PENNSYLVANIA BIRDS Volume 21, No. 1 Dec 2006 - Feb 2007 Issued July 2007 Seasonal Editors PENNSYLVANIA BIRDS Daniel Brauning Journal of the Pennsylvania Society for Ornithology Michael Fialkovich Greg Grove Volume 21 Number 1 Dec 2006- Feb 2007 Deuane Hoffman Nick Pulcinella - Editor-in-chief (610) 696-0687 [email protected] Department Editors http://www.pabirds.org Book Reviews Gene Wilhelm, Ph.D. 513 Kelly Blvd. Slippery Rock 16057-1145 724-794-2434 [email protected] Contents CBC Report Nick Bolgiano 1 Editorial 711 W. Foster Ave. State College, PA 16801 2 2006-07 Christmas Bird Count in Pennsylvania. ..Nicholas C. Bolgiano 814-234-2746 21 Pittsburgh’s Winter of Gulls. Mike Fialkovich and Geoff R. Malosh [email protected] 26 First Record of Scott’s Oriole for Pennsylvania. Tom Johnson Hawk Watch Reports 27 Western Kingbird - Berks County.. Holly Hartshorne Lindsay Zemba Keith Bildstein 29 The 2007 Winter Raptor Survey in Pennsylvania. Greg Grove 410 Summer Valley Rd. 34 Pennsylvania 2006 Bird Lists Report. Peter Robinson Orwigsburg, PA 17961 570-943-3411 40 Summary of the Season - December 2006 - February 2007.. Greg Grove [email protected] 42 Birds of Note - December 2006 - February 2007 PAMC 44 Photo Highlights Bill Etter 1030 Old Bethlehem Road 48 Local Notes Apt#2 70 Photo Quiz #15 Answer............................... Rick Wiltraut Perkasie, PA 18944 (215)-258-0229 Photo Quiz #16 - Inside back cover [email protected] Pennsylvania Birdlists Peter Robinson P. O. Box 482 Hanover, PA 17331 [email protected] Photo-Quiz Rick Wiltraut Jacobsburg EE Center 835 Jacobsburg Road Wind Gap, PA 18091 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] Cover: Scott’s Oriole (Icterus parisorum). This very popular and cooperative bird thrilled many observers during its stay in Mechanicsburg, Cumberland. It was a first state record and one of a very few for eastern North America. Photographed here 28 March 2007 (Cameron Rutt). from the Editor... Correction We apologize to Cameron Rutt for publishing the incorrect photo and caption for Figure 3 of his fine article on Greater White- fronted Geese in the Fall issue. The correct information is as follows. Nick Pulcinella Editor-in-Chief Figure 3. Here, the stubby orange bill, limited white “front,” and the darker brown coloration especially on the head make this individual a very likely candidate for flavirostris. (2/9/2006 Hershey, Dauphin County, PA © Tom Johnson) Now Available! The PSO Hat! (Beige top, dark green bill) And The Annotated List of the Birds of Pennsylvania Second Edition A publication of the Ornithological Technical Committee of the Pennsylvania Biological Survey. Lists all of the accepted species for Pennsylvania plus an appendix of other species reported but not accepted. Bar graphs of occurrence throughout the year and physiographic regions. Lists all of the records for rarities. The hat is only $23 and the Annotated List is $7 (postage included) Order from: PSO, 2469 Hammertown Rd., Narvon, PA 17555 www.pabirds.org PENNSYLVANIA BIRDS (ISSN 0898-8501) is published four times a year by The Pennsylvania Society for Ornithology. Editorial and business offices are located at 2469 Hammertown Road, Narvon, PA 17555-9730. Subscriptions, all in US$: One year U.S.A. $28.50, Canada $40, Foreign $45. Library rate $30. Single copies:, $5.50. Checks and money orders in U.S.$ only should be made payable to PSO. Copyright © 2007 by The Pennsylvania Society for Ornithology. SECOND CLASS POSTAGE PAID AT NARVON, PA 17555 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to PSO, 2469 Hammertown Road, Narvon, PA 17555-9726. PENNSYLVANIA BIRDS 1 2007 - VOLUME 21 NO. 1 The 2006-07 Christmas Bird Count in Pennsylvania Nicholas C. Bolgiano The Christmas Bird Count Southern Lancaster County White-eyed Vireo (CBC) was held for the 107th time once again remained the top site for Tree Swallow during December 14, 2006 to species total with 111, the highest Northern Rough-winged Swallow January 5, 2007. The Pennsylvania such total at a Pennsylvania site Swainson’s Thrush Varied Thrush highlight was the record-busting since 1998. Delaware County’s total Cape May Warbler statewide species tally of 179. The was close behind with 110 species. Black-throated Blue Warbler previous high of 169 species was Harrisburg and Southern Bucks Black-and-white Warbler recorded in 1984; the average over County followed with 104 and Ovenbird the last 20 years has been 157. An Elverson was fifth with 100. Butler Lark Sparrow additional six count-week species County, Central Bucks County, were reported. There were unusually Lititz, Lancaster, Newville, and The two new species for the high numbers of vagrants and less- Upper Bucks County rounded out Pennsylvania CBC were Barrow’s hardy birds. There were no signs of the top 10. Southeastern Goldeneye, with 3 at any irruptions. Pennsylvania sites usually comprise Chambersburg, and Prairie Falcon In this report, I generally omit this list, but periodically a western at Newville. The falcon was likely subspecies, hybrids, exotics, sp., and site is included; this year Butler one that has been observed there count-week species. When I cite a County ranked sixth. Figure 1 shows during the last several years; it has year, I refer to it by the year in a map of site species totals. been speculated that it is a falconer’s which Christmas occurs; the 107th escapee. count is referred to as occurring in Top 10 Sites A list of rarely observed species, 2006. the site where observed, and the 1. Southern Lancaster County 111 number of previous Pennsylvania Weather and Effort 2. Delaware County 110 CBC reports is shown in Table 1. 3. Harrisburg 104 Following last year’s remarkable The weather in the early winter Southern Bucks County 104 finding of 125 Northern Rough- period was more like fall, as 5. Elverson 100 winged Swallow at the Pennypack December averaged 5-9 degrees 6. Butler County 91 Valley water treatment plant, 84 were tallied this year. This total ranks third Fahrenheit warmer than normal Central Bucks County 91 among North American sites, other high statewide (Weather World, 1/03/07). Lititz 91 counts being from Central America, the The occurrence of so many unusual 9. Lancaster 86 Gulf Coast, and the southwestern U.S. birds was undoubtedly related to the 10.Newville 85 Count-week species were warm temperatures. Upper Bucks County 85 American White Pelican at Upper Reports were received from 67 Bucks County, Purple Sandpiper and Pennsylvania sites, one fewer than Hits and Misses Dunlin at Erie, Thayer’s Gull at last year. The 5626 party-hours were Lebanon County, Western Kingbird at slightly more than last year’s effort. A “hit” is a species found in Elverson, and Painted Bunting at 2006 that was unexpected (recorded Emporium. Except for Dunlin, these are After 43 years, last year was the end all rare species, with just 1-5 previous for the Raccoon Creek State Park in less than 40% of the years 1970- Pennsylvania count day reports. count. Bill Smith, the site compiler 2005). A “miss” is a species not found for the last 18 years, noted that too in 2006 on count day though Waterfowl and Other Water Birds many participants had retired from expected (recorded in more than 60% active birding. Curtin and Dingman’s of the years 1970-2005). Compared to Big waterfowl remained numerous. Ferry also didn’t report in 2006. past years, the number of hits (27) The 46,000 Snow Geese continued the However, two new counts began: was extraordinary and the number of trend since 1993 of generally good Buffalo Creek (distinct from Buffalo misses (1: Red Crossbill) was quite numbers. The Canada Goose tally of 153,000 was a slight drop-off from recent Creek Valley) and Western low. years. The single Greater White- Schuylkill County, with compilers fronted Goose was at West Chester, Larry Helgerman and Dave Kruel, Hits while a single Brant was at Southern respectively. Bucks County. The 14 Cackling Geese Bill Reid, who recently passed Ross’s Goose were reported from eight southeastern away, started the Southeastern Brant sites and Tunkhannock in the northeast. Bradford County count in 1950 and Barnacle Goose The 216 Mute Swans nearly matched Barrow’s Goldeneye last year’s high of 223, with 99 at the was its compiler for 57 years. Bill Red-necked Grebe will be missed. three Bucks County sites. Eared Grebe The 2977 American Black Ducks Only several compilers have had American Bittern were relatively few compared to other similar tenures. Bob Cook of Great Egret years. The 867 Ring-necked Ducks Elverson has coordinated that site Glossy Ibis and 1039 Hooded Mergansers were a over the same time span as Bill Reid Broad-winged Hawk return to good numbers after a one-year compiled. Within the last few years, Prairie Falcon slump. Erie again produced the most Ralph Bell handed over the Common Moorhen diving ducks, with nearly 11,000 scaup, Clarksville compiler duties after Sandhill Crane all three scoters, including 71 White- Lesser Yellowlegs compiling since 1958. winged Scoters, and 5897 Red- Least Sandpiper breasted Mergansers. The 3 Blue- Empid sp. winged Teal were at Harrisburg. Site and Species Numbers Ash-throated Flycatcher The numbers of four water bird PENNSYLVANIA BIRDS 2 2007 - VOLUME 21 NO. 1 Previous year of increases after the 2003 drop-off. Species Site Reports The 24 Merlins continued the good tallies of recent years. The 18 Peregrine Ross’s Goose Southern Bucks County 14 Falcons were a new high, 1 more than Eared Grebe Dallas Area 8 last year.