Adam Miller found 3 Semipalmated Plovers at the Monocacy Creek crossing along Steuben Road. I went over and saw two of them. The other was probably hidden somewhere in the vegetation.
With all the rain, the plowed field on the north side of Green Pond Road is partially flooded. I stopped there to check for shorebirds but found a lingering first-year Ring-billed Gull there instead.
Thursday, May 22, 2025
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
Jacobsburg State Park and the Ponds ~ May 20, 2025
I walked Jacobsburg State Park this morning, hoping to find something good like a Gray-cheeked Thrush or a Mourning Warbler. Along the "Dangerous Trail", a Wood Thrush posed nicely.
There were several Blackpoll Warblers singing along the way. I also had two singing Canada Warblers, but as usual, I never saw either one in the thick brush. Other notables included Black Vulture, Pileated and Hairy Woodpecker, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Eastern Phoebe, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Veery, Swainson's Thrush, American Goldfinch, Field Sparrow, Eastern Towhee, Baltimore Oriole, Scarlet Tanager, Indigo Bunting, and warblers that included Ovenbird, Yellow, Blue-winged, Blackburnian, Black-and-white, Chestnut-sided, Common Yellowthroat, and American Redstart.
There was a Great Blue Heron and a Lesser Yellowlegs at the Regency Boulevard retention ponds, but the most interesting birds there were a swirling group of swifts and swallows at the south pond. I conservatively counted 18 Chimney Swifts, 7 Northern Rough-winged Swallows, 6 Tree Swallows, 3 Barn Swallows, 2 Bank Swallows, and a Cliff Swallow.
I stopped at the Trio Farms Boulevard retention ponds and was lucky to see the red frontal shield of the continuing Common Gallinule through the cattails it often hides in. Also there were a Belted Kingfisher, an Eastern Kingbird, and 2 Northern Rough-winged Swallows.
A quick stop at Green Pond produced 2 Green Herons, a Warbling Vireo, 4 Barn and 3 Tree Swallows, and a Blackpoll Warbler. One of the two Green Herons perched in the small, wooded pond next to the house by the intersection.
There were several Blackpoll Warblers singing along the way. I also had two singing Canada Warblers, but as usual, I never saw either one in the thick brush. Other notables included Black Vulture, Pileated and Hairy Woodpecker, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Eastern Phoebe, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Veery, Swainson's Thrush, American Goldfinch, Field Sparrow, Eastern Towhee, Baltimore Oriole, Scarlet Tanager, Indigo Bunting, and warblers that included Ovenbird, Yellow, Blue-winged, Blackburnian, Black-and-white, Chestnut-sided, Common Yellowthroat, and American Redstart.
There was a Great Blue Heron and a Lesser Yellowlegs at the Regency Boulevard retention ponds, but the most interesting birds there were a swirling group of swifts and swallows at the south pond. I conservatively counted 18 Chimney Swifts, 7 Northern Rough-winged Swallows, 6 Tree Swallows, 3 Barn Swallows, 2 Bank Swallows, and a Cliff Swallow.
I stopped at the Trio Farms Boulevard retention ponds and was lucky to see the red frontal shield of the continuing Common Gallinule through the cattails it often hides in. Also there were a Belted Kingfisher, an Eastern Kingbird, and 2 Northern Rough-winged Swallows.
A quick stop at Green Pond produced 2 Green Herons, a Warbling Vireo, 4 Barn and 3 Tree Swallows, and a Blackpoll Warbler. One of the two Green Herons perched in the small, wooded pond next to the house by the intersection.
Sunday, May 18, 2025
Yet Another Olive-sided Flycatcher and a Late Lesser Scaup ~ May 18, 2025
Mike Schall and Adam Miller heard the Swainson's Warbler again yesterday at the spot off of National Park Drive. I had tried three times to hear or see this bird and had come up empty each time. So this morning, I headed back to the spot for a fourth attempt. I parked the car at the start of the old road and heard an Acadian Flycatcher as soon as I got out of the car. I found the bird and tried taking some photos, but it was so dark and the shutter speeds so slow, the best I got was this blurred one.
While doing that, the Northern Bobwhite that had been reported there a day or two ago began calling. I recorded some audio of it. This bird is most likely an escapee since wild birds have been gone from our area for decades.
On the way to the Swainson's area, I stopped at the overgrown field where I had seen Olive-sided Flycatcher twice before. When I checked the tops of the snags, amazingly, there was another Olive-sided there! I took these photos of it, which was now my 6th Olive-sided of the year!
I spent over an hour listening for the Swainson's and struck out again.
I left National Park Drive and stopped at the east lot at Lake Minsi. While scoping the lake, I came across a very late female Lesser Scaup. It had a very obvious white patch showing on its left side, which makes me wonder if it was missing some flight feathers.
While photographing the Lesser Scaup, a Bald Eagle flew by and circled the lake while getting attacked by a Red-winged Blackbird.
A lingering Snow Goose and an apparent Graylag x Swan Goose hybrid were there at the boat launch.
Also at Lake Minsi were 2 Wood Ducks, 5 Double-crested Cormorants, a Green Heron, a Yellow-throated Vireo, 48 Purple Martins, a pair of Eastern Bluebirds, and 2 American Redstarts.
At nearby Bear Swamp, I found Eastern Wood-Pewee, Acadian Flycatcher, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Veery, Wood Thrush, and Yellow Warbler.
Back home, I had my first female Ruby-throated Hummingbird at the feeder.
While doing that, the Northern Bobwhite that had been reported there a day or two ago began calling. I recorded some audio of it. This bird is most likely an escapee since wild birds have been gone from our area for decades.
On the way to the Swainson's area, I stopped at the overgrown field where I had seen Olive-sided Flycatcher twice before. When I checked the tops of the snags, amazingly, there was another Olive-sided there! I took these photos of it, which was now my 6th Olive-sided of the year!
I spent over an hour listening for the Swainson's and struck out again.
I left National Park Drive and stopped at the east lot at Lake Minsi. While scoping the lake, I came across a very late female Lesser Scaup. It had a very obvious white patch showing on its left side, which makes me wonder if it was missing some flight feathers.
While photographing the Lesser Scaup, a Bald Eagle flew by and circled the lake while getting attacked by a Red-winged Blackbird.
A lingering Snow Goose and an apparent Graylag x Swan Goose hybrid were there at the boat launch.
Also at Lake Minsi were 2 Wood Ducks, 5 Double-crested Cormorants, a Green Heron, a Yellow-throated Vireo, 48 Purple Martins, a pair of Eastern Bluebirds, and 2 American Redstarts.
At nearby Bear Swamp, I found Eastern Wood-Pewee, Acadian Flycatcher, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Veery, Wood Thrush, and Yellow Warbler.
Back home, I had my first female Ruby-throated Hummingbird at the feeder.
Saturday, May 17, 2025
Blue Grosbeak plus Olive-sided Flycatcher and Glossy Ibis Again! ~ May 17, 2025
I returned to National Park Drive to see what might be there. The usual birds were heard along the road. When I got to the paved double road past the residence, I ran into Adam Miller. We both walked up the double road where we heard Prairie Warbler singing. About three-quarters of the way up the road, Adam spotted an Olive-sided Flycatcher atop one of the snags to the east. It was my 5th Olive-sided of the year, a bird that you are thankful for if you find one sometime during the year.
Other birds of note included Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Chimney Swift, Great Blue Heron, Great Crested Flycatcher, Red-eyed and Yellow-throated Vireo, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Eastern Bluebird, Wood Thrush, Cedar Waxwing, American Goldfinch, Baltimore Oriole, Scarlet Tanager, Indigo Bunting, and warblers that included Ovenbird, Hooded, Yellow, Blackpoll, Common Yellowthroat, and Northern and Louisiana Waterthrush.
While looking at the Olive-sided, I got a text from Megan Davis that she had found a Blue Grosbeak along Miller Road in Lower Mount Bethel Township. I was actually planning to stop there anyway on the way back home to listen for Grasshopper Sparrow, so seeing this bird would be a bonus. I got there and, after about 15 minutes, saw the bird perched on a wire along the road. It stayed long enough in good light to get these nice photos of it.
I parked farther up the road, got out of the car, and listened for Grasshopper Sparrow. After a while, I saw a bird fly low along the field and land behind a tuft of grass. I very slowly walked towards it, struggling to see the bird through the grass. It was a Grasshopper! I took some photos of it while partially hidden behind the grass clump.
I stood still for at least 20 minutes, hoping that it would eventually emerge from the grass, and it finally did. That's when I was able to get the best photos I will probably ever get of this sparrow.
I stopped at the Hollo Road pond and saw a Great Egret there. While taking photos of it, I spotted the Glossy Ibis at the near edge of the pond!
I once again sent out a text about it. Later, Mike Schall had it about ten feet up in one of the trees at the near right edge of the pond.
I stopped at the Newburg Road retention pond and found a Green Heron there.
Other birds of note included Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Chimney Swift, Great Blue Heron, Great Crested Flycatcher, Red-eyed and Yellow-throated Vireo, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Eastern Bluebird, Wood Thrush, Cedar Waxwing, American Goldfinch, Baltimore Oriole, Scarlet Tanager, Indigo Bunting, and warblers that included Ovenbird, Hooded, Yellow, Blackpoll, Common Yellowthroat, and Northern and Louisiana Waterthrush.
While looking at the Olive-sided, I got a text from Megan Davis that she had found a Blue Grosbeak along Miller Road in Lower Mount Bethel Township. I was actually planning to stop there anyway on the way back home to listen for Grasshopper Sparrow, so seeing this bird would be a bonus. I got there and, after about 15 minutes, saw the bird perched on a wire along the road. It stayed long enough in good light to get these nice photos of it.
I parked farther up the road, got out of the car, and listened for Grasshopper Sparrow. After a while, I saw a bird fly low along the field and land behind a tuft of grass. I very slowly walked towards it, struggling to see the bird through the grass. It was a Grasshopper! I took some photos of it while partially hidden behind the grass clump.
I stood still for at least 20 minutes, hoping that it would eventually emerge from the grass, and it finally did. That's when I was able to get the best photos I will probably ever get of this sparrow.
I stopped at the Hollo Road pond and saw a Great Egret there. While taking photos of it, I spotted the Glossy Ibis at the near edge of the pond!
I once again sent out a text about it. Later, Mike Schall had it about ten feet up in one of the trees at the near right edge of the pond.
I stopped at the Newburg Road retention pond and found a Green Heron there.
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