Western Kingbird in Northampton County! ~ November 1, 2023

My birding day started at the Newburg Road ponds. At the fenced-in pond were two Greater Yellowlegs and a Lesser Yellowlegs.

A Lesser Yellowlegs (left) with two Greater Yellowlegs (right).

Greater Yellowlegs

Lesser Yellowlegs

I looked for the Dunlin that had been found at the Hollo Road pond the night before but didn't see them.

At the Silver Crest Road pond, I spotted the continuing Greater White-fronted Goose among over a thousand Canada Geese.

Greater White-fronted Goose

Also there were 4 Ruddy Ducks and a Common Merganser.

Common Merganser

While I was there, I was notified that a Western Kingbird had been found at Housenick Park by Linda Freedman and Jim Figlar, so I drove over there. When I arrived, I noticed Bill Etter looking towards the treeline at the west edge of the large, grassy field. So, I looked in that direction and saw the bird perched about eight feet up in a tree.

Western Kingbird

I was lucky to get this mediocre photo of it showing its diagnostic white outer tail feathers as it flew up to a higher perch.

Note the white outer tail feathers that are more obvious when the tail is spread.

It eventually flew through the treeline over to the grove side. It took quite a while to refind it, but when I finally did, I got a little better photo of it before it flew back out into the field area. I believe this bird represents the 3rd Northampton County record.

Western Kingbird

My last stop was the Melchor Tract Park, a fairly new park in Williams Township, where an Orange-crowned Warbler had been seen. It was very windy and the middle of the afternoon, not the best time to search for it. I came up empty, but I did find 2 White-crowned Sparrows, a Field Sparrow, and 2 Swamp and 2 Savannah Sparrows among 11 Song Sparrows.

White-crowned Sparrow

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