmouse             10
> 16) White-breasted Nuthatch     10
> 17) Carolina Wren                       8
> 18) Eastern Bluebird            1
> 19) American Robin              1
> 20) Northern Mockingbird                1
> 21) European Starling           20
> 22) American Tree Sparrow       1
> 23) Field Sparrow                       1
> 24) Song Sparrow                        5
> 25) White-throated Sparrow      6
> 26) Dark-eyed Junco             40
> 27) Northern Cardinal           5
> 28) American Goldfinch          8
>
> Gray Squirrel: 3
>
> Total Avian Species: 28
> Observers: 4
> Hours: 4.75
> Weather: Clear with light wind; 27-43 �F
>
> Save the Susquehanna from Inflatable Damnation.
>
> Sandy Goodwin
Wyoming County

11/27
7:15am to about Noon

     Yesterday was list day, today was watch and take
notes day.  I'll try to present these in bite-sized
pieces.

Bonaparte's Gull - There are still well over 1,000 on
the lake.  They are very active in the Sanctuary Lake
keying on schools of small fish with the Common and
Hooded Mergansers.  For the best show I reccommend
starting at the Causeway at first light.  Get there
early, they move away from the Causeway as the morning
goes on.  The sunrise show here is about as good as it
gets for Bonaparte's Gull watching.  Park in the Ohio
Side Fishing Lot or next to the PA Fishing Piers.

Canada Geese - the Miller Ponds area was void at first
light, but they piled in between 8:30 and 9:30.  This
is the best time to look for unusual geese.  They
continue moving into fields to the west and south
after this, get harder to find.  All I saw were Canada
Geese today.

Tundra Swan - they were gone, None seen today, same
with Snow Buntings

Common Merganser - early in the morning there was a
lot of flying around, in small groups.  I figured that
this was the typical early morning pattern.  But later
in the morning, they continued to fly off in smaller
groups west over the Spillway towards Tuttle Point.  I
got the impression that they were migrating out of the
lake.  I could not find them when I followed them. 
There were still a few hundred present, but not the
overwhelming concentration like yesterday.  The number
just slowly kept going down.  I would have needed the
rest of the afternoon to prove that they were indeed
leaving with the clearing skies.

Hooded Merganser - also seemed to be lessening in
number

Rough-legged Hawk - 1 light phase, my first of season

Northern Shoveler - group of 8-9 are fun to watch from
the fish feeding area, lots of little swimming cirlces

Common Loon - only a few seen today

Double-crested Cormorant - a few, last large flock was
maybe Nov. 13

Bald Eagles were particularly showy today both at the
Sanctuary Lake and Miller Ponds

Scott Kinzey
Allegheny County



 
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Just saw a flock of about 75 Tundra Swans flying over in a  "V".  Puts the 
yard list up to 85 for just starting it in  August.
 
 
 
Jason Miller
New Cumberland (Fairview Township)
York  County
millerellim AT aol.com



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Must be a slow news day. Just for the record, most days recently I've been 
seeing 1-12 Pine Siskins at the feeders at the National Audubon Science Office 
in Warwick Twp, Bucks County. They first showed up here Nov 11 and one was 
still here this morning with the goldfinches. Still looking for redpolls or 
something better! 


Rob Fergus                     
Perkasie, Bucks, Pennsylvania
http://birdchaser.blogspot.com

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