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11 Mar Hawkwatch at Presque Isle for March 11, 2010 [Jerry McWilliams ] 11 Mar Anyone have information on Johnstown Snowy Owl? [Andrew Wicks ] 11 Mar Look for peregrines...Now ["Kate St.John" ] 11 Mar Eastern Phoebe, Schuylkill Co. [Denise Donmoyer ] 11 Mar Fox sparrow/Columbia Co. [Sandra Goodwin ] 11 Mar Grackles, too, in NE PA [Sandra Ward Povse ] 11 Mar Grackles [John Kerry Flannigan Jr ] 11 Mar Snow Geese & Tundra Swans along I-78 east of Harrisburg [Ryan Tomazin ] 11 Mar Turkey Vultures - Allegheny County ["Berchin, Andrew D." ] 11 Mar Killdeer and Red-Winged Blackbirds-Clearfield County [Rick & Marianne Atkinson ] 10 Mar Barred Owl, North Park, Allegheny Co. [Nature Center ] 10 Mar Mystery Sonagram #1 [Andrew Albright ] 10 Mar HSR: Tussey Mountain (10 Mar 2010) 47 Raptors ["Hawkcount.Org Reports" ] 10 Mar BELTZVILLE LAKE, FRANKLIN TWP; CARBON [David Hawk ] 10 Mar Wednesday Birding Group, Middle Creek, Lancaster & Lebanon Co. [Chuck Chalfant ] 10 Mar E.Towhee and Woodcock (Ind. co.) [Marcy Cunkelman ] 10 Mar Black Swamp - Lawrence Co. [Steve Gosser ] 10 Mar Marsh Creek State Park - Chester County ["Barry E. Blust" ] 10 Mar Central PA Birdline for 3.11.2010 [Mark Mcconaughy ] 10 Mar Re: NO- White-fronted Geese at Chambers [Joe Sebastiani ] 10 Mar Allegheny County, Wexford, Killdeer [Karyn Delaney ] 10 Mar Boyce Mayview Park Allegheny County [Jeff McDonald ] 10 Mar Delaware Valley RBA, 10 MARCH 2010 [Stephen Kacir ] 10 Mar Amd pond wash co/ Boyce allegheny [Shawn Collins ] 10 Mar Killdeer return to Hampton Park; 03/10/2020; Allegheny County [Richard Nugent ] 10 Mar Blue Marsh, Berks County [Joan Silagy ] 10 Mar Hawkwatch at Presque Isle on March 10, 2010 [Jerry McWilliams ] 10 Mar RBA western Pennsylvania, 8 March 2010 [Amy Taracido ] 10 Mar Allegheny River, Allegheny Co. [Carole Borek ] 10 Mar Re: Middle Creek must be empty... [Bob Fowles ] 10 Mar Red-winged Blackbirds [Amy Henrici ] 10 Mar Middle Creek must be empty... ["JSkinner AT epix.net" ] 10 Mar Ross' Goose (Middle Creek WMA)- yes 03/09 [Dan Snell ] 10 Mar Blue Marsh, Berks County [Joan Silagy ] 10 Mar Gettysburg: Bluebirds back on suet today! [Jenny McClintock ] 10 Mar Migration patterns on a small scale? [Kerry Grim ] 10 Mar Millville and Jerseytown, Columbia Co. [Sandra Goodwin ] 10 Mar Luzerne Co. snow geese and killdeer [Sandra Goodwin ] 10 Mar Rough-legged hawk, Berks County [Joan Silagy ] 10 Mar Fox Sparrow [Kerry Grim ] 10 Mar Crawford Co. Snowy Owl Update [Thomas Nicolls ] 10 Mar Re: Time to watch peregrines in Pittsburgh [Rick & Marianne Atkinson ] 10 Mar Belated Weekend Report - Lehigh County ["Hopkins,Jeffrey A." ] 10 Mar NO- White-fronted Geese at Chambers [Rick Robinson ] 10 Mar Time to watch peregrines in Pittsburgh ["Kate St.John" ] 10 Mar Heisey Rd Woodcocks/Franklin [Bob Keener ] 10 Mar Chester Co: Rusty Blackbird, Woodcock, Barred Owl [Molly Daly ] 10 Mar Lehigh County, 3/9-Pileated Woodpecker, Brown Creeper, Golden-crowned Kinglet Walking Purchase Park [Sinkler's Mail ] 9 Mar Crayfish, popular food item [Meredith Lombard ] 9 Mar L. Ontelaunee, Berks [Rudolph Keller ] 9 Mar Belated report of Golden Eagle, Bradford Co [Trudy Gerlach ] 9 Mar Bald Eagle, Schuylkill Co. [Denise Donmoyer ] 9 Mar AMD Pond/ Washington Co [Dj Shawn ] 9 Mar SGL 145 Lebanon Co. Sandhill,Ross',woodcocks [Randy Miller ] 9 Mar Marsh Creek State Park - Chester County ["Barry E. Blust" ] 9 Mar FOY Red-winged Blackbird, Bradford Co. [Trudy Gerlach ] 9 Mar HSR: Tussey Mountain (09 Mar 2010) 62 Raptors ["Hawkcount.Org Reports" ] 9 Mar Yellow Creek State Park (Indiana County) [Marjorie Van Tassel ] 9 Mar Crooked Creek Lake/Dam (Armstrong County) [Marjorie Van Tassel ] 9 Mar Northampton County gulls [Adam Sabatine ] 9 Mar Video of the Shenango Lake Swans [Scott Kinzey ] 9 Mar The northern tier's perspective... ["JSkinner AT epix.net" ] 9 Mar Shenango Lake is Hopping [Scott Kinzey ] 9 Mar Crawford County Swans and Others [Scott Kinzey ] 9 Mar Re: crayfish in owl pellets [Joan Silagy ] 9 Mar Hawkwatch at Presque Isle for March 9, 2010 [Jerry McWilliams ] 9 Mar Wood Ducks, Redhead and more - Westtown Lake - Chester County [Douglas Kraemer ] 9 Mar Tundra Swans-Clearfield County [Rick & Marianne Atkinson ] 9 Mar Re: crayfish in owl pellets [Bob Schutsky ] 9 Mar Northern Shrike, waterfowl, Beltzville, Carbon County [Dustin Welch ] 9 Mar Re: Snow geese, Schuylkill Co. [Denise Donmoyer ] 9 Mar Tundra Swans-Long Arm Reservoir, York County [Bob Moul ] 9 Mar Fields around Chambers Lake, Chester County [Rick Robinson ] 9 Mar Tundra Swans moving, Columbia, Lancaster Co. [Meredith Lombard ] 9 Mar Tree Sparrow, Lancaster County [Pamela Fisher ] 9 Mar Greater White-fronted Geese at Chamber's Lake, Chester County:no [Pamela Fisher ] 9 Mar SGL 226 Near Millville, Columbia Co. ["Gross, Douglas" ] Subject: Hawkwatch at Presque Isle for March 11, 2010 From: Jerry McWilliams <jerrymcw AT AOL.COM> Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:44:23 -0500 Presque Isle Erie, Pennsylvania, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 11, 2010 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 16 16 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 0 0 0 Northern Harrier 0 0 0 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 2 2 Cooper's Hawk 1 3 3 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 3 3 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 0 21 21 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 1 1 1 Merlin 0 1 1 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 0 1 1 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 2 48 48 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 10:00:00 Observation end time: 12:30:00 Total observation time: 2.5 hours Official Counter: Jerry McWilliams Observers: Jerry McWilliams Visitors: Ross Hollenbeck assisted me with the count. Mark Lethaby and Bonnie Ginader stopped by for a few minutes Weather: Clear with a cold breeze off the lake Raptor Observations: Non-raptor Observations: Other than blackbirds, not much else moving. Non-rpator realted birds counted: Canada Goose--12, Killdeer--5, American Crow--27, Eastern Bluebird--1, American Robin--4, Red-winged Blackbird--117, Common Grackle--218 Predictions: It may be a carbon copy of today with cold air off the lake and almost no birds. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Jerry McWilliams (jerrymcw AT aol.com) information may be found at: http://www.presqueisle.org/audubon/ Jerry McWilliams Erie, Erie County, Pa. jerrymcw AT aol.comSubject: Anyone have information on Johnstown Snowy Owl? From: Andrew Wicks <awicks87 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:42:12 -0500 Hello all, I have just gotten wind of the observation of a snowy owl at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown campus. I've done online searches but can only determine that it has been spotted, but no information pertaining to its specific location. If anything was posted here I must have disregarding it thinking it was about the Crawford Co. owl. Does anybody know anything about this? I am a former student there and I live very close to campus. I would like to try and catch a glimpse of him or her. Thanks! Andrew Wicks -- Andrew Wicks Environmental Outreach Coordinator AmeriCorps Member Natural Biodiversity 501 15th Street, Suite B Windber, PA 15963 Phone: 814-509-6036 Fax: 814-509-6049 www.naturalbiodiversity.orgSubject: Look for peregrines...Now From: "Kate St.John" <kstjohn001 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 06:57:30 -0800 As I drove past the Pitt's Cathedral of Learning this morning I was reminded that it's very easy to find peregrines at this time of year. If you live near a potential nest site -- a cliff, a bridge, a building -- keep your eyes peeled and you'll see them. Here's an example: This morning I saw the male peregrine, E2, circling the Cathedral of Learning using his "flappy" territorial flight. This is a very noticeable wing action if you happen to be looking up. They flap a lot, bending their wings mid-wing instead of at the shoulder joint. Both male and female peregrines do this to attract attention and show other peregrines -- even from far away -- that the site is claimed. They WANT to be seen. If you do see a peregrine, report it to Art McMorris. He's keeping track of the peregrines in PA and might not know about the bird or location you saw. On March 2 Art posted info on how to contact him. From that post: call him at 610-664-2174 or email mcmorris (AT) mac.com. Kate St. John, Pittsburgh Visit my bird & nature blog at www.wqed.org/birdblogSubject: Eastern Phoebe, Schuylkill Co. From: Denise Donmoyer <nightowl57 AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:46:50 -0500 Sweet Arrow Lake 3/11 Eastern Phoebe Denise Donmoyer Sweet Arrow Lake Pine Grove, Schuylkill Co. nightowl57 AT verizon.netSubject: Fox sparrow/Columbia Co. From: Sandra Goodwin <chickadd AT PTD.NET> Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:32:36 -0500 Reported by Doug Gross March 11 Rohrsburg, Columbia Co. fox sparrow Sandy Goodwin Wyo. Co.Subject: Grackles, too, in NE PA From: Sandra Ward Povse <povses AT MARYU.MARYWOOD.EDU> Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:24:51 -0500 A few tentative grackles at the feeder this morning in Honesdale, Wayne CO, but noticed numerous small flocks of them in treetops along the way to work this morning. Male RWblackbirds stand out like lone black dots in the trees against the white snow background defining their territories around ponds and marshy areas. The surge is on! -- Sandra Ward Povse | Director, Art Galleries Marywood University | povses AT marywood.edu 2300 Adams Avenue | Scranton, PA 18509-1598 v: 570.348.6278 | f: 570.340.6023 www.marywood.edu/galleriesSubject: Grackles From: John Kerry Flannigan Jr <rublzrme AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:50:11 +0000 FOY grackles have arrived at backyard feeders. John South Park-Alleg CtySubject: Snow Geese & Tundra Swans along I-78 east of Harrisburg From: Ryan Tomazin <wvwarblers AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:33:59 -0500 Hello all, After an exhausting 23 hour there-and-back trip to NYC, I wanted to add to the migration fun, as I found it can be easily done from the highway at the right time of day. On the way to NYC, we saw 60-80 SNGO swarming above a field, and a mile or two up the road, had 40-60 TUSW in a field with some water. I hate to be so vague, but I have no idea what counties or townships that we were passing, as I have never been in this part of PA before. On the way home, we had skeins of many hundreds of SNGO passing over us on I-68 in New Jersey (awesome through the 'bird roof' of the car). At a stopover for dinner off an exit ramp in PA, had many dozen more. All I can tell you is that the exit had an old-fashioned diner and a Sunoco at it. This is the first time outside of Delaware that I have seen more than a couple of snow geese, so it was a real treat! Ryan Tomazin | Bridgeville, PA _________________________________________________________________ Your E-mail and More On-the-Go. Get Windows Live Hotmail Free. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/201469229/direct/01/Subject: Turkey Vultures - Allegheny County From: "Berchin, Andrew D." <ABerchin AT DUQLIGHT.COM> Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 06:53:47 -0500 Spring is finally here! Yes; yesterday afternoon I saw two turkey vultures gliding down the Ohio River in Allegheny County near Neville Island. It's nice to see the vultures and the sun again. Good birding, Andy Andy Berchin 2825 New Beaver Avenue Mail Drop - N6-E Pittsburgh, PA 15233 Tel: 412-393-7903 Cell: 412-779-1888Subject: Killdeer and Red-Winged Blackbirds-Clearfield County From: Rick & Marianne Atkinson <marianne5 AT WINDSTREAM.NET> Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 04:10:52 -0500 My FOY Killdeer and Red-Winged Blackbirds showed up yesterday while I was walking the dog. Yay! They finally made it to Clearfield County. 3 flocks of Canada geese of about 20, 30 and 75 flew over today, heading guess where, north! Marianne Atkinson DuBois Clearfield CountySubject: Barred Owl, North Park, Allegheny Co. From: Nature Center <latodami AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:45:02 -0800 Barred owl calling at Latodami Nature Center in North Park, Allegheny County on Tuesday, March 9 at 4 pm. Meg Scanlon Interpretive Naturalist Allegheny County Parks Department Latodami Environmental Education Center 575 Brown Road, Wexford, PA 15090 Telephone: 724-935-2170 Fax: 724-935-3099Subject: Mystery Sonagram #1 From: Andrew Albright <albrigh_1999 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:40:02 -0800 I'm not sure if this will be of interest to anyone, but I put together a
mystery sonogram from a recording I made in Philadelphia on March 1st. It took
me a while to figure out that these two sounds were from the same bird.
Spring is in the air, and many species are starting to set-up their
territories.
http://trash-birder.blogspot.com/2010/03/mystery-sonogram-1.html
I can post the actual audio clip in a few days.
Andrew Albright
Lafayette Hill, PA
albrigh_1999 AT yahoo.com
Subject: HSR: Tussey Mountain (10 Mar 2010) 47 RaptorsFrom: "Hawkcount.Org Reports" <reports AT HAWKCOUNT.ORG> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:03:32 -0400 Tussey Mountain State College, Pennsylvania, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 10, 2010 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 1 8 8 Turkey Vulture 4 33 34 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 0 11 11 Northern Harrier 1 2 2 Sharp-shinned Hawk 5 8 9 Cooper's Hawk 2 6 6 Northern Goshawk 0 2 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 2 15 15 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 8 83 85 Rough-legged Hawk 0 2 3 Golden Eagle 19 128 133 American Kestrel 3 4 4 Merlin 1 1 1 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 0 3 3 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 1 2 2 Total: 47 308 318 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 17:00:00 Total observation time: 9 hours Official Counter: Jon Kauffman Observers: Chuck Widmann, John Kahly, Jon Kauffman Visitors: John Kahly, Chuck Widmann, Chet Gottfried, Ramsey Koury, Matt Dallos, Jean & Craig Miller Weather: 100% cloud cover with a slight on and off drizzle for the first 4 hours. Then clearing to 25% for the remaining of the day. Winds SE AT 7-11 mph. Temps b/w 43 and 59F. Raptor Observations: First few GE's were eye-level and parallel to the south ridge. Thereafter majority were observed coming from behind the tower then turning off ridge to stone valley or leading ridge then heading NE. Today was the 6th consecutive day for double digits eagle days. This ties 2008. GE: 1100(Ad), 1151(Ad), 1151(Ad), 1215(Ad), 1225(Ad), 1300(Unk), 1308(Ad), 1311(Unk), 1330(Unk), 1337(Unk), 1339(Unk), 1400(Ad), 1400(Ad), 1403(Ad), 1430(Unk), 1443(Unk), 1447(Ad), 1509(Unk), 1511(Unk) 1st Juvenile RT and Merlin of the season. Non-raptor Observations: American Tree Sparrow(2), American Robin (12), Dark-eyed Junco(6) Canada Goose(2,921), Gull sp.(53), Ring-billed Gull(59), Herring Gull(10), Common Grackle(30), Red-winged Blackbird(180), Blackbird sp. (32), Tundra Swan(128), Killdeer(5), Northern Pintail(6), Eastern Phoebe(1), White-breasted Nuthatch(1), Eastern Bluebird(3) Predictions: Similar conditions as today, SE winds 5-10mph. Temps reaching the 50's ======================================================================== Report submitted by Jon Kauffman (jonk10 AT hotmail.com) Tussey Mountain information may be found at: http://ww2.lafayette.edu/~brandesd/tussey/Subject: BELTZVILLE LAKE, FRANKLIN TWP; CARBON From: David Hawk <finch AT PTD.NET> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:17:26 -0500 BIRDS SEEN TODAY: NORTHERN PINTAIL -28 GREEN-WINGED TEAL -36 REDHEAD -2 GADWALL AM. WIDGEON -12 WOOD DUCK - APPR. 50 HOODED MERG RING-NECKED COMMON MERG BUFFLEHEAD BLACK DUCK CHIPPING SPARROW IMM. BALD EAGLE (22 SIGHTING FOR THE YEAR) WOODCOCK FOX SPARROW TWICE, THE PAST WEEK I HAVE SEEN BALD EAGLE CARRYING NESTING MATERIAL TOWARDS THE RESERVIORS DAVID HAWK TOTRPRTLL finch AT ptd.netSubject: Wednesday Birding Group, Middle Creek, Lancaster & Lebanon Co. From: Chuck Chalfant <chuckchalfant AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:40:57 -0500 Greetings Pa. Birders,
March 10, 2010.
Middle Creek W.M.A.
No.Lancaster Co. Pa.
Temp. 36-50 deg.F.
Overcast most of morning
Time Birding 8:00--noon
Participants--17
With all of the snow cover over the winter, this was the Wednesday Birding
Groups first outing of the new year.
Most of the snow is now melted and there was plenty of open water at Middle
Creek which is attracting great
masses of Snow Geese once again. And it was nice to get out with the group once
again after the long winter.
Many thousands of Snow Geese on the lake and skein after skein flying back into
the lake, most of the Snow
Geese seemed to be returning to the lake after 8:00 am. from the west and
northwest. Not many Canada Geese
on the lake but there were many very high formations of Canada's in V formation
very determined to head north.
Kevin Johnson pointed out to us a single CACKLING GOOSE, (small form) that was
in a roosting flock on the
water just off of Willow Point, and Pam spotted a ROSS'S GOOSE, near the end of
a string of airborne Snow Geese
returning to the lake from Stop # 1 along Hopeland Road.
Other interesting sightings were 2 Red-bellied Woodpeckers having a territorial
struggle with a pair of Starlings over
a dead snag with many woodpecker holes in it. Prime nesting habitat for either
of these two species of course.
We were rooting for the woodpeckers.
Good numbers of Pintails, Am.Wigeon,Ring-necked, small numbers of Shoveler,
Wood Duck, Green-winged Teal,
and Ruddys, also one Pied-billed Grebe was spotted by Fern.
One adult Bald Eagle, was on the edge of the nest apparently tearing apart a
carcass of some sort, and it's apparent
nest mate was nearby on a perch.
But as usual at this time in March, the main show was the swirling masses of
white geese, flying over, lifting off and
settling down on the water and fields. We seem to never tire of this sight at
Middle Creek.
48--Bird Species
15--Species of waterfowl
No actual counting was done by me.
Snow Geese--Game Comm. # 120,000
CACKLING GOOSE
Canada Geese
Tundra Swan--Game Comm. # 2,300
Wood Duck
American Wigeon
Am.Black Duck
Mallard
No. Shoveler
No. Pintail
Green-wing Teal
Ring-neck Duck
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Pied-billed Grebe
Gr.Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Killdeer
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Mourning Dove
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
No. Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Blue Jay
Amer. Crow
Horned Lark
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
Eastern Bluebird
Amer. Robin
No. Mockingbird
Euro. Starling
Eastern Towhee
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
No. Cardinal
Red-winged blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Good birding, Chuck Chalfant
Happy Trails
Chuck Chalfant
Gap, Penna.
E.Lancaster Co.
chuckchalfant AT comcast.net
Subject: E.Towhee and Woodcock (Ind. co.)From: Marcy Cunkelman <plant4nature AT DISHMAIL.NET> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:24:09 -0500 Hi All, Well you can actually see some ground here...the snow is still slowly melting or evaporating...ground is wet, but there is not a lot of water sitting in the yard...pretty sloppy though if I went walking thru the yard... Lots of Common Grackles here this morning along with the RWBlackbirds.... Robins all over and heard many different sounds from them including their singing song...(report to Journey North) On the way to Blairsville, saw a TV soaring around... After running errands this afternoon, we had at least 1, but sounded like 2 towhees calling and singing...should be around tomorrow feeding along the driveway...this is early for returning...about 1-2 weeks...then about 6:40 heard the peent call several times and one flight thru the yard...right on time and maybe even a little late...much more open ground today thanks to the 60 degree temps compared to yesterday evening. Small flocks and pairs of C. Geese are flying over and last night right before dark saw a pair of "m r ducks" (sound it out... : >) I think Wood Ducks by the shape and size...Floodlands aren't up yet, but by the weekend, it could be filling up, if the rain comes... Think Dan and I are headed to Pittsburgh on Friday for our anniversary...doesn't sound like flooding yet...either the Home and Garden Show or the Aviary and Phipps...should we be looking for anything near these places? Looks like the Western part of the state is FINALLY beginning to see some things...see what might show up tomorrow... Marcy Cunkelman Conemaugh Twp. Clarksburg, PA Indiana Co. plant4nature AT dishmail.netSubject: Black Swamp - Lawrence Co. From: Steve Gosser <smgosser AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:44:13 -0500 I had the day off from work so I made my rounds today looking for the migrants coming through. I first stopped at Moraine State Park. Pretty much the entire lake is still completely frozen so there wasn't virtually nothing to see there. With hearing the report from Scott Kinzey, I made my way up to Shenango Reservoir. The place was still hopping with a great variety of waterfowl. I saw most of the same species he listed yesterday. At about 9:30am some of the Tundra Swans started to depart and by 10am they were all gone. I also counted 5 Bald Eagles here. I then stopped at Black Swamp. The far back corner of the lake was thawed out and had at least a hundred Ring-necked Ducks. I also saw several Gadwall, Northern Pintails, American Black Ducks and a couple Green Winged Teal. I also heard the call of a Killdeer. While I was watching a pair of Sandhill Cranes flew past too. Steve Gosser New Kensington, PA smgosser AT verizon.net ------------------ Birding Photo Site - http://home.comcast.net/~sgosserSubject: Marsh Creek State Park - Chester County From: "Barry E. Blust" <BarryBlust AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:11:01 -0500 I stopped again today at the lake. A good bit of ice has melted since yesterday so now the entire central area of the lake is open water. Just the extremities are still iced over to varying extents. The waterfowl numbers seemed down from yesterday but that could be because they are now more spread out. Here's the highlights/changes. - Common Mergs still plentiful - Green-winged Teal way up . at least 55 of them. - 3 American Wigeon that I did not see yesterday - 5 to 10 Fish Crows sounding off. - Fewer Bufflehead, Ring-necked Ducks, Black Ducks, Mallards & Hooded Mergs - No Ruddy Ducks Barry E. Blust 21 Rabbit Run Lane Glenmoore, PA Upper Uwchlan Township, Chester County BarryBlust AT comcast.netSubject: Central PA Birdline for 3.11.2010 From: Mark Mcconaughy <timetraveler50 AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:09:16 +0000 - RBA * Pennsylvania * Central Pennsylvania * March 11, 2010 * PACE1003.11 Bird Highlights GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (Lancaster Co.) ROSS'S GOOSE (Lancaster & Lebanon Cos.) SANDHILL CRANE (Lebanon Co.) NORTHERN SHRIKE (Carbon Co.) - Transcript Hotline: Central Pennsylvania Birdline March 11, 2010 To Report: TimeTraveler50 AT comcast.net Compiler: Mark A. McConaughy Coverage: Central Pennsylvania, Susquehanna River Drainage System Transcriber: Mark A. McConaughy Welcome to Pennsylvania Audubon's and the Patriot-News' Birdline. This Birdline covers sightings made primarily during the week prior to Thursday, March 11, 2010. BEDFORD/SOMERSET COUNTIES: Allegheny Front Hawk Watch reported counting 9 BLACK VULTURES, 12 TURKEY VULTURES, 4 COOPER'S HAWKS, 1 NORTHERN GOSHAWK, 7 RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, 12 RED-TAILED HAWKS, 1 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK and 7 GOLDEN EAGLES on March 9 (BG). BRADFORD COUNTY: A GOLDEN EAGLE was seen on March 4 flying over the Susquehanna River near Sugar Run (JP). CARBON COUNTY: A NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen on March 7 and 9 in a hedge row across from Pohopoco and Beltzville Drives (DA, DW). CENTRE COUNTY: Tussey Mountain Hawk Watch reported counting 7 BLACK VULTURES, 27 TURKEY VULTURES, 11 BALD EAGLES, 1 NORTHERN HARRIER, 3 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 4 COOPER'S HAWKS, 2 NORTHERN GOSHAWKS, 13 RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, 72 RED-TAILED HAWKS, 2 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, 106 GOLDEN EAGLES and 1 AMERICAN KESTREL between March 4 and 9 (JK, NB). A BALD EAGLE was sitting on its nest at Bald Eagle State Park on March 6 (MH). A flock of 45 TUNDRA SWANS flew over Toftrees on March 7 (NK). One ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was observed on March 8 along Williams Road in the Tusseyville area (MH). A probable MERLIN flew over the Verica's property on March 10 (JV). CLEARFIELD COUNTY: Around 200 TUNDRA SWANS flew over DuBois on March 9 (MA). COLUMBIA COUNTY: A RUFFED GROUSE was found on March 7 during a field trip to State Game Lands 226 near Millville (DGr, SG). FRANKLIN COUNTY: AMERICAN WOODCOCKS were displaying in the orchard along Heisey Road on March 10 (BK). HUNTINGDON COUNTY: An immature BALD EAGLE was seen on March 6 at the Aitch Boat Launch on Raystown Reservoir (BD). JUNIATA COUNTY: A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was observed on March 9 near Oakland Mills (P). LANCASTER COUNTY: Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area produced up to 2 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, 120,000 SNOW GEESE, 1 SNOWxROSS'S GOOSE HYBRID, 1 blue morph ROSS'S GOOSE, 2 CACKLING GEESE, 2300 TUNDRA SWANS, a wide variety of duck species and 3 BALD EAGLES between March 5 and 10 (DB, JB, RK, BC, ME, CG, SG, HE, DS, PA Game Commission). Also, 2 SHORT-EARED OWLS were observed near stop 3 on the tour road on the evenings of March 6 and 7 (ME). The tour road is now open around the lake at Middle Creek as of March 5 (RK). The ponds at Greenfield Estates yielded 1 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE and 9 CACKLING GEESE on March 7 (JB, DB). There was 1 NASHVILLE WARBLER at the Water Pollution Control Plant in Washington Boro on March 7 (JB, DB). Approximately 2500 TUNDRA SWANS were seen on March 9 flying over Columbia (ML). LEBANON COUNTY: There were 58 TUNDRA SWANS and other waterfowl at Memorial Lake on March 8 (RM). State Game Lands 145 produced thousands of SNOW GEESE, 1 ROSS'S GOOSE and 1 SANDHILL CRANE on March 9 (RM). LUZERNE COUNTY: Thousands of SNOW GEESE flew over Misericordia University in Dallas on March 10 (EJ). LYCOMING COUNTY: White Deer Ridge Hawk Watch counted 35 TURKEY VULTURES, 1 RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, 8 RED-TALED HAWKS, 1 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK and 6 GOLDEN EAGLES on March 7 (JY, ML). A GOLDEN EAGLE was seen flying along Bald Eagle Ridge on March 7 (JY, ML). Two separate flocks of SNOW GEESE flew over Warrensville on March 8 (RL). SNYDER COUNTY: There were 20 TUNDRA SWANS at Faylor Lake on March 7 (DG). SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY: A small flock of SNOW GEESE flew over the county on March 9 (JS). Thousands of SNOW GEESE flew over on March 10 (JS). YORK COUNTY: There were 21 TUNDRA SWANS on Long Arm Reservoir on March 9 (BM). CLOSING ANNOUNCEMENTS: If you miss the usual Thursday postings of the Central PA Birdline on BIRDEAST and PABIRDS, I will also be posting it on my page web site at: http://people.delphiforums.com/MCCONAUGHY/currentbl.htm *PORC = Pennsylvania Ornithological Record Committee. Rare bird sightings should be documented with written descriptions and photographs whenever possible and sent to PORC for review. Send PORC reports to Nick Pulcinella, 613 Howard Road, West Chester, PA 19380. The following people have contributed to this: Dan Altif (DA), Marianne Atkinson (MA), Nick Bolgiano (NB), Devin Bosler (DB), Justin Bosler (JB), Bruce Carl (BC), Barbara Dunn (BD), Mike Epler (ME), Howard Eskin (HE), Sandy Goodwin (SG), Bob Gorsuch (BG), Chet Gottfried (CG), Sue Gottfried (SG), Doug Gross (DGr), Deborah Grove (DG), Molly Heath (MH), Ed Johnson (EJ), Jon Kauffman (JK), Bob Keener (BK), Rudy Keller (RK), Nick Kerlin (NK), Meredith Lombard (ML), Rosemary Lunz (RL), Randy Miller (RM), Bob Moul (BM), Paul (P), Jason Petlock (JP), Jerry Skinner (JS), Dan Snell (DS), Joe Verica (JV), Dustin Welch (DW) and Joe Yoder (JY). I apologize if I have misspelled their names and I will also refrain from naming that person on request. -End Transcript ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mark A. McConaughy     TimeTraveler50 AT comcast.net Bushy Run Battlefield P.O. Box 486 Harrison City, PA 15636-0468     (724) 527-5585 x103 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Subject: Re: NO- White-fronted Geese at Chambers From: Joe Sebastiani <bunker17 AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:29:11 -0500 I was at Chambers Lake today with a group from the Delaware Nature Society. We did not see any White-fronted Geese, but with a flock of several hundred Canada Geese, we saw 4 or 5 geese that looked like a strange hybrid CanadaXDomestic Goose. They sort of looked a little like a Swan Goose with an elongated face and beak, but the head had more white like a Canada with expanded cheek patches. Also on the lake were lots of Ring-necked Ducks, a few Widgeon, Green-winged Teal, Ruddy Ducks, Hooded and Common Mergs. We also stopped at: Somerset Lake: Dozen Ring-necked Duck, dozen Ruddy Duck, 2 A. Coot, 1 Common Merg. Coatesville Reservoir: 2 Wood Duck, 4 Mallard, 3 Ring-necked Ducks, 3 Ruddy Ducks. Mostly ice. Struble Lake: Hundreds of Canada and Snow Geese, 12 Tundra Swan, 200+ Northern Pintail, 6 Shoveler, 2 Hooded Merganser, some Mallards and Common Mergs. Lots of Ring-necked Ducks Kurtz Fish Farm: 1 Canvasback, 100 + Ring-necked Ducks, several Common and Hooded Mergs, 10 Green-winged Teal, 30 American Widgeon, 4 Mute Swan, 1 Black Duck, 6 Northern Pintail. Sewage Treatment Plant at Fairview and Rt. 100 in Uwchland (sp?): 100+ Ring-necked Duck, 10 Northern Pintail, 1 Ruddy Duck, 10 Mallard, 4 Killdeer. Joe Sebastiani ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rick Robinson"Subject: Allegheny County, Wexford, Killdeer From: Karyn Delaney <kdelaney17 AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:57:47 -0500 The first Killdeer of the season was seen today on the Orchard Hill Church grounds near I-79 & Rt. 910 in Wexford. Generally 6-10 can be found on the grounds during the season. Karyn DelaneySubject: Boyce Mayview Park Allegheny County From: Jeff McDonald <JeffMcDsprfc7 AT AOL.COM> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:28:58 EST Went out this morning hoping to find some waterfowl. The ponds were still mostly frozen. Species observed Hooded Merganser 2 pairs Northern Pintail 1 pair Mallard Wood Duck Canada Goose Belted Kingfisher Great Blue Heron Killdeer Pileated Woodpecker Downey Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Red Belied Woodpecker Dark Eyed Junco Cardinal Robin Blue jay Crow Mockingbird Red winged Blackbird White Breasted Nuthatch Chickadee Titmouse European Starling Eastern Bluebird GoldfinchSubject: Delaware Valley RBA, 10 MARCH 2010 From: Stephen Kacir <rba AT DVOC.ORG> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:32:50 -0800 - RBA
* PA, NJ, DE
* Delaware Valley: Southeast PA, Central/Southern NJ & DE
* PADV1003.10
* March 10, 2010
- Birds Mentioned
Western Grebe (NJ)+
Common Teal (Eurasian Green-winged Teal) (DE)+
Gyrfalcon (PA)+ -Extralimital-
Loggerhead Shrike (DE)+
(NJ)+ (Details requested by NJBRC)
(PA)+ (Details requested by PORC)
(DE)+ (Details requested by DERC)
Red-throated Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Northern Gannet
Great Cormorant
Black-crowned Night-heron
Greater White-fronted Goose
Snow Goose
Ross's Goose X Snow Goose
Ross's Goose
Cackling Goose
Tundra Swan
Wood Duck
Eurasian Wigeon
Blue-winged Teal
Northern Pintail
Canvasback
Redhead
King Eider
Common Eider
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Common Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Red-shouldered Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
Golden Eagle
Peregrine Falcon
Ring-necked Pheasant
Sandhill Crane
Purple Sandpiper
American Woodcock
Laughing Gull
Black-headed Gull
Bonaparte's Gull
Iceland Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Forster's Tern
Razorbill
Snowy Owl
Barred Owl
Short-eared Owl
Pileated Woodpecker
Northern Shrike
Fish Crow
Common Raven
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown-headed Nuthatch
American Pipit
Nashville Warbler
Clay-colored Sparrow
Ipswich Sparrow
Lapland Longspur
Snow Bunting
Rusty Blackbird
Purple Finch
- Transcript
Hotline: Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert
Email reports to: rba AT dvoc.org
Compiler: Steve Kacir, Delaware Valley Ornithological Club
Phone: (215) 240-7547
Voice of the Delaware Valley RBA: Mike Lyman
URL: http://www.dvoc.org/RBA/Current/Active/Index.htm
Welcome to the March 10, 2010 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 WESTERN GREBE in Monmouth
County, NJ; COMMON TEALS (EURASIAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL) in Kent and
Sussex Counties, DE and LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE in Sussex County, DE.
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:
The immature drake KING EIDER was spotted from Poverty Beach through
March 7. A drake COMMON EIDER was seen at the St Mary's jetty on
March 6-7. At Cape May Point State Park, the drake REDHEAD and 2
drake EURASIAN WIGEONS were on Lighthouse Pond through March 6, and
the six TUNDRA SWANS were on the Bunker Pond through March 6 as well.
A LAUGHING GULL in NJ waters was spotted from the Cape May-Lewes Ferry
on March 8. That day, a dozen FORSTER'S TERNS were on the flats off
the Villas, and 170 BONAPARTE'S GULLS fed at a tidal pool. The
BLACK-HEADED GULL was south of the terns and BONAPARTE'S GULLS that
day. The BLACK-HEADED GULL spent some time off Elwood Ave in North
Cape May on March 6. Later it was seen with BONAPARTE'S GULLS
following a returning ferry at the Cape May-Lewes Ferry terminal. A
BLACK-HEADED GULL was at the northern bayshore of the Villas on March
8. A BRANT was the pond at The Villas WMA on March 6. Miami Beach at
the Villas had FORSTER'S TERNS and 2 LAUGHING GULLS on March 9. On
March 6, AMERICAN WOODCOCKS displayed at Kimbles Beach Rd and at The
Nature Conservancy Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge. On March 8, a
Harbor Seal was on the beach near the Convention Center in Cape May.
Beaver Swamp had a hen COMMON GOLDENEYE on March 9.
Cumberland County:
On March 7, a juvenile GOLDEN EAGLE and AMERICAN PIPITS were at Turkey
Point in the Glades Wildlife Refuge. That day, a dark morph
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK over Money Island was seen from Newport Landing Rd
that day. AMERICAN WOODCOCKS displayed at Turkey Point. On March 5,
fifty CANVASBACKS were on Delaware Bay off Bays Point.
Atlantic County:
Three IPSWICH SPARROWS were reported from the Brigantine Division of
Edwin B Forsythe NWR on March 7.
Ocean County:
Barnegat Lighthouse State Park had COMMON EIDERS through March 7, and
a WHITE-WINGED SCOTER was there on March 5. Other reports from
Barnegat Inlet included RED-THROATED LOON, GREAT CORMORANTS, BLACK
SCOTERS, SURF SCOTERS, HARLEQUIN DUCKS and PURPLE SANDPIPERS. Huddy
Park in Toms River had 8 CANVASBACKS. AMERICAN WOODCOCKS displayed at
Manahawkin WMA.
Monmouth County:
On March 9, the North Shore WESTERN GREBE was spotted off Marine Place
in Deal. The WESTERN GREBE was just north of Shark River Inlet on
March 6, and COMMON EIDERS were at the North Shore that day. On March
9, a RAZORBILL and 5 COMMON EIDERS were reported off Marine Ave.
Recent reports from Sandy Hook included HORNED GREBES, BARRED OWL,
BLACK SCOTERS, SURF SCOTERS, WHITE-WINGED SCOTER and Harbor Seals. On
March 5, the drake REDHEAD, a COMMON GOLDENEYE and RED-BREASTED
MERGANSER were seen from the boat launch at Assunpink WMA. A
RING-NECKED PHEASANT was at Assunpink on March 7.
Burlington County:
On March 5, two GREAT CORMORANTS at the Delaware River were spotted
from Palmyra Cove Nature Park. The waterfront at Florence had 9
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS and an ICELAND GULL, with the best birding
taking place at the exposed mud flats north of the turnpike bridge.
Gloucester County:
On March 5, the Pedricktown Marsh causeway, which is still closed to
vehicles, had 1350 NORTHERN PINTAILS.
Middlesex County:
On March 2, two SNOW BUNTINGS were at the Raritan Bay Waterfront Park
in South Amboy.
Mercer County:
An AMERICAN WOODCOCKS displayed in Princeton and Hamilton.
Hunterdon County:
On March 6, Spruce Run State Park had 24 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS.
That day, a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH was at Round Valley Reservoir.
Three PURPLE FINCHES visited a feeder in Kingwood Twp.
Warren County:
On March 4, Oberly Rd at the Alpha Grasslands had 10 SNOW BUNTINGS and
a LAPLAND LONGSPUR. On March 9, Merrill Creek Reservoir had over
100,000 SNOW GEESE, a REDHEAD, a LONG-TAILED DUCK and COMMON GOLDENEYES.
Morris County:
A drake EURASIAN WIGEON was at Mount Hope Lake in Rockaway Twp on
March 9-10. The old Hanover Airport had RUSTY BLACKBIRDS on March 6.
NJ Extralimitals:
The NORTHERN SHRIKE at DeKorte Park's Disposal Rd was reported as
recently as March 6.
--------------------------------------------------------------
FOR DELAWARE:
New Castle County:
Returning WOOD DUCKS were reported from the DuPont Environmental
Education Center and Dragon Run Park. A BLUE-WINGED TEAL was at
Dragon Run Park on March 7. South of Newark on Route 896, some
EGYPTIAN GEESE were seen near the north end of the University of
Delaware Agriculture Building. A RED-SHOULDERED HAWK caught a snake
at Harry's Pond in the Brandywine Town Center. On March 6, nearly
3,000 NORTHERN PINTAILS were at the Thousand Acre Marsh, and the
PEREGRINE FALCONS nesting under the Reedy Point Bridge snacked on a
cowbird. GREAT CORMORANTS were at the channel marker on the Delaware
River at Claymont.
Kent County:
A drake EURASIAN WIGEON was at the North Pond of Ted Harvey WA through
March 9. A third hand report mentioned COMMON TEAL (EURASIAN
GREEN-WINGED TEAL) at the North Pond on March 7. Several BONAPARTE'S
GULLS were at the North Pond of Ted Harvey on March 9. On March 9, a
GOLDEN EAGLE flew over Bear Swamp at Bombay Hook NWR. A PEREGRINE
FALCON was spotted at Little Creek WA on March 9.
Sussex County:
On March 5-6, a LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was at the end of Bennett's Pier Rd
in Milford Neck. On March 7, thirty-one TUNDRA SWANS flew over this
area. On March 4, a COMMON TEAL (EURASIAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL) was at
the last field on the north side of Broadkill Rd between the
impoundments and Prime Hook NWR's Refuge Entrance Rd. On March 9,
Prime Hook had 130 TUNDRA SWANS. On March 8, Indian River Inlet had
50 RED-THROATED LOONS, 30 COMMON LOONS, GREAT CORMORANTS, BLACK
SCOTERS, SURF SCOTERS, a COMMON EIDER, a BONAPARTE'S GULL, 15 PURPLE
SANDPIPERS and a Harbor Seal. Hundreds of CANVASBACKS were on Silver
Lake in Rehoboth, and AMERICAN WOODCOCKS displayed at Rehoboth Beach.
Thousands of SURF SCOTERS and BLACK SCOTERS rafted off the Cape
Henlopen Lighthouse Point overlook at Cape Henlopen State Park on
March 9. That day, BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES were at Cape Henlopen's
Youth Campground, and NORTHERN GANNETS were seen from the park. A
LAUGHING GULL was on the beach near Gordon's Pond on March 8. On
March 9, three AMERICAN WOODCOCKS displayed at Lee Meadow behind the
nature center at Abbott's Mill Nature Center.
--------------------------------------------------------------
FOR PENNSYLVANIA:
Chester County:
On March 8-9, Chambers Lake had six GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE.
Other birds at Chambers Lake included TUNDRA SWANS, CACKLING GOOSE,
COMMON GOLDENEYES and WOOD DUCKS. A CACKLING GOOSE was at Chambers
Lake on March 9. On March 9, Westtown Lake had a drake REDHEAD and
WOOD DUCKS.
Montgomery County:
On March 6, two COMMON RAVENS soared over the quarry on Route 309 near
the 309 Cinema. On March 6, four LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS and a FISH
CROW were at the Church Rd area of Green Lane Reservoir. Five WOOD
DUCKS were on Knight Lake that day. PURPLE FINCHES visited feeders in
Green Lane.
Bucks County:
A COMMON RAVEN flew over Route 663 near the PA Turnpike Interchange on
March 6. On March 3, two COMMON GOLDENEYES, an ICELAND GULL and a
PEREGRINE FALCON were spotted from the Morrisville Levee. Peace
Valley Park's Lake Galena has had as many as 584 COMMON MERGANSERS
through March 6. Peace Valley's high count for LESSER BLACK-BACKED
GULLS was 63 gulls on March 2. A BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was at
Silver Lake Park on March 7. Churchville Nature Center reported
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH and RUSTY BLACKBIRD.
Northampton County:
The CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was at the Koch property through March 7. A
GREAT CORMORANT was at the Martins Creek Quarry on March 7. On March
9, Lake Minsi had 8 BONAPARTE'S GULLS and 45 LESSER BLACK-BACKED
GULLS. Bear Swamp had AMERICAN WOODCOCK and PILEATED WOODPECKERS.
AMERICAN WOODCOCKS have been displaying in Plainfield Twp.
Lehigh County:
On March 3, a PEREGRINE FALCON was at the 8th St bridge in Allentown.
On March 7, a PEREGRINE FALCON was spotted from the Prairie Warbler
Trail at the Lehigh Gap Nature Center. On March 8, three LESSER
BLACK-BACKED GULLS were at Dorney Pond in Allentown.
Schuylkill County:
Sweet Arrow Lake had PILEATED WOODPECKER, FISH CROW and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH.
Berks County:
On March 10, a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was on a pole in Northern Heidelberg
Twp. A CACKLING GOOSE was at Lake Ontelaunee on March 6. On March 8,
Ontelaunee had 2 REDHEADS, 4 CANVASBACKS and 4 COMMON GOLDENEYES. A
ROSS'S GOOSE and a CACKLING GOOSE were at Lake Ontelaunee on March 9.
The high count for SNOW GEESE at Lake Ontelaunee was 12,000 geese on
March 9. Blue Marsh National Recreation Area had 8 TUNDRA SWANS on
March 10.
Lancaster County:
The wildlife drive at Middle Creek WMA is open, and the waterfowl
numbers are building. A possible blue morph ROSS'S GOOSE was at
Middle Creek on March 5 & 9. A probable ROSS'S GOOSE X SNOW GOOSE
hybrid was at Middle Creek on March 5-6. Two GREATER WHITE-FRONTED
GEESE and 3 drake REDHEADS were there on March 6. On March 5, Middle
Creek had 2 CACKLING GEESE. The March 9 high counts from Middle Creek
were 100,000 SNOW GEESE and around 2,000 TUNDRA SWANS. Two
SHORT-EARED OWLS were seen from Stop #3 on the tour loop on March 6-7.
Other sightings from Middle Creek included WOOD DUCKS, AMERICAN
WOODCOCKS, FISH CROW and AMERICAN PIPIT. The Greenfield Estates pond
attracted a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE and 8 CACKLING GEESE on March
7. That day, the NASHVILLE WARBLER was at the LASA Susquehanna Water
Pollution Control Plant in Washington Boro. Reports from the
Conejohela Flats mentioned TUNDRA SWANS and WOOD DUCKS. On March 9, a
flight of 2,500 TUNDRA SWANS flew over Columbia. An AMERICAN WOODCOCK
visited a yard in Holtwood on March 8.
Lebanon County:
The SANDHILL CRANE at Lake Duffy in SGL 145 was seen as recently as
March 9. That day, SGL 145 also had thousands of SNOW GEESE, a ROSS'S
GOOSE and AMERICAN WOODCOCKS. Memorial Lake State Park had COMMON
GOLDENEYE on March 7. On March 8, Memorial Lake had 58 TUNDRA SWANS.
That day, Mount Pleasant Rd had an AMERICAN PIPIT.
Carbon County:
On March 7-9, a NORTHERN SHRIKE was in a hedgerow across from Pohopoco
Dr and Beltzville Dr at Beltzville State Park. Other reports from
Beltzville included CANVASBACKS, RING-NECKED PHEASANT and RED-BREASTED
NUTHATCH.
PA Extralimitals:
On March 3, a GYRFALCON was reported from Butler County at Route 173
north of Slippery Rock. The Crawford County SNOWY OWL at the Miller
Farm (10734 Shadeland Rd, Springboro) was last reported on March 6 and
not seen since. A SNOWY OWL was reported from the Johnstown Campus of
the University of Pittsburgh on March 7. The drake HARLEQUIN DUCK was
reported from Presque Isle State Park in Erie County through March 7.
--------------------------------------------------------------
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
On March 13, Chris Walters will lead a DVOC field trip to Barnegat
Lighthouse State Park in Ocean County, NJ. This half-day trip is well
suited to students and new members, but open to anyone interested in
attending. The trip will meet at 9:00AM at the lighthouse parking
lot. Please contact Chris if you plan on attending. On March 14,
Connie Goldman will lead a DVOC field trip to Middle Creek WMA in
Lancaster & Lebanon Counties, PA. The trip will meet at the Middle
Creek WMA Visitor's Center on Museum Rd at 1:00PM. Please contact
Connie if you plan on attending. Additional information, including
past trip reports and contact information for the trip leaders can be
found on the DVOC website: http://www.dvoc.org
The next meeting of the DVOC is on March 18, 2010, featuring a program
by Win Shafer, entitled "Birds of the Appalachian Trail." The meeting
takes place at The Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia at
7:30PM. The meeting after that will take place on April 1. More
details are available on the DVOC website: http://www.dvoc.org
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 AT dvoc.org. This is Steve Kacir, good
birding to you all and thanks for calling, surfing and reporting.
- End Transcript
Steve Kacir
rba AT dvoc.org
DVOC Rare Bird Alert Committee Chair
Academy of Natural Sciences
Delaware Valley Ornithological Club
Philadelphia
Subject: Amd pond wash co/ Boyce alleghenyFrom: Shawn Collins <pghdjshawn AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:26:48 -0500 Amd pond 12 ring necked ducks 1 ruddy duck 1 American coot 3 farm geese 1 redhead 1 carolina wren The hyrbrid Canada goose was not there or he was not in view Boyce mayview Killdeer!! Shawn Collins Sent from my iPhoneSubject: Killdeer return to Hampton Park; 03/10/2020; Allegheny County From: Richard Nugent <rmnugent AT EXCITE.COM> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:23:08 -0500 Today the Killdeer have returned to Hampton Community Park. This is three days
later than last year. The pair were walking around in the small patch of grass
in the snow covered soccer field. There were also 7 Canada Geese feeding on the
limited grass.
Best Regards ....... Richard Nugent
Hampton Township, Allegheny County
------------------------------------------------------------
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Subject: Blue Marsh, Berks CountyFrom: Joan Silagy <jsilagy AT EPIX.NET> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:30:49 -0500 I did a bird walk for the Army Corps of Engineers today and we had an excellent turnout of people, (26) and a good showing of birds. There was an excellent collection of waterfowl on the lake. Seen were: Canada Geese American Wigeon Black Ducks Green-winged teal Common Mergansers Hooded Mergansers Gadwall Pintails Mallards We also had one Great-black-backed gull thousands of Ring-billed Gulls several Herring Gull Red-tailed hawk, 1 Eastern Bluebirds Downy Woodpecker Red-bellied Woodpecker Purple Finch, 1 Yellow-rumped warbler At the end of the walk one of the gentlemen showed me pictures he had taken at Middle Creek and in Berks. He photographed the most interesting Great Blue Heron. The picture was taken in Berks and the bird was mostly white with a little blue spot in it's wing and the dark mark on it's head. A beautiful leucistic bird and I'm sure hoping it hangs around Berks. Joan Silagy Leesport, PASubject: Hawkwatch at Presque Isle on March 10, 2010 From: Jerry McWilliams <jerrymcw AT AOL.COM> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:48:41 -0500 Presque Isle Erie, Pennsylvania, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 10, 2010 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 5 16 16 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 0 0 0 Northern Harrier 0 0 0 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 2 2 Cooper's Hawk 0 2 2 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 2 3 3 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 10 21 21 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 0 0 0 Merlin 0 1 1 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 1 1 1 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 19 46 46 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 10:30:00 Observation end time: 14:00:00 Total observation time: 3.5 hours Official Counter: Jerry McWilliams Observers: Jerry McWilliams Visitors: Ross Hollenbeck assisted me with the count Weather: cloudy, becoming clear, then becoming variably cloudy, wind calm to light. Warmer than the last few days, but a cold breeze off the lake made it feel colder than what it was. Raptor Observations: It was slow with a burst of activity around 1315 when it began to cloud up again. Dspite the cool temperatures the birds were fairly high. Non-raptor Observations: There was a good movement of waterfowl, especially Canada Goose and Northern Pintail. Non-raptor related birds recorded were: Canada Goose--309, Tundra Swan--129, Mallard--12, Northern Pintail--130, Killdeer--12, Mourning Dove--2, American Crow--24, Horned Lark--7, American Robin--33, Red-winged Blackbird--230, Common Grackle--277 Predictions: If there is some clearing and it is not raining I don't expect much change from today. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Jerry McWilliams (jerrymcw AT aol.com) information may be found at: http://www.presqueisle.org/audubon/ As far as I know the male Harlequin Duck has not been seen since Saturday March 13. Jerry McWilliams Erie, Erie County, Pa. jerrymcw AT aol.comSubject: RBA western Pennsylvania, 8 March 2010 From: Amy Taracido <meadowlark4 AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:45:22 -0500 RBA *Pennsylvania *Pittsburgh and western Pennsylvania *PAWE03.08.10 Highlights: COMMON LOON HARLEQUIN DUCK (Erie County) WHITE-WINGED SCOTER AMERICAN WIGEON CANVASBACK REDHEAD NORTHERN PINTAIL GADWALL GYRFALCON (Butler County) MERLIN ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK SANDHILL CRANE BONAPARTE'S GULL ICELAND GULL (Erie County) THAYER'S/KUMLIEN'S GULL (Allegheny County) GLAUCOUS GULL (Erie County) GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL (Erie County) SNOWY OWL (Crawford County) RED-HEADED WOODPECKER AMERICAN PIPIT OVENBIRD Contributors: Carole Borek, Terry Bronson, Scott Brown, Shawn Collins, Ben Coulter, Marcy Cunkelman, Karyn Delaney, Larry Durgin, Cris Hamilton, Amy Henrici, Paul Hess, Scott Kinzey, Tom Lace, Geoff Malosh, Jerry McWilliams, Clare Nicolls, Richard Nugent, Kate St. John, Randy Stringer, Shannon Thompson, Mark Vass, Timothy Vechter, Dave Wilton, Dan Yagusic. Compiler: Amy Taracido Monday, 1 March 2010 through Monday, 8 March 2010 ***This report is distributed by e-mail only. Compiler is not responsible for errors on websites who reproduce/reprint these reports. If you would like to receive western PA RBAs, contact meadowlark4 AT verizon.net NOTE: "FOS" means "first of season" and normally refers to a common bird that probably will not be mentioned again after the "FOS" sighting. Transcript- ALLEGHENY COUNTY: On 3/2-3/3 and 3/5-3/6 at Point State Park in Pittsburgh, 1 first-cycle THAYER'S/KUMLIEN'S GULL remained present among the ~3,000 GULLS (BC with Dan Yagusic, SK, GM, DW). In Pittsburgh at Pitt on 3/2, 2 PEREGRINE FALCONS (KSJ). On 3/8 near Pittsburgh International Airport, 2 TURKEY VULTURES (FOS) (KD). On 3/3 on the Allegheny River below Six Mile Island, 1 BONAPARTE'S GULL (DY). Along the Allegheny River on 3/7, sightings included many BUFFLEHEADS, many LESSER SCAUP, 68 flyover TUNDRA SWANS, 3 drake GREEN- WINGED TEAL, many AMERICAN WIGEON, 75 REDHEADS, 1 KILLDEER (FOS), and others (DY). At Boyce-Mayview Park on 3/4, 4 flyover AMERICAN PIPITS (SC), 1 TURKEY VULTURE (FOS) (DW). On 3/4 at the Latodami Nature Center in North Park, 1 OVENBIRD was seen foraging (reported to DW by Meg Scanlon). Over Etna on 3/4, 3 TURKEY VULTURES (FOS); on 3/6, 3 COMMON GOLDENEYES, 1 BUFFLEHEAD; on 3/7, 6 COMMON GOLDENEYES (DY). On 3/6 at Tarentum Bridge, sightings included 1 BUFFLEHEAD (AH), 1 CANVASBACK, 3 more BUFFLEHEADS (DY); on 3/7, 1 COMMON GOLDENEYE, 8 AMERICAN WIGEON, 8 BUFFLEHEADS (DY). At Duck Hollow on 3/6, COMMON LOON, 6 CANVASBACKS (DW). On 3/6 in Harmar, 4 COMMON GOLDENEYES, 3 BUFFLEHEADS; on 3/7, 17 AMERICAN WIGEON, 4 GADWALL, 12 LESSER SCAUP, 1 drake REDHEAD, 2 BUFFLEHEADS (DY). On 3/6 in Lawrenceville, sightings included 9 AMERICAN WIGEON (CB). On 3/7 along the Ohio River, sightings included 9 REDHEADS, 35 BUFFLEHEADS, 8 COMMON GOLDENEYES, 1 TURKEY VULTURE (FOS), 2 GADWALL, 8 AMERICAN WIGEON, 1 LESSER SCAUP, 4 AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS, and others (MVas). Along Route 376 on 3/7, 4 TURKEY VULTURES (FOS) (SC). On 3/7 in the Imperial Bald Knob area, 1 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, 7 HORNED LARKS, 1 REDHEAD (SC). In McKees Rocks on 3/7, 3 AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS and others (SC). On 3/8 at the Moody Road pond in Clinton, 1 REDHEAD (KD). In Natrona Heights on 3/8, 1 flyover MERLIN (PH). BEAVER COUNTY: On 3/2 at the riverfront near Beaver, 1 WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, 3 AMERICAN WIGEON (SB). In Rochester on 3/2, 5 CANVASBACKS, 1 GREATER SCAUP, 1 drake GREEN-WINGED TEAL X MALLARD HYBRID (MVas); on 3/3, GREATER SCAUP, 1 drake GREEN-WINGED TEAL X MALLARD HYBRID (SB). On 3/6 at Rochester's Riverfront Park, sightings included 9 CANVASBACKS, 5 REDHEADS, 1 GREATER SCAUP, 1 LESSER SCAUP, 2 BUFFLEHEADS, 1 COMMON GOLDENEYE, 2 GADWALL, 2 AMERICAN WIGEON, 5 AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS (MVas); on 3/7 in Rochester, 1 REDHEAD, 6 COMMON GOLDENEYES, 5 LESSER SCAUP, 3 BUFFLEHEADS, 1 GADWALL, 10 AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS, 1 PEREGRINE FALCON (MVas), KILLDEER (FOS) (SC). BUTLER COUNTY: On 3/3 near Slippery Rock, 1 GYRFALCON was spotted flying west (RS). CRAWFORD COUNTY: Daily at a farm in Springboro from 3/2 through 3/6, 1 SNOWY OWL continued its presence (CN). Also in that area on 3/6, HORNED LARKS, BALD EAGLE (DW); on 3/7, 8 HORNED LARKS, 1 TURKEY VULTURE (RN). On 3/7 at Pymatuning Lake, AMERICAN WIGEON (SK). ERIE COUNTY: On 3/1 at Lake View Landfill, 1 first-cycle ICELAND GULL (JM). Daily this week at Presque Isle, 1 HARLEQUIN DUCK continued its presence, among hundreds of COMMON GOLDENEYES (JM, DW, RN); also on 3/4, 1 adult GLAUCOUS GULL (JM); also on 3/6, CANVASBACKS, NORTHERN PINTAIL, GADWALL, 1 first-cycle ICELAND GULL, 1 first-cycle GLAUCOUS GULL (DW); also on 3/7, 4 GREEN-WINGED TEAL, 3 NORTHERN PINTAILS, 75 CANVASBACKS, 30 REDHEADS, 10 GREATER SCAUP, 5 LESSER SCAUP, 6 BUFFLEHEADS, 2 GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS (RN), 4 SANDHILL CRANES, 7 TURKEY VULTURES (FOS) (JM). On 3/8 at Presque Isle, sightings included 1 RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, 1 MERLIN (JM). FAYETTE COUNTY: From last week: during the day of 2/27 in Farmington next to Nemacolin, 1 AMERICAN WOODCOCK (LD). On 3/2 in the Cheat River area, 5 AMERICAN WIGEON, 5 RING-NECKED DUCKS, 2 AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS, and others (TB). INDIANA COUNTY: On 3/2 in Center Township, 19 HORNED LARKS (MC). In Conemaugh Township on 3/2, 1 RING-NECKED PHEASANT, 4 HORNED LARKS (MC). On 3/2 in Young Township, ~102 HORNED LARKS (MC). In Clarksburg on 3/7, 1 KILLDEER (FOS) (MC). LAWRENCE COUNTY: On 3/5 in an unspecified location, 1 RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, HORNED LARKS (CH with Bobby Greene); on 3/7, sightings included 20 REDHEADS, 2 AMERICAN WIGEON, 5 SANDHILL CRANES, 5 KILLDEER (FOS), 1 EASTERN MEADOWLARK, 1 RED- HEADED WOODPECKER, and others (AH with Pat McShea). MERCER COUNTY: On 3/4 in an unspecified location, 1 TURKEY VULTURE (FOS) (RS). On 3/7 at Lake Wilhelm, BALD EAGLE, ~45 flyover TUNDRA SWANS (SK). WASHINGTON COUNTY: On 3/5 and 3/6 at the Washington Cemetery, 1 MERLIN (ST, CH with Bobby Greene). On 3/6 near Taylorstown, 5 TURKEY VULTURES (FOS) (CH with Bobby Greene). At the Hahn Road AMD Pond on 3/8, 1 RUDDY DUCK, 1 REDHEAD, and others (MVas). WESTMORELAND COUNTY: From last week: near Laughlintown on 2/21, 1 COMMON RAVEN (TV). On 3/5 at Loyalhanna Lake, 4 BALD EAGLES; on 3/6, 1 BALD EAGLE, ~25 possible TUNDRA SWANS; on 3/7, 2 BALD EAGLES (TL). On 3/6 in Ligonier, TURKEY VULTURE (FOS) (TV). At Laurel Summit on 3/6, 1 COMMON RAVEN (TV). End transcript- Amy Taracido Washington Co., PA To send in reports: meadowlark4 AT verizon.net Thank you to all the contributors.Subject: Allegheny River, Allegheny Co. From: Carole Borek <palastresort AT AOL.COM> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:35:27 -0500 We just got back from checking out the waterfowl migration on the Allegheny River in Lawrenceville. 43rd Street (Across River on Millvale side) Great Blue Heron 1 Herring Gull 3 Ring-billed Gull 10 Ruddy Duck 2 males 2 females Mallard 9 males 6 females Canada goose 1 57th Street (Across River on Millvale side) Peregrine Falcon- nice long look of PF on the ground on a small island and in the water Mallard 27 males 18 females Belted Kingfisher 2 Red-breasted Mersanser 1 male Ring-necked Duck 3 males Carole Borek Pittsburgh, PaSubject: Re: Middle Creek must be empty... From: Bob Fowles <rbf AT PSU.EDU> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:59:03 -0500 Current numbers as of 03/10/10
Snow Geese: 120,000 +
Tundra Swans: 2,300 +
Canada Deese: 3,000 +
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=514&objID=621427&mode=2#
Bob Fowles, Pine Grove Mills
Subject: Red-winged BlackbirdsFrom: Amy Henrici <achenrici AT MSN.COM> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:51:53 -0500 There were five at our feeder this morning. As far as I can tell, one was an immature male. I checked the bird book, and by the time I looked at the feeder, the blackbirds were gone and didn't come back. About seven robins were feeding in the snow-free areas of our yard. Amy HenriciSubject: Middle Creek must be empty... From: "JSkinner AT epix.net" <jskinner@EPIX.NET> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:28:59 -0500 .because I think they all flew over Susquehanna County this morning! Between 10-1130 am (when I had to go back inside) skein after skein of geese flew overhead non-stop. The numbers could have been in the 10's of thousands. At first it was mostly Canadas with a very few Snows mixed in. And then it began to 'snow' in earnest. There were some mixed flocks, but many were either all Canada or all Snow. At first I thought that in most mixed flocks it was the Canadas who were at the lead but a larger sample size showed that Snows were just as likely to be out front. I must have a tin ear for it, because I couldn't distinguish between the honks of these two species. On occasion I picked out a Canada that appeared to be smaller than the others, but probably within normal species limits. It was a spectacular morning for migration! Jerry Skinner Susquehanna CountySubject: Ross' Goose (Middle Creek WMA)- yes 03/09 From: Dan Snell <dan_snell AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:20:08 +0000 03/09/10
LANCASTER COUNTY: Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area (07:30-13:30)
sunny skies, 44-60 degrees
Went birding with Bob Koontz today. The majority of the birding was from the
roads in MCWMA. The "Blue Phase" ROSS' GOOSE was relocated near Willow
Point.There were two Snow Geese with visible yellow neck tags: 64AJ, PHO7.
Great Blue Heron............1
Tundra Swan..........~2,000
Snow Goose.........~80,000
ROSS' GOOSE................1 ("blue" phase)
Canada Goose..........~600
Wood Duck....................7 (all drakes)
Green-winged Teal.......13
Am. Black Duck...........39
Mallard.......................64
Northern Pintail...........49
Northern Shoveler........1 drake
American Wigeon......139
Ring-necked Duck.......10
Bufflehead...................3
Common Merganser....18
Ruddy Duck...............17
Black Vulture...............2
Turkey Vulture.............7
Bald Eagle...................1
Red-tailed Hawk..........6
Killdeer.......................3
Ring-billed Gull.......~50
Belted Kingfisher.........1
Red-bellied Wdpckr.....4
Downy Woodpecker.....1
Northern Flicker........22
Horned Lark...............2
Blue Jay...................28
American Crow.........14
Fish Crow..................3
Blck-cppd Chickadee..6
Tufted Titmouse.........9
Carolina Wren............1
Eastern Bluebird......18
American Robin.........7
American Water Pipit..1
Northern Cardinal......3
Eastern Towhee.........2
Am. Tree Sparrow......4
Song Sparrow..........15
White-throated Sp....5
Dark-eyed Junco.......1
Red-wngd Blackbird..26
Eastern Meadowlark...3
Common Grackle.......8
Brwn-hded Cowbird...5
House Finch..............3
House Sparrow..........1
Good Birding,
Dan Snell
Shippensburg, PA
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Subject: Blue Marsh, Berks CountyFrom: Joan Silagy <jsilagy AT EPIX.NET> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:13:05 -0500 I took a short walk at the lake around 11:30 AM and the male Merlin was in his usual perch. I had not seen the male or the female for over a week. It was very interesting to watch a Fish Crow land in the tree where the Merlin was. The crow had been in another tree, and was cawing. After it landed in the tree with the Merlin, total silence. Then Fish Crow number two arrived and it too was quiet. Both crows finally left and then I watched the Merlin spread his tail and do some kind of display. Beautiful. As I watched it also stretched and did all sorts of little maneuvers. I watched it for about 15 minutes and then headed to my car. When I got back to my car and turned around, the Merlin was gone. The only other interesting bird at that time was a fly over Rusty Blackbird. Joan Silagy and Sidney, Leesport, PASubject: Gettysburg: Bluebirds back on suet today! From: Jenny McClintock <jennymcclintock AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:13:03 -0500 I hope that means that last month's visit wasn't a fluke, and that they like the "restaurant" and want to raise a family here! Now, if I could just keep the starlings OFF the suet! :-( Jenny McClintock Gettysburg, PASubject: Migration patterns on a small scale? From: Kerry Grim <grim04 AT ENTER.NET> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:45:44 -0500 We have learned a ton of information regarding bird migration. Most of this is through banding. Still much to be learned. My birding on SGL 110 in Berks and Schuylkill County has shown to me migration patterns on a small scale which I find highly interesting. It is low tech...I actually watch the birds! Any game land management does seem to affect the migration, but not in a negative way. Some of the things I have observed... * edge cuttings often create a leading edge for migrants, but must be in the proper orientation. * place an edge cutting in the right spot and migrants will 'pile up' there before proceeding through woodland. For example there was one place I learned to look for migrant fall songbirds that would 'pile up' in a cut area before proceeding into the forest. Now, that area has a lot of edge cuttings, so they no longer linger there. Another example is a field that has been planted with corn one year, sorghum the next. Walking along that field to the ENE during fall, I was getting a sense of birds moving through that field. Then I got to the west end of the field and observed sparrows, including Lincoln Sparrows lingering at the west end of the field. * Again during fall, I used to walk from the bottom of the mountain to the top. I would find two hotspots, narrow areas favored by songbirds that would cross the road. Then the top of the gap was logged. Migration was simply pushed further south on the mountain for a couple of year. However, it was not long before the vegetation thickened and the migration moved back up on the mountain. * The mountaintop east of Route 183 hosts a very good fall migration. The road has an orientation from the ENE to WSW with edge cuttings. The songbirds birds follow this, sticking to the edge cuttings. However, Blue Jays and Robins in particular do not follow this pattern. They are flyovers in a more southwesterly direction. * Hummingbirds follow this road as well. They fly below the forest canopy in the direction of the road as far as one can see, which is not very far. * Occasionally I see (and obviously hear) a migrant north-bound Fish Crow that fly over the game lands. American Crows fly E, yet, south of game lands 110, off the Kittatinny Ridge I see Fish Crows that also fly along but not over the ridge, and in much higher numbers. So far as I know, songbird fly north to south under the cover of darkness, but, come light, they continue migration, but in a west-southwest direction along the cover of the Kittatinny Ridge. The definitely don't continue south through the forest. These are just a few of the things I observed with migrant songbirds. Has anyone come across reading material regarding migration on a smaller scale which is what really interests me? It certainly is crucial to understand the to and from with migration and much has been learned and still will be learned as I said previously. However, I am just wondering if the birding world is ignorant of what happens between the to and from. We watch for the enjoyment of birding and that should be number 1, but are we learning anything of this migration on a small scale? Has anyone ever thought about it? Kerry Grim Hamburg, PASubject: Millville and Jerseytown, Columbia Co. From: Sandra Goodwin <chickadd AT PTD.NET> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:49:01 -0500 Submitted by Doug Gross Field trip on Sunday, 3/7, in State Game Lands 226 near Millville and Jerseytown, Columbia Co. Wild Turkey 1 Ring-necked Pheasant 1 Ruffed Grouse 1 Turkey Vulture 1 Red-tailed Hawk 4 (paired) Northern Flicker 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 Pileated Woodpecker 2 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Downy Woodpecker 2 Mourning Dove 6 American Crow 13 Blue Jay 14 Black-capped Chickadee 4 (singing) Tufted Titmouse 7 (singing) White-breasted Nuthatch 2 Carolina Wren 2 (singing) Golden-crowned Kinglet 1 Eastern Bluebird 3 (singing; more outside of SGL in fields) American Robin 17 (probably overwintering birds, feeding on rosehips mostly) Northern Mockingbird 1 Northern Cardinal 9 Eastern Towhee 1 (at edge of food plot on Dodson Hill Road, probably overw= intered) Dark-eyed Junco 16 Amer. Tree Sparrow 4 White-throated Sparrow 3 Song Sparrow 9 (singing)=20 Red-winged Blackbird 8 (along Dodson Hill road) Common Grackle 1 Otherwise, we've heard of American Woodcocks in northern Columbia County especially in Greenwood Valley as early as 3/4. Horned larks are seen regularly at Waller, some singing. Sandy Goodwin Wyo Co.Subject: Luzerne Co. snow geese and killdeer From: Sandra Goodwin <chickadd AT PTD.NET> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:41:30 -0500 Ed Johnson reported this morning what thousands of geese flew over Dallas, Luz. Co. while he was on his walk around Misericordia University. There was one flock of 250 snow geese as well as snows mixed in a few of the other flocks. He also saw a killdeer, FYO. Sandy Goodwin Wyoming Co.Subject: Rough-legged hawk, Berks County From: Joan Silagy <jsilagy AT EPIX.NET> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:16:37 -0500 I had a light phase Rough-legged hawk in Northern Heidelberg Twp. this AM. It was perched on top of a pole. On Blue Marsh lake were many Snow Geese and 8 Tundra Swans. Joan Silagy and Sidney Leesport, PASubject: Fox Sparrow From: Kerry Grim <grim04 AT ENTER.NET> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:10:55 -0500 Spring is here...currently have a Fox Sparrow scratching in our front yard. Kerry Grim Hamburg, Berks CountySubject: Crawford Co. Snowy Owl Update From: Thomas Nicolls <tcnicolls AT WINDSTREAM.NET> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:43:47 -0500 Hi to all who came to see the Snowy Owl. The Snowy Owl has not been seen at the Miller Farm for 4 days. The Aden and Eric Miller families would like to thank all the folks who stopped and talked with them to find the owl. They feel they met lots of good, courteous, and friendly people. Aden has already commented that he feels like he has lost an old friend. Here are some statistics concerning the Snowy Owl that spent time at the Miller farm near Springboro, PA Date first observed - 1/26/2010 Date last observed - 3/6/2010 Total consecutive days present/observed = 40 Total number of people who signed the log = 566 Most folks who came to see the owl signed the log book. The following is a brief summary of the cities from where the people came to see the owl. Unfortunately not everyone who came to see the owl got to see it. OH - Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Youngstown PA - Erie, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Allentown, Philadelphia, Gettysburg, Hummelstown NY - Mayville, New York City WV - Morgantown, Wheeling, Clarksburg CO - Fort Collins Canada - Rainy River, St. Catherines Ukraine - Dnepropetrovsk There were many other birders who traveled from other smaller towns from various states to see the owl. Clare Nicolls tcnicolls AT windstream.net 814-587-6395Subject: Re: Time to watch peregrines in Pittsburgh From: Rick & Marianne Atkinson <marianne5 AT WINDSTREAM.NET> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:34:31 -0500 Thanks for posting this! It is SO cool! I have both web cams going. When I
hear Peregrine noises, I check them out.
I just saw a Peregrine at the Cathedral of Learning bring a Red-Winged
Blackbird to the nest. Then it took off with it. I guess that means the RW
Blackbirds are in the Pittsburgh area!
The Peregrine at the Gulf Tower was working on the nest scrape on the left.
It looks like there is another one on the right that she is working on now!
Maybe she picks her favorite when it is time to lay eggs.
Marianne Atkinson
DuBois
Clearfield County
-----Original Message-----
From: Bird discussion list for Pennsylvania
[mailto:PABIRDS AT LIST.AUDUBON.ORG] On Behalf Of Kate St.John
Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2010 7:48 AM
To: PABIRDS AT LIST.AUDUBON.ORG
Subject: [PABIRDS] Time to watch peregrines in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh's peregrines are getting ready to nest and are very active right
now.
You can watch them in downtown Pittsburgh near the Gulf Tower or at the
Cathedral of Learning at the University of Pittsburgh (Schenley Plaza is the
best vantage point).
Or you can watch them online at the streaming webcams installed by the
National Aviary.
The Cathedral of Learning webcamis here:
http://www.aviary.org/cons/falconcam_cl.php
The Gulf Tower is here: http://www.aviary.org/cons/falconcam_gt.php
If your computer can't handle streaming, or if you want to capture
snapshots, the Cathedral of Learning has a snapshot camera here:
http://aviary.org/cons/FalconCam/Cathedral_refreshCam.php
I'll be bloggingabout the peregrines throughout the nesting season (of
course!) so check out the latest news here: www.wqed.org/birdblog
Today's blog has images from both sites before dawn. The webcams have
infrared light so you can watch all night if you want.
Oh, addiction!
Kate St. John, Pittsburgh
Visit my bird & nature blog at www.wqed.org/birdblog
Subject: Belated Weekend Report - Lehigh CountyFrom: "Hopkins,Jeffrey A." <HOPKINJA AT AIRPRODUCTS.COM> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:16:29 -0500 A few signs of spring this past weekend here in Lehigh County. Saturday morning I had a few red-winged blackbirds back on territory at Wessner's Pond in Heidelberg township, although the pond itself was still frozen over. Also a few scattered horned larks throughout the fields, but nowhere near the numbers as previous visits. I also tried to get up Bake Oven Road, but it's still not passable in a 2WD car. Sunday I headed to Jordan Creek Parkway here in Whitehall where there was lots of birdsong (especially cardinals and titmice). First bird of the morning was my FOS cowbird. I also had a small flock of grackles fly over. Only one brown creeper (singing!), but numbers were down, so they seem to have moved on. Also a very vocal sapsucker. And sticking with the migration theme, a small string of snow geese passed over my home last night (Tuesday) at about 7:30. They're on the move, too. Still no woodcocks, though. Good birding, Jeff Hopkins WhitehallSubject: NO- White-fronted Geese at Chambers From: Rick Robinson <birder18 AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:05:30 -0500 Mary Alice Knox and I looked for, but did not see, the (6) greater white-fronted geese that had been at Chambers Lake, Chester County, for the last two mornings. Birds on the lake did include cackling goose, (3) tundra swan, several snow geese, including one blue-phase, common and hooded mergansers, wigeon and ring-necks. The lake was empty by 7:30 AM. Lots of geese flying northward.. Rick Robinson Chester CountySubject: Time to watch peregrines in Pittsburgh From: "Kate St.John" <kstjohn001 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:48:17 -0800 Pittsburgh's peregrines are getting ready to nest and are very active right
now.
You can watch them in downtown Pittsburgh near the Gulf Tower or at the
Cathedral of Learning at the University of Pittsburgh (Schenley Plaza is the
best vantage point).
Or you can watch them online at the streaming webcams installed by the National
Aviary.
The Cathedral of Learning webcamis here:
http://www.aviary.org/cons/falconcam_cl.php
The Gulf Tower is here: http://www.aviary.org/cons/falconcam_gt.php
If your computer can't handle streaming, or if you want to capture snapshots,
the Cathedral of Learning has a snapshot camera here:
http://aviary.org/cons/FalconCam/Cathedral_refreshCam.php
I'll be bloggingabout the peregrines throughout the nesting season (of course!)
so check out the latest news here: www.wqed.org/birdblog
Today's blog has images from both sites before dawn. The webcams have infrared
light so you can watch all night if you want.
Oh, addiction!
Kate St. John, Pittsburgh
Visit my bird & nature blog at www.wqed.org/birdblog
Subject: Heisey Rd Woodcocks/FranklinFrom: Bob Keener <keenerb99 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:31:07 -0800 The woodcocks were displaying in the orchard this morning at 6 Hi All, The woodcocks were displaying in the orchard this morning at 6:00. They are right on time.! Bob Keener 5207 Heisey Rd Shippensburg, PA 17257 717-532-9723Subject: Chester Co: Rusty Blackbird, Woodcock, Barred Owl From: Molly Daly <wiggytoupee AT MAC.COM> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:34:08 -0500 A late afternoon walk about a half-mile up the road yielded a lone Rusty Blackbird keeping company with robins and its Red-winged cousins. I first noticed it as it sang from a tree, in which robins and, later, a Red-winged perched. The robins kept their counsel, while both blackbirds sang, but not competitively. Then both blackbirds flew down to the wet meadow to forage. I got several good pictures of the rusty, who seemed more skulky than his flashy cousin, whose epaulets appeared to have a mind of their own. Around dusk, I drove up to the same spot, pulled over, turned off the engine, cranked down the window, and listened. Some of the local Canada Geese could still be heard dithering about where to set down, but I soon heard the whir of a woodcock flying in. Then silence. But not for long. In the distance, a query: "Who cooks for you? Who cooks for YOU?!" Unexpected, but more than welcome. The call repeated, quickly. Then a Great Horned Owl Weighed in. They seemed to take turns, the Barred and Great Horned each posing their questions. But the Barred never got an answer -- at least, not while I was listening. Molly Daly Southern Chester CountySubject: Lehigh County, 3/9-Pileated Woodpecker, Brown Creeper, Golden-crowned Kinglet Walking Purchase Park From: Sinkler's Mail <esas518 AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:23:25 -0500 PA Birders, Like many of you, I was able to take advantage of this beautiful day and do a little birding. I started around 4:00 PM and I was not holding out a lot of hope about seeing a ton of birds, but I ended the day with 30 species. The first bird of the walk was a Great Blue Heron standing on a log in the Lehigh River. Shortly after that, a Brown Creeper flew into a tree and two Golden-crowned Kinglets were in the nearby trees. I heard the calls of two Pileated Woodpeckers and was able to locate the female working a hollow branch. She was engrossed in her work and I was able to walk within 30 feet of her and observe her work. While I was watching her, the male came flying in to see what she was doing and he tried to work her piece of branch, but she held her ground. I was enjoying the scene and I remembered that I had my daughter's camera, but the male flew away before I could get a picture of both birds. I did get some nice shots of the female and I left her to work over her branch and to continue my journey. When I was walking along the railroad tracks back to my car, the American crows were moving over the ridge in loose groups. I spotted a very tightly packed group of crows, I counted 40 birds, and heard the call of a few Fish Crows. As they passed my position, the entire group gave a series of calls confirming that they were indeed Fish Crows. The rest of the birds are in the list that follows. Happy Birding, Ed Sinkler Fountain Hill Lehigh County Location: Walking Purchase Park, Salisbury Observation date: 3/9/10 Notes: The Fish Crows were flying as a tight group compared to the American Crows which were more dispersed. Number of species: 30 Canada Goose 13 Mallard 21 Common Merganser (North American) 2 Great Blue Heron 1 Turkey Vulture 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Ring-billed Gull 3 Herring Gull 1 Rock Pigeon 4 Mourning Dove 14 Red-bellied Woodpecker 4 Downy Woodpecker 1 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 2 Pileated Woodpecker 2 American Crow 226 Fish Crow 41 Black-capped Chickadee 5 Tufted Titmouse 6 Brown Creeper 1 Carolina Wren 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet 2 American Robin 125 Northern Mockingbird 1 European Starling 2 Song Sparrow 4 White-throated Sparrow 19 Northern Cardinal 4 Red-winged Blackbird 4 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)Subject: Crayfish, popular food item From: Meredith Lombard <mark2teach3 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 23:19:57 -0500 Greetings All, The recent posts about crayfish remains being found in owl and kingfisher pellets reminded me about an unusual hunting tactic I observed the last few springs along the Susquehanna. I was riverside for several hours a week on "peregrine watch" at the Rt. 30 bridge near Columbia. Much to my amazement, local grackles were patrolling along exposed rocks in the river near the shore, and every now and then, one would plunge into the shallow water and come up with a crayfish. It would subdue the crayfish on a rock, then fly off with it, the crayfish pinched headfirst in the bird's beak. Some of the crayfish caught were rather large! Also, not quite so interesting and at another location in winter, was the observation of a common merganser surfacing with a large crayfish in its bill. Good Birding! Meredith Lombard http://www.flickr.com/photos/caritas_natureSubject: L. Ontelaunee, Berks From: Rudolph Keller <rckeller AT DEJAZZD.COM> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 21:57:36 -0500 Snow Geese continue to move through in large numbers. My high count today was 12,000, but there was so much coming and going that twice that number might have splashed down and later left. I wouldn't be surprised if the Snow Goose season is short this year. A Ross' Goose and a Cackling Goose accompanied the Snows. There were fewer ducks near the dam than yesterday. Three Bald Eagles put up the Snows at various times: A resident ad., a white-bellied second year bird and an older third or fourth year bird. The first flocks of 1000+ grackles have only just appeared. Rudy Keller Boyertown, PA Berks CountySubject: Belated report of Golden Eagle, Bradford Co From: Trudy Gerlach <tgswoods AT EPIX.NET> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 21:09:29 -0500 Last Thursday morning, 3/4, Jason Petlock saw a Golden Eagle flying over the Susquehanna River at Sugar Run. Even though that's quite a few days ago, I thought I'd post it as it is a really nice sighting! Trudy Gerlach Bradford Co. tgswoods AT epix.netSubject: Bald Eagle, Schuylkill Co. From: Denise Donmoyer <nightowl57 AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 20:21:08 -0500 Sweet Arrow Lake 3/9 Bald Eagle Common Mergansers Fish Crow Screech Owl Denise Donmoyer Sweet Arrow Lake Pine Grove, Schuylkill Co. nightowl57 AT verizon.netSubject: AMD Pond/ Washington Co From: Dj Shawn <pghdjshawn AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 20:12:29 -0500 Stopped here on my Lunch hour today, there was a group of 11 Ring Necked Ducks 1 coot 1 Belted kingfisher There was a Hybrid Goose of some sort, Looked like a Canada crossed w/ maybe a Snow or a Farm Goose, it was w/ 5 Canada Geese, same shape as Canada but had molted body and white Head. Looked like a Blue Morph of Snow Goose in comparison, but was not a Blue Morph due to size, shape, etc. Interesting though to see! 1 Redhead 1 Eastern Bluebird ( singing his heart out, so nice to hear) 1 Northern Mockingbird 2 Mallards 1 Hooded Merganser -- Shawn CollinsSubject: SGL 145 Lebanon Co. Sandhill,Ross',woodcocks From: Randy Miller <birder AT DEJAZZD.COM> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 19:49:32 -0500 I went for an evening walk on SGL 145 and had the Sandhill Crane at the far end of the marsh, at Lake Duffy. Than I walked in the evening at the Colebrook end of SGL 145. Highlights are, Thousands of Snow Geese Ross' Goose 1 Thousands of Canada Geese Woodcocks- 5 Fox Sparrow- 1 Thousands of blackbirds too Randy C. Miller Manheim Lancaster Co.Subject: Marsh Creek State Park - Chester County From: "Barry E. Blust" <BarryBlust AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 19:36:57 -0500 I spent some time late this afternoon looking over the lake at Marsh Creek State Park. At least half of the central portion of the lake is now ice free. Canada Goose NC Wood Duck 4 American Black Duck 2 Mallard 12 Green-winged Teal 2 Ring-necked Duck NC Hooded Merganser 10 Common Merganser At least 100 Ruddy Duck 2 Great Blue Heron 2 Ring-billed Gull NC Herring Gull 1 Mourning Dove 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 Pileated Woodpecker 1 American Crow NC Fish Crow 2 Northern Mockingbird 1 Red-winged Blackbird NC NC = Not Counted Barry E. Blust 21 Rabbit Run Lane Glenmoore, PA Upper Uwchlan Township, Chester County BarryBlust AT comcast.netSubject: FOY Red-winged Blackbird, Bradford Co. From: Trudy Gerlach <tgswoods AT EPIX.NET> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 19:31:10 -0500 Had my first Red-winged Blackbird the afternoon winging past and chuckling at my farm. This evening on my walk both Great Horned Owl and Barred Owl calling a mile or so east of my farm near New Era. Trudy Gerlach Bradford Co. tgswoods AT epix.netSubject: HSR: Tussey Mountain (09 Mar 2010) 62 Raptors From: "Hawkcount.Org Reports" <reports AT HAWKCOUNT.ORG> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 20:03:42 -0400 Tussey Mountain State College, Pennsylvania, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 09, 2010 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 7 7 Turkey Vulture 4 29 30 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 1 11 11 Northern Harrier 1 1 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 3 4 Cooper's Hawk 2 4 4 Northern Goshawk 1 2 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 9 13 13 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 13 75 77 Rough-legged Hawk 0 2 3 Golden Eagle 28 109 114 American Kestrel 1 1 1 Merlin 0 0 0 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 1 3 3 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 1 1 Total: 62 261 271 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:15:00 Observation end time: 17:00:00 Total observation time: 8.75 hours Official Counter: Jon Kauffman Observers: Visitors: Robert McLaughlin, Greg Grove, John Kahly, Jeff Dull, Kevin George, Melissa May, Randy & Mary Brenner, Keith & Deb Gingrich, Ron & Pat Freed, Brian Kahly, Christine Wall, David Kurtz, Bonnie Holmes, Kris Peterson, Clay Magill, Josh Potter, Doug Steigerwalt, David Kaltenbaugh Weather: Clear skies with NW winds at 3-7mph. Visibility ~ 9 miles with a slight haze throughout the day. Temps b/w 35 and 52F. Raptor Observations: For the most part the flight was on the south side. In the AM individuals were slow in passing, gaining altitude gradually. In the afternoon individuals became high and overhead, quickly passing. 1204 eagle was our 100th of the season. GE: 905(Ad), 948(Sub), 950(Ad), 1003(Ad), 1015(Ad), 1016(Ad), 1022(Ad), 1022(Ad), 1031(Unk), 1056(Ad), 1058(Unk), 1108(Ad), 1149(Unk), 1204(Unk), 1204(Unk), 1226(Unk), 1231(Unk), 1246(Unk), 1247(Unk), 1300(Ad), 1424(Unk), 1426(Ad), 1426(Ad), 1516(Unk), 1523(Unk), 1542(Unk), 1542(Unk), 1600(Unk). BE: 1518(Ad) NOGO: 1040(Ad) First AMKE and NOHA of the season. Good RSHA flight. Non-raptor Observations: Common Grackle(80), Red-winged Blackbird(81), Blackbird sp.(49) Canada Goose(1,839), Tundra Swan(229), House Finch(1), Herring Gull(11), RB Gull(63), Eastern Bluebird(4), American Robin(2), Am. Tree Sparrow(2), Common Merganser(2), Killdeer(3) Predictions: Winds to switch to the SE for the first time this season. Slight chance of rain predicted, but ideal winds. We'll see what happens. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Jon Kauffman (jonk10 AT hotmail.com) Tussey Mountain information may be found at: http://ww2.lafayette.edu/~brandesd/tussey/Subject: Yellow Creek State Park (Indiana County) From: Marjorie Van Tassel <marvant AT WINDSTREAM.NET> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 17:24:24 -0500 8:00 a.m. (cold) to 12-12:30 (warmed up nicely) Lake mostly frozen Highlights included: 162 Tundra Swans (flyover--2 different flocks, 62 then 100) 1 Turkey Vulture 1 Common Raven 7-8 Eastern Bluebirds 5 Golden-crowned Kinglets 1 Tree Sparrow 4-5 Purple Finches 2-3 Redwing Blackbirds 1 Flicker 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 Hairy Woodpecker 2-3 Downy Woodpeckers 4-5 Dark-eyed Juncos Plus Song Sparrows, chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, robins, cardinals, crows, geese, red-tail hawk. If my numbers on birds other than swans or kinglets are off please correct me Observers: Margaret Higbee, Lee Carnahan, Marge Van Tassel, Sue & Jenny DicksonSubject: Crooked Creek Lake/Dam (Armstrong County) From: Marjorie Van Tassel <marvant AT WINDSTREAM.NET> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 17:16:45 -0500 After birding at Yellow Creek this morning I stopped at Crooked Creek on the way home. A portion of the lake near the boat ramp is open but the road to the boat ramp is closed so you need to park at the last parking lot/shelter area and walk to the edge of the land there or just park and use binoculars. In the water or on a strip of ice near it there were: 23 Common Mergansers 2 Bald Eagles (immatures on ice) 1 Turkey Vulture flying overhead 3-4 Eastern Bluebirds were in the bushes/trees nearby as well as 2 Downy woodpeckers, 1 White-breasted Nuthatch, 1 Tufted Titmouse and 1 Common Raven was making noise and flying around the dam as I left. Marge Van Tassel Armstrong CountySubject: Northampton County gulls From: Adam Sabatine <birdman538 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 17:02:58 -0500 Hi all, I stopped breifly at Lake Minsi this afternoon, where the recent high temps have doubled the amount of open water at the east lot. There was a small raft of about 15 RING- NECKED DUCKS actively feeding, as well as 6 HOODED MERGANSERS and what appeared to be a hen REDHEAD, though the glare and lack of scope made it hard to tell for sure. Among the 100's of RING-BILLED and dozens of HERRING GULLS were a small flock of 8 bathing BONAPARTE'S GULLS and a conservative count of 45 LESSER BLACK- BACKED GULLS, my highest count here since before the lake froze over. A short stop at the north side of Bear Swamp turned up a pair of PILEATED WOODPECKERS, several SWAMP SPARROWS and HERMIT THRUSHES (4), and an AMERICAN WOODCOCK that flushed up off the trail. Several small groups of COMMON GRACKLES flew over as well, though I didn't see or hear any red-wings at the lake yet. Bird on, Adam Sabatine BangorSubject: Video of the Shenango Lake Swans From: Scott Kinzey <blackburnian AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 13:57:08 -0800 I uploaded a video of the Tundra Swans along the eastern arm of Shenango Lake
in Mercer County from earlier today. It is at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/25291868 AT N08/
Video is a neat little feature of the Nikon D90. I should have adjusted for
overexsposure. Tundra Swans in the sun! Flickr may have cut the video off at
one minute thirty.
Scott Kinzey
Allegheny County
Subject: The northern tier's perspective...From: "JSkinner AT epix.net" <jskinner@EPIX.NET> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 16:34:07 -0500 In spite of several 50+ degree days, I still have about 8 inches of snow in my yard. All lakes are frozen. In fact, we're still ice-fishing! So, I was thrilled to finally get FOY grackles, redwing blackbirds, and cowbirds in a small mixed flock today. No robins or woodcock reported yet. A small flock of ozone Snow Geese flew over today. That's what most waterfowl do here.fly over us! Jerry Skinner Susquehanna CountySubject: Shenango Lake is Hopping From: Scott Kinzey <blackburnian AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 12:48:46 -0800 3/9
lunch time
I stretched out my weekend a little and stopped by Shenango Lake in Mercer
County. It was the birdiest place on my weekend travels. The Clark Recreation
Area was alive with gulls. To the left of this fishing pier was even more gulls
including all ages of Herring Gull. In the distance under a railroad bridge was
even more gulls and lots of ducks. Included were the usual suspects
Canvasbacks, Redheads, Ring-neckeds, Goldeneye etc. I didn't have time to study
them. The nearby camping area's Ranger's Station had another pocket of gulls
including many Herring Gull.
It got more interesting along the east arm of the lake. The Golden Run Access
Area was alive with 370 Tundra Swans, more gulls and especially more ducks. A
few hundred ducks in all including lots of Ring-neckeds, Pintails, Scaup, etc.
I didn't have time to study them. I have video of the Golden Run birds taken
with my Nikon D90 and I'll post one on Flickr when I make time.
The total number of gulls was in the 1,500 range including over 100 Herring
Gulls and the remainder Ring-billed. I didn't have time to look for the other
specie(s) that could be there.
Scott Kinzey
back in Allegheny County for five nights of making money
Subject: Crawford County Swans and OthersFrom: Scott Kinzey <blackburnian AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 12:33:27 -0800 3/9
morning
Shenango Lake in Mercer County is a hot spot right now, but I'll cover that in
a separate posting.
We started our day driving north along Geneva Marsh and picked up a flock of
about fifty Tundra Swans headed the same way. This was at Main Street in
Geneva. They followed the marsh beyond McMicheal Road and we followed them
using Route 285. We beat them by about 10 minutes to Conneaut Lake at Fireman's
Beach. There was another flock of about forty resting on the ice just beyond
Fireman's Beach. We drove up the west side of the lake and lost the first flock
up the east side. When we got to the north end of the lake a flock crossed us
again and we think it was smaller flock that was on the ice. We followed this
flock west towards Pymatuning Lake and it crossed over us once again before we
lost it to the north.
Pymatuning Lake is just starting to unfreeze in some of the expected parts,
but not enough for great birding quite yet. Next weekend could be really good.
There were a few Tundra Swans, Mute Swans, Pintails and other mixed ducks
including Common Goldeneye by the island on the Ohio Side of the Causeway. A
light-morph Rough-legged Hawk was near Miller Ponds. Miller Ponds had a few
more Tundra Swans, Pintails, Canada Geese and mixed ducks. Gull numbers are low
and only Ring-billed were seen. All in all Pymatuning is relatively sparse.
Scott and Sherry Kinzey
Allegheny County
Subject: Re: crayfish in owl pelletsFrom: Joan Silagy <jsilagy AT EPIX.NET> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 14:30:36 -0500 >Regarding fish scales, claws and such in pellets I think we should >all remember that Belted Kingfisher's also cast pellets. I doubt >very much that they would ever go into an owl box but some sources >state they do seek refuge in bad weather, whatever that means. I >know Belted Kingfishers love to sit on top of Wood Duck houses and >if you look below them, or top of them, you will often find a huge >assortment of their pellets which are very interesting. I often >check their perch sites, if possible, to look for their pellets. >Screech Owls also love the Wood Duck houses and don't seem to mind >that they are out in the middle of a pond and close to the water. >Bob's remark about the bullet shell in a screech owl pellet is very >interesting. Joan Silagy Leesport, PA >Dear PABirders, > >I went to college at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, >Florida. I was living in an apartment on the edge of campus, near a >canal and some wooded areas. We had Eastern Screech-Owls nearby. > >One morning I found a small owl pellet on the sidewalk right outside >the door of our apartment. It had a lot of fish scales in it, which >was not uncommon. But it also contained a bullet shell, the casing >from a .22 short. I was never able to make the connection between a >screech-owl pellet and a .22 shell. I even took it into my >ornithology class, and no one had a good theory. > >Sincerely, >BOB SCHUTSKY >Brand New Web Site: www.birdtreks.com >-- >BIRD TREKS--Quality Worldwide Birding Tours >216 Spring Lane >Peach Bottom, PA USA 17563-4008 >VOICE: 717-548-3303 FAX: 717-548-3327 >E-MAIL: info AT birdtreks.com > > >No virus found in this incoming message. >Checked by AVG - www.avg.com >Version: 9.0.733 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2732 - Release Date: >03/09/10 02:33:00Subject: Hawkwatch at Presque Isle for March 9, 2010 From: Jerry McWilliams <jerrymcw AT AOL.COM> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 13:45:13 -0500 Presque Isle Erie, Pennsylvania, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 09, 2010 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 4 11 11 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 0 0 0 Northern Harrier 0 0 0 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 1 1 Cooper's Hawk 2 2 2 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 1 1 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 0 11 11 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 0 0 0 Merlin 0 1 1 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 6 27 27 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 10:30:00 Observation end time: 13:00:00 Total observation time: 2.5 hours Official Counter: Jerry McWilliams Observers: Jerry McWilliams Visitors: Ross Hollenbeck assisted me with the watch today. Weather: Mostly clear and cold with light wind Raptor Observations: The high pressure hanging over the area has not been good for flights the past three days. There were few birds again today. Non-raptor Observations: A Merlin zipped past the hawkwatch going in a SW direction. A direction not usually associated with spring hawk migration along Lake Erie. Other non-raptor related migrants: Canada Goose--29, Tundra Swan--75, Killdeer--4, American Crow--39, Horned Lark--2, American Robin--2, Red-winged Blackbird--100, Common Grackle--34 Predictions: A front from the west arrives tomorrow afternoon. There may be some movement ahead of the front if there is not too much cloud cover. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Jerry McWilliams (jerrymcw AT aol.com) information may be found at: http://www.presqueisle.org/audubon/ Jerry McWilliams Erie, Erie County, Pa. jerrymcw AT aol.comSubject: Wood Ducks, Redhead and more - Westtown Lake - Chester County From: Douglas Kraemer <douglas.kraemer AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 12:55:27 -0500 The Wood Ducks were one male, one female. Very skittish. I only saw them because I stepped on a twig about 20 yards from them and they took off across the lake. Thankfully, it wasn't far and they landed in a nice, sunny spot where I could get a good look. The male Redhead was initially hidden/sleeping in the shade among some low branches that were hanging over the lake. The Ring-necked (mostly male) and Bufflehead (about half male, half female) counts are as accurate as possible because they kept on diving! This is the most I have seen there at one time... The other highlight for me was that it was so quiet (other than the screaming Wood Ducks as they took off!) that I could hear the wing beats of the Turkey Vulture as he flew low directly over me. Location: Westtown Lake Observation date: 3/9/10 Number of species: 11 Wood Duck 2 Redhead 1 Ring-necked Duck 47 Bufflehead 45 Hooded Merganser 9 Common Merganser 1 Mallard 3 Canada Goose 2 Turkey Vulture 1 Carolina Chickadee 2 American Robin 10 Douglas Kraemer Phoenixville, PA Chester County douglas.kraemer AT verizon.netSubject: Tundra Swans-Clearfield County From: Rick & Marianne Atkinson <marianne5 AT WINDSTREAM.NET> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 12:12:23 -0500 While walking the dog at 10:45 this morning, about 200 Tundra Swans went by high overhead, heading north. They are definitely on the move! Nice little Tundra Swan news story below from 2009 spring migration in Washington state: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cGcPM-TfgA Marianne Atkinson DuBois Clearfield CountySubject: Re: crayfish in owl pellets From: Bob Schutsky <info AT BIRDTREKS.COM> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 11:45:59 -0500 Dear PABirders, I went to college at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. I was living in an apartment on the edge of campus, near a canal and some wooded areas. We had Eastern Screech-Owls nearby. One morning I found a small owl pellet on the sidewalk right outside the door of our apartment. It had a lot of fish scales in it, which was not uncommon. But it also contained a bullet shell, the casing from a .22 short. I was never able to make the connection between a screech-owl pellet and a .22 shell. I even took it into my ornithology class, and no one had a good theory. Sincerely, BOB SCHUTSKY Brand New Web Site: www.birdtreks.com -- BIRD TREKS--Quality Worldwide Birding Tours 216 Spring Lane Peach Bottom, PA USA 17563-4008 VOICE: 717-548-3303 FAX: 717-548-3327 E-MAIL: info AT birdtreks.comSubject: Northern Shrike, waterfowl, Beltzville, Carbon County From: Dustin Welch <dwelch5951 AT AOL.COM> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 11:42:49 -0500 3/09/10 Beltzville State Park, Carbon County The NORTHERN SHRIKE found by Dan Altiff was easily seen this morning, constantly calling and singing from high perches. When I was headed back to my car I heard the bird calling once again, this time right behind me from about 30 feet away perched low in a bush. photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildpabirds/ Waterfowl highlights: CANVASBACK 2 hens Ring-necked Duck ~40 Bufflehead 8 Hooded Merganser 6 Common Merganser 5 Wood Duck 2 (pair) Green-winged Teal 1 drake Northern Pintail 2 drakes Mallard 50+ Canada Goose 1500+ Snow Goose 100+ fly-overs, 2 Blues Anyone looking for waterfowl at Beltzville should be at the lake by 6:00 a.m., in the first 45 minutes most birds start leaving with the Canada Geese. A boater also showed up, dampening my spirits and sending everything away. At 9:30 all I could find were 2 Bufflehead and 3 Canada Geese. Also: Bald Eagle 1 immature Ring-necked Pheasant 1 Bird on, Dustin Welch Bath, Northampton CountySubject: Re: Snow geese, Schuylkill Co. From: Denise Donmoyer <nightowl57 AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 11:05:31 -0500 Did not see the Snow Geese here yet. Sweet Arrow Lake is only partially open at the east end. (wetlands end) This is what was here at the lake yesterday 3/8: 12 Common Mergansers Red-tailed Hawk Bluebirds Red-breasted Nuthatch Pileated and Hairy Woodpecker Screech Owl Great-horned Owl Denise Donmoyer Sweet Arrow Lake Pine Grove, Schuylkill Co. nightowl57 AT verizon.net ----- Original Message ----- From: "Scott Weidensaul"Subject: Tundra Swans-Long Arm Reservoir, York County From: Bob Moul <yelowlegs AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 10:55:02 -0500 There were 21 Tundra Swans on the lake this morning among a variety of
other water fowl.
Good Birding,
Bob
--
Bob Moul (Yelowlegs AT Comcast.net)
Adams County, PA USA
"PROTECTING NATURE THROUGH EDUCATION"
Photo Galleries:
www.pbase.com/rcm1840
http://bob.moul.oiseaux.net/index.en.html
Subject: Fields around Chambers Lake, Chester CountyFrom: Rick Robinson <birder18 AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 10:53:18 -0500 Walked the fields to see what was out .. besides me. Pretty quiet, but extremely enjoyable. The sparrow list included: field, song, white-throated, tree, swamp (1) and fox (1), and a few juncos. A pair of sun-lit pileateds was nice. Wigeon and pintail, with a few wood duck on the lake, which hosted it's first fishing boat of the year. A few geese in the air, but far fewer than yesterday. Rick Robinson Chester CountySubject: Tundra Swans moving, Columbia, Lancaster Co. From: Meredith Lombard <mark2teach3 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 10:10:21 -0500 Greetings All, I had a nice "coffee break" at 9:50 this morning to watch about 2500 tundra swans fly over my office in Columbia in several V formations. I was first alerted to them by their high-pitched honking. At a higher altitude were about 300 canada geese with very few snow geese mixed in. Columbia is situated along the Susquehanna River, just a few miles from the Conejohela Flats. Meredith Lombard http://www.flickr.com/photos/caritas_natureSubject: Tree Sparrow, Lancaster County From: Pamela Fisher <goldeagle_60 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 06:50:04 -0800 Hi again!
After coming home from Chamber's Lake, I did my usual morning stuff. While in
the process of that, I looked out my living room window to see if any birds
were feeding under the Japanese Maple. I saw a sparrow there, and I thought it
was a Chipping Sparrow at first because of the chestnut cap. I got my
binoculars on it, and low and behold, it was an American Tree Sparrow! I do not
get these birds in my yard often, so it was a very nice treat!
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is
no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out
through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world, In them hath he
set a tabernacle for the sun,
Psalms 19:1-4
Pamela Fisher
goldeagle_60 AT yahoo.com
Gap, Lancaster County, PA
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pfisher/
Subject: Greater White-fronted Geese at Chamber's Lake, Chester County:noFrom: Pamela Fisher <goldeagle_60 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 06:45:48 -0800 Howdy!
I went to Chamber's Lake this morning to look for the Greater White-fronted
Geese. I probably missed Rick by minutes because I got there at 7:37 this
morning, and I did not see him. I did not see the geese I was looking for
either. Here is a list of what I did see.
Location: Chamber's Lake
Observation date: 3/9/10
Notes: Sunny, 35F.
Number of species: 15
Canada Goose 800
American Wigeon 8
Mallard 2
Northern Pintail 16
Green-winged Teal (American) 4
Ring-necked Duck 35
Common Merganser 4
Ring-billed Gull 17
Mourning Dove 1
American Crow 2
American Robin 1
Song Sparrow 1
Red-winged Blackbird 500
Common Grackle 4
Brown-headed Cowbird 2
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/pa)
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is
no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out
through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world, In them hath he
set a tabernacle for the sun,
Psalms 19:1-4
Pamela Fisher
goldeagle_60 AT yahoo.com
Gap, Lancaster County, PA
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pfisher/
Subject: SGL 226 Near Millville, Columbia Co.From: "Gross, Douglas" <dogross AT STATE.PA.US> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 09:31:17 -0500 Field trip on Sunday, 3/7, in State Game Lands 226 near Millville and Jonestown, Columbia Co. Wild Turkey 1 Ring-necked Pheasant 1 Ruffed Grouse 1 Turkey Vulture 1 Red-tailed Hawk 4 (paired) Northern Flicker 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 Pileated Woodpecker 2 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Downy Woodpecker 2 Mourning Dove 6 American Crow 13 Blue Jay 14 Black-capped Chickadee 4 (singing) Tufted Titmouse 7 (singing) White-breasted Nuthatch 2 Carolina Wren 2 (singing) Golden-crowned Kinglet 1 Eastern Bluebird 3 (singing; more outside of SGL in fields) American Robin 17 (probably overwintering birds, feeding on rosehips mostly) Northern Cardinal 9 Eastern Towhee 1 (at edge of food plot on Dodson Hill Road, probably overwintered) Dark-eyed Junco 16 Amer. Tree Sparrow 4 White-throated Sparrow 3 Song Sparrow 9 (singing) Red-winged Blackbird 8 (along Dodson Hill road) Otherwise, we've heard of American Woodcocks in northern Columbia County especially in Greenwood Valley as early as 3/4. Horned larks are seen regularly at Waller, some singing. Doug Douglas A. Gross PA Game Commission Wildlife Biologist Endangered Bird Specialist & PA eBird Coordinator 106 Winters Road, Orangeville, PA 17859 570-458-4109; dogross AT state.pa.us |