I walked around the Woodland Hills Preserve and found 36 species that included new arrivals of Tree Swallow, Brown Thrasher, and Eastern Towhee.
From there, I stopped at Green Pond, which held a Pectoral Sandpiper, a 'fly-by' Osprey, and an American Tree Sparrow. Surprisingly according to eBird, the Tree Sparrow was the first one ever recorded at Green Pond.
Thursday, March 31, 2022
Friday, March 25, 2022
Long-tailed Duck in Northampton County ~ March 25, 2022
Adam Miller discovered a Long-tailed Duck at the Silver Crest Road retention pond. The bird was still there when I got there, allowing me to get some fairly good photos of it.
Tuesday, March 22, 2022
Ross's and Snow x Ross's Goose hybrid ~ March 22, 2022
I returned to the Madison Farms pond and was able to get some better comparison photos of both the Ross's Goose and the Snow x Ross's Goose hybrid. I got my best photos ever of a Ross's Goose, which swam very close and in nice lighting.
The following photo shows the comparison between the Ross's Goose on the left and the Snow Geese behind it. Note the much smaller overall size and stubbier bill with no black 'grin patch' on a rounder, whiter head. The Snow Geese show a longer bill with a very noticeable black 'grin patch'.
Here's a photo of the Ross's Goose with a Mallard, showing that the Ross's Goose isn't that much larger than the Mallard.
There were two Snow Goose x Ross's Goose hybrids in among the Snows. One of the birds provided this great comparison photo when it stood right behind a Snow Geese holding a similar profile. Note the 'grin patch' is present but not as pronounced as the bill on the Snow Goose, which is also longer in length. Plus, the head is more rounded on the hybrid and the overall size is a bit smaller than the 'pure' Snow.
The following photo shows the comparison between the Ross's Goose on the left and the Snow Geese behind it. Note the much smaller overall size and stubbier bill with no black 'grin patch' on a rounder, whiter head. The Snow Geese show a longer bill with a very noticeable black 'grin patch'.
Here's a photo of the Ross's Goose with a Mallard, showing that the Ross's Goose isn't that much larger than the Mallard.
There were two Snow Goose x Ross's Goose hybrids in among the Snows. One of the birds provided this great comparison photo when it stood right behind a Snow Geese holding a similar profile. Note the 'grin patch' is present but not as pronounced as the bill on the Snow Goose, which is also longer in length. Plus, the head is more rounded on the hybrid and the overall size is a bit smaller than the 'pure' Snow.
Monday, March 21, 2022
Ross's Goose in Bethlehem Township ~ March 21, 2022
A Ross's Goose was spotted by Scott Singer among the Snow Geese at the Madison Farms pond in Bethlehem Township on Sunday. I was helping family move into their new house that day, so I decided to drive the short distance over there on Monday afternoon to see if the bird was still there. After some searching, I found it on the bank among the Snows. I was able to get some nice comparison photos of it next to the Snows. Note the much smaller overall size and stubbier bill with no black 'grin patch' on a rounder, whiter head.
Here are some more photos of this cooperative bird, including a photo of it doing a wing stretch.
A Snow Goose x Ross's Goose hybrid was also present there. It was a little smaller than the surrounding Snow Geese with a shorter bill and a smaller 'grin patch'.
Here are some more photos of this cooperative bird, including a photo of it doing a wing stretch.
A Snow Goose x Ross's Goose hybrid was also present there. It was a little smaller than the surrounding Snow Geese with a shorter bill and a smaller 'grin patch'.
Friday, March 11, 2022
An All-American (Woodcock and Pipit) Day ~ March 11, 2022
My brother sent me a cell phone photo of a bird in his yard and asked me what it was. I looked at it and realized that he had an American Woodcock. I was driving up to my mom's anyway, so I stopped at his house and, sure enough, there was an American Woodcock under a bush blending in fairly well among some rocks and leaves next to his garage wall! I kept at a pretty good distance and took these shots with my telephoto lens.
I checked the retention pond along Farmersville Road by Green Pond, which held three Lesser Scaup and five Hooded Mergansers.
My last stop was at the St. Luke's Anderson Campus pond where I was surprised to hear and then see an American Pipit in the large, open field just south of the pond. I was even more surprised when it flew over me and landed in a tree next to the pond! It was the first time I had ever seen a pipit perch in a tree, so I was glad to get some photos of this unusual occurrence.
Before I left, I checked to see if the two Yellow-rumped Warblers that had overwintered next to the pond were still there. After some looking, I found them in the same general area.
I checked the retention pond along Farmersville Road by Green Pond, which held three Lesser Scaup and five Hooded Mergansers.
My last stop was at the St. Luke's Anderson Campus pond where I was surprised to hear and then see an American Pipit in the large, open field just south of the pond. I was even more surprised when it flew over me and landed in a tree next to the pond! It was the first time I had ever seen a pipit perch in a tree, so I was glad to get some photos of this unusual occurrence.
Before I left, I checked to see if the two Yellow-rumped Warblers that had overwintered next to the pond were still there. After some looking, I found them in the same general area.
Monday, March 7, 2022
Greater White-fronted Goose in Northampton County ~ March 7, 2022
A stop at the Hollo Road retention pond in Palmer Township revealed a Greater White-fronted Goose among the Canada Geese.
Four Green-winged Teal were also present.
Four Green-winged Teal were also present.
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