Adam Miller had a fantastic morning of birding yesterday along National Park Drive, so I decided to bird there this morning. I briefly stopped at Lake Minsi and just happened to run into Adam there. He was headed to National Park Drive, too, so we teamed up and headed over there. We also were joined by Adam and Owen Smith for some of the morning. Along the road, we found Blue-headed and Red-eyed Vireos, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Purple Finches, Baltimore Oriole, and warblers that included Ovenbird, Black-and-white, Nashville, Hooded, Blackburnian, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, many Yellow-rumped Warblers, and Northern Parula.
A walk back to the Slateford Historical Farm produced a 'fly-by' Common Loon and Broad-winged Hawk, plus Hairy and Pileated Woodpecker, White-throated Sparrows, Eastern Towhee, and Blue-winged and Magnolia Warbler.
We walked all the way from the farm down to the Arrow Island Overlook area, adding a Wild Turkey, Common Raven, Gray Catbirds, Veery, American Goldfinch, and Worm-eating Warbler.
On the way back from the Arrow Island area, I just happened to notice a bird pop up a few feet from the ground and perch partly hidden behind a branch. I pointed it out to Adam and our original thought was that it might be a female Common Yellowthroat. Luckily, it flew up to a bush next to the trail and perched in the open with a Ruby-crowned Kinglet. That's when we both realized it was an Orange-crowned Warbler! Unfortunately, I was unable to get a photo of it before it disappeared back into the brush. It had a thin dark eyeline on its pale gray head that slightly contrasted with the drab green back, had no wingbars, and had noticeable yellow undertail coverts, which made it a bird of the 'celata' subspecies. It was a nice surprise to find one in Spring.
In the area around the parking lot at the east end of the drive, we spotted Northern House Wren, Wood Thrush, Chipping Sparrow, Chestnut-sided and Palm Warbler, many more Yellow-rumped Warblers, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and Indigo Bunting.
From there, we walked back to the farm and up the road back to our cars, adding 6 'fly-by' Double-crested Cormorants, an Eastern Phoebe, Yellow-throated Vireo among more warblers, an Eastern Bluebird, and Field and Swamp Sparrow.
My checklist contained a total of 58 species, 15 of them warblers! It can be seen here.
On the way back home, I stopped at the Tatamy Exit retention pond, which held a Spotted and a Least Sandpiper.
Birding Adventures of Dave DeReamus
Sunday, May 3, 2026
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Both Yellowlegs at a Local Pond ~ April 29, 2026
After a morning appointment, I headed out to check some local ponds. Adam Miller had reported 13 Lesser Yellowlegs at the Christian Sprins Road pond earlier in the day, so I stopped there and found that more birds had dropped in afterwards. I counted 18 Lesser Yellowlegs, 3 Greater Yellowlegs, and a Killdeer.
Over at the Trio Farms Boulevard retention ponds, two Double-crested Cormorants, a Great Blue Heron, and a Belted Kingfisher were present. The one Double-crested Cormorant was apparently molting its lighter immature plumage, causing it to look mottled.
Two Killdeer chicks were running around while the parents kept watch over them at the Newburg Park pond.
My stop at Green Pond produced the lingering 40 Snow Geese, numbers of Tree, Barn, and Northern Rough-winged Swallows, and a Merlin that zipped by heading north.
Over at the Trio Farms Boulevard retention ponds, two Double-crested Cormorants, a Great Blue Heron, and a Belted Kingfisher were present. The one Double-crested Cormorant was apparently molting its lighter immature plumage, causing it to look mottled.
Two Killdeer chicks were running around while the parents kept watch over them at the Newburg Park pond.
My stop at Green Pond produced the lingering 40 Snow Geese, numbers of Tree, Barn, and Northern Rough-winged Swallows, and a Merlin that zipped by heading north.
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Jacobsburg State Park and Some Local Ponds ~ April 28, 2026
I once again walked Jacobsburg State Park this morning. There was very little activity. Even so, I managed to find a few Baltimore Orioles, a Blue-winged Warbler, a Black-throated Blue Warbler, 4 Louisiana Waterthrushes, and a pair of adult Bald Eagles.
Two Baltimore Orioles were apparently sparring over territory.
Also among the 43 species were 4 Common Mergansers, a Great Blue Heron, a Red-shouldered Hawk, an American Kestrel, 4 Eastern Phoebes, a Red-eyed Vireo, 39 Blue Jays, a Common Raven, 2 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, 2 Northern House Wrens, 4 Gray Catbirds, a Brown Thrasher, 2 Eastern Bluebirds, 12 American Goldfinches, a Field Sparrow, 5 White-throated Sparrows, 6 Eastern Towhees, and a Common Yellowthroat.
On the way back home, I stopped at the Hollo Road retention pond, which held 2 Greater Yellowlegs, a Spotted Sandpiper, and a Killdeer.
The Newburg Road retention pond also had a Greater Yellowlegs.
Green Pond produced the continuing 40 Snow Geese, a Killdeer, a Green Heron, a Great Blue Heron, and 3 Chimney Swifts among a good number of Tree, Barn, and Northern Rough-winged Swallows.
My last stop was at the St. Luke's Anderson Campus where I wanted to check out their Purple Martin houses. Unfortunately, there were no Purple Martins there and 6 House Sparrows were sitting by the gourd openings.
Two Baltimore Orioles were apparently sparring over territory.
Also among the 43 species were 4 Common Mergansers, a Great Blue Heron, a Red-shouldered Hawk, an American Kestrel, 4 Eastern Phoebes, a Red-eyed Vireo, 39 Blue Jays, a Common Raven, 2 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, 2 Northern House Wrens, 4 Gray Catbirds, a Brown Thrasher, 2 Eastern Bluebirds, 12 American Goldfinches, a Field Sparrow, 5 White-throated Sparrows, 6 Eastern Towhees, and a Common Yellowthroat.
On the way back home, I stopped at the Hollo Road retention pond, which held 2 Greater Yellowlegs, a Spotted Sandpiper, and a Killdeer.
The Newburg Road retention pond also had a Greater Yellowlegs.
Green Pond produced the continuing 40 Snow Geese, a Killdeer, a Green Heron, a Great Blue Heron, and 3 Chimney Swifts among a good number of Tree, Barn, and Northern Rough-winged Swallows.
My last stop was at the St. Luke's Anderson Campus where I wanted to check out their Purple Martin houses. Unfortunately, there were no Purple Martins there and 6 House Sparrows were sitting by the gourd openings.
Monday, April 27, 2026
Jacobsburg State Park, Newburg Pond, and Green Pond ~ April 27, 2026
This morning's walk at Jacobsburg State Park was pretty dead as far as migrants went. Of the 33 species, the only new year bird was a Black-and-white Warbler.
A pair of Common Mergansers were in the creek, and a Broad-winged Hawk circled with an Osprey over the visitor center.
Other notables included Wild Turkey, Eastern Phoebe, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Northern House Wren, Gray Catbird, Eastern Bluebird, American Goldfinch, Field Sparrow, and Eastern Towhee.
I made two stops on the way back home. The Newburg Road retention pond held a Greater Yellowlegs.
Green Pond produced the continuing 39 Snow Geese, a Killdeer, Tree, Barn, and Northern Rough-winged Swallows, and a Northern House Wren.
A pair of Common Mergansers were in the creek, and a Broad-winged Hawk circled with an Osprey over the visitor center.
Other notables included Wild Turkey, Eastern Phoebe, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Northern House Wren, Gray Catbird, Eastern Bluebird, American Goldfinch, Field Sparrow, and Eastern Towhee.
I made two stops on the way back home. The Newburg Road retention pond held a Greater Yellowlegs.
Green Pond produced the continuing 39 Snow Geese, a Killdeer, Tree, Barn, and Northern Rough-winged Swallows, and a Northern House Wren.
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