Peregrine Falcons and a Stealth Bomber in Easton ~ February 27, 2021

I made a stop at the "Forks of the Delaware" in Easton this afternoon and found out that the rivers had risen enough to submerge the island at the confluence that the gulls like to rest on, so all of the gulls seen were 'fly-by's. I looked for the Long-tailed Duck that had been seen there for about a week, but couldn't spot it. Suddenly, I noticed a Peregrine Falcon zoom by with prey in its talons. It was a good-sized bird, probably a female.

Peregrine Falcon with prey

It eventually landed on a building in Easton where I watched through the scope and saw feathers fly as it ripped apart its catch. Soon after, what appeared to be the male Peregrine came flying over from the New Jersey side of the Delaware.

Male Peregrine Falcon

The male flew off to the west while the female finished her meal. After that excitement, a Turkey Vulture with no tail came soaring by with several others. It looked like a Stealth Bomber and seemed unimpaired by its missing parts. I had seen it a few days before, but I wasn't able to get a photo of it then.

Turkey Vulture with no tail

So, even though the potential gull search was a bust, it turned into a really interesting afternoon.

---

Snow Buntings in Northampton County ~ February 24, 2021

Mike Schall had photographed a Savannah Sparrow of the "Ipswich" race back on the 20th along Miller Road in Lower Mount Bethel Township. In the remote chance of refinding it, I took a ride up there. I noticed a very distant, young Bald Eagle perched on the ground at the top of the hill on the north side of the road. It was probably feeding on something, but I couldn't tell for sure. Soon after at a manure pile, I noticed several Snow Buntings in among the more numerous Horned Larks. Eventually, some came to the road.

A little farther down, I discovered a large flock of buntings perched in a tree.

They were occasionally dropping down to feed next to a nearby barn. My best count of the flock was 66 birds, the most I have ever seen in the county at one spot.

I also got a few shots of a posing Horned Lark.

---

Long-tailed Duck in Northampton County ~ February 21, 2021

Adam Miller found a Long-tailed Duck at the "Forks of the Delaware" in Easton. I had been going down there fairly regularly because a large amount of gulls had been dropping in there on their way from the landfills back to their nighttime roosting areas. As soon as I started looking from the south side of the Lehigh River, I saw the bird on the Pennsylvania side, just south of the Free Bridge. I drove over there and the bird put on a show about 50 feet away, allowing me to get these nice photos. I like the head reflection in the second photo that looks like a puppy dog face.

---

Rough-legged Hawk in Northampton County ~ February 15, 2021

Billy Weber discovered a Rough-legged Hawk yesterday near the Tatamy exit of Route 33. I didn't see it there yesterday, so I made the short drive up there today and immediately found the bird on one of the light posts at the southeast corner of the exit. It was also seen flying over the fields and on a nearby tree.

This area used to be several square miles of fields where I occasionally rode my bike as a kid in the late 1960's and early 1970's. I remember riding out there to watch them build what is now Route 33. Unfortunately, the fields are now being taken over by warehouses.

---

American Kestrel "Outdoor Dining" ~ February 14, 2021

Billy Weber discovered a Rough-legged Hawk near the Tatamy exit of Route 33 earlier in the day. Since my mom lives in Tatamy and I was going there anyway, I decided to do a quick check of the area to see if I could find it. Although I didn't find it, I did find this American Kestrel "outdoor dining" near the exit. It's nice to know that at least THEY don't have to wear masks!

---

Pink-footed Goose in Northampton County ~ January 30, 2021

Mike Schall found a rare Pink-footed Goose in my county back on January 20th. It was several hundred yards away at Seiple's farm pond in East Allen Township in among about 20,000 Snow Geese! I got to see it through a scope before it flew off with most of the Snows, so there was no chance of getting a photo of it. The bird was sporadically seen a few times, but on the 30th, Mike refound the bird just east of Seiple's at another small pond. This time, I was lucky to get some nice, close photos of it.

Pink-footed Goose

At one point, the Pink-footed swam in front of a Cackling Goose, creating a pretty rare photo opportunity where both were in the same frame.

Pink-footed and Cackling Goose together

Thanks goes to Mike for finding the bird both times.

---