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PABIRDS for Monday, October 18, 2004
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Subject: [PABIRDS] Possible Cackling Goose? Comments Solicited.
Montgomery Co.
From: "Todd A. Watkins" <watkins(AT)LEHIGH.EDU>
Date: 18 Oct 2004 12:36am
Amid about 500 Canada Goose Sunday late afternoon at Green Lane
Reservoir (Church Rd), Montgomery Co., PA
I saw three small, short billed, roundish-head, pale breast geese, that
I thought might be Richardson's subspecies, now part of Cackling Goose.
I've posted some admittedly poor photos I digi-scoped in the dim light
at dusk.
I'd appreciate anyone's comments about the possible ID here.
Clearly smaller than rest of flock. Easy to relocate whenever I lost
track of them by head and bill shape.
The group of 3 hung around together constantly, which suggested to me
some family or breeding location bonds.
Breasts were not noticably darker than the larger Canada's, but it was
dusk, so I got no good colors.
Head shape more roundish than the larger Canada's, but still slightly
square.
The combination suggested Richardson's to me/
Thanks.
http://www.lehigh.edu/~taw4/Posscklg.html
Todd A. Watkins
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Subject: [PABIRDS] Shorebirds at Donegal Lake - Westmoreland Co.
From: Walter Shaffer <wdshaffer(AT)ICUBED.COM>
Date: 18 Oct 2004 8:39am
Hi,
Late last evening, we checked Donegal Lake. The sliver of moon was beginning to
brighten and the wind calmed as we arrived. The water level seems to be
stabilized and large mud flats exist. We observed two Pectoral Sandpipers and a
Greater Yellowlegs. Just as we were about to leave,
14 Dunlin arrived. I sure wish that this habitat had existed in August.
The feeding behavior of the Greater Yellowlegs was interesting to watch. It
waded deep into the water, until almost half of its body was submerged, dipped
its head and neck, and then employed the back and forth motion commonly seen
with avocets. While we watched, it came up with several hard-shelled organisms.
Apparently, it must have been emplying this technique for some time. When we
first arrived, it was on shore and appeared as a long billed bird with a very
dark (wet) breast. For a moment, I thought we had something really unusual.
As we were leaving, sparrows and other birds began to sing. I could recognize
Song and White-throated, but there were many other chips. This might be a good
place to check for migrating sparrows.
Regards,
Walt and Dana Shaffer.
Pittsburgh,Pa
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: [PABIRDS] Philadelphia RBA, October 14, 2004
From: Armas Hill <armas(AT)FOCUSONNATURE.COM>
Date: 18 Oct 2004 11:35am
RBA
* Pennsylvania
* Philadelphia
* October 14, 2004
* PAPH0410.14
* Birds mentioned:
American White Pelican
Brown Pelican
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Golden Eagle
Sora
Piping Plover
Hudsonian Godwit
Marbled Godwit
Whimbrel
White-rumped Sandpiper
Stilt Sandpiper
Pomarine Jaeger
Parasitic Jaeger
Long-tailed Jaeger
Sabine's Gull
Royal Tern
Red-headed Woodpecker
Eastern Phoebe
Carolina Chickadee
Brown Creeper
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Swainson's Thursh
Blue-headed Vireo
Orange-crowned Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Connecticut Warbler
Canada Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Palm Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Painted Bunting
Savannah Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch
upcoming pelagic trips
Philadelphia Birdline
Date: October 14, 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 the Philadelphia Birdline for Thursday, October 14th, with a recap
of bird news in our region the last couple weeks.
Computer problems have menaced us, but we're back.
Coming from the Academy of Natural Science in Philadelphia, and supported
by a number of clubs and individuals.
I'm Armas Hill, glad to be with you.
Here's the recap:
A 2nd-winter Sabine's Gull has been in the area of Cape May Point, New
Jersey. Found first on September 28th, and seen as of at least October 3rd,
often elusive but seen most days during that period. The gull was either
onshore (on the beach) or just offshore.
Jaegers have also been seen offshore from Cape May Point during the first
part of October. Mostly Parasitic, but on occasion a Long-tailed and a few
Pomarine.
The Parasitic Jaegers could be seen from shore, often harassing terns. The
Pomarine's harassing gulls, particularly when the birds were feeding in the
tide rips.
In southern New Jersey, along the Delaware River, at Palmyra, a juvenile
Painted Bunting was discovered on September 30th, and then re-found on
October 4th. The bunting was seen in the weeds in the samll pits between
the big pit and the parking lot.
Red-headed Woodpeckers, recently along the Jersey Shore, have been at:
Sandy Hook, Island Beach, and at Barnegat Light. At the latte spot, on
October 5th.
As many as 78 Brown Pelicans were tallied at the Island Beach State Park in
New Jersey, the first week of October.
At Brigantine Refuge, northwest of Atlantic City, NJ, there was a
long-staying White Pelican, thru at least October 3rd.
Shorebirds have included Bairds & Stilt Sandpipers.
Shorebirds at Stone Harbor Point, along the south Jersey shore lately, have
included: White-rumped Sandpipers, 2 Marbled Godwits, and 7 Piping Plovers
on October 4th.
The previous day, 2 Hudsonian Godwits were there.
In Pennsylvania lately, these birds this past week in the area of Peace
Valley in Bucks County:
Chickadees, kinglets, and Yellow-rumped Warblers, more than before.
An Orange-crowned Warbler on October 4th.
Other Warblers, through October 11th: Nashville, Black-throated Green,
Palm, and Bay-breasted.
Sparrows have included Lincoln's and White-crowned. Savannah and Swamp have
been quite common.
Juncos are in, and Purple Finch was seen on October 6th.
That same day, nearby, at the Pine Run Dam, and subsequently, two small
geese were present, believed to be of the new Cackling Geese species, the
subspecies b.h. hutchinsii. In addition to their small size, the birds are
pale, with stubby bills, and a larger proportioned white cheek area.
Going back a bit, a Connecticut Warbler was seen at Peace Valley on October
2nd.
The previous day, Canada Warbler. Through that day October 2nd,
Rose-breasted Grosbeak.
A particularly notable bird at Peace Valley, recently, was a juvenile Royal
Tern on September 29th. It was only there that one day.
Birds this past week at Tinicum Refuge in southwest Philadelphia have included:
Bald Eagle, Osprey, Sora, both kinglets, and Magnolia and Palm Warblers.
Among birds in Ambler, PA, this past week: phoebe, creeper, and Swainson's
Thrushes.
At the Lower Perkiomen Park, in Montgomery County, PA, recently, there were
2 adult Bald Eagles reported, along with Blue-headed Vireo, Black-throated
Green Warbler, Parula, Brown Creeper, and kinglets.
An interesting raptor report at the end of September was of a Golden Eagle,
an immature, at Turkey Point in Maryland, at the north end of the
Chesapeake Bay. The eagle that morning was circling in the sky with an
immature Bald Eagle. Both were there for about 5 minutes, and as close as
100 feet.
Turkey Point, as info, is at the south end of Route 272, about 1 mile from
the town of Northeast, Maryland.
Coming up soon will be the annual pelagic trip off the Jersey shore, for
"early-winter birds", alcids and more, on Saturday, December 4th, from
Barnegat Light, NJ. $104. All-day. Contact Focus On Nature Tours, Inc. at:
1-800-721-9986, or e-mail: font(AT)focusonnature.com Info in the website:
www.focusonnature.com
As of now, spaces are still available.
This week's Birdline Feature on the radio will follow soon.
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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Subject: [PABIRDS] Flight of Grackles
From: Robert Protz <robertprotz(AT)YAHOO.COM>
Date: 18 Oct 2004 1:54pm
10/18/04
Dear PABirders,
Last evening, about 6:20 PM, I watched as a flight of ~1500 Common
Grackles flew southwest almost directly toward the setting sun over the
Point Breeze section of Pittsburgh. It was a pretty impressive flight to
see.
Maybe this was the same flock that Mike F. saw on Saturday!
Rob Protz
Pittsburgh
__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Mail - You care about security. So do we.
http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail
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Subject: [PABIRDS] Ring-necked Pheasant
From: Bill Kimmich <WPKimmich(AT)AOL.COM>
Date: 18 Oct 2004 5:46pm
Apologies for the delayed posting. Yesterday @ 2 PM while traveling north on
Rts. 72 & 443 between Swatara Gap & Goldmine Rd. I spotted a male pheasant
walking along the east berm. As the couple cars ahead went past the bird it
continued to come closer to the traffic. As I passed it on a curve, I continued
to
watch the bird in my side-view mirror; it nearly walked between two moving
vehicles before rising up & flying across to the other side of the highway. I'm
happy to say it escaped all harm, but it was a close call. My question to the
list serve is "don't these birds possess good hearing?" It had to hear the car
engines & tires @ such a close distance. Also, are these birds farsighted?
Maybe it was just an individual with poor sensory awareness.
Bill Kimmich
Camp Hill, PA
Fairview Twp.
York CO.
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Subject: [PABIRDS] HSR: Rose Tree Park (18 Oct 2004) 39 Raptors
From: reports(AT)HAWKCOUNT.ORG
Date: 18 Oct 2004 7:10pm
Rose Tree Park Hawkwatch, Media, PA
Pennsylvania, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 18, 2004
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Turkey Vulture 0 78 87
Black Vulture 0 4 14
Osprey 2 31 184
Northern Harrier 1 10 37
Mississippi Kite 0 0 0
Bald Eagle 6 24 81
Sharp-shinned Hawk 20 386 950
Cooper's Hawk 0 69 166
Northern Goshawk 0 2 2
Red-shouldered Hawk 1 16 19
Broad-winged Hawk 0 35 3101
Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 5 47 69
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 1 53 169
Merlin 1 2 25
Peregrine Falcon 0 2 8
Unknown 2 15 40
Total: 39 774 4952
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 15:00:00
Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Bill Cranny, Charlie Haag
Observers: Charles Smith, Janet Crawford, John D'Amico, Skip Conant
Visitors:
Jerry Smith, Dan, Debbie
Weather:
The day started mostly fair, and then turned cloudy in the afternoon.
Variable winds 5-11 MPH. Temperatures 48-60F.
Observations:
6 Bald Eagles:
3 2nd years at 1357, 1455 and 1525 EDT
3 Adults at 1150, 1327, and 1525 EDT.
30 Canada Geese
1 Monarch Butterfly
Predictions:
Rain, especially in the morning. Highs 60 to 65. East winds around 15 mph.
========================================================================
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
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: [PABIRDS] HSR: Allegheny Front (18 Oct 2004) 162 Raptors
From: reports(AT)HAWKCOUNT.ORG
Date: 18 Oct 2004 7:15pm
Allegheny Front Hawkwatch, Central City,
Pennsylvania, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 18, 2004
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
TV 13 195 195
BE 0 9 50
OS 0 8 147
NH 1 15 57
SS 91 521 838
CH 3 93 200
NG 0 2 5
RS 0 10 24
BW 0 1 5566
RT 49 458 763
RL 0 1 1
GE 1 7 7
AK 0 23 76
ML 1 16 24
PG 1 17 19
BV 0 21 47
UA 1 9 26
UB 0 7 32
UF 0 1 3
UE 0 0 2
UR 1 21 83
Total: 162 1435 8165
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Dick Byers
Observers: Janet Kuehl, Kevin Georg, Nancy Ott, Rosemary McGlynn
Visitors:
eight
Weather:
Wind west in the AM, became easterly about 10AM.
Temp. 4-8C
Clear
Cloud Cover 80 to 100%
Flight low
Observations:
A subadult golden eagle flew over at 12:25.
A strange redtail appeared at 1:45. Nearly everyone saw the silver sheen
on the back and dorsal wings. The underparts were very light, especially
the wings. Some saw streaking on the belly. After consulting three field
guides the possibilities pointed to the Krider's redtail.
Herring Gull
Common Loon
Two swallows
Purple finches
Lots of robins
Predictions:
East winds
46C
100% chance of rain
========================================================================
Report submitted by Dick Byers ()
Allegheny Front Hawk Watch
Maintained and operated by the Allegheny Plateau Audubon Society.
The Allegheny Front Hawk Watch is located on the Somerset / Bedford Co.
border. It is located within 6.4km of Central City at an elevation of 820
meters, which may be the highest elevation Pa. hawk watch. The high
elevation, while producing many eye level birds, also produces frequent
days
of fog. Monitoring has occurred since 1989. Best winds are from the
East.
The site is manned 7 days a week for 4 months in the fall and 3 months in
the
spring. Parking is available at the site and special parking is available
for
the handicapped.
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: [PABIRDS] HSR: Waggoner's Gap (18 Oct 2004) 326 Raptors
From: reports(AT)HAWKCOUNT.ORG
Date: 18 Oct 2004 8:02pm
Waggoner's Gap Hawkwatch
Pennsylvania, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 18, 2004
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
BV 6 31 31
TV 52 618 618
OS 3 65 449
BE 1 27 135
NH 1 43 134
SS 168 2354 4125
CH 29 320 573
NG 0 5 6
RS 5 32 46
BW 0 24 4074
RT 55 514 730
RL 0 0 0
GE 2 14 14
AK 1 36 248
ML 1 24 35
PG 0 29 39
UR 2 60 110
Total: 326 4196 11367
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Observation start time: 07:00:00
Observation end time: 16:30:00
Total observation time: 9.5 hours
Official Counter: Dave Grove
Observers: Craig Houston, Joe Lavella, Mark Scarff, Ron Freed
Visitors:
Judy Scarff, Pat Freed, Charlie Albin,Joan Renninger, Ralph Geuder,Shorty
Lowe, Hamilton Street Elementary Environmental Club(Carlisle) 22 students,
7 adults. 15
Weather:
Sunny early with thickening clouds, light variable winds becoming S
Observations:
BE at 1:50. GE at 10:13 and 11:48
Monarchs 3. RHWP 1.
========================================================================
Report submitted by dave grove (waggap(AT)pa.net)
Waggoner's Gap Hawkwatch information may be found at:
http://user.pa.net/~waggap/
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