L.V.A.S. Bird Walk at Jacobsburg State Park ~ September 15, 2024

I led an impromptu bird walk at Jacobsburg State Park for the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society. Seven participants joined me for about a 3-mile walk around the park. Before we even got out of the parking lot, I noticed a group of warblers filing into the nearby trees and brush. Seen there were Eastern Wood-Pewee, Red-eyed Vireo, and warblers that included Chestnut-sided, Black-throated Green, Northern Parula, and American Redstart.

We crossed the road and walked the area near the stone buildings. In the area near the bird blind, we saw a Merlin perched in a tree.

Merlin

In that same area, we came across a group of birds comprised of Red-eyed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, a Philadelphia Vireo, Black-and-white, Magnolia, and Chestnut-sided Warbler, Northern Parula, and American Redstart. Back across the road near the visitor center, we saw Cedar Waxwing, Magnolia Warbler, and a 'fly-by' Pileated Woodpecker. On the way up the hill behind the visitor center, we had good numbers of Cedar Waxwings, 2 Eastern Bluebirds, and a Rose-breasted Grosbeak. More Northern Parulas and Eastern Towhees were seen near the top of the hill.

At the upper field area, a Great Egret flew by heading northwest, and 12 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew by to the south.

Lesser Black-backed Gulls

From there on, the winds picked up a little as we walked through 'dead zones' where there were very few birds. We stopped at the walking bridge near the Boulton end of the park and spotted a Red-headed Woodpecker flying high and heading west over the forest. The broad white patches in the secondaries were very obvious. The walk back the main trail was very quiet. While crossing the walking bridge back at the Herny's Woods parking lot, someone spotted a Yellow-billed Cuckoo sitting close by. We got great looks at it as it sat still and slowly rotated its head looking for caterpillars and other insects.

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Also there along the creek was a Green Heron and an Eastern Phoebe. It was a very good end to the day. We ended up with a nice total of 37 species. Here's the list:

1) Mourning Dove
2) Yellow-billed Cuckoo
3) Lesser Black-backed Gull
4) Green Heron
5) Great Egret
6) Turkey Vulture
7) Red-headed Woodpecker
8) Red-bellied Woodpecker
9) Downy Woodpecker
10) Pileated Woodpecker
11) Northern Flicker
12) Merlin
13) Eastern Wood-Pewee
14) Eastern Phoebe
15) Philadelphia Vireo
16) Warbling Vireo
17) Red-eyed Vireo
18) Blue Jay
19) American Crow
20) Carolina/Black-capped Chickadee
21) Tufted Titmouse
22) White-breasted Nuthatch
23) Carolina Wren
24) Gray Catbird
25) Eastern Bluebird
26) American Robin
27) Cedar Waxwing
28) American Goldfinch
29) Eastern Towhee
30) Black-and-white Warbler
31) American Redstart
32) Northern Parula
33) Magnolia Warbler
34) Chestnut-sided Warbler
35) Black-throated Green Warbler
36) Northern Cardinal
37) Rose-breasted Grosbeak

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A Repeat of Yesterday ~ September 14, 2024

Once again, I birded Jacobsburg State Park. At the bend in the creek across the road from the visitor center, I came across a pocket of birds comprised of Red-eyed Vireo plus warblers that included Tennessee, Black-and-white, Northern Parula, and American Redstart.

There were at least 50 Cedar Waxwings feeding on the hill behind the visitor center.

Cedar Waxwing

A Brown Thrasher was also there perched on a snag.

Brown Thrasher

At the field area atop the hill, I spotted a Philadelphia Vireo in a tree with a Blackburnian Warbler and a Magnolia Warbler.

Philadelphia Vireo

A Pileated Woodpecker was the only notable bird seen on the last half of the loop.

On the way back home, I stopped at the Hollo Road retention pond and saw 2 Blue-winged Teal, 4 Green-winged Teal, 2 Greater Yellowlegs, a Lesser Yellowlegs, and 6 Least Sandpipers. A Common Yellowthroat and a Yellow Warbler were seen at the adjacent Shoeneck Creek.

Yellow Warbler

As I was about to leave, I noticed a Cooper's Hawk circling overhead.

Cooper's Hawk

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Jacobsburg State Park and Hollo Road ~ September 13, 2024

I returned to Jacobsburg State Park and walked my loop around the park. In the area across the road from the visitor center, I found a Philadelphia Vireo, which I was never able to get a unobstructed photo of.

Philadelphia Vireo

It was among a group of birds that included Red-eyed Vireo, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Eastern Phoebe, House Wren, Black-and-white Warbler, Northern Parula, and American Redstart.

Red-eyed Vireo

House Wren

Soon after, I found a Yellow-billed Cuckoo very close to the spot where I saw the one yesterday, so it might have been the same bird.

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

The hill behind the visitor center held at least 30 Cedar Waxwings.

Cedar Waxwing

Farther along, I spotted a Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Other than Brown Thrasher and Field Sparrow, there weren't many birds seen on top of the hill, but in the area of the walking bridge near the Boulton parking lot, I was suddenly among several warblers that included Blue-winged, Bay-breasted, Black-and-white, Black-throated Green, Magnolia, Chestnut-sided, Northern Parula, and American Redstart.

Bay-breasted Warbler

Northern Parula

When an immature Broad-winged Hawk flew in and landed, the same group of birds mobbed and scolded it.

An immature Broad-winged Hawk.

A Common Yellowthroat was seen by the Henry Road bridge, which was the ninth warbler species for the day.

A stop at the Hollo Road retention pond on the way home produced 2 Blue-winged Teal, 5 Green-winged Teal, a Lesser Yellowlegs, a Semipalmated Sandpiper, and 3 Least Sandpipers.

A Semipalmated Sandpiper (bottom) and a Least Sandpiper (behind).

Two Sections of Jacobsburg State Park ~ September 12, 2024

I did a walk along the Sobers Run section of Jacobsburg State Park. Unfortunately, there wasn't a much activity. I did see Eastern Wood-Pewee, Least Flycatcher, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, American Redstart, Magnolia Warbler, and this somewhat distant Pileated Woodpecker.

Pileated Woodpecker

I left there and drove over to the main section of the park and walked the area across the road from the visitor center. There wasn't much going on there either, but I did find Great Blue Heron, Cedar Waxwing, American Goldfinch, and this Yellow-billed Cuckoo.

Yellow-billed Cuckoo.

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Regency Boulevard Ponds ~ September 11, 2024

I returned to the Regency Boulevard ponds this afternoon after a resident there who keeps in touch with me sent me a photo of a Belted Kingfisher. There aren't many perches for a kingfisher to use there, so this is a place that doesn't promote a kingfisher sighting. Not unexpectedly, when I got there, the bird was nowhere to be found. My consolation prizes were the now 'off-and-on' Hooded Merganser plus 3 Green-winged Teal, 2 Wood Ducks, a Great Blue Heron, a Green Heron, and at least one Cliff Swallow.

Hooded Merganser

Wood Duck

Cliff Swallow

While checking the south pond, I was real surprised when a bird in the tree next to me turned out to be a Cape May Warbler.

Cape May Warbler

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Little Gap and the Area Ponds ~ September 10, 2024

I started my walk at Little Gap just after sunrise. I was hoping for another good morning of migrants, but it was pretty slow, plus there already was a pretty good wind blowing when I got there. When I got to the area of the hawkwatch, I found a Philadelphia Vireo.

Philadelphia Vireo

At the top of the mountain, the only two warblers I saw were a Magnolia Warbler and a Black-throated Blue Warbler. I slowly walked back down to the car. The only additional warblers I saw were a Black-and-white, a Chestnut-sided, and a few Ovenbirds.

I left there and drove to the Regency Boulevard ponds where I found a Northern Shoveler, 3 Green-winged Teal, 3 Wood Ducks, and a Great Blue Heron.

Northern Shoveler

Green-winged Teal

Over at the Newburg Park pond, another Northern Shoveler and 2 Pectoral Sandpipers were present.

Northern Shoveler

Pectoral Sandpipers

At the Hollo Road retention pond, there were 2 Blue-winged Teal, 4 Green-winged Teal, and one Least Sandpiper.

Blue-winged Teal

Green-winged Teal

Least Sandpiper

The 'east' Northwood Avenue retention pond held the continuing Great Egret, a Great Blue Heron, a Wood Duck, and an Eastern Phoebe.

Great Egret

Great Blue Heron

Wood Duck

Eastern Phoebe

The grass field by the Newburg Road retention pond held 17 Killdeer while a Red-tailed Hawk circled overhead.

Red-tailed Hawk

Back home, I saw an Eastern Phoebe at my pond.

Eastern Phoebe

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