Eastern PA Birdline: 5/23/2014

  • RBA
  • Pennsylvania
  • Lehigh / Northampton Counties and Vicinity
  • May 23, 2014
  • PAEA1405.23

  • Birds mentioned

GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH

SWAINSON’S WARBLER (3rd Northampton County record)

RED-THROATED LOON

PHILADELPHIA VIREO

OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER

ALDER FLYCATCHER

MOURNING WARBLER

PROTHONOTARY WARBLER

  • Transcript

Hotline: Eastern PA Birdline Date: May 23rd at 6:00 AM To Report by E-Mail: Send tobecard@rcn.comwith “Birdline” in subject heading. Compiler: Dave DeReamus

My reporting area includes all of Lehigh and Northampton Counties with the northern edge of the area reaching Beltzville State Park and the southern edge reaching Peace Valley Park in Bucks County. Updates are typically done every Friday, more often when necessary.

You can visit the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society Website at http://www.lvaudubon.org/.

You can visit my 'Eastern PA Birding' Website for photos and information at http://users.rcn.com/becard/home.html.

There will be a field trip to Brady’s Lake in Monroe County on May 25th. Meet at the Kmart parking lot in Wind Gap, just north of the Route 512 exit off Route 33 at 6:30 AM. Trip leader will be Adam Smith.

There will also be a field trip to the Delaware Water Gap and Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge on May 31st. Meet at the Kmart parking lot in Wind Gap, just north of the Route 512 exit off Route 33 at 6:30 AM. Trip leader will be Terry Master.

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”. A completely revised, 2nd edition of the book can be ordered at: http://www.lvaudubon.org/shop/.

NOW FOR THE BIRDS!

Sightings from BEAR SWAMP, Northampton County: GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSHES – 2 on 5/19 and 5/20 SWAINSON’S WARBLER – 1 on 5/18 and 5/19. Also Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Acadian Flycatcher, Swainson’s Thrush, and Tennessee Warbler.

Sightings from BELTZVILLE STATE PARK, Carbon County: RED-THROATED LOONS – 3 on 5/16 PHILADELPHIA VIREO – 1 on 5/17.

Sightings from LEASER LAKE, Lehigh County: RED-THROATED LOON – 1 from 5/16 to 5/18. Also Red-breasted Merganser.

Sightings from LEHIGH FURNACE GAP, Lehigh County: OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER – 1 on 5/21 ALDER FLYCATCHER – 1 on 5/21. Also Black-billed and Yellow-billed Cuckoo, and Hooded, Cape May, Tennessee, and Bay-breasted Warbler.

Sightings from the FOGELSVILLE area, Lehigh County: Dunlin – 1 on 5/16 and 5/17 (at the Nestle Way retention pond).

Sightings from PEACE VALLEY PARK, Bucks County: MOURNING WARBLER – 1 on 5/15. PROTHONOTARY WARBLER – continued this past week. Also Common Merganser, Common Loon, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Black-billed Cuckoo, Blue-headed Vireo, and Swainson’s Thrush.

  • End transcript

Eastern PA Birdline - 2014 May 16

- RBA
* Pennsylvania
* Lehigh / Northampton Counties and Vicinity
* May 16, 2014
* PAEA1405.16

- Birds mentioned

GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH

AMERICAN BITTERN

ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER

MOURNING WARBLER

OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER

BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON

YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT

KIRTLAND’S WARBLER (probable)

PROTHONOTARY WARBLER

- Transcript

Hotline: Eastern PA Birdline
Date: May 16th at 5:00 AM
To Report by E-Mail: Send tobecard@rcn.com with “Birdline” in subject heading.
Compiler: Dave DeReamus

My reporting area includes all of Lehigh and Northampton Counties with the northern edge of the area reaching Beltzville State Park and the southern edge reaching Peace Valley Park in Bucks County.  Updates are typically done every Friday, more often when necessary.

You can visit the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society Website at http://www.lvaudubon.org/ .

You can visit my 'Eastern PA Birding' Website for photos and information at http://users.rcn.com/becard/home.html .

There will be a field trip to Leaser Lake on May 17th  Meet at the Tilghman Square parking lot, near the Red Robin restaurant, just west of Route 309 at 6:30 AM.  Trip leader will be Fritz Brock.

There will also be a field trip to Penn Forest Township in Carbon County on May 18.th  Meet at the Tilghman Square parking lot, near the Red Robin restaurant, just west of Route 309 at 6:30 AM.  Trip leader will be Adam Smith.

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”.  A completely revised, 2nd edition of the book can be ordered at: http://www.lvaudubon.org/shop/ .

NOW FOR THE BIRDS!

Sightings from UPPER MOUNT BETHEL TOWNSHIP, Northampton County:

Along National Park Drive:

20 warbler species.

Along Fox Gap Road:

GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH – 1 on 5/10.

Along School Road:

AMERICAN BITTERN – 1 on 5/10.

Also Common Nighthawk.

Sightings from LAKE MINSI, Northampton County:

Red-breasted Merganser – 1 on 5/10.

Sightings from BEAR SWAMP, Northampton County:

ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER – 1 on 5/9

MOURNING WARBLER – 1 on 5/10.

Sightings from PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP RECREATION TRAIL, Northampton County:

21 warbler species.

Sightings from LOWER NAZARETH TOWNSHIP, Northampton County:

At a flooded field along Route 191 north of Route 946:

Bonaparte’s Gull – 1 on 5/10

Wilson’s Snipe – 1 on 5/10

Dunlin – 1 on 5/9.

Sightings from the GREEN POND area, Northampton County:

White-rumped Sandpiper – 1 on 5/14.

Also Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, and Solitary, Spotted, and Least Sandpiper.

Sightings from the BETHLEHEM area, Northampton County:

Peregrine Falcons – 2 during this past week.

Sightings from MOORE TOWNSHIP, Northampton County:

American Pipits – 26 on 5/10 (along Schlegel Road).

Sightings from BELTZVILLE STATE PARK, Carbon County:

OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER – 1 on 5/9.

Sightings from LEASER LAKE, Lehigh County:

Red-breasted Merganser – 1 on 5/12

BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON – 1 on 5/10

YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT – 1 on 5/11.

Also Horned Grebe, Black-billed and Yellow-billed Cuckoo, and 21 additional warbler species.

Sightings from the HAAFSVILLE area, Lehigh County:

Semipalmated Plover, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, and Solitary and Least Sandpiper.

Sightings from the JORDAN CREEK PARKWAY, Lehigh County:

KIRTLAND’S WARBLER – 1 on 5/10 (probable; heard only).

Unfortunately, the bird was never positively verified.

Sightings from WALKING PURCHASE PARK, Lehigh County:

15 warbler species.

Sightings from PEACE VALLEY PARK, Bucks County:

Ruddy Duck – 1 to 5/10
Double-crested Cormorants - 93 on 5/9

PROTHONOTARY WARBLER – 2 seen during this past week.
Also Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Common Nighthawk, Eastern Wood Pewee, Winter Wren, Cerulean Warbler, and 23 additional warbler species.

Cliff and Bank Swallow, Swainson's Thrush, Orchard Oriole, and many other arrivals were reported from several sites this past week.

- End transcript

Pennsylvania Migration Count

Common Yellowthroat

Common Yellowthroat

What is the Pennsylvania Migration Count?

The Pennsylvania Migration Count (PAMC) was established to gather annual data on migratory bird populations, and to help answer some fundamental questions regarding their distribution throughout Pennsylvania. PAMC is an annual one-day snapshot of bird populations within our state attempting to answer which species are present, where are they and how many there are? Detecting the changes in population will help give us an early warning of possible declines and it is hoped that steps can be taken toward assisting their future survival.

How does it work?

The Pennsylvania Migration Count takes place each spring on the second Saturday in May, in conjunction with International Migratory Bird Day. PAMC is similar to the Christmas Bird Count (CBC). The difference is that PAMC takes place on a countywide basis, rather than within the confines of a CBC circle. The rules are simple: spend some time in the field counting all birds encountered in a specified area, and keep track of miles traveled and time spent counting. Participants are free to roam their favorite county birding locales at any time during the 24 hour period, starting at 12:01am, counting every bird that they find. Totals are passed along to county compilers, who, in turn, report to the state compiler. The state compiler maintains the PAMC data, and an annual report is published in Pennsylvania Birds, the journal of the Pennsylvania Society for Ornithology (PSO).*When did it start? The Pennsylvania Migration Count originated as part of the continent-wide North American Migration Count (NAMC) in 1992, when there were 141 observers in 10 Pennsylvania counties. The count grew steadily in popularity in PA over the years, and was renamed PAMC in 2003, reflective of the fact that the national count was struggling everywhere but in Pennsylvania. Last year 903 observers from 53 counties participated in the PAMC. They counted 120 birds of 238 different species in over 2932 field hours. This year there are already more counties committed while we are always looking for more people to help. This year has us up to 59 counties committed out of the 67 in the state.

How can you help?

Birders of all skill levels can help out with the count. Beginning at midnight with the songs of the Whip-poor-wills and the hooting of the Great Horned Owls, the PAMC is a great way to spend time outside. Whether you tally birds in your backyard, at your feeders, the local little league ball field, along the river, on a lake, at your camp or spend time hiking through a state park, your observations count. Forms and information for PAMC participation are available from your county compiler, or go online at www.pabirds.org/PAMC/Index.html Data can be submitted via e-mail or post. If participating or for more information, please contact the county compiler first, to avoid duplicate submissions from the same area. If no compiler, contact PSO@PABIRDS.ORG for submission or assistance. You are always welcome to enter your own information on www.ebird.org, a free & public site, for submissions by the general public. This contributes valuable information that is used to track trends of birding population and distribution. This site allows you to keep track of your own sightings where ever you go and see what else is being seen in your area.

Warbler Season

I like it under the Rt.33 bridge. Yellow-throated Warbler  (c) Scott Burnet

I like it under the Rt.33 bridge. Yellow-throated Warbler  (c) Scott Burnet

For anyone wondering if it is worth it to join any of our many outings in May, here's a vote for yes. While we have had Yellow-rumped Warblers, Palm Warblers, and Pine Warblers around for a while it gets more and more interesting as gems like these start to show up.