PENNSYLVANIA BIRDS IETY F OC O S R O A I R N N A I T V H Volume 27, No. 2 L O Y S L Mar - May 2013 O N G N Y E Issued October 2013 P PENNSYLVANIA BIRDS Seasonal Editors Journal of the Pennsylvania Society for Ornithology Daniel Brauning Michael Fialkovich Volume 27 Number 2 Mar 2013- May 2013 Greg Grove Geoff Malosh Geoff Malosh, Editor-in-chief 450 Amherst Avenue Department Editors Moon Township, PA 15108-2654 Book Reviews (412) 735-3128 [email protected] Gene Wilhelm, Ph.D. 513 Kelly Blvd. http://www.pabirds.org Slippery Rock, PA 16057-1145 (724) 794-2434 [email protected] CBC Report Nick Bolgiano 711 W. Foster Ave. State College, PA 16801 Contents (814) 234-2746 [email protected] 77 Editorial Hawk Watch Reports Laurie Goodrich 78 Bahama Woodstar in Lancaster County Keith Bildstein 410 Summer Valley Rd. .. Scott Weidensaul and Sandy Lockerman Orwigsburg, PA 17961 80 Raptor Migration Summary – Spring 2013.. Laurie Goodrich (570) 943-3411 [email protected] 83 Record-breaking gulls in Erie County, March 2013. Geoff Malosh [email protected] 86 Sedge Wrens successfully breed in Montgomery County in 2012.. Paul Driver PAMC 87 Book Review – Second Atlas of Breeding Birds in Pennsylvania Franklin Haas 2469 Hammertown Road .. Gene Wilhelm Narvon, PA 17555 [email protected] 89 Summary of the Season.. Mike Fialkovich 91 Birds of Note – March 2013 to May 2013 John Fedak 26 Race Street 95 Photographic Highlights Bradford, PA 16701 [email protected] 100 Local Notes Pennsylvania Birdlists 142 Suggestions to Contributors Peter Robinson P. O. Box 482 Hanover, PA 17331 In Focus … Inside Back Cover [email protected] Data Technician Wendy Jo Shemansky 41 Walkertown Hill Rd. Daisytown, PA 15427 [email protected] Publication Manager Franklin Haas 2469 Hammertown Rd. Narvon, PA 17555 [email protected] Photo Editor Amy Davis 129 W. Lancaster Ave. #2 Downingtown, PA 19335 [email protected] Cover: Bahama Woodstar (Calliphlox evelynae). One of the most extraordinary birds ever to appear in Pennsylvania, this adult male Bahama Woodstar inexplicably appeared at a feeder in Denver, Lancaster 20-24 April 2013 (here 23 April). If accepted as a natural vagrant, it would represent the first record for Pennsylvania, and just the fourth for the North American mainland and first outside of Florida. (Meredith Lombard) ... from the Editor Three new county compilers have past six years. These are Butler, Pennsylvania Birds has a very stepped up to the plate since the last Cameron, Columbia, Elk, Lawrence, specific style that is easy to learn and update in this space. Debra Grim is McKean, Montour, Northumberland, follow, and an editorial staff that is the new compiler for Huntingdon, and Potter, Union, Tioga , and Warren. willing to help out with suggestions on her first report appears in this issue. Some of these are fairly heavily birded, writing style and content. Debra takes over for Greg Grove, who with local bird clubs operating in the If you think this describes you and currently serves as the Winter Season immediate vicinity—surely there are you have interest in compiling one of Editor, Winter Raptor Survey PSO members in these areas willing to the vacant counties, please contact the coordinator and compiler, and co- contribute to the journal. editor. compiler for Mifflin. Greg will be Successful compilers have the keeping all of these positions and following skills: punctuality, good leaves Huntingdon in capable hands. writing skills, ability to follow Thanks very much to Greg for his instructions, punctuality, a working Geoff Malosh continued efforts and to Debra for knowledge of birdlife in their county (or Editor contributing as a compiler and giving a willingness to learn), punctuality, an Greg some much needed help! eagerness to contribute to the official Ramsay Koury has decided to record of birdlife in Pennsylvania, move on from compiling for Perry. punctuality, and punctuality. Ramsay came aboard as Perry compiler in 2010 shortly after his election to the United States Postal Service PSO Board of Directors in the same Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation year. PSO extends its thanks to 1. Publication Title: Pennsylvania Birds 2. Publication Number 2905 Ramsay for his three years on the 3. Filing Date 09/03/2013 board and for his service as Perry 4. Issue Frequency Quarterly 5. Number of Issues Published Annually 4 compiler. I personally want to thank 6. Annual Subscription Price $30 Ramsay as well, for the many helpful 7. Complete Mailing Address of Known Office of Publication: 2469 Hammertown Rd, Narvon, Lancaster, Pa 17555-9730; Contact Person Franklin Haas; Telephone 717-445-9609 thoughts and constructive feedback on 8. Complete Mailing Address of Headquarters or General Business Office of Publisher: 2469 Hammertown Rd, Narvon, Pennsylvania Birds that has shared Lancaster, Pa 17555-9730 9. Full Names and Complete Mailing Addresses of Publisher, Editor, and Managing Editor with me over the years. Stepping into Publisher: Pennsylvania Society for Ornithology, 2469 Hammertown Rd, Narvon, Lancaster, Pa 17555-9730 Editor: Pennsylvania Society for Ornithology, 2469 Hammertown Rd, Narvon, Lancaster, Pa 17555-9730 his place for Perry is Vern Gauthier, Managing Editor: Pennsylvania Society for Ornithology, 2469 Hammertown Rd, Narvon, Lancaster, Pa 17555- the current (and continuing) compiler 9730 10. Owner: Pennsylvania Society for Ornithology, 2469 Hammertown Rd, Narvon, Lancaster, Pa 17555-9730 for Cumberland. Vern is now one of five 11. Known Bondholders, Mortgagees, and Other Security Holders Owning or Holding 1 Percent or More of Total Amount of compilers to handle two counties— Bonds, Mortgages, or Other Securities. If none, check box: X None 14. Issue Date for Circulation Data Below 07/30/2013 thanks Vern! Average No. Lastly, David Eberly has turned No. Copies 15. Extent and Nature of Circulation Copies Published the compiling for Delaware over to During Nearest to Preceding Brian Quindlen. David became Filing Date 12 Months Delaware compiler in 2008, shortly a. Total Number of Copies (Net Press Run) 517 538 after I myself came aboard as editor, Paid/Requested Outside-County (1) Mail Subscriptions Stated on PS 437 421 and took the Delaware duties off of Form 3541. b. Paid Paid In-County Subscriptions Doris McGovern’s hands, who had been Circulation (2) 17 19 Stated on PS Form 3541. doing the hard work of holding down (3) Sales Through Dealers, etc. 0 0 both Delaware and Philadelphia for (4) Other Classes 3 3 c. Total Paid Distribution (Sum of 15b (1), (2), (3), (4)) 457 433 some time. David picked up right (1) Outside-County 0 0 d. Free or (2) In-County 0 0 where Doris left off and ensured there Nominal Rate (3) Other Classes 0 0 Distribution was no interruption to the continuity of (4) Outside the mail 8 8 quality reporting out of Delaware. e. Total Free Distribution (Sum of 15d (1), (2), (3), and (4)) 8 8 f. Total Distribution (Sum of 15c and 15e) 465 451 David is also assisting Brian with the g. Copies Not Distributed 52 87 transition, so we can be sure the best h. Total (Sum of 15f and 15g) 517 538 i. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation 98 98 traditions of reporting in this significant county in Pennsylvania 16. Publication of Statement of Ownership Publication required. Will be printed in the Vol 27 No.2 issue of this publication (October 2013). birding history will be carried forward. 17. Signature and Title of Editor, Publisher, Business Manager, or Owner Date Thanks David and Brian! Franklin C. Haas, Treasurer, 09/03/2013 I certify that all information furnished on this form is true and complete. I understand that anyone who furnishes false or At the same time, the number of misleading information on this form or who omits material or information requested on the form may be subject to criminal counties without a compiler has sanctions (including fines and imprisonment) and/or civil sanctions (including civil penalties). reached 12, the highest number in the PENNSYLVANIA BIRDS (ISSN 0898-8501) is published four times a year by The Pennsylvania Society for Ornithology. Editorial and business offices are located at 2469 Hammertown Road, Narvon, PA 17555-9730. Subscriptions, all in US$: One year U.S.A $30, Canada $48, Foreign $60. Library rate $33. Single copies: $9. Checks and money orders in U.S. dollars only should be made payable to PSO. Copyright © 2012 by the Pennsylvania Society for Ornithology. SECOND CLASS POSTAGE PAID AT NARVON, PA 17555 and additional entry offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to PSO, 2469 Hammertown Road, Narvon, PA 17555-9726. PENNSYLVANIA BIRDS 77 2013 – VOLUME 27 NO. 2 Bahama Woodstar (Calliphlox evelynae) in Lancaster County Scott Weidensaul and Sandy Lockerman Perhaps the most extraordinary for an adult male woodstar. It had a it an unlikely causative factor, and unlike Pennsylvania rarity in decades—a slightly decurved bill, pink-violet gorget, western Selasphorus hummingbirds, a Bahama Woodstar in Lancaster County deeply forked tail with very short, green tropical genus like Calliphlox would seem 20-24 April 2013—was also a cautionary R1 feathers and extensive rufous on the poorly equipped to have survived the very tale in the dangers of seeing what one R2-4 rectrices. A prominent patch of cold winter of 2012-13, although the expects to see. rufous was visible under each wing. ability of most hummingbird genera to On 22 April, Weidensaul received an Underparts were dark greenish suffused undergo torpor is untested. email from Ruth Witmer of Denver, with rufous, and separated from the A review of cruise company websites Pennsylvania with photographs of what gorget by a white collar. suggests that the nearest port at which she believed was a Broad-tailed Measurements were also consistent cruise ships from the Bahamas routinely Hummingbird, which had appeared two with the limited data available on dock is Baltimore, some 115 km distant.