Saturday, January 1, 2011
Harlequin Duck in Northampton County ~ January 1, 2011
In order to get the New Year off to a great start, I went back to see if the Harlequin Duck was still present. After not seeing it at the spot next to the recreation fields, I walked down the Martins Creek Environmental Preserve's 'Blue Trail' and found it with four Buffleheads. A couple hours later in the failing afternoon light, I got to see it hop up on a rock and preen a little before dropping back down into the river.
Harlequin Duck on the Delaware River at the Martins Creek Environmental Preserve, Northampton County.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Harlequin Duck in Northampton County ~ December 29, 2010
I made another trek up to see the male Harlequin Duck this afternoon. I met Billy Weber at the parking lot, who told me that the bird was much farther up the river, closer to Belvidere. So I, along with a few other birders, drove up to the Lower Mount Bethel Recreation Fields, parked there, and walked over to the river. This puts you at the head of the rapids that are found between there and the point where the Blue Trail meets the river. The bird was there with several Buffleheads, spending almost all of its time on the New Jersey side of the river although it did eventually cross the imaginary border into PA. Later, the group lifted off and flew down the middle of the river past the rapids, which most likely put them back at the area that the bird was seen yesterday.
I managed to get another fairly good photo of the bird given the distance. This bird represents the 1st documented record for Northampton County!
Harlequin Duck on the Delaware River near Riverton, Northampton County.
For those interested in visiting the area where the bird spent most of the day, continue past the Tekening parking lot and turn into the Lower Mount Bethel Township Recreation Fields parking lot, which is just before the Belvidere Bridge. Park at the far end of the parking lot and walk across the soccer fields towards the river. The bird was most often near a boat launch on the New Jersey side, which is downriver from a distinctive aqua-colored house with bright pink shutters.
I managed to get another fairly good photo of the bird given the distance. This bird represents the 1st documented record for Northampton County!
For those interested in visiting the area where the bird spent most of the day, continue past the Tekening parking lot and turn into the Lower Mount Bethel Township Recreation Fields parking lot, which is just before the Belvidere Bridge. Park at the far end of the parking lot and walk across the soccer fields towards the river. The bird was most often near a boat launch on the New Jersey side, which is downriver from a distinctive aqua-colored house with bright pink shutters.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Harlequin Duck in Northampton County ~ December 28, 2010
While birding with Kathy Sieminski, Stephen Kloiber found a male Harlequin Duck along the Delaware River at the Martins Creek Environmental Preserve in Northampton County. After calling several birders and giving directions to others, I headed up to the spot. The bird seemed content, swimming and diving with a group of Buffleheads and Common Goldeneyes. I took some long-distance photos of the bird for documentation purposes. This bird represents the 1st documented record for Northampton County!
Harlequin Duck on the Delaware River at the Martins Creek Environmental Preserve, Northampton County.
All of the birders that were there left happy. A few of us drove over to the New Jersey side of the river to see if we could get closer looks, but when we got there, the ducks were gone. The adult Bald Eagle perched in a nearby tree was most likely responsible for that.
Bald Eagle on the Delaware River at the Martins Creek Environmental Preserve, Northampton County.
For those interested in visiting this spot, the bird was present on the river approximately where the first 'R' in the word "River" is on this map.
All of the birders that were there left happy. A few of us drove over to the New Jersey side of the river to see if we could get closer looks, but when we got there, the ducks were gone. The adult Bald Eagle perched in a nearby tree was most likely responsible for that.
For those interested in visiting this spot, the bird was present on the river approximately where the first 'R' in the word "River" is on this map.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Prairie Falcon near Newburg, Cumberland County ~ November 28, 2010
Jason Horn, Stephen Kloiber, and I made a very successful run Sunday for some noteworthy birds. We headed for Cumberland County and were lucky enough to drive up and find the Prairie Falcon in one of the large trees just northwest of the intersection of Duncan and Mud Level Roads. I managed to get this horrible, long-distance photo of the falcon.
Prairie Falcon near Newburg, Cumberland County. You can barely make out the whisker mark and dark sides on this pale brown bird.
It was perched there from 8:50 to about 9:05 AM when it winged east along Mud Level Road until it was out of sight over the little substation area. If accepted, this would be the first record for Pennsylvania.
At the substation, we found a Merlin ripping apart an unfortunate Horned Lark on a nearby pole and a good number of White-crowned Sparrows directly across from there on the north side of the road.
Merlin near Newburg, Cumberland County with an unlucky Horned Lark in its talons.
After about an hour of being unable to refind the Prairie, we headed for Shartlesville to get another look, and maybe some photos, of the Anna's Hummingbird, another first for Pennsylvania! There, after a short wait, the Anna's buzzed into a crabapple tree across from trailer M-69 and then eventually over to the feeder there. To get the background story on the Anna's and see the photos I was lucky enough to get of it, continue on to the next entry.
It was perched there from 8:50 to about 9:05 AM when it winged east along Mud Level Road until it was out of sight over the little substation area. If accepted, this would be the first record for Pennsylvania.
At the substation, we found a Merlin ripping apart an unfortunate Horned Lark on a nearby pole and a good number of White-crowned Sparrows directly across from there on the north side of the road.
After about an hour of being unable to refind the Prairie, we headed for Shartlesville to get another look, and maybe some photos, of the Anna's Hummingbird, another first for Pennsylvania! There, after a short wait, the Anna's buzzed into a crabapple tree across from trailer M-69 and then eventually over to the feeder there. To get the background story on the Anna's and see the photos I was lucky enough to get of it, continue on to the next entry.
Anna's Hummingbird in Shartlesville, Berks County ~ November 28, 2010
Back around late October, Renee Gery noticed a hummingbird visiting her feeder. Eventually, she contacted Jack Holcomb who contacted bander Scott Weidensaul. On November 21st, Scott caught and banded the bird and verified that it was an adult female Anna's Hummingbird, the first record for Pennsylvania! I saw the bird the next morning but never got a chance to get a photo of it. On the 28th, I managed to get these three photos of it.
Anna's Hummingbird near Shartlesville, Berks County. Note the chunky appearance and the stippled gorget.
Anna's Hummingbird near Shartlesville, Berks County. Note the fairly straight bill and the grayish underparts.
Anna's Hummingbird near Shartlesville, Berks County. Again, note the chunky appearance and the fairly straight bill.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
White-tailed Kite in Connecticut ~ August 7, 2010
Last Sunday, news broke of an amazing sighting of a White-tailed Kite in Stratford, Connecticut! Far from its normal range, this striking raptor seemed very content with the area and stayed there throughout the week. Since it had been many years since I had seen my last one (in Texas) and the weather was supposed to be nice, I decided to head up there.
Within minutes of arriving at Stratford Point, the bird was spotted 'kiting', eventually nabbing a meal and devouring it atop a telephone pole. Next, it made a direct flight to nearby Short Beach Park where it perched about a hundred yards away in a snag for about an hour, allowing many happy birders all the looks and photos that they could ask for. From what I've read, this bird represents only the 2nd record for the Northeast; the first one was from Martha's Vineyard on May 30, 1910!
White-tailed Kite at South Beach in Stratford, Connecticut. Note the white tail and black markings on the shoulder of the wing.
White-tailed Kite at South Beach in Stratford, Connecticut. Here the bird is stretching a wing.
White-tailed Kite at South Beach in Stratford, Connecticut. Note the black shoulder patch for which this bird was previously named and the white tail, which generated the newer name.
While at Stratford Point, a Peregrine Falcon zipped by.
Peregrine Falcon at Stratford Point in Stratford, Connecticut.
Other birds noted there included Merlin, Semipalmated Plover, Willet, Ruddy Turnstone, Spotted and Semipalmated Sandpiper, Common and Forster's Tern, Eastern Kingbird, Fish Crow, Carolina Wren, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Yellow Warbler, and Orchard Oriole.
Within minutes of arriving at Stratford Point, the bird was spotted 'kiting', eventually nabbing a meal and devouring it atop a telephone pole. Next, it made a direct flight to nearby Short Beach Park where it perched about a hundred yards away in a snag for about an hour, allowing many happy birders all the looks and photos that they could ask for. From what I've read, this bird represents only the 2nd record for the Northeast; the first one was from Martha's Vineyard on May 30, 1910!
While at Stratford Point, a Peregrine Falcon zipped by.
Other birds noted there included Merlin, Semipalmated Plover, Willet, Ruddy Turnstone, Spotted and Semipalmated Sandpiper, Common and Forster's Tern, Eastern Kingbird, Fish Crow, Carolina Wren, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Yellow Warbler, and Orchard Oriole.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Eurasian Collared-Dove in Northampton County ~ August 3, 2010
It was just a matter of time before one of these were found in the Lehigh Valley. Yesterday, Billy Weber happened to hear a Eurasian Collared-Dove while driving down Freemansburg Avenue in Bethlehem Township. He turned around and found two birds on the wires near the intersection with Wagner Drive.
This morning, I went down there and found one of the two birds at almost the same exact spot.
Eurasian Collared-Dove in Bethlehem Township, Northampton County. Note the squared-off tail compared to that of a Mourning Dove's pointed tail.
The bird's chest puffed out while it was calling.
Eurasian Collared-Dove in Bethlehem Township, Northampton County. Note the dark line on the collar and the dark primaries contrasting with the rest of the wing.
Eventually, it flew up and circled around a few times, unlike the fast, direct flight of the Mourning Doves, which were also present in good numbers.
Eurasian Collared-Dove in Bethlehem Township, Northampton County. Note the gray undertail coverts and the white band on the outer tail feathers.
Eurasian Collared-Dove in Bethlehem Township, Northampton County. This was the only flight photo I got of the top of the bird. Although blurry, I included it to show the contrasting primaries, which are much darker than the rest of the wing.
This sighting represents the 1st record for Northampton County!
This morning, I went down there and found one of the two birds at almost the same exact spot.
The bird's chest puffed out while it was calling.
Eventually, it flew up and circled around a few times, unlike the fast, direct flight of the Mourning Doves, which were also present in good numbers.
This sighting represents the 1st record for Northampton County!
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