East Bangor Dam and Lake Minsi ~ April 14, 2023

I spent the morning birding with Charlie Zafonte. We drove to East Bangor Dam and birded along the railroad tracks. An initial sweep of the water produced Mute Swan, Double-crested Cormorant, and Great Blue Heron. A Swamp Sparrow sang from a small tree in one of the cattail patches. Later checks yielded Wood Duck and both Green-winged and Blue-winged Teal. Two Bald Eagles, two Ospreys, and a Red-shouldered Hawk were the notable raptors.

Immature Bald Eagle

Two Wilson's Snipe were present along the edge. A pair of Purple Finches were in the wooded section with the small stream. On the way back to the car, a Virginia Rail called from the cattails. We got glimpses of the orange bill as it moved through some small openings. Eventually, I spotted it just inside the edge of the cattails where it preened itself for at least a minute before moving back in deeper and out of sight.

Virginia Rail

On the way over to Lake Minsi, we stopped along Bangor Vein Road and found two Rusty Blackbirds, two Palm Warblers, and two Swamp Sparrows.

One Purple Martin was checking out the gourds beside the western parking lot at Lake Minsi.

Purple Martin

Sherri LaBar was there and told us about a Black-crowned Night-Heron that she had seen while kayaking. It wasn't visible from the parking lot, so we walked out to the middle jetty along the dam breast. It took a while, but I finally spotted it with my scope. It was partially hidden by trees, but I managed to get a very long-distance documentation photo of it.

Adult Black-crowned Night-Heron

Other notables included Mute Swan, Pied-billed Grebe, American Coot, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Osprey, and Eastern Bluebird.

---

The Lehigh River, Green Pond, and the Regency ~ April 10, 2023

I decided to take a couple walks along the Lehigh River towpath to look for Yellow-throated Warblers. For the first walk, I made a loop from the Bethlehem Boat Club east to the boat launch and back. I saw a really good candidate for a Carolina Chickadee. With us being in the hybrid zone between Black-capped and Carolina, I almost always choose "Black-capped/Carolina" as the identification. Although it never called, this bird had the dull wings, grayish back, grayish nape, and fairly short tail, which pointed very favorably towards a pure Carolina.

A good candidate for Carolina Chickadee

When I spotted a raptor circling overhead, I was thrilled when it turned out to be a nice adult Peregrine Falcon.

Adult Peregrine Falcon

Right after, I heard some 'croaking' and traced it to a Common Raven that was calling from a tree.

Common Raven

A group of 5 Common Mergansers were seen on the river, but I didn't spot any Yellow-throateds.

I also walked the Wilson Avenue area of the towpath. Again, there were no Yellow-throateds, but I did find two Palm Warblers and another Blue-gray Gnatcatcher.

My next stop was Green Pond. A Wilson's Snipe was in the little pond next to the house at the intersection.

Wilson's Snipe

A Greater Yellowlegs was working the edge of the retention pond along Green Pond Road.

Greater Yellowlegs

A Northern Flicker called from a telephone pole, and a Fish Crow held a mouthful of nesting material.

Northern Flicker

Fish Crow with nesting material

A Great Blue Heron and three Killdeer were also present.

At the Regency site, I walked the edge of the woods and followed the 'double notes' to a singing Brown Thrasher.

Brown Thrasher

The north pond produced 3 Greater Yellowlegs, 12 Buffleheads, 3 Ring-necked Ducks, 2 Ruddy Ducks, and 6 Killdeer.

Greater Yellowlegs

Buffleheads

Ring-necked Ducks

Ruddy Ducks

---

Purple Finches, the Regency Ponds, and Green Pond ~ April 7, 2023

Just after noon at home, I glanced out at the feeders and saw a pair of Purple Finches, which allowed me to slowly open the window far enough to get some nice photos of each of them.

Male Purple Finch

Female Purple Finch

Over at the Regency Boulevard retention ponds, I found 12 Buffleheads, 3 Ring-necked Ducks, a Ruddy Duck, and a Hooded Merganser in the north pond.

A Ruddy Duck, Hooded Merganser, and a Bufflehead

Ruddy Duck

Hooded Merganser

Along the north shoreline of the north pond were a Greater Yellowlegs, two Lesser Yellowlegs, and a Wilson's Snipe plus one of the nine Killdeer that were present.

Lesser Yellowlegs (left) and Greater Yellowlegs (right)

Wilson's Snipe

The highlight at the south pond came when a Red Fox trotted right past me, grabbed what I think was a rat just inside the fence, and continued on with it towards the north pond.

Red Fox

Red Fox with prey

A Northern Flicker and two Chipping Sparrows were seen along the woods edge.

Northern Flicker

On the way back home, I saw a Pied-billed Grebe and a Green-winged Teal on Green Pond while a Red-shouldered Hawk circled overhead.

Pied-billed Grebe

Red-shouldered Hawk

Two Palm Warblers were at the pond's southeastern corner.

Palm Warbler

The swampy area near the intersection held, what else(?), a Swamp Sparrow.

Swamp Sparrow

Six Hooded Mergansers and a Snow Goose were in the surrounding retention ponds.

Hooded Merganser

---

A New Yard Bird and Several County Pond Stops ~ April 5, 2023

I just happened to look out the window and notice a small bird fluttering around one of the spruce trees. I grabbed my binoculars and realized it was a Pine Warbler. I went outside with my camera and got these photos of a new 'yard bird'.

Pine Warbler

While checking out the Pine Warbler, I noticed two Chipping Sparrows, which were my first of the year. Eventually, one of them dropped down to the edge of the driveway.

Chipping Sparrow

On the way to the Regency ponds, I saw a pair of Common Mergansers on the Monocacy Creek where it crosses Steuben Road.

Common Mergansers

Notables at the Regency Boulevard retention ponds included 12 Killdeer, 6 Buffleheads, 4 Ring-necked Ducks, and a Tree Swallow. A male Brown-headed Cowbird posed on a nearby fence post.

Brown-headed Cowbird

The West Gremar Road retention pond held 3 Greater Yellowlegs and a Wilson's Snipe.
The Christian Springs Road pond held four lingering Snow Geese and three more Wilson's Snipe.

Three Wilson's Snipe

The Hollo Road retention pond produced 13 Green-winged Teal and 2 Northern Shovelers.
The last retention pond visit was along Newburg Road. The adjacent field held 3 Killdeer and 3 Savannah Sparrows.

Savannah Sparrow

---