Released Rough-legged Hawk, "Audubon's" Warbler, Long-tailed Duck, field birds, and White-winged Crossbills! ~ February 1, 2009

I started the morning off with a visit to Arlene Koch's property. She had informed me that a rehabilitated Rough-legged Hawk was going to be released on her farm. It was neat seeing the bird up close for a few moments before it was successfully let go.

Kathy Uhler of Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation, holding a light morph, immature male Rough-legged Hawk just prior to its release on the Koch property in Northampton County. The bird was in 'rehab' for about five weeks after being found in a field near Center Valley below Allentown. Its exact problem was never confirmed.

---

Around noon, I headed for the Dorney Pond in Allentown where I saw the "Audubon's" Warbler that Cameron Rutt and Tom Johnson found back on January 16th. The warbler's call note gave it away. I found it in the lone, large willow along the pond's edge near the green shed before it flew up into the trees on the hillside behind the house numbered "3801".
The continuing Long-tailed Duck swam around the east end of the pond, allowing me to get some nice photos of it.

Long-tailed Duck at Dorney Pond in Lehigh County.
Several Lesser Black-backed Gulls, some Common Mergansers, Ring-necked Ducks, and a Coot were also there.

---

I then went to Arrowhead Road near Bath and saw at least 5 Lapland Longspurs among the fairly large numbers of Snow Buntings and Horned Larks.

Lapland Longspur near Bath in Northampton County. Note the long 'spur' (hind toe) for which the bird is named.

Snow Bunting near Bath in Northampton County.

---

Next, I decided to drive up to Graver Arboretum in Moore Township where, back on January 13th, Dustin Welch found a group of White-winged Crossbills. On the 14th, I refound the group in the same general area, which were my first ones for the county, but they flew off within a minute. This time, when I got there, I found Jim Wilson already watching about 8 White-winged Crossbills at the top of one of the tall Norway Spruces by the pond next to the entrance kiosk. They worked the same tree for almost an hour, never coming down any lower, hence the long-range, 'so-so' photos.

White-winged Crossbill at Graver Arboretum in Northampton County.
But they were a fine sight through bins with the sun shining on them. Needless to say, it was a very productive day.

---