Monday, April 25, 2011

Around Northampton County ~ April 25, 2011

After seeing Blue-headed Vireo, several Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Palm Warbler, Black-throated Green, and several Yellow-rumped Warblers outside my house on Easter morning and waking up this morning to Rose-breasted Grosbeaks on my feeders, I decided to take advantage of my day off today and take a run around the county, which happily turned out to be more than worth the amount I spent on gas.

I started out by walking the Bethlehem Boat Club area, which held Warbling Vireo, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Wood Thrush, several Northern Parulas, Yellow-throated Warbler, and American Redstart. An Eastern Screech-Owl stuck its head out of one of the Wood Duck boxes along the old canal.
Eastern Screech-Owl along the Lehigh Canal near the Route 33 boat launch.


A stop at Green Pond yielded Green-winged Teal, Northern Pintail, and a Great Egret at the pond itself.
Great Egret perched along the edge of Green Pond.


At Christian Springs Road in Lower Nazareth Township, I saw a Snow Goose, Green-winged and Blue-winged Teal, and a Green Heron.
Green Heron along Christian Springs Road in Lower Nazareth Township.


My next stop was Graver's Hill, where I found a Horned Lark and a couple of singing Vesper Sparrows.


Vesper Sparrow at Graver's Hill in Moore Township. The chestnut-colored shoulder patch is really obvious in the bottom two photos.


I then headed halfway up Smith Gap. In addition to Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and a few Black-and-white Warblers, I had 'fly-by's of Cooper's Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, and a Common Raven that called as it soared by.
Common Raven over Smith Gap in Moore Township.


The Albert Road ponds, near Wind Gap, produced Ring-necked and Ruddy Duck, Pied-billed Grebe, and American Coot.

I did a real quick stop at Jacobsburg State Park at mid-day and came up with House Wren, Eastern Towhee, and Field Sparrow.

The day ended with an exclamation point when a male Ruby-throated Hummingbird popped into the feeder three feet away from where I typed this. Not a bad day!


Ruby-throated Hummingbird at my feeder in Williams Township.

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