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PABIRDS for Thursday, September 9, 2004
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Subject: [PABIRDS] Eastern PA Birdline: 9/9/2004
From: Dave DeReamus <becard(AT)FAST.NET>
Date: 9 Sep 2004 1:58am
- RBA
* Pennsylvania
* Lehigh / Northampton Counties and Vicinity
* September 9, 2004
* PAEA0409.09
- Birds mentioned
PHILADELPHIA VIREO
White-throated Sparrow
SNOWY EGRET
BLACK TERN
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON
SWAINSON'S HAWK
CASPIAN TERN
- Transcript
Hotline: Eastern PA Birdline
Date: September 9th at 1:00 AM
Phone Number: (610) 252-3455
To Report by Phone: Call (610) 252-3455, press the (*) key and leave your
message.
To Report by E-Mail: Send to becard(AT)fast.net with "Birdline" in subject
heading.
Compiler: Dave DeReamus
You can visit our Website for information about the Lehigh Valley Audubon
Society at
http://www.lehigh.edu/~bcm0/lvas.html
You can visit my Website for photos and information about Eastern PA Birding
at http://www.users.fast.net/~becard/index.html
This is Dave DeReamus, for the Eastern PA Birdline, sponsored by the Lehigh
Valley Audubon Society, recorded on September 9th at 1:00 AM.
There will be a field trip to Bake Oven Knob on September 18th. Meet at the
K-Mart parking lot on Tilghman Street, just west of Route 309 at 9:00 AM.
Trip leader will be Jon Levin.
The next Audubon meeting will be held on September 14th at 7:00 PM at the
Pool Wildlife Sanctuary in Emmaus. Dr. Karen Campbell will do a program on
Bats of the World and Pennsylvania.
Directions to many of the sites in this report can be found in the area's
birding guidebook, "Birds of the Lehigh Valley and Vicinity".
NOW FOR THE BIRDS!
Sightings from the KIRKRIDGE area, Northampton County included:
5 Bald Eagles - 9/6
Also Ruby-throated Hummingbird and Warbling Vireo.
Sightings from along BANGOR VEIN ROAD, Northampton County included:
Sharp-shinned Hawk, Belted Kingfisher, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Least
Flycatcher, Eastern Wood-Pewee, and Scarlet Tanager.
Sightings from WILLIAMS TOWNSHIP, Northampton County included:
Broad-winged Hawk, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Indigo Bunting, Field Sparrow,
Bobolink, Scarlet Tanager, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak.
Sightings from the GREEN POND area, Northampton County included:
Great Blue and Green Heron.
Sightings from the MONOCACY NATURE CENTER, Northampton County included:
PHILADELPHIA VIREO - 9/7
Also Brown Thrasher, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and warblers
that included Wilson's, Blue-winged, Bay-breasted, Canada, Magnolia,
Blackburnian, and Ovenbird.
And in nearby Bethlehem: White-throated Sparrow - 9/5.
Sightings from LITTLE GAP, Northampton County included:
5 Bald Eagles - 9/6
Merlin - 9/6
Also Northern Harrier, Osprey, Sharp-shinned, Cooper's, and Broad-winged
Hawk, and American Kestrel.
Sightings from the ALLENTOWN area, Lehigh County included:
Merlin - 9/4 ('fly-by').
Sightings from the WHITEHALL PARKWAY, Lehigh County included:
Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Warbling Vireo, and Canada, Magnolia, and
Black-and-white Warbler.
Sightings from BAKE OVEN KNOB, Lehigh County included:
Bald Eagles - 10 on 9/1, 7 on 9/6
Peregrine Falcon - 9/3
Merlin - 1 on 9/1, 9/4, and 9/6
Also Great Blue Heron, Black Vulture, Northern Harrier, Osprey,
Sharp-shinned, Cooper's, and Broad-winged Hawk, American Kestrel, Pileated
Woodpecker, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Barn and Tree Swallow, Common Raven,
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Cedar Waxwing, Red-eyed Vireo, Black-throated Blue
and Black-throated Green Warbler, Ovenbird, Scarlet Tanager, and American
Goldfinch.
Sightings from LAKE NOCKAMIXON, Bucks County included:
SNOWY EGRET - 9/7
BLACK TERN - 9/7
Also Great Egret, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Pileated Woodpecker, and
Egyptian Goose (exotic).
Sightings from PEACE VALLEY PARK, Bucks County included:
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON - to at least 9/3
2 Bald Eagles - 9/2 and 9/3
Also Great Egret, Osprey, Sharp-shinned, Cooper's, and Broad-winged Hawk,
American Kestrel, Common Nighthawk, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Barn, Bank, Tree,
and Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Eastern Bluebird, Wood Thrush, Brown
Thrasher, Cedar Waxwing, Indigo Bunting, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Baltimore
and Orchard Oriole, and warblers that included Yellow, Blue-winged,
Chestnut-sided, Canada, Magnolia, Black-and-white, Black-throated Green,
Northern Parula, American Redstart, and Common Yellowthroat.
Sightings from the HENNINGSVILLE area, Berks County included
Black Vulture, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Blue-gray
Gnatcatcher, Gray Catbird, Tennessee, Chestnut-sided, and Black-throated
Green Warbler, American Redstart, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak,
and American Goldfinch.
Sightings from HAWK MOUNTAIN SANCTUARY, Berks County included:
SWAINSON'S HAWK - 9/7 (dark morph).
Sightings from MERRILL CREEK RESERVOIR in nearby New Jersey included:
At the Scotts Mountain hawkwatch:
Bald Eagle - 10 on 9/6
Peregrine Falcon - 9/6
Merlin - 9/4
2 CASPIAN TERNS - 9/5
Also Osprey, Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned, Cooper's, and Broad-winged
Hawk, and American Kestrel.
- End transcript
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: [PABIRDS] SIXTY-EIGHT HUDSONIAN GODWITS, Northampton County
From: "Wiltraut, Richard E" <rwiltraut(AT)STATE.PA.US>
Date: 9 Sep 2004 8:37am
I didn't get in until late last night so this is my first chance to post this.
Last night I was doing my weekly shorebird survey at the Martins Creek PPL
flyash basin along the Delaware River north of Easton and found a flock of 68
Hudsonian Godwits. This is by far the largest number I've ever seen and is
probably a new high count for PA (I believe the previous high count was 32 birds
at Presque Isle in Oct. 1977). All of the birds appeared to be adults and many
of them still had some chestnut barring on the belly. Winds were out of east
and there was a steady rain. Other birds seen while I was there:
7 Whimbrel (circled the basin for several minutes calling, but never landed)
1 Am. Golden Plover (heard overhead)
6 Black-bellied Plover
1 Semipalmated Plover
5 Greater Yellowlegs
5 Lesser Yellowlegs
1 Stilt Sandpiper
8 Pectoral Sandpipers
6 White-rumped Sandpipers
20 Semipalmated Sandpipers
1 Least Sandpiper
3 Sanderlings
Remember that this is a restricted area, so I post this as information only.
Rick Wiltraut, EES
Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center
835 Jacobsburg Road
Wind Gap, PA 18091-9781
(610) 746-2810
(610) 746-2804 (fax)
rwiltraut(AT)state.pa.us
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: [PABIRDS] Hanoverville Rd, Northampton County
From: Dustin Welch <DWelch5951(AT)AOL.COM>
Date: 9 Sep 2004 9:34am
Drainage basin on Hanoverville Rd produced the following at 8:30 this
morning:
American Golden Plover ** (juvenile)
Stilt Sandpiper **
Semipalmated Sandpiper 2
Lesser Yellowlegs 4
Least Sandpiper 3
Killdeer
Horned Larks
** Plover and Stilt Sandpiper both identified by Billy Wagner.
Dustin Welch
Danielsville, PA
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: [PABIRDS] Blue Marsh, Berks County
From: Joan Silagy <bnjsil(AT)TALON.NET>
Date: 9 Sep 2004 11:00am
After reading everyone's good shore bird reports this AM, I headed out to
see if I could locate any. Mud flats are almost nonexistent at Blue Marsh
right now. I checked Mockingbird Pond as I had one Solitary Sandpiper there
over the weekend. Unfortunately the pond was totally void of birds this
AM. I did find a good push of song birds though. Seen were the following:
Cedar Waxwings, 30
Brown Thrashers, 8
Rose Breasted Grosbeaks, 10
Gray Catbirds, numerous
Northern Flicker, 1
Downy Woodpecker, 1
Scarlet Tanagers, 4
Indigo Buntings, many
American Goldfinch, many
Carolina Wren, 2
Northern Cardinal, 6
Song Sparrow, 2
Mockingbirds, 12
Mosquito's, numerous, plus
Joan Silagy and Sidney
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: [PABIRDS] correction Hanoverville Rd
From: Dustin Welch <DWelch5951(AT)AOL.COM>
Date: 9 Sep 2004 11:06am
Billy Weber identified the plover and stilt sandpiper, not Billy Wagner, I
don't know what I was thinking. Sorry
Dustin Welch
Danielsville, PA
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: [PABIRDS] HSR: Rose Tree Park (09 Sep 2004) 0 Raptors
From: reports(AT)HAWKCOUNT.ORG
Date: 9 Sep 2004 4:55pm
Rose Tree Park Hawkwatch, Media, PA
Pennsylvania, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 09, 2004
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Turkey Vulture 0 5 5
Black Vulture 0 3 3
Osprey 0 25 33
Northern Harrier 0 5 5
Mississippi Kite 0 0 0
Bald Eagle 0 12 14
Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 13 16
Cooper's Hawk 0 4 5
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0
Broad-winged Hawk 0 86 116
Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 0 1 7
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 0 9 9
Merlin 0 3 4
Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown 0 5 7
Total: 0 171 224
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(No count conducted today)
Weather:
Observations:
========================================================================
Report submitted by Janet Crawford (janet.l.c(AT)att.net)
Rose Tree Park Hawkwatch, Media, PA information may be found at:
www.jl-studio.com/RTP_HW
For additional information please contact: Jim Lockyer (jim(AT)jl-studio.com),
Janet Crawford (janet.l.c(AT)att.net)
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: [PABIRDS] Shorebird survey at Gull Point today
From: JerryMcW(AT)AOL.COM
Date: 9 Sep 2004 5:32pm
Ben Coulter and I, assisted by Dave Wilton and Chuck Gehringer, conducted the
International Shorebird Survey at Gull Point on Presque Isle State Park today
from 7:30 AM to 2:00 PM. It was cloudy becoming variably cloudy by noon with
north winds reaching 40 mph with light to moderate rain showers and a temp.
around 65 F. Waves were from six to eight feet.
Counting shorebirds was rather difficult since they were constantly moving
around because of breaching water and wind. For most of the shorebirds, totals
were based upon numbers of individuals where concentrated. We recorded the
following shorebirds:
Black-bellied Plover-12 (2 juv., 10 adults)
American Golden Plover-3 (2 juv., 1 adult)
Semipalmated Plover-12+ (juv.)
Greater Yellowlegs-8 (adult)
Lesser Yellowlegs-15 (juv. when aging possible)
Spotted Sandpiper-1 (juv.)
Whimbrel-2 (juv.)
Ruddy Turnstone-20+ (all but one were juv.)
Red Knot-20 (all but one were juv.)
Sanderling-70+- (most juv.)
Semipalmated Sandpiper-70+ (juv. when aging possible)
Least Sandpiper-6 (juv.)
White-rumped Sandpiper-25+ (juv.)
Baird's Sandpiper-6 (juv.)
Pectoral Sandpiper-6 (juv.)
Dunlin-1 (juv.)
Short-billed Dowitcher-4 (juv.)
Other birds of note recorded:
Parasitic Jaeger--1 dark imm. flying west at 12:25 PM and the same, or
perhaps a different bird, flying east at 12:50 PM.
Caspian Tern--5
Common Tern--18
Forster's Tern--3
Black Tern--1
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: [PABIRDS] Shorebird survey correction
From: JerryMcW(AT)AOL.COM
Date: 9 Sep 2004 5:42pm
The White-rumped Sandpipers were pre-basic molt adults not juveniles.
Juveniles are not usually seen in this area until late Spetember or early
October.
Jerry McWilliams
Erie, Erie County, Pa.
jerrymcw(AT)aol.com
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: [PABIRDS] Bradford Sewage Treatment Ponds
From: John and Lisa Fedak <jlfedak(AT)ATLANTICBB.NET>
Date: 9 Sep 2004 5:58pm
With all the good reports that I just read, I would like to add to them.
Unfortunately, there were only 2 Killdeer at the ponds tonight.
I'm sooooo jealous!
John Fedak
Bradford
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: [PABIRDS] HSR: Allegheny Front (09 Sep 2004) 3 Raptors
From: reports(AT)HAWKCOUNT.ORG
Date: 9 Sep 2004 6:28pm
Allegheny Front Hawkwatch, Central City,
Pennsylvania, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 09, 2004
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
BV 0 0 4
TV 0 0 0
OS 0 30 61
BE 0 4 20
NH 0 8 14
SS 1 41 89
CH 2 17 26
NG 0 0 1
RS 0 1 10
BW 0 330 736
RT 0 66 148
RL 0 0 0
GE 0 0 0
AK 0 7 29
ML 0 1 2
PG 0 0 0
UA 0 2 6
UB 0 3 12
UF 0 0 0
UE 0 0 0
UR 0 4 27
Total: 3 514 1185
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 13:00:00
Total observation time: 5 hours
Official Counter: Ken Byerly
Observers:
Visitors:
0
Weather:
WSPD Strong
WFM SW
TEMP 17 to 15c
CLCV 80 to 100%
VISB Clear to Hazy
RAIN at 1:00 PM
Observations:
HTFL Low
FDIR S
Flicker 1
Hummer 1
Predictions:
Temp 74F
Precip 10%
Wind West 9 to 11 MPH
========================================================================
Report submitted by Che Mincone (51cecidio(AT)libcom.com)
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: [PABIRDS] HSR: Waggoner's Gap (09 Sep 2004) 18 Raptors
From: reports(AT)HAWKCOUNT.ORG
Date: 9 Sep 2004 7:03pm
Waggoner's Gap Hawkwatch
Pennsylvania, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 09, 2004
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
BV 0 0 0
TV 0 0 0
OS 6 53 108
BE 2 19 63
NH 0 10 30
SS 8 37 79
CH 0 10 28
NG 0 0 0
RS 0 0 4
BW 0 171 496
RT 1 25 81
RL 0 0 0
GE 0 0 0
AK 0 12 71
ML 0 1 1
PG 0 0 1
UR 1 6 15
Total: 18 344 977
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Observation start time: 11:00:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 5 hours
Official Counter: Dave Grove
Observers: Craig Houston, Deb Gingrich
Visitors:
Shea Marino, Ben Johnson, and Cheryl Colaustro, part of the HMS accipiter
tracking team, Shorty Lowe, Dickinson College Ecology Class - 21
Weather:
Fog lifted at midday, light SW wind became strong WNW before showers ended
the fun
Observations:
adult BE at 1:47 and 2:59
many swifts and swallows
========================================================================
Report submitted by dave grove (waggap(AT)pa.net)
Waggoner's Gap Hawkwatch information may be found at:
http://user.pa.net/~waggap/
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: [PABIRDS] Hurricane Red-necked Phalaropes at "The
Sharltlesville Pond"
From: Matt Wlasniewski <matski(AT)ENTER.NET>
Date: 9 Sep 2004 9:40pm
3 Red-necked Phalaropes were found Thursday, Sept 9th, at 5:30pm and last seen
6:40pm at the same pond in Shartlesville, PA, Berks County, where the single
RNPH showed up this past Spring.
One bird is in juv plumage and the other 2 in adult non-breeding.
The birds were seen in the center of the pond where they acted very nervous and
seemed ready to fly off at the drop of a hat. Don't know if they will be there
in the morning but I will check.
Directions: Exit for Shartlesville of I78. Head towards Hamburg on Old 22. Pond
is on the left after a gradual curve. Not much room to pull off. I turn around
down the round and park on the same side as pond as my tire marks testify.
Watch out for the traffic.
Only other shorebirds were Spotted S/P's. Not mud for the birds to feed on.
Matt Wlasniewski
Hamburg, PA
610-562-7550
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: [PABIRDS] HSR: Rose Tree Park (09 Sep 2004) 3 Raptors
From: reports(AT)HAWKCOUNT.ORG
Date: 9 Sep 2004 10:02pm
Rose Tree Park Hawkwatch, Media, PA
Pennsylvania, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 09, 2004
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Turkey Vulture 0 5 5
Black Vulture 0 3 3
Osprey 0 25 33
Northern Harrier 0 5 5
Mississippi Kite 0 0 0
Bald Eagle 1 13 15
Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 13 16
Cooper's Hawk 0 4 5
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0
Broad-winged Hawk 2 88 118
Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 0 1 7
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 0 9 9
Merlin 0 3 4
Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown 0 5 7
Total: 3 174 227
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Observation start time: 14:00:00
Observation end time: 15:00:00
Total observation time: 1 hours
Official Counter: Jim Lockyer
Observers:
Weather:
The predominant weather pattern for the day was intermittent tropical
downpours. Temperatures in the high 70's to low 80's. - The morning and
most of the early afternoon were a rainout at RTPHW.
Observations:
A lot of raptor activity once the showers paused around 3:00 PM. A number
of foraging raptors were observed.
Swallows, swifts, and dragonflies were active during the weather pause.
Predictions:
Partly cloudy. Highs around 80. Northwest winds around 10 mph.
========================================================================
Report submitted by Jim Lockyer (jim(AT)jl-studio.com)
Rose Tree Park Hawkwatch, Media, PA information may be found at:
www.jl-studio.com/RTP_HW
For additional information please contact: Jim Lockyer (jim(AT)jl-studio.com),
Janet Crawford (janet.l.c(AT)att.net)
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: [PABIRDS] Laughing Gulls-Beaver Co.
From: Mark Vass <mvas1(AT)ACCESS995.COM>
Date: 9 Sep 2004 11:15pm
This evening I was at Little Blue Lake scanning for shorebirds when I heard a
strange call and looked up and had five gulls flying around.
The birds flew heading away from me then returned and circled then disappeared.
I believe these were immature Laughing Gulls.
They had long wings and noticed some darkness on the head
I played the cd and believe this was the calls I heard
I wish I had someone with me who could definitely i.d. these birds
Here is my sightings
5 LAUGHING GULL
1 Osprey
2 Semi-palmated Plover
6 Semi-palmated Sandpiper
3 Least Sandpiper
Killdeer
I am going out in the morning to check some bodies of water in the county and
see if these birds came down
Mark Vass
Ambridge,Pa.
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: [PABIRDS] Conneaut Harbor Birds
From: Walter Shaffer <wdshaffer(AT)ICUBED.COM>
Date: 9 Sep 2004 11:23pm
Hi,
Today, we arrrived at Conneaut Harbor at about 1pm and remained until 5:30.
Skies were partly sunny. Thare was strong wind form the North.
Temperature was around 60. Shorebirds decreased in numbers as the afternoon
pasted. By 5:30, Sanderlings were just about the only shorebirds left. Probably
the best bird was a Snowy Egret which remained with 3 Great Egrets when we left.
Blak-belleid Plover - 4
Semipalm Plover - 8
Least Sandpiper - 10
Semipalm Sandpiper - 8
White-rumped Sandpiper - 1
Pectoral Sandpiper - 2
Sanderlings - 12
Short-billed Dowitcher - 2
Ruddy Turnstone - 8
Great Egret - 3
Snowy Egret - 1
Black-crowned Night Heron - 2
Bald Eagle - 3
Regards,
Walt and Dana Shaffer
Pittsburgh,Pa
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: [PABIRDS] Philadelphia RBA, September 10, 2004
From: Armas Hill <armas(AT)FOCUSONNATURE.COM>
Date: 9 Sep 2004 11:30pm
RBA
* Pennsylvania
* Philadelphia
* September 10, 2004
* PAPH0409.10
* Birds mentioned:
ANHINGA (pa)
Brown Pelican (nj & de, 50+ each)
AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN (nj)
Snowy Egret (pa)
Black-crowned Night-Heron (pa)
Blue-winged Teal
American Green-winged Teal
Common Eider
Black Vulture
Osprey
SWAINSON'S HAWK (pa)
Red-tailed Hawk
Peregrine Falcon
Sora
American Avocet
American Golden Plover
Semipalmated Plover (pa)
Killdeer
Upland Sandpiper
Hudsonian Godwit (68 in pa)
Whimbrel (pa)
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Solitary Sandpiper
Spotted Sandpiper
Sanderling (pa)
RED-NECKED STINT (de, could be 2)
Western Sandpiper
White-rumped Sandpiper (pa)
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Baird's Sandpiper (pa)
Pectoral Sandpiper
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Stilt Sandpiper
Short-billed Dowitcher (pa)
Wilson's Phalarope (de)
Bonaparte's Gull
Laughing Gull
Common Tern (pa)
Roseate Tern (nj)
Caspian Tern
SOOTY TERN (nj)
Black Tern
Acadian Flycatcher
White-eyed Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Blue Jay (feature)
Blue-headed Vireo
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Blue-winged Warbler
Northern Parula
Worm-eating Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Canada Warbler
American Redstart
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
LARK SPARROW (nj)
Scarlet Tanager
Bobolink
NORTHERN RIGHT WHALE
upcoming pelagic trip
upcoming hummingbird festival
Philadelphia Birdline
Date: September 10, 2004
Number: 215/567-BIRD
To Report: Armas Hill, 302/529-1876 (VOICE)
302/529-1085 (FAX)
Compiler: Armas Hill
Coverage: Delaware Valley, and southern New Jersey
Transcriber: Risė Hill
This is a Philadelphia Birdline for Friday, September 10th.
The Birdline comes from the Academy of Natural Sciences, in Philadelphia,
and is supported by a number of bird clubs and individuals.
I'm Armas Hill, glad to be with you.
HUDSONIAN GODWITS are shorebirds that fly each year long distances during
their southbound migration from northern Canada to southern Argentina. Most
years some of them stage at places like Cape Cod before flying non-stop to
northern South America.
In eastern Pennsylvania, yesterday, September 9th, along the Delaware River
north of Easton, a large grouping of HUDSONIAN GODWITS was found - a flock
of 68. Surely, to continue south soon (they probably have already), this
was probably a high count for the species in Pennsylvania. (The previous
high was 32 at Presque Isle, Erie, in October 1977.)
Also at the location with the GODWITS were:
7 WHIMBREL (circling overhead), a GOLDEN PLOVER (also heard overhead),
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, both YELLOWLEGS, STILT SANDPIPER, and PECTORAL, LEAST,
WHITE-RUMPED, and SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, and SANDERLINGS.
Elsewhere in Northampton County PA, that same day, September 9th, the
following shorebirds were seen along Hanoverville Road: a juvenile GOLDEN
PLOVER, STILT and SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, LEAST SANDPIPER, and LESSER
YELLOWLEGS. Anywhere that SHOREBIRDS appear, with the weather of late,
anything can appear.
In Delaware, following the report given here last time of a RED-NECKED
STINT at Raymond Pool, Bombay Hook Refuge last weekend, we received another
report this morning from another good, astute observer:
On Wednesday, September 8th:
It first caught his eye when it landed facing him after the birds at
Raymond spooked. With reddish coloration on the upper breast. It then went
to the south end of Raymond Pool for about an hour and a half on the mud.
Not flying even when other shorebirds nearby were spooked.
Compared with the SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, it looked more slender. The bill
about the length and shape.
With a small pale rufous bib, and throat, with faint streaking on each side
of the bib. The bird was well washed in red over most of the back.
Interesting. Sounds like a stint with another STINT. The bird reported at
Raymond last weekend was said to have no rufous on its back.
Here, again is the report relating to last weekend as given here on Monday:
In Delaware, at the Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, on Saturday,
September 4th, a bird well-described as a RED-NECKED STINT was seen at the
north end of Raymond Pool. It was seen well, filling the images in scopes,
from about noon to1pm.
Regarding the bird, it was just about identical to the illustration 192a in
the book "Shorebirds" by Heyman etc (the pre-breeding plumage) except for
some facial details.
It was notably smaller than the WESTERN SANDPIPERS that were with it. No
SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS were next to it for comparison.
The STINT was actively feeding, and turning, so that all postures were viewed.
It was an adult in, or nearly completing, its pre-basic moult.
A striking point was the bright rufous chin and throat, encircled by a
"necklace" of dark streaks across the upper breast. Worn rufous feathering
encircled the bill. But there was no rufous coloration on the sides of the
neck, or on the cheeks (as in that illustration referred to, 192a), or on
the lightly streaked crown, or anywhere on the back.
But, that the bright rufous was on the chin as well as on the throat, ruled
out SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER and LITTLE STINT.
The bill was straight and slender. At times, the bill appeared to be
thicker, longer, and too blunt. However, as the bird was observed actively
feeding, with its head under water much of the time, during the split
second it lifted its head out of the water, black mud was seen sliding down
its bill, and gathering in a droplet at the tip.
Thus, the bill at times appeared blunt, or even expanded at the tip
(bringing to mind, excitingly, a SPOON-BILLED SANDPIPER - which the bird
was NOT).
Fortunately, when the bird was seen (by scope) with its head out of the
water, it was seen swiping its bill clean with its foot - revealing the
proper, short, straight, tapered-to-a-point bill of appropriate size and
shape for a RED-NECKED STINT.
Some photographs were taken of the STINT, and have been posted on the
internet. Their quality is not as good as desired. But still, in them, the
bird appears to be a RED-NECKED STINT.
In the FONT web-site (www.focusonnature.com), there's a fine photo of a
RED-NECKED STINT in non-breeding plumage, in a piece relating to shorebirds
in Japan.
On the home page, go to the links to "Featured Items of Interest" and
"Shorebirds in Japan". The RED-NECKED STINT photo is #40.
Also at Bombay Hook last weekend were: nearly a thousand AVOCETS, and
WILSON'S PHALAROPE.
The first flock of SNOW GEESE (8 of them) were at Shearness Pool. A
PEREGRINE was seen chasing a LAUGHING GULL for over 5 minutes, apparently
"only kidding".
Across the state line in Pennsylvania, a very interesting report comes from
a good observer, earlier this week, in Landenberg PA.
From his home by the White Clay Creek, the morning of September 6th, as he
was looking up at a large kettle of VULTURES, he noticed something different:
a black bird, with a brown throat, a long neck, a long bill, and a
distinctly "different" wing-beat. The bird had all the makings of an ANHINGA.
Also in the thermals overhead, above the observer's home, were OSPREY and
RED-TAILED HAWK.
Along the Kittatinny Ridge at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, on Tuesday,
September 7th, a dark SWAINSON'S HAWK flew past.
A fascinating occurrence this past week took place at the north end of the
New Jersey Coast. Not relating to a bird, but worth mentioning here none
the less.
At Sandy Hook, a very rare creature was observed in the water, seen from
shore - a NORTHERN RIGHT WHALE!
One of the rarest of the world's whales.
Birders were there, in the afternoon of Sunday, September 5th, hoping for a
seabird or two.
But, instead, they saw the whale - active feeding, and periscoping. At
times, it stuck its whole head out of the water. As it fed, its tail was
seen well.
The whale was so close to shore the observers feared that it might
ultimately be beached.
During all this, a Coast Guard boat came, and stayed nearby.
After about half an hour, however, the whale, and then the Coast Guard boat
left - each going their separate ways.
Elsewhere along the Jersey Coast, at 6pm yesterday evening, September 9th,
a very notable seabird was seen - an adult SOOTY TERN, at Cape May Point,
in the area of the concrete ship, and then later at the 2nd Avenue jetty in
Cape May.
This weekend, September 11/12, offshore from the Jersey Coast, the weather
looks good for the annual FONT late-summer overnight pelagic trip set to go
to the Hudson Canyon.
There are still some places available.
Saturday/Sunday September 11/12, departing from Barnegat Light, New Jersey,
about midnight, returning by late-afternoon.
On the 100-foot, and fast, "Doris Mae", To both NJ & NY offshore waters, to
be at the canyon at daybreak. The cost: $119.
During this trip in the past: WHITE-FACED STORM-PETREL. And warm water
would bring other nice possibilities. Also possible could be birds
displaced by the large hurricane to our south.
And, of course, the CAPE VERDE SHEARWATER (formerly a subspecies of the
CORY'S) will be looked for. Likely this time of year would be JAEGERS.
If you' like to join this trip: please either call 1-800-721-9986, or fax:
302-529-1085 (Or after Friday noon call: 609-494-1692. On the recorder,
leave your name & phone number. You can appear at the dock, at the west end
of 18th St. in Barnegat Light by midnight, Saturday night.)
Information about the trip is in the web-site: www.focusonnature.com
Back at Cape May, this past weekend, birds included: 3 ROSEATE TERNS and a
juvenile BONAPARTE'S GULL, seen from shore at Cape May Point, on Saturday,
September 4th.
A young BLACK TERN was present that day at the Bunker Pond in the state park.
The COMMON EIDER that's spent the summer around Cape May has continued,
often seen at Sunset Beach.
On Saturday, September 4th, at the Brigantine (or Forsythe) Refuge, near
Oceanville NJ, northwest of Atlantic City, birds included:
a WHITE PELICAN, that has continued at the refuge - it was at the west pool,
a SORA along the south dike,
GOLDEN PLOVER along the north dike, by the west pool,
an AVOCET on the east pool, seen from the north dike,
a flock of 11 HUDSONIAN GODWITS, continuing on the west pool,
WILSON'S PHALAROPE in the east pool,
CASPIAN TERN (over 20 in the west pool),
and lastly, but not least, a LARK SPARROW, along the road to the gull pond
tower.
Also observed at Brigantine Refuge, on Wednesday, September 8th, were:
4 HUDSONIAN GODWITS, 2 BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS, and GOLDEN PLOVER.
Also that day, not far away, near Tuckerton, at the end of Seven Bridges
Road, as many as 58 BROWN PELICANS were counted.
Along the Delaware Seacoast, by the way, last weekend, on September 4th, a
total of 51 BROWN PELICANS were counted in South Bethany. In one group,
there were 35 birds.
Over the Labor Day weekend, during a Bluegrass Music Festival in Salem
County, in southwestern New Jersey, a birder took some time from the
bluegrass music to turn and look out at sod farm grass to see: 3
BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS, along with PECTORAL and LEAST SANDPIPERS and
KILLDEER.
Birds noted at the Johnson Sod Farm in southern New Jersey last weekend
included:
2 BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS, 2 UPLAND SANDPIPERS, and 8 GOLDEN PLOVER.
In southern New Jersey, this upcoming weekend, September 11-12, the 3rd
annual HUMMINGBIRD FESTIVAL will be conducted in Heislerville, Cumberland
County. Stop on by.
Shifting now to some additional Pennsylvania reports lately:
In northern Bucks County, a BLACK TERN and a SNOWY EGRET were present of
September 7th at Lake Nockamixon.
Near Northeast Philadelphia, on the grounds of the Pennypack Trust in
Montgomery County, on Sunday morning, September 5th, there were numerous
WARBLERS. Many were low in the vines and small trees.
Particularly numerous were REDSTARTS and BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERS.
Also there were: MAGNOLIAS and BLACK-THROATED BLUES, PARULAS and
TENNESSEES. There was a single BLUE-WINGED.
VIREOS included WHITE-EYED and BLUE-HEADED. There were SCARLET TANAGERS
(actually green).
In the natural grass fields of the Raytharn Farm, there were about 30
BOBOLINKS.
Elsewhere in Montgomery County PA, among birds lately in Ambler have been:
REDSTARTS and BLUE-THROATED BLUE WARBLER. Also BLACKPOLL WARBLER.
And SCARLET TANAGER, and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS.
At the Lower Perkiomen Valley Park, in Oaks, PA (Montgomery County), birds
on September 7th included: OSPREY, BLACK VULTURE, 5 not-so-solitary
SOLITARY SANDPIPERS, and BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON.
In south-central Pennsylvania, along the Susquehanna River, at the
Conejohela Flats, in Washington Boro, Lancaster County, during the morning
of Sunday, September 5th, there were:
20 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, 1 GOLDEN PLOVER, 25 KILLDEER, 6 GREATER
YELLOWLEGS, 9 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 1 SOLITARY SANDPIPER (that makes sense), 2
SPOTTED SANDPIPERS, 1 WHIMBREL, a hundred SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, a
hundred LEAST SANDPIPERS. 1 BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, 10 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, and
1 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER. Also both TEAL, LAUGHING GULL, and COMMON TERN.
Some birds in Delaware lately, in addition to the SHOREBIRDS mentioned earlier:
Monday, September 6th was a good day at the Brandywine Creek State Park,
with 10 species of WARBLERS. Notable among them was a WORM-EATING. Also:
BLUE-WINGED, CHESTNUT-SIDED, MAGNOLIA, BLACK-THROATED BLUE, and CANADA.
Also: 4 species of VIREOS, with numerous YELLOW-THROATED. In addition to:
ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, SCARLET TANAGER, and ACADIAN FLYCATCHER.
Now, our Birdline Feature, as given this week on the radio. The Birdline,
for more than 5 years now, has been on radio station AM1450 WILM in
Wilmington, Delaware, every Wednesday, before 6am, 9am, and 7pm.
This is the Birdline (on the radio):
This time, about some BIRDS, in our region, that are BLUE.
Theres the BLUEBIRD, with its reddish breast.
But, better known is the BLUE JAY. Many people see it and hear it in their
yards. (RECORDING)
The common BLUE JAY is blue and white.
However, I'm careful with my phrasing NOT to say that its COLORS are blue
and white. In a popular sense, of course, BLUE and WHITE are thought of as
colors.
But there's more to it than that when it comes to bird's FEATHERS.
FEATHERS are what makes BIRDS birds. All birds have them in common. In all
feathers, there are very tiny air pockets that scatter light.
Many birds throughout the world are COLORFUL - with bright reds, and
yellows, and so on. Birds are probably among the most COLORFUL of the
creatures on Earth.
But the BLUE JAY (that's blue and white) is actually, you could say, COLORLESS.
While most birds have feathers with COLORS determined by the PIGMENTS they
contain (colors of the visible spectrum ranging from red to violet), WHITE
FEATHERS have no pigment at all - and feathers that appear BLUE, to our
eyes, contain only a black or brown pigment.
WHITE FEATHERS look WHITE to us because ALL of the light that strikes them
is reflected.
There seems to be NO PIGMENT in feathers that's BLUE.
The barbs in them that appear blue are composed of:
one) a colorless LAYER, in which the tiny air particles, referred to
earlier, scatter, or reflect, the blue light rays (to our eyes), and
two) another, deeper LAYER containing a dark pigment (that's brown or
black) which absorbs all of the other colors. That's why the BLUE JAY and
the BLUEBIRD are BLUE.
That's a technical explanation.
More romantically, one could say these birds are BLUE just as the SKY is BLUE.
White light passing through a perfectly clear atmosphere produces no color.
But the upper atmosphere is filled with minute particles that scatter (or
reflect) the shortest (or blue) light waves. That's why our clear sky is
BLUE.
Putting "sky and bird" into one sentence, Henry Thoreau once wrote that the
BLUEBIRD "carries the sky on its back".
I'm Armas Hill.
Thank you, as always, for tuning in to the Birdline, and good birding,
wherever you may be.
- end transcript
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