Some Warblers, Swainson's Thrushes, and a Late Merlin ~ May 14, 2026

I started the day at the Kirkridge area and finally found a Cerulean Warbler there among Pileated Woodpecker, Great Crested Flycatcher, Yellow-throated Vireo, Wood Thrush, Black-and-white and Bay-breasted Warbler, American Redstart, and Scarlet Tanager.

I did a quick walk at Bear Swamp to look for thrushes. I was hoping for Gray-cheeked Thrush, but the only birds I had there were Wood Thrush, Louisiana Waterthrush, and an Ovenbird carring nesting material.

An Ovenbird with nesting material.

I drove all the way to the east end of National Park Drive and parked there. Again I was hoping for Gray-cheeked Thrush, so I walked a section of the woods that was favorable for them. I did find a bunch of thrushes, but they all had eye rings. I officially counted 7 Swainson's Thrushes, but there were probably more like nine.

Swainson's Thrush

While in the woods, I also heard Eastern Wood-Pewee, Great Crested Flycatcher, Wood Thrush, Scarlet Tanager, Ovenbird, Black-and-white and Tennessee Warbler, American Redstart, and Northern Parula.

I then walked back the divided road and along some of the back fields. Along the way, I saw Eastern Bluebird, American Goldfinch, Field and Chipping Sparrow, Baltimore Oriole, and a few Indigo Buntings, but the highlight there was a Prairie Warbler feeding in the brushy edge of the one field.

Prairie Warbler

Other notables found along the road on the way in and out included Eastern Phoebe, Yellow-throated and Red-eyed Vireo, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, and warblers that included Hooded, Blue-winged, Worm-eating, Magnolia, Bay-breasted, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Green, Louisiana Waterthrush, and Common Yellowthroat.

On the way back, I walked a short section of the Plainfield Township Recreation Trail by Knitters Hill Road. Birds found there included Barn Swallow, Gray Catbird, Eastern Bluebird, Baltimore Oriole, Common Yellowthroat, Northern Yellow Warbler, and a calling Willow Flycatcher.

Willow Flycatcher

The Tatamy Exit retention pond held 4 Semipalmated Plovers, 2 Spotted Sandpipers, a Solitary Sandpiper, 3 Lesser Yellowlegs, 19 Least Sandpipers, and 2 Northern Rough-winged Swallows.

I counted 25 continuing Snow Geese at Green Pond. A Great Blue Heron and a Green Heron were also there. Birds in the ponds along the paved path included 9 Spotted Sandpipers, 10 Least Sandpipers, Eastern Kingbird, and one Bank Swallow among Tree, Barn, and Northern Rough-winged Swallows, but the surprise of the day was a late Merlin that came in and targeted the Least Sandpipers but came up empty.

Merlin

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Another Busy Migrant Day ~ May 13, 2026

The weather forecast was for some showers to move in around noon, similar to what happened on the 9th when there was a really good movement of birds before the rain arrived. I decided to head back to National Park Drive to see if there would be a repeat result. Before that, I did a little birding in the Kirkridge area and had 2 Common Nighthawks fly by, but not much else was seen.

Instead of parking along National Park Drive and walking back to the old farm, I drove to the end of the road and birded the divided road area. It was really active there. Soon after, Adam Smith showed up and we spent about an hour in one area watching migrants flitting around in the surrounding trees and brush. I ended up with 15 warbler species among 47 total species that included 2 Hoodeds, a Blue-winged, 2 Black-and-whites, 3 Tennessees, 2 Cape Mays, a Magnolia, 2 Chestnut-sideds, a Blackpoll, 2 Ovenbirds, a Louisiana Waterthrush, 2 Common Yellowthroats, 3 American Redstarts, and 2 Northern Parulas.

Tennessee Warbler

Cape May Warbler

There were also at least 13 Yellow-rumped Warblers, but it was interesting to see one female with a stick in its beak! Unfortunately, I wasn't quick enough to get a photo of it before it flew off. However, I WAS able to get a photo of a female Black-throated Green Warbler with nesting material in her beak!

A female Black-throated Green Warbler carrying nesting material.

Could both of these species being nesting south of the ridge? Other notables were Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Pileated Woodpecker, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Yellow-throated and Red-eyed Vireo, Common Raven, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Brown Thrasher, Eastern Bluebird, Veery, Wood Thrush, Cedar Waxwing, American Goldfinch, Chipping, Field, and White-throated Sparrow, Baltimore Oriole, Scarlet Tanager, and Indigo Bunting.

Great Crested Flycatcher

Cedar Waxwing

Scarlet Tanager

I went back up to Kirkridge to see if that was as active, but it was now almost 11:00. While there, I saw an adult Red-tailed Hawk circling with a Gray Squirrel in its grasp.

A Red-tailed Hawk with an unlucky Gray Squirrel.

I then went to Lake Minsi where I found a Wood Duck, a Spotted Sandpiper, a Common Loon, 6 Double-crested Cormorants, a Green Heron, a Pileated Woodpecker, a Great Crested Flycatcher, a Yellow-throated and 2 Red-eyed Vireos, 34 Purple Martins, 2 Eastern Bluebirds, a Veery, a Baltimore Oriole, a Scarlet Tanager, an Ovenbird, an American Redstart, a Northern Yellow Warbler, and a Canada Warbler.

Canada Warbler

The Tatamy Exit retention pond was pretty busy with 5 Semipalmated Plovers, 5 Spotted Sandpipers, a Solitary Sandpiper, one Greater and 3 Lesser Yellowlegs, 24 Least Sandpipers, and a Great Blue Heron.

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Canada and Wilson's Warbler at Housenick Park ~ May 12, 2026

I went to Housenick Park this morning. I ran into Linda Freedman and Jim Figlar and walked the rest of the trails with them. It was a quality, not quantity, type of day. There weren't many migrating warblers, but I did see a Canada Warbler and 2 Wilson's Warblers in addition to a Magnolia, a Black-and-white, and 2 Yellow-rumped Warblers, a Northern Waterthrush, 2 Northern Parulas, 5 Common Yellowthroats, and 6 American Redstarts.

Canada Warbler

Wilson's Warbler

We also saw 3 Least Flycatchers along the stream.

Least Flycatcher

Linda pointed out a Baltimore Oriole nest, and we watched the female working on the nest.

A female Baltimore Oriole at her nest.

Other notables seen along the way included Solitary Sandpiper, Great Blue and Green Heron, Bald Eagle, Belted Kingfisher, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Warbling and Red-eyed Vireo, Tree Swallow, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Northern House Wren, Gray Catbird, Eastern Bluebird, Veery, Wood Thrush, White-throated and Chipping Sparrow, Orchard Oriole, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and Indigo Bunting.

Birds at Green Pond included 34 continuing Snow Geese, 39 Canada Geese, 21 Mallards, a Double-crested Cormorant, and Great Blue and Green Heron. The ponds and woods edge along the paved path produced 7 Spotted Sandpipers, 2 Solitary Sandpipers, a Greater Yellowlegs, 17 Least Sandpipers, Tree, Barn, and Northern Rough-winged Swallows, Common Yellowthroat, and Northern Yellow Warbler.

The Newburg Road retention pond held the continuing Greater Yellowlegs and a Great Blue Heron; and the Hollo Road retention pond produced one each of Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs.

The Tatamy Exit retention pond held one Semipalmated Plover, a Spotted Sandpiper, a Solitary Sandpiper, 6 Lesser Yellowlegs, 14 Least Sandpipers, and 2 Northern Rough-winged Swallows gathering nesting material.

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A Mourning Warbler on a Fairly Quiet Day! ~ May 11, 2026

Before checking out National Park Drive again this morning, I drove down Institute Drive. I didn't hear a Canada Warbler I was hoping for, but I did find Wild Turkey, Red-eyed Vireo, Eastern Bluebird, Ovenbird, Black-and-white Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, and Northern Yellow Warbler.

Along National Park Drive, I ran into Chris Hess and we birded the rest of the morning together. We walked the trail to the old farm, then down to the private residence, and back up the road to the cars. Along the stretch to the old farm, I saw a Lincoln's Sparrow with 2 White-throated Sparrows. In the section below the old farm, I spotted my first Swainson's Thrush of the year.

Swainson's Thrush

Just before reaching the divided road by the private residence, I saw a Black Rat Snake on a log and a second Lincoln's Sparrow that I could only get a blurry photo of.

A Black Rat Snake with its head at the left edge of the photo.

Lincoln's Sparrow

Back at the cars, I found an Acadian Flycatcher perched right behind them and got this photo of it.

Acadian Flycatcher

I drove back out the road and stopped at the pulloff where the gravel road stops and the paved road starts to go through my checklist and mark down the ones that I had forgotten to enter. While I was doing that, I thought I heard a Mourning Warbler sing!?! My hearing isn't that good anymore, but this was loud, so it was close. Even so, I was doubting myself, so I turned on Merlin and, when the bird sang again, it showed up on that. I got out of the car and realized it was singing in the bush right by the car. I got glimpses of its head, confirming that it was indeed a Mourning. I tried to slowly work for a full view of it, but it flew out of that bush and into another. Soon after, it flew past me and across the road. Thankfully, it landed in an open spot along the road where I was thrilled to get these two photos of it. It was a great end to a fairly slow morning.

Mourning Warbler

The Tatamy Exit retention pond held 2 Semipalmated Plovers, a Killdeer, 4 Spotted Sandpipers, 2 Solitary Sandpipers, 2 Greater and 4 Lesser Yellowlegs, 11 Least Sandpipers, and 3 Northern Rough-winged Swallows.

The Hollo Road retention pond yielded a Killdeer, a Spotted Sandpiper, 2 Solitary Sandpipers, 2 Lesser Yellowlegs, 3 Least Sandpipers, 4 Bank Swallows, and 2 Northern Rough-winged Swallows.

Five Least Sandpipers were the only shorebirds at the Christian Springs Road pond.

I counted 34 Snow Geese at Green Pond today, which also had a Green Heron along its edge. The back middle pond held 5 Spotted Sandpipers, 2 Solitary Sandpipers, one Greater and one Lesser Yellowlegs, and 14 Least Sandpipers.

My last stop was the Newburg Road retention pond. The Greater Yellowlegs that has been there since April 27th continued.

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L.V.A.S. Bird Walk at the Plainfield Recreation Trail ~ May 10, 2026

I led the Mother's Day bird walk along the Plainfield Recreation Trail with eight attendees. It was a pretty slow day with very little migration evident. We still managed to record 50 species. Among the 50 were Chimney Swift, Solitary Sandpiper, Great Blue Heron, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Eastern Phoebe, Great Crested Flycatcher, Red-eyed and Eastern Warbling Vireo, Common Raven, Northern Rough-winged and Barn Swallow, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Northern House Wren, Brown Thrasher, Wood Thrush, Field Sparrow, Baltimore Oriole, and warblers that included Ovenbird, Magnolia, Northern Yellow, Black-and-white, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Northern Parula, American Redstart, Common Yellowthroat, and Northern Waterthrush.

Solitary Sandpiper

Northern Waterthrush

The Tatamy Exit retention pond held one Killdeer, 4 Spotted Sandpipers, a Solitary Sandpiper, 4 Lesser Yellowlegs, a Greater Yellowlegs, and 2 Least Sandpipers.

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Another Great Migrant Day in Northampton County ~ May 9, 2026

Since the rain wasn't supposed to start until around 9:00-10:00 AM, I once again went to National Park Drive. I found Adam Miller there at the beginning of the road looking up into the trees. I got out and there were a good number of birds working the trees that included Yellow-throated, Blue-headed, and Red-eyed Vireo, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, and warblers that included Black-and-white, Magnolia, Bay-breasted, Chestnut-sided, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Green, American Redstart, and Northern Parula.

An Acadian Flycatcher was calling when we parked at the trail to the old farm. Along the trail, we had Pileated Woodpecker, White-throated Sparrow, Baltimore Oriole, Scarlet Tanager, and warblers that included Ovenbird, Black-and-white, Hooded, Magnolia, Chestnut-sided, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, many Yellow-rumpeds, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, and Northern Parula.

In the area around the farm, we ran into Bob and Jennifer McBride and had two calling Black-billed Cuckoos, Great Crested Flycatcher, Gray Catbird, Veery, Wood Thrush, Eastern Towhee, and Indigo Bunting.

Black-billed Cuckoo

Veery

Along the divided road by the private residence, we added Brown Thrasher and Eastern Bluebird.

We spent at least 20 minutes at one spot near the Slateford Loop Trail parking lot because it was loaded with warblers and other birds. We saw Rose-breasted Grosbeak plus many species of warblers including our first Tennessee, Cape May Warbler, and Blackburnian Warblers of the day. I ended up with a total of 51 species, 15 of them warblers, and good totals of these particular ones: Yellow-rumped Warblers (26), Black-and-white Warblers (13), American Redstarts (9), and Black-throated Green Warblers (8).

I birded along Institute Drive and found Yellow-throated Vireo, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Veery, Wood Thrush, Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Northern Parula, Northern Yellow Warbler, and Black-throated Green Warbler, but the most interesting sighting wasn't a bird. After I parked the car at the concrete barriers, a young Black Bear crossed the road, but it hurried back into the woods when it saw me and before I could get a photo.

Lake Minsi held 15 Double-crested Cormorants and a Bank Swallow among the Tree and mostly Barn Swallows.

East Bangor Dam produced 2 Bank Swallows among roughly 50 Barn Swallows and 5 Tree Swallows, Northern Yellow Warbler, plus a 'grunting' Virginia Rail.

I stopped at the Tatamy Exit retention pond as the rain got a little more steady. Three Semipalmated Plovers dropped in while I was there. Other birds present included a Killdeer, a Spotted Sandpiper, 2 Greater and 2 Lesser Yellowlegs, 11 Least Sandpipers, and a Pectoral Sandpiper, but the two best birds there were a Dunlin and a Semipalmated Sandpiper.

Dunlin

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Over at Green Pond, I found 37 Snow Geese still hanging around, plus a Great Blue Heron, 3 Green Herons, Eastern Warbling Vireo, and a Yellow-rumped Warbler.

Green Heron

While walking the paved path, the Farmersville Road retention pond produced Eastern Kingbird and a Bank Swallow among Northern Rough-winged, Tree, and mostly Barn Swallows; and the back middle pond held 6 Spotted Sandpipers, a Solitary Sandpiper, a Least Sandpiper, and the continuing Dunlin.

Dunlin

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