On Monday the temperatures dropped into the high teens and the wind blew and blew. Despite the spotlight the ports on the feeder kept freezing and I had to go to work. On Tuesday morning there was no sign of Mrs. Rufous and I suspected the worst. This morning the feeder was refilled and I drank cup after cup of coffee while waiting on the porch - nothing. Then just as I was about to leave a small bird perched on the clothesline. Mrs. Rufous had returned. Other Rufous Hummingbirds have been equally late in appearing but after Monday's weather I was really surprised that she remained on her night time perch until at least a half hour after sunrise. Perhaps she was pulling my chain?

Ward,

Is the Rufous sighting at Palmyra, and what would be a good time to view her?

Suchie

Ward, it seems likely that your little gal went into torpor for the night and she just slept late. It takes them a little while to get going from their torpid state.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nancy L Newfield
Casa Colibrí
Metairie, Louisiana USA
USDA Zone 9

Ward
It just blows me away that these little guys and gals can hang so tough

Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

Suchie, the hummingbird is at my house. You are welcome to try and see her although working out a time might be a bit difficult. Because of Christmas Bird Counts I only have two free days in the next three weeks - this Saturday and the Saturday after Christmas.

Nancy, I'm sure you are right. Today will be a good day for her with the temperatures in the low sixties. Maybe she'll find some insects among the rotting produce.

Ward,

Thank you for offering, but I don't want to intrude at your place. You have to post some pictures of her for our enjoyment. Hope she is handling all this rain well.

Good luck to both of you.

Suchie

That is as you choose. Vicki Wozniak a sporadic member of this forum will probably come to see her at about 7:30 AM on Saturday. Vicki has become a bigtime hummingbird gardener.

You don't carry you location on your posts Ward, so I have to ask...what state are you in???

Maryjane
W Ga
Zone 8a

Maryjane
Ward likes his anonimity LOL! But he is in New Jersey.

Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

Thanks Penny! Holy cow! He has hummers in NJ at THIS time of the year?


Maryjane
W Ga
Zone 8a

Yes, Ward has a little western winter visitor...a Rufous!

Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

When did she first show up, Ward? I haven't been logging into the forum much lately, so probably missed an earlier post.

I had to take my little feeders down maybe a week ago or so. They're glass, and it was getting below 26 degrees, even near the house, and they were starting to freeze. I guess that has ended my chances of seeing a Rufous. Rufous hummingbirds have been seen fairly frequently in western PA, but I guess I'm not going to be one of the lucky ones!

The bird was first seen on October 17, weeks earlier than any others that have shown up in this yard. Most of the records in the general area are in November. Perhaps it is significant that the other ones were hatch year birds and this one is an adult? The last of the Ruby-throats had finally pulled out the week before its arrival and the Rufous might have been among them for a while - I'll never know. This is also the only Rufous type that ever appeared while the garden was in full bloom. Other years the only thing left other than a full feeder was a few Mexican Bush Sages and Pineapple Sages. Why these hummingbirds have shown up here has been a subject of discussion among my birder friends. One of them thinks it is because the house and garden are in an open area and easily seen by passing hummingbirds. Like you that friend doesn't believe he will ever host one. He might have a point, but I put it down to one thing - dumb luck. Each one is likely to be the last one that ever appears here.

This morning the she was an early riser. While hanging the feeder and turning on the spotlight this morning in the predawn there was a chattery buzzing in my ear, a hungry Rufous. Perhaps it was because it was our first cloudless morning a quite a while and while the sun wasn't up its rays were leaking over the horizon and dimmly lighting the landscape.

I am so totally confused now it's not funny. It's been very cold in NJ, and possibly snowing, right?

Ok, let me back up because I'm pretty new to all this.

Which way does the migratory path run? N/S? E/W? It just blows my mind that with your weather you have hummers, yet this week it will be 70-78 every day here in Ga., and I have been Hummerless since Oct., lol.



(PS: That's not jealousy, just pure confusion.)

Maryjane
W Ga
Zone 8a

MaryJane,

If you think you're confused - well, join the club!

It's hard to say exactly what "normal" is for Rufous Hummingbirds, in particular, because there's clearly something going on with the migration patterns of at least a small portion of the population.

Rufous breeding grounds range from the very northern tip of California up the Pacific coast, in a broad belt covering the western halves of Oregon and Washington states, along with a substantial part of British Columbia and up into southern Alaska. The population also extends down into far eastern Washington and Oregon and the "finger" of Idaho and adjoining far western Montana.

Their primary wintering grounds are along the Pacific coast of Mexico from Arizona south and Baja California, and beginning about the latitude of the southern tip of Texas, they spread eastward in Mexico to the Gulf Coast. The bulk of the population apparently winters in what I would call "central" Mexico, about the latitude of the Yucatan Peninsula but in the "main" body of Mexico, for lack of a better word.

However, for more than fifty years, growing numbers of Rufous have begun wintering in the United States, primarily in the southeast, more particularly in Louisiana. They have been reported in every state in the lower 48, I believe, though obviously numbers are higher in the more temperate areas. These birds often return to the same wintering site for years (documented by banding). There are several theories about what's going on, and there's some evidence for each.

One theory is that hatch-year birds are migrating as usual to Mexico, but for some reason, either unable to find suitable territory for wintering, or whatever, are then heading northeastward to the southeast U.S., aided by increasingly milder winters. This area in turn often becomes their "normal" wintering grounds for the remainder of their lives. In support of this theory is the fact that adult returnee Rufous often show up here by August (implying a direct migratory flight from the northwest) while immature birds often aren't seen in numbers until much later - often October or November.

Another theory holds that the Rufous have been here all along (in smaller numbers) and that people are now noticing them more because more hummingbird enthusiasts are maintaining feeders all winter. We do know that there are many people who don't realize that the occasional hummingbird they see in the winter isn't one of their local birds that forgot to migrate, but more likely an entirely different species from another part of the country.

There's some evidence that some of these wintering hummingbirds are just plain lost - when something like a Green-breasted Mango (rare even at the southernmost parts of Texas, normally found from the Yucatan Peninsula and southward) turns up in the upper Midwest in winter, it's clearly off-course and not staking out new winter digs. That's another theory of how the Rufous winter population began - lost birds which survived the mild winters and returned in subsequent years.

Tied into that theory is the idea that migratory path/tendencies can be influenced both by genetics and by successful wintering off-course, both of which have been documented in other species. It's been shown with certain sparrows, for instance, that offspring normally migrate to the same wintering grounds as their parents. Moving the offspring at the end of their first winter to another, far distant site resulted in the birds returning to their breeding grounds, and then going back to their original winter spots. But birds moved to a distant location upon their arrival at the "normal" wintering grounds seemed to imprint (for lack of a better word) on the alternate winter site, and not only returned there in subsequent winters, but so did THEIR offspring.

It's harder to prove this, of course, with hummingbirds because it's hard to band young birds while they're still in the company of their mothers - by the time they're flying about, she's largely turned them loose to be on their own. But it suggests interesting possibilities - namely, that as more Rufous survive the winter in the U.S. and return to successfully breed, they may be creating a local population, somewhere, that mostly migrates to the southern U.S. However, since very few winter-banded hummingbirds (of any species) have ever been recovered on their breeding territories, it's still a lot of guesswork.

And of course, there are exceptions - one Rufous banded here in Louisiana was found dead a year or so later on its "normal" wintering grounds in Mexico. The person who found it noticed the band and figured out where to report it.

So you can see why we say we're confused. Ward's Rufous may well have gone almost due east from its breeding area to end up in New Jersey, even though the bulk of the population normally heads almost due south or slightly southeast. All I can say is, we recommend to people who want to see a winter hummingbird to plant as many late-blooming good hummingbird plants as they can, and keep feeders up through the winter. It may not guarantee a winter bird, but if you don't have anything for it to feed on, if one shows up, it's certainly not going to stay around!

Kevin Morgan
Baton Rouge, LA

Maryjane, we were taught that migrations of birds followed a north<->south route, but that ain't necessarily so. Different species use different strategies and yes, different individuals of the same species may also employ different routes. These differences have led me to study migratory paths for the last 30 years.

Rufous Hummingbirds apparently use a number of strategies. From their breeding grounds in the Pacific Northwest, western Canada, and southeastern Alaska, these hardy birds are the long distance travellers of their family. While the majority of their kin fly south along the ridges of the Rocky Mountains in late summer, others wing their way eastward and make a big right turn to go southward through the Great Lakes region. Yet other members of the species come south through the Midwest. We have evidence to support an east<->west migration for some individuals as well. The majority of the population spends the non-breeding season in the mountains of southern Mexico, but a notable number winter in the southeastern states, especially southeastern Louisiana. These birds are capable of incredible journeys.

When I first encountered Rufous Hummingbirds in winter in Louisiana, they were considered to be vagrants, that is birds that had gone astray that would likely never be able to return to their natal range. It was thought that most of these vagabonds would perish in cold weather. Our winters were indeed much colder in the 1970s and a few Rufous succumbed to inclement temperatures. However, returns of individuals for up to 8 years tell us that the birds are hardier than was previously thought.

Nearly all birds will pioneer new territories and hummingbirds are not exceptions. The Rufous that Ward is hosting may well be testing the limits of endurance. I know that the responsibility of hosting a wintering hummer weighs heavily on Ward.

There are hundreds of hummingbirds throughout the southeastern states right now. Rufous comprise the bulk of the winterers, but I believe that 15 or 16 species have been documented to successfully winter in the Gulf Coast region. I am currently hosting 4 species and I know that another 4 or 5 species are present in Louisiana at this time. It is possible for you to attract one of more of these too. Just keep your feeders up and keep the faith.

May the blessings of this Holiday Season be with you and yours!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nancy L Newfield
Casa Colibrí
Metairie, Louisiana USA
USDA Zone 9

Kevin and Nancy, thank you both for such wonderful, informative posts! I see where you're both coming from...this is a subject nobody can be certain about because the birds themselves aren't on a "certain" course.

I still learned a lot though, thank you both!

Maryjane
W Ga
Zone 8a

Maryjane,

If any thanks are due, they're due to Nancy - she's taught me pretty much everything I know about hummingbirds. I sometimes jump in with answers because I'm online when a question comes up, but if there's any value in what I write, it's due to her teaching. (Mistakes, however, I cheerfully claim as my own!).

Kevin Morgan
Baton Rouge, LA

Ward congratulation! Isn't this the one the bander ran out of bands for? Thankfully it's a rufous because in my opinion the are the hardiest north american hummer. I think South America has a few hardy ones that hang out in Tierra del Fuego and Patagonia.

Hopefully he made your CBC list!

sarah merion station, Pennsylvania zone 6B

We really don't know what route Rufous Hummingbirds take to reach the east coast. While a direct west to east route sounds logical it does not take into consideration conditions across much of that route in fall. By mid October much of the western end of the route is already well into late fall so I don't know where they would feed. It is believed that most of western birds arrive here on the prevailing west winds. But those birds are all nocturnal migrants and often fly quite high in the wee hours of the morning. In October and November there is a pattern of birds like Ash-throated Flycatcher getting caught up in southern low pressure systems and landing here. None of this explains western hummingbirds since they fly at lower levels and during the day. Presumably if the weather is really bad they set down and so do not suffer the same kind of displacement.

As I have mentioned before, Rufous Hummingbirds here in NJ are a very recent phenomenon, the first less than 20 years ago. These days no experienced birder bats an eye at a report. Few areas in North America have as deep an ornithological history as the Philadelphia area and prior to 1990 there were only two reports that were rejected. Maybe the feeder craze explains the change, since feeders bring birds into yards where they are easily seen and sustain birds long after the landscape can no longer do so.

Ward I think it is great you have your little visitor.

I have been outside working today and found David 'verity' and a red salvia blooming. They are protceted from the cold. Sure will I could catch a hummingbird at them. I have two feeders ready just in case I have a little visitor.

Would you believe that I have daffodils sprouting. Some are about an inch. Checking some pictures I can have them blooming by the end of January.

Dianne
Southeast Alabama
Heat Zone 8
Sunset Zone 31

A little update on hummingbirds in New Jersey. Including the September one there have been 7, two of them definite Rufous and rest Rufous/Allen's. It is a better season than I thought unless you happen to be one of the birds.

Ward,

How has the hummer been coping with all the freezing rain and snow?

Suchie

I'd be up a tree clamping clear plastic over an area and down to the ground on two sides...then place a heavy duty extension cord with a space heater plugged in under the plastic..but that's me. I always have to go off the deep end where animals are concerned, lol. No way could I stand to live there and watch them go through that. Don't know how you stand it!

(I've even been known to dig up sea turtle eggs and transplant them due to construction.)



Maryjane
W Ga
Zone 8a

I didn't see Mrs. Rufous this morning. This doesn't particularly concern me because it happens pretty regularly on cloudy damp days. One day she will be gone, but not today I think.

Out about 75 feet from the back porch there is a kind of hedgerow at the limit of the yard. In the row is a lot of forsythia. And beyond that is the veggi/nectar garden that grows on my neighbors land. Most of the time in bad weather the hummingbird shelters low in the bushes and from there makes short trips to the feeder. She is being a well behaved neighbor to the other birds. She doesn't chase around alot, but husbands her energy. She feeds about once every half hour or so. She seems to be OK, at least for now. She buzzes up like a fat bumblebee and lands on the clothesline where the feeder hangs and flexes her muscles - stong is how she looks. I'm not sure where she goes at night, probably into the various spruces, white pines and douglas firs that were planted some 40 years ago. It will take a many days long winter blast and a frozen feeder to finally kill her. There is even a chance she might make it all the way through to spring, a small chance.

Ward I subscribe to the Pa listserve and your club always has RBA alert on wednsday night put out by Steve Kacir and he only mentioned a rufous in Cape May Here is the whole transcript

RBA

* PA, NJ, DE
* Delaware Valley: Southeast PA, Central/Southern NJ & DE
* PADV0812.17
* December 17, 2008

- Birds Mentioned

Eared Grebe (possible) (NJ)+
Barnacle Goose (NJ)+
Black Guillemot (NJ)+
Rufous Hummingbird (NJ)+
Gambel's White-crowned Sparrow (PA)+
(NJ)+ (Details requested by NJBRC)
(PA)+ (Details requested by PORC)
(DE)+ (Details requested by DERC)
Red-throated Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Northern Gannet
Little Blue Heron
Greater White-fronted Goose
Ross's Goose
Canada Goose
Cackling Goose
Tundra Swan
Mandarin Duck
Eurasian Wigeon
Canvasback
Redhead
King Eider
Common Eider
Harlequin Duck
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Common Goldeneye
Rough-legged Hawk
Golden Eagle
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Wild Turkey
American Avocet
Marbled Godwit
Red Knot
Purple Sandpiper
Long-billed Dowitcher
Bonaparte's Gull
Iceland Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Glaucous Gull
Razorbill
Snowy Owl
Long-eared Owl
Short-eared Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Eastern Phoebe
Northern Shrike
Common Raven
Horned Lark
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
American Pipit
Orange-crowned Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Pine Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Lark Sparrow
Ipswich Sparrow
Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow
Lapland Longspur
Snow Bunting
Rusty Blackbird
Red Crossbill
White-winged Crossbill
Pine Siskin

- Transcript

Hotline: Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert
Email reports to: rba@dvoc.org
Compilers: Steve Kacir & Win Shafer
-- Delaware Valley Ornithological Club
Phone: (215) 240-7547
URL: http://www.dvoc.org/RBA/Current/Active/Index.htm

Welcome to the Dec 17, 2008 edition of the Delaware Valley Rare
Bird Alert, a service provided by the joint efforts of the Academy
of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley
Ornithological Club (DVOC), covering the Delaware Valley Region of
Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

I'm Steve Kacir your guide for birding in the Greater Philadelphia
Region. This week, we highlight reports of BARNACLE GOOSE in
Hunterdon County, NJ; BLACK GUILLEMOT in Monmouth County, NJ;
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD in Cape May County, NJ and GAMBEL'S WHITE-
CROWNED SPARROW in Bucks County, PA. Remember to check out our
website for additional content and information:
http://www.dvoc.org/RBA/Current/Active/Index.htm
--------------------------------------------------------------
FOR NEW JERSEY:

Cape May County:
Two female RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS were reportedly at 711 New England
Rd on Dec 13, and one was still there on Dec 15. A flock of nearly
250 RED KNOTS were at the Two Mile Beach Unit of Cape May NWR on
Dec 13, and a LITTLE BLUE HERON was at the Coast Guard Ponds on
Ocean Dr that day. A KING EIDER and COMMON EIDER were south of
Cape May Inlet on Dec 14, and PURPLE SANDPIPERS were at the inlet.
A LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER and SALTMARSH SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS were in
the marshes off Ocean Dr that day. Two SHORT-EARED OWLS were at
Jake's Landing on Dec 15. Two MARBLED GODWITS were at Townsend's
Inlet on Dec 12. Notable sightings from the Avalon Sea Watch this
week included 2 RAZORBILLS and a RED-NECKED GREBE on Dec 15, 7
RAZORBILLS and a HARLEQUIN DUCK on Dec 14, single KING EIDERS on
Dec 12 & Dec 14 and a RED-NECKED GREBE, SNOW BUNTING and ICELAND
GULL on Dec 12. Other birds seen at the sea watch this week
included NORTHERN GANNETS, RED-THROATED LOONS, HORNED GREBES,
TUNDRA SWANS, COMMON GOLDENEYES, WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, COMMON
EIDERS and BONAPARTE'S GULLS.

Ocean County:
Island Beach State Park had SNOW BUNTINGS and HORNED GREBES on Dec
10, and the nature center's feeders had attracted a NASHVILLE
WARBLER on Dec 13. Recent reports from Barnegat Lighthouse State
Park noted HARLEQUIN DUCKS, WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, COMMON EIDERS,
PURPLE SANDPIPERS, SNOW BUNTINGS and IPSWICH SPARROW. A first
winter drake KING EIDER was reported there on Dec 10. On Dec 13, a
tour of the Barnegat Bay marshes turned up 4 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS
seen at Cedar Run Dock Rd, Manahawkin and the Dock Rd/Dock St area.

Monmouth County:
A BLACK GUILLEMOT was photographed off B-Lot at Sandy Hook on Dec
14. On Dec 13, over 100 SNOW BUNTINGS were at Sandy Hook, and
there were PINE SISKINS and an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER that was near
the salt pond at the end of the locust grove. A BLACK GUILLEMOT
was photographed at Shark River Inlet on Dec 15. A SNOWY OWL was
seen at the Shark River Inlet area through Dec 13, and other birds
in that area included a PURPLE SANDPIPER and SNOW BUNTINGS. The
EURASIAN WIGEON was still at Belmar's Silver Lake through Dec 15.
A possible EARED GREBE, COMMON GOLDENEYES and TUNDRA SWANS were
reported from Harvey Cedars on Dec 10. On Dec 13, a LESSER BLACK-
BACKED GULL was on the beach at the Deal Pavilion area. PURPLE
SANDPIPERS and a GLAUCOUS GULL were at Manasquan Inlet on Dec 15.

Burlington County:
Whitesbog had 120-130 TUNDRA SWANS on Dec 14.

Gloucester County:
On Dec 12, a drake CANVASBACK was at Riverwinds, and an EASTERN
PHOEBE was at the Wiggins Pond area of Greenwich Twp. The National
Park cove area had a CANVASBACK and a pair of REDHEADS on Dec 15.

Middlesex County:
An ICELAND GULL was spotted at Skelley Field off College Farm Rd on
the Cook Campus of Rutgers-New Brunswick on Dec 15. A LESSER
BLACK-BACKED GULL was at Donaldson Park in Highland Park on Dec 15.

Mercer County:
Highlights from the Princeton Christmas Bird Count included a
ROSS'S GOOSE at Aqueduct Pond in Princeton, 3 CACKLING GEESE, a
BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER at the Delaware & Raritan Canal towpath
near Princeton, 2 PINE WARBLERS and a RED-THROATED LOON that was on
Colonial Lake off Business Route 1.

Hunterdon County:
The Califon BARNACLE GOOSE was still in the area through Dec 12.
On Dec 10, the BARNACLE GOOSE was in a field near a day care center
along with a CACKLING GOOSE. A CACKLING GOOSE was on Spruce Run
Reservoir that day.

NJ Extralimitals:
A LARK SPARROW was discovered at Station Park in Sparta, and a
NORTHERN SHRIKE was at a brushy field on the east side of Gorney Rd
in Lafayette during the Sussex Count Christmas Bird Count on Dec
14.
--------------------------------------------------------------
FOR DELAWARE:

New Castle County:
On Dec 14, an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was discovered at the
footbridge over the brushy swale by the Hockessin Athletic Club's
swimming complex.

Kent County:
Recent sightings from Bombay Hook NWR included TUNDRA SWAN,
CACKLING GOOSE, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, AMERICAN AVOCET, AMERICAN PIPIT,
LAPLAND LONGSPUR and SNOW BUNTING.
--------------------------------------------------------------
FOR PENNSYLVANIA:

Chester County:
A flock of 6 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS was spotted at the Chester
County section of Lake Octoraro on Dec 14. The ROSS'S GOOSE at the
Coatesville Reservoir was reported as recently as Dec 16. Three
MERLINS were at the reservoir on Dec 11 & Dec 17, and a CACKLING
GOOSE was there Dec 16-17. Coatesville Reservoir had 3 PINE
WARBLERS on Dec 17. That day, a feeder in Coatesville attracted 25
PINE SISKINS. On Dec 11, a CANVASBACK was at Marsh Creek, and a
RED-NECKED GREBE was there on Dec 16. Chambers Lake had TUNDRA
SWANS and 4 BONAPARTE'S GULLS on Dec 10, and a MANDARIN DUCK was
there on Dec 16. LONG-EARED OWLS were seen near Struble Lake. A
SHORT-EARED OWL was at Doe Run on Dec 16.

Montgomery County:
A BRANT loafed with the CANADA GEESE at the Church Rd area of Green
Lane Reservoir on Dec 13. On Dec 10, two PINE SISKINS visited a
feeder in Lansdale. An EASTERN PHOEBE was near Morris Arboretum at
the Wissahickon Watershed on Dec 15. A RUSTY BLACKBIRD was at
Memorial Park in Pottstown on Dec 16.

Bucks County:
On Dec 11, the "Powerboat Cove" area of the Tullytown Landfill had
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, 5 ICELAND GULLS and a GLAUCOUS GULL. On
Dec 13, the HORNED LARK flock was seen at the vacant Lot #5 of the
business park just outside the entrance to Warminster Community.
Park. LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were reported from the Churchville
Nature Center this week. On Dec 9, a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE
was at Peace Valley Park, and the GAMBEL'S WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW
was at Sailor's Point. Other recent sightings from the park
included CACKLING GOOSE and LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS. A PEREGRINE
FALCON was at Lower Makefield Community Park on Dec 16. Thirteen
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were at Core Creek Park on Dec 17.

Northampton County:
A NORTHERN SHRIKE visited the eastern end of the upper part of the
lower fields at the Koch Property on Dec 12. Another probable
NORTHERN SHRIKE was reported from private property in Hellertown,
and has been seen there through Dec 14.

Lehigh County:
The GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was on Dorney Pond on Dec 11. A
SNOWY OWL was reported from Lehigh Valley International Airport on
Dec 12, but please note that due to security around the airport
this bird is not in a location where birders would be welcome. We
would not recommend attempting to locate this bird, and only note
it here as a noteworthy regional record.

Schuylkill County:
Sweet Arrow Lake had 18 WILD TURKEYS on Dec 14.

Berks County:
A WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL was at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary on Dec 14.
On Dec 15, Hawk Mountain's Hawk Watch reported a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK
and 5 GOLDEN EAGLES. RED CROSSBILLS were heard from the Blue Marsh
National Recreation Area's Sensory Trail on Dec 11, and a MERLIN
was at Blue Marsh on Dec 12.

Lancaster County:
The most recent report of the NASHVILLE WARBLER in Peach Bottom was
on Dec 16. The Southern Lancaster Christmas Bird Count (CBC) took
place on Dec 14, and the NASHVILLE WARBLER was observed during the
count. Other highlights from that CBC included CACKLING GOOSE,
ICELAND GULL, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, MERLIN, NORTHERN SAW-WHET
OWLS and PINE SISKINS as well as the WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS
mentioned in the Chester County section of the RBA. On Dec 14, a
NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW was at the Washington Boro water
treatment facility, and a RED-THROATED LOON was on he Susquehanna
near the Blue Rock Rd boat launch.

Lebanon County:
The Second Mountain Hawk Watch reported a MERLIN and 13 PINE
SISKINS on Dec 12, seventy PINE SISKINS on Dec 15, and COMMON
RAVENS on Dec 13 & Dec 15. On Dec 14, the Second Mountain Hawk
Watch reported 25-30 SNOW BUNTINGS.

Carbon County:
A WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL and a NORTHERN SHRIKE were spotted at
Beltzville State Park on Dec 14 during the Wild Creek Christmas
Bird Count, and other highlights from the count included NORTHERN
SAW-WHET OWL, LONG-EARED OWL, RUSTY BLACKBIRDS that were at Strohl
Valley Rd and over 200 PINE SISKINS. On Dec 11, Beltzville State
Park had a COMMON LOON, a hen BLACK SCOTER, a LONG-TAILED DUCK and
8 COMMON GOLDENEYES.
--------------------------------------------------------------
ANNOUNCEMENTS:

The next meeting of the DVOC will take place at 7:30pm on Thursday
Dec 18 at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, PA. The
main program of the meeting features the club's annual Photo
Contest. The first meeting of 2009 will be the Annual Members
Meeting on Jan 8, 2009 at the Academy. More details are available
on-line at http://www.dvoc.org and guests are always welcome.

CLOSING ANNOUNCEMENT for EDWIN B FORSYTHE NWR:
Deer hunting season has arrived at Edwin B Forsythe NWR's
Brigantine Division Wildlife Drive. On December 15-19, two thirds
of the Wildlife Drive will be open. On these dates, visitors may
continue to use the Akers Woodland Trail, Gull Pond Road, and the
Wildlife Drive up to the north dike/cross dike junction. Traffic
on the Wildlife Drive will be two-way during this period. Please
obey signs and drive on the right-hand side of the road. The
Songbird Trail and back end of the Drive, from the point where the
north dike and the cross dike meet through refuge uplands to the
exit, will be closed to all visitors during the hunt. To offset
any inconvenience this partial closure may cause, the refuge
entrance fee will be waived during the five-day period. For
additional information, call 609-652-1665.

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@dvoc.org. This is Steve
Kacir, good birding to you all and thanks for calling, surfing and
reporting.

- End Transcript

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

sarah merion station, Pennsylvania zone 6B

In the NJ Birders there was a report of two. fem Rufous at one feeder this past week , and an overwintering Ruby all in Cape May.

Zone 6b New Jersey

visit my hummer garden at http://www.picturetrail.com/stephennj

Thanks for the update. I am hoping she weathers this evening's storm well and then it starts warming (sort of) next week.

Good luck!

Suchie