Birdingonthe.Net Recent Postings from The Pennsylvania Birding List > Home > Mail > Alerts Updated on Thursday, March 18 at 02:38 AM ET The most recently received Mail is at the top.	Townsends Solitaire,©Dan Lane

18 Mar program in Hershey; Steve Rannels [Sally Zaino ] 17 Mar I-79 Corridor; Trumpeter Swan and Short-eared Owls [shannon thompson ] 17 Mar Washington Co. Greencove Wetlands [Lauren Conkle ] 17 Mar Quittapahilla Audubon Society Field Trips - Middle Creek & Memorial Lake [Gary Kinkley ] 18 Mar "Lake hopping"-Franklin,Fulton, Bedford Co. 03/17 [Dan Snell ] 17 Mar Trumpeter Swan - Butler Co. [Mark Vass ] 17 Mar HSR: Tussey Mountain (17 Mar 2010) 26 Raptors ["Hawkcount.Org Reports" ] 17 Mar Boyce Mayview Park-Allegheny County [Cory DeStein ] 18 Mar Centra PA Birdline for 3.18.2010 - correct file [Mark Mcconaughy ] 17 Mar Re: Harlequin Duck captured [Stephen Repasky ] 17 Mar Nazareth Quarry, Northampton county [michael schall ] 17 Mar Orange-crowned Warbler, Lancaster Co. - 17 Mar 2010 [Devin Bosler ] 17 Mar Re: Come Join in the Birding Odyssey !!! [Dave Kruel ] 17 Mar Pymatuning Lake on Tuesday [Scott Kinzey ] 17 Mar Central PA Birdline for 3.18.2010 [Mark Mcconaughy ] 17 Mar Harlequin Duck captured [Jerry McWilliams ] 17 Mar Long-tailed Ducks & Tundra Swans - Pymatuning St. Pk. - Crawford County [Bob & Mary Ann ] 17 Mar Red-Breasted Merganser Lake Minsi Northampton cty [Dan Altif ] 17 Mar Harlequin Duck not seen today at Presque Isle [Jerry McWilliams ] 17 Mar Black-headed Gull - Dauphin Co. [Ramsay Koury ] 17 Mar Presque Isle Hawkwatch for March 17, 2010 [Jerry McWilliams ] 17 Mar Middle Creek - White-fronted, Ross' Geese [Ramsay Koury ] 17 Mar Yellow-bellied Sapsucker ["Beth D. Pugliese" ] 17 Mar Washington/ allegheny county [Shawn Collins ] 17 Mar Woodcock-Prince Gallitzin State Park-Cambria [John Salvetti ] 17 Mar RBA western Pennsylvania, 15 March 2010 [Amy Taracido ] 17 Mar Re: Northern Northampton County sightings [Adam Sabatine ] 17 Mar Northern Northampton County sightings [Adam Sabatine ] 17 Mar Delaware Valley RBA, 17 MARCH 2010 [Stephen Kacir ] 17 Mar SGL 110, Berks County [Kerry Grim ] 17 Mar Franklin County: Bat: Of fTopic [Rachael Shapiro ] 17 Mar Clarion and Venango Co- screech owls, kestrels, woodcock displays [Carole Winslow ] 17 Mar First Falcon Egg @ Gulf Tower [Laura Ellis ] 17 Mar Timberdoodles! ["Hopkins,Jeffrey A." ] 17 Mar Birds, Schnecksville Lehigh County. [Matt loyko ] 17 Mar Come Join in the Birding Odyssey !!! [Dave Kruel ] 17 Mar Wild Turkeys & Common Raven-Clearfield County [Rick & Marianne Atkinson ] 17 Mar First peregrine egg at Gulf Tower, 3 at the Cathedral of Learning, Pittsburgh ["Kate St.John" ] 17 Mar Northampton Co: Walnutport to Lehigh Gap [Bill Etter ] 17 Mar Bald Eagle, Allegheny River, Allegheny County [Thomas J Moeller ] 16 Mar Lower Susquehanna River, Lancaster County [Bob Schutsky ] 16 Mar Red-necked Grebe, Red-breasted Merganser - Middle Creek WMA (Lancaster Co.) [Justin Bosler ] 16 Mar Yellow Creek State Park in Indiana County [Margaret Higbee ] 16 Mar Franklin Co [Bill Oyler ] 16 Mar HSR: Tussey Mountain (16 Mar 2010) 39 Raptors ["Hawkcount.Org Reports" ] 16 Mar Eastern Phoebe Indiana, PA [Marcy Cunkelman ] 16 Mar Presque Isle Hawkwatch for March 16, 2010 [Jerry McWilliams ] 16 Mar Camp Tuckahoe-Woodcocks [Dale Bicksler ] 16 Mar Tinicum NWR - Philadelphia County - Osprey and Tree Swallows [Sandra Keller ] 16 Mar Sweet Arrow Lake, Schuylkill co. [Denise Donmoyer ] 16 Mar Harlequin Duck still present [Jerry McWilliams ] 16 Mar Black-headed Gull continues [Matt Sabatine ] 16 Mar Lebanon Co. SGL 145 Sandhill Crane [Randy Miller ] 16 Mar Re: RFI - Conowingo Dam & Middle Creek [Les Eastman ] 16 Mar Woodcock-Clearfield County [Rick & Marianne Atkinson ] 15 Mar Saw whet owl's - Lycoming County [Steve Pinkerton ] 15 Mar RFI: Little Gull spots for Philadelphia area [Russ Namitz ] 16 Mar Lancaster Co, 3/15 - Little Gull, Ross's Goose [William Keim ] 15 Mar Wyoming Co. birds [Sandra Goodwin ] 15 Mar Wyoming Co. pintails, harrier [Sandra Goodwin ] 15 Mar Washington/ Allegheny Co. Snipe/Woodcock [Dj Shawn ] 15 Mar Ross's and Cackling Geese - Woods Edge Park (Lancaster Co.) [Justin Bosler ] 15 Mar Re: Woodcocks at Middle Creek WMA [Bruce and Sherri Carl ] 15 Mar Woodcocks allegheny co imperial [Shawn Collins ] 15 Mar Black-Headed Gull cont. [mike weible ] 15 Mar Lake Arthur; Butler County; 03/15/2010 [Richard Nugent ] 15 Mar Barred Owl & Waterfowl - Washington Co. [Mark Vass ] 15 Mar HSR: Tussey Mountain (15 Mar 2010) 29 Raptors ["Hawkcount.Org Reports" ] 15 Mar Red-breated Mergansers (2), Allegheny County [Geoff Malosh ] 15 Mar RFI - Conowingo Dam & Middle Creek [Rick ] 15 Mar Shenango and Pymatuning Lakes [Scott Kinzey ] 15 Mar Win Shafer to speak at Thursday's DVOC meeting ["F.Arthur McMorris" ] 15 Mar Harlequin Duck again today [Jerry McWilliams ] 15 Mar Berks Co. Woodcock [Steve Fordyce ] 15 Mar Eastern Phoebe, Berks Co. [Kerry Grim ] 15 Mar BH GULL, Waterfowl / Dauphin Co. [Ramsay Koury ] 15 Mar Kestrals, Mergansers Susq. Co, Turkey Vultures etc. Brad Co (Wayne Co yesterday) [Trudy Gerlach ] Subject: program in Hershey; Steve Rannels From: Sally Zaino <szaino AT RUMINATIONS.US> Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 03:28:32 -0400 Please join us at 7:00pm, March 22 at the Hershey Public Library as we listen to Steve Rannels present "Pennsylvania Spring." Free and open to the public, please call Derry Township Parks & Recreation to register at 717 533-7138. Steve Rannels’s "Pennsylvania Spring" is a journey through parts of Penn's Woods that starts with the first signs of spring, the Northward movement of waterfowl, through sequential changes in plant, animal and insect life. It is a calendar of a naturalist's love for spring. “The program will include samples from my personal library of accumulated photographs, videos and sound recordings. Be prepared to get the ‘fever’!” Steve attended Penn State University as a zoology major and then obtained a PhD in physiology at the Penn State University College of Medicine in Hershey. He gives talks on a variety of subjects in the natural sciences to bird clubs, Audubon and conservancy groups and educational centers. This event is sponsored by Manada Conservancy and Derry Township Parks & Recreation. The Hershey Public Library is located at 701 Cocoa Avenue, Hershey. posted (with permission) by Sally Zaino, Manada Conservancy Subject: I-79 Corridor; Trumpeter Swan and Short-eared Owls From: shannon thompson <ofdewdrops AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:31:52 -0700 Dave and I took a late run up to Moraine SP, Butler County to see the TRUMPETER SWAN found by Dave Darney. We were rewarded by close views of a tired swan. It barely opened its eyes, but did lift its neck a few times for good study. This was my first Trumpeter Swan. There was a pile of Tundra Swans in the middle of the lake, but as we spotted them while driving over the bridge on 422, we did not get a good count - looked like well over a dozen, though. On the drive up we had 5 Turkey Vultures and a flyover Pileated Woodpecker just south of Wexford. We made it to Black Road, near Volant, Lawrence County with just enough light to catch two SHORT-EARED OWLs hunting. We also got a few close views of the many peenting and displaying WOODCOCKs on Black Road as well. On a late note, we were successful in seeing the NORTHERN SHRIKE out in Imperial (Allegheny Co.) this past Sunday that had been recovered earlier in the day by Mark Vass. While in the area, we also had a FOS pair of RUSTY BLACKBIRDs feeding along the edge of the second pond on Bald Knob Road. We were lucky to see two wet owlets tucked in close to the mother bird at the area Great Horned Owl nest. What a treat! Shannon Thompson Allegheny County Subject: Washington Co. Greencove Wetlands From: Lauren Conkle <chickadee54 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:56:05 -0400 I felt like going to Greencove this evening to see what I could find. The water level there is higher than I've ever seen it, no doubt due to all that snow we had. Larry Helgerman and Mary Grey showed up soon after I arrived. The only waterfowl of note we could find there were a male and female Blue-winged Teal. We spooked 5 Wilson's Snipe and found one each of the following: White-throated Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Eastern Towhee, singing Tree Swallow The noise from the Spring Peepers was deafening. There was a pair of killdeer in the parking lot as well. Lauren Conkle Washington Co. Subject: Quittapahilla Audubon Society Field Trips - Middle Creek & Memorial Lake From: Gary Kinkley <cathartesaura AT LIVE.COM> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:53:08 -0400 Greetings, The Quittapahilla Audubon Society will be hosting the following Field Trips this weekend: March 20, 2010 Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area Observation of migrating waterfowl. Meet Saturday 9:00 AM at the visitor center parking lot. Leader Fritz Heilman, 273-0487. March 21, 2010 (rain date March 28) Timberdoodle at Memorial Lake Observation of “sky dance” of the crepuscular woodcock. Meet Sunday 7 PM at main parking lot (adjacent to boat rental). Leader Gary Kinkley, 832-7727. Please contact Fritz or myself off-list for more information. Thank you, Gary Kinkley North Londonderry Twp. Lebanon County cathartesaura AT live.com Cell: 717-503-4027 Quittapahilla Audubon Society http://www.qasaudubon.org/ _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/210850553/direct/01/ Subject: "Lake hopping"-Franklin,Fulton, Bedford Co. 03/17 From: Dan Snell <dan_snell AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 02:46:15 +0000 03/17/10 FRANKLIN COUNTY (one location) Fannettsburg Lake (Fannettsburg,PA) at 08:20 am Canada Goose..........8 Lesser Scaup...........1 male Eastern Phoebe........2 FULTON COUNTY (several locations) Cowan's Gap State Park at 08:40 am Bufflehead.............1 male Camp Sinoquipe at 09:00 am Hooded Merganser....1 male Eastern Phoebe.........heard Parks Road (near Huntington County line) at 09:20 am Hooded Merganser.....2 (a pair) Forbes Trail Rd pond (near Ft.Littleton) at 09:40 am Canada Goose..........28 American Wigeon.......4 (two pair) Ring-necked Duck.....3 males Killdeer....................3 Battle Ridge Rd Wild Turkey............10 Narrows Rd near Knobsville,PA Fish Crow................5 Harrisonville on US30 (fide Mike Newell) Am. Woodcock now displaying over Route 30 at dusk BEDFORD COUNTY (one location) Shawnee State Park at 11:30 am Tundra Swan...................4 Canada Goose................28 Wood Duck................1 male Am. Black Duck...............2 Mallard..........................23 American Wigeon.............3 Canvasback................1 male Ring-necked Duck...........15 Bufflehead.................5 males Hooded Merganser..........12 Common Merganser.........16 Red-breasted Merganser...5 Tree Swallow....................1 Observer Notes (Marilyn Snell, Dan Snell) : The two unattended two duck blinds at Forbes Trail pond couldn't deter American Wigeon from vocalizing and performing courtship displays. Harrisonville resident Mike Newell informed me that the Woodcock are now back and can be witnessed from the center of Harrisonville at dusk. The Merganser "Slam", Canvasback and Tree Swallow were observed from Colvin Boat Launch area at Shawnee State Park. A small part (~5 %) of Shawnee Lake is still frozen. Dan Snell Shippensburg,PA _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail has tools for the New Busy. Search, chat and e-mail from your inbox. http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?ocid=PID27925::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HMP:032010_1 Subject: Trumpeter Swan - Butler Co. From: Mark Vass <mvas1200 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:45:28 -0700 Dave Darney found a Trumpeter Swan today on the lake at Moraine S.P. The bird was wing-tagged HO4   When entering the park there is a road on your right(Big Run Rd.) on the other side of the ranger station that takes you to a cove and that is where the bird was   There were also a dozen Tundra Swans seen on the lake     Mark Vass Beaver Co.  Subject: HSR: Tussey Mountain (17 Mar 2010) 26 Raptors From: "Hawkcount.Org Reports" <reports AT HAWKCOUNT.ORG> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:03:51 -0400 Tussey Mountain State College, Pennsylvania, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 17, 2010 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 9 9 Turkey Vulture 0 48 49 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 0 12 12 Northern Harrier 0 2 2 Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 20 21 Cooper's Hawk 2 15 15 Northern Goshawk 0 2 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 5 40 40 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 10 136 138 Rough-legged Hawk 0 2 3 Golden Eagle 5 166 171 American Kestrel 1 10 10 Merlin 0 1 1 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 0 6 6 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 1 3 3 Total: 26 472 482 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:30:00 Observation end time: 15:45:00 Total observation time: 7.25 hours Official Counter: Jon Kauffman Observers: Visitors: Bruce and Hetty Seigfried, Jerry and Liz Thompson, Bob Fredrick, Dave Ryan, and Josh Ryan. Weather: Similar conditions as yesterday, clear but with some cloud formation developing later in the day. NW winds AT 4-7 and temps b/w 37 and 54F. Visibility ~15 miles. Raptor Observations: GE: 1010(Unk), 1052(Unk), 1058(Unk), 1153(Unk), 1315(Unk) Flight mostly over the south valley. Cooper's Hawk displaying and vocalizing while pursuing a female Cooper's. Non-raptor Observations: Common Grackle(136), Dark-eyed Junco(2), Eastern Bluebird(6), Red-winged Blackbird(70), Canada Goose(2,043), House Finch(3), American Robin(27), Downy Woodpecker(2), Pileated Woodpecker(1), Herring Gull(2), Ring-billed Gull(52), Tundra Swan(162) Predictions: Sunny with west winds and temps reaching in the 60's. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Jon Kauffman (jonk10 AT hotmail.com) Tussey Mountain information may be found at: http://ww2.lafayette.edu/~brandesd/tussey/ Subject: Boyce Mayview Park-Allegheny County From: Cory DeStein <cdestein AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:10:50 -0400 I went to Boyce Mayview Park late this evening in Allegheny Co. Many pairs of Canada Geese spread through the ponds in the wetlands 16 Great Blue Heron near the rookery site Pileated Woodpecker 12 Wood Ducks 8 Mallards Hooded Mergansers Female Ring Neck Pheasant Wild Turkey Red Tailed Hawk on nest Also in the mammal dept 2 muskrats, 12 white tailed deer, 1 raccoon, and plenty of beaver signs. Take Care Cory DeStein West Mifflin Subject: Centra PA Birdline for 3.18.2010 - correct file From: Mark Mcconaughy <timetraveler50 AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:36:59 +0000 - RBA * Pennsylvania * Central Pennsylvania * March 18, 2010 * PACE1003.18 Bird Highlights GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (Lancaster Co.) ROSS'S GOOSE (Lancaster Co.) SANDHILL CRANE (Lebanon Co.) LITTLE GULL (Lancaster Co.) BLACK-HEADED GULL (Dauphin Co.) - Transcript Hotline: Central Pennsylvania Birdline March 18, 2010 To Report: TimeTraveler50 AT comcast.net Compiler: Mark A. McConaughy Coverage: Central Pennsylvania, Susquehanna River Drainage System Transcriber: Mark A. McConaughy Welcome to Pennsylvania Audubon's and the Patriot-News' Birdline. This Birdline covers sightings made primarily during the week prior to Thursday, March 18, 2010. There have been reports from all around Pennsylvania that AMERICAN ROBINS, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS and COMMON GRACKLES have arrived. Similarly, calling AMERICAN WOODCOCK have returned to their wetland areas. The migration is now in well underway. Thanks to the many folks that have reported these species, but there are too many reports to cite individually. BEDFORD/SOMERSET COUNTIES: Allegheny Front Hawk Watch reported counting 2 BLACK VULTURES, 51 TURKEY VULTURES, 4 BALD EAGLES, 6 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 8 COOPER'S HAWKS, 1 NORTHERN GOSHAWK, 28 RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, 34 RED-TAILED HAWKS, 28 GOLDEN EAGLES, 1 AMERICAN KESTREL and 1 PEREGRINE FALCON between March 11 and 15 (TD). CENTRE COUNTY: Tussey Mountain Hawk Watch reported counting 1 BLACK VULTURE, 15 TURKEY VULTURE, 1 BALD EAGLE, 10 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 7 COOPER'S HAWKS, 20 RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, 43 RED-TAILED HAWKS, 33 GOLDEN EAGLES and 5 AMERICAN KESTRELS between March 11 and 16 (JK, NB). A TUNDRA SWAN flew over Toftrees on March 11 (NK). There were 5 TUNDRA SWANS at Julian Wetlands on March 11 (NK). Colyer Lake produced 5 TUNDRA SWANS on March 12 (NK). A flock of 59 TUNDRA SWANS was present on March 17 (JV). A BALD EAGLE was seen on March 15 flying over the lake at Bald Eagle State Park (JV). A flock of 45 TUNDRA SWANS flew over the Penn State Campus in State College on March 16 (JL). DAUPHIN COUNTY: Two GREAT EGRETS marked their return to Wildwood Nature Preserve in northern Harrisburg on March 11 (SL). A BLACK-HEADED GULL and 1 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was observed in the Susquehanna River between March 14 and 17 from the upstream Marysville boat launch (RK, CK, AM, MW, MS, JR, DW). FRANKLIN COUNTY: Five TUNDRA SWANS were observed on March 16 flying over Bender's Farm near Upper Strasburg (BO). HUNTINGDON COUNTY: An immature BALD EAGLE was at the Aitch Access Area of Raystown Lake on March 13 (DK, TK). An adult BALD EAGLE was seen on March 13 along River Road at the Raystown Dam (DK, TK). LANCASTER COUNTY: Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area produced up to 100,000 SNOW GEESE, 1 ROSS'S GOOSE, 1700 TUNDRA SWANS and 1 BALD EAGLE between March 12 and 15 (BC, JL, BK, PA Game Commission count on March 12). A check on March 16 indicated the numbers of SNOW GEESE were starting to decline to an estimated 20,000 to 50,000 (BF, IF). A RED-NECKED GREBE was also seen at Middle Creek on March 16 (JB). One GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, 1 ROSS'S GOOSE and 1 CACKLING GOOSE were present on March 17 (RK). There was 1 adult LITTLE GULL among a flock of 150 to 200 BONAPARTE'S GULLS that were at "The Rocks" across from Blue Land just south of Columbia on March 13 (JB, DB). Two LITTLE GULLS were seen with the BONAPARTE'S GULLS on March 14 (EW). One LITTLE GULL was found among 330 BONAPARTE'S GULLS and a flyby BALD EAGLE on March 15 (BK). A LITTLE GULL was seen over the Susquehanna River across from Peach Bottom Village on March 14 (BS). A PURPLE FINCH visited a feeder in Gap on March 14 (CC). Wood's Edge Park off of S. Centerville Road produced 1800 SNOW GEESE, 1 ROSS'S GOOSE and 1 CACLING GOOSE on March 15 (JB, DB). LEBANON COUNTY: The SANDHILL CRANE continues to be seen through at least March 16 in the upper marsh past Lake Duffy in State Game Lands 145 (RM). LYCOMING COUNTY: There were 4 BALD EAGLES at Rosevalley Lake on March 13 (SP, JP). NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS were heard calling on March 15 along Route 287 in the Larry's Creek area (SP). YORK COUNTY: A flock of 30 SNOW GEESE was found on March 15 off Vineyard Road just past its intersection with Route 24 (DC). CLOSING ANNOUNCEMENTS: If you miss the usual Thursday postings of the Central PA Birdline on BIRDEAST and PABIRDS, I will also be posting it on my page web site at: http://people.delphiforums.com/MCCONAUGHY/currentbl.htm *PORC = Pennsylvania Ornithological Record Committee. Rare bird sightings should be documented with written descriptions and photographs whenever possible and sent to PORC for review. Send PORC reports to Nick Pulcinella, 613 Howard Road, West Chester, PA 19380. The following people have contributed to this: Nick Bolgiano (NB), Devin Bosler (DB), Justin Bosler (JB), Bruce Carl (BC), Chuck Chlafant (CC), Dick Cleary (DC), Tom Dick (TD), Bob Fowles (BF), Ingrid Fowles (IF), Jon Kauffman (JK), Chad Kauffman (CK), Bill Keim (BK), Nick Kerlin (NK), Ramsey Koury (RK), David Kyler (DK), Trudy Kyler (TK), Jen Lee (JL), Sandy Lockerman (SL), Andy Markel (AM), Randy Miller (RM), Bill Oyler (BO), Judy Pinkerton (JP), Steve Pinkerton (SP), Joan Renninger (JR), Matt Sabatine (MS), Bob Schutsky (BS), Joe Verica (JV), Drew Weber (DW), Mike Weible (MW) and Eric Witmer (EW). I apologize if I have misspelled their names and I will also -End Transcript ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mark A. McConaughy      TimeTraveler50 AT comcast.net Bushy Run Battlefield P.O. Box 486 Harrison City, PA 15636-0468       (724) 527-5585 x103 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Subject: Re: Harlequin Duck captured From: Stephen Repasky <stephen_repasky AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:09:03 -0700 The PGC is trying to capture migrating female scaup to equip them with GPS telemetry harnesses as part of a study to dtermine migration and breeding habits of these eastern scaup. Steve Repasky ________________________________ ________________________________ From: Jerry McWilliams To: PABIRDS AT LIST.AUDUBON.ORG Sent: Wed, March 17, 2010 5:46:44 PM Subject: [PABIRDS] Harlequin Duck captured I just received a message from a person who said that she saw the Harlequin Duck in one of the cage traps set on Presque Isle S.P. this afternoon. I believe these traps are set by the Pennsylvania Game Commission as a waterfowl study program. If anyone from the PGC gets this message perhaps they could inform the listserve as to what this survey is about. Thanks, Jerry McWilliams Erie, erie County, Pa. jerrymcw AT aol.com Subject: Nazareth Quarry, Northampton county From: michael schall <mdtjschall AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:01:18 -0700 This evening on the Nazareth quarry there was a good variety of waterfowl. Long-tailed Duck 1 Redhead 1 Pied-billed Grebe American Coot Northern Pintail 18 Ring-necked Duck 50+ Ruddy Duck 20+ Bufflehead Common Mergansers American Black ducks Mallards Snow Geese only about 1000 Canada Geese   Mike and Corinne Schall, Bath Subject: Orange-crowned Warbler, Lancaster Co. - 17 Mar 2010 From: Devin Bosler <devinbosler AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:34:46 -0400 PABIRDS, Justin Bosler and I were surprised to find a bright ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER today at Woods Edge Park in Mountville (Lancaster Co.). Rather unexpected for a small suburban park with little habitat aside from cattail marsh. Though suitable enough for a stopover migrant nonetheless. It appeared somewhat lethargic as it rested and intermittently foraged in a butterflybush thicket near a drainage culvert. A marginally early short-distance migrant or a local overwintering bird is anyone's guess. Seems more likely to be a migrant at this date, as a majority of Taiga-breeding O-c Warblers wintering in the Southeast depart wintering grounds early in the season. It's interesting to note, however, that this location is only about 5 mi. NE of where an O-c Warbler attempted to overwinter at the Susquehanna River WPCP this year. Apparently this bird survived the first major snowstorm and was last observed by Eric Witmer on 8 Feb, at least according to the eBird database. Despite weekly coverage since then, it was never seen again following the second epic snowfall event. Hopefully it persevered but we'll never know. An hour midday vigil at Breezyview Overlook (Chickies Rock Co. Park) off PA-441 in Columbia yielded an adult Double-crested Cormorant down on the Susquehanna R. About 3,000+ Ring-billed Gulls foraging their way upriver. A modest Accipter flight was also evident today with at least 4 Sharp-shins and 2 Cooper's rising in early afternoon thermals. Weather conditions look ideal over the next few days for another wave of arriving migrants. Good birding, Devin -- Devin Bosler Lancaster, PA Subject: Re: Come Join in the Birding Odyssey !!! From: Dave Kruel <accip AT INFIONLINE.NET> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:18:38 -0400 Hi All, Not sure if there may be confusion on this point, but you don't need to bird for the whole time. If your group can just make a few hours on that Saturday morning(or whatever time frame works for you), that would be fine. This is a great opportunity to promote conservation and birding. If we can field many birders for the event.....and with some press, that can go a long way for conservation by showing that we want state parks and state forest land around for birds (and other wildlife). Dave Kruel Pottsville On Wed, 17 Mar 2010 10:17:59 -0400, Dave Kruel wrote: >Hi All, > >It would be great if you could join in on the 24-hour Birding Odyssey coming up shortly. It will take place from 6:00pm Friday April 30 to 6:00pm Saturday May 1. This is a friendly competition to see who can identify the most birds in eastern State Parks and State Forests of PA......and also an opportunity for us to raise some funds for the park, forest, or organization of your choice. You can bird in one park or forest spot, or multiple locations if you'd like. > >If you are interested, but yet dont have a team....one suggestion is to post onto PABIRDS that you're looking for team members, or that you'd like to hook up with a team that's already out there. There is a $20 registration fee per team. > >A team may consist of 3-6 members. It can be alot of fun. You dont have to be a "hard-core" birder to join in...anyone down to first-day birders can get involved. > >Hope you can join. For further information about the event (including registration forms and maps) please contact Rob Neitz at 215-453-5000 or email him at rneitz AT state.pa.us > >Dave Kruel >Pottsville >========================================================================= Subject: Pymatuning Lake on Tuesday From: Scott Kinzey <blackburnian AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:46:31 -0700 I searched all over Pymatuning Lake in Crawford County yesterday, 3/16, for the Lesser Black-backed and Glaucous Gulls seen Monday. I could not find them. At 7:16am there weren't many gulls at the southern end of the lake, but the number grew over the next few hours. The way gulls were coming in from the west after 7:30am suggested that they spent the night somewhere else. Over the next few hours more gulls flocked up on the remaining ice. Between 9:15 and 9:30am hundreds of gulls flew over Miller Ponds towards the Propagation Lake. I don't know where they came from or where they went. All in all I looked at about 2,000 gulls, mostly Ring-billed but enough Herring Gulls to keep it interesting. Gulls here may roam among Shenango, Pymatuning and Mosquito Creek Lakes. Monday's Lesser Black-backed at Pymatuning could be Shenango's weekend bird. It and the Glaucous may have been at Shenango on Tuesday. Today's Long-tailed Ducks and Tundra Swans were new arrivals since lunchtime Tuesday. Distant photos of the Glaucous are on my Flickr site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/25291868 AT N08/ Scott Kinzey Allegheny County Subject: Central PA Birdline for 3.18.2010 From: Mark Mcconaughy <timetraveler50 AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:06:10 +0000 - RBA * Pennsylvania * Central Pennsylvania * March 11, 2010 * PACE1003.11 Bird Highlights GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (Lancaster Co.) ROSS'S GOOSE (Lancaster & Lebanon Cos.) SANDHILL CRANE (Lebanon Co.) NORTHERN SHRIKE (Carbon Co.) - Transcript Hotline: Central Pennsylvania Birdline March 11, 2010 To Report: TimeTraveler50 AT comcast.net Compiler: Mark A. McConaughy Coverage: Central Pennsylvania, Susquehanna River Drainage System Transcriber: Mark A. McConaughy Welcome to Pennsylvania Audubon's and the Patriot-News' Birdline. This Birdline covers sightings made primarily during the week prior to Thursday, March 11, 2010. BEDFORD/SOMERSET COUNTIES: Allegheny Front Hawk Watch reported counting 9 BLACK VULTURES, 12 TURKEY VULTURES, 4 COOPER'S HAWKS, 1 NORTHERN GOSHAWK, 7 RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, 12 RED-TAILED HAWKS, 1 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK and 7 GOLDEN EAGLES on March 9 (BG). BRADFORD COUNTY: A GOLDEN EAGLE was seen on March 4 flying over the Susquehanna River near Sugar Run (JP). CARBON COUNTY: A NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen on March 7 and 9 in a hedge row across from Pohopoco and Beltzville Drives (DA, DW). CENTRE COUNTY: Tussey Mountain Hawk Watch reported counting 7 BLACK VULTURES, 27 TURKEY VULTURES, 11 BALD EAGLES, 1 NORTHERN HARRIER, 3 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 4 COOPER'S HAWKS, 2 NORTHERN GOSHAWKS, 13 RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, 72 RED-TAILED HAWKS, 2 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, 106 GOLDEN EAGLES and 1 AMERICAN KESTREL between March 4 and 9 (JK, NB). A BALD EAGLE was sitting on its nest at Bald Eagle State Park on March 6 (MH). A flock of 45 TUNDRA SWANS flew over Toftrees on March 7 (NK). One ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was observed on March 8 along Williams Road in the Tusseyville area (MH). A probable MERLIN flew over the Verica's property on March 10 (JV). CLEARFIELD COUNTY: Around 200 TUNDRA SWANS flew over DuBois on March 9 (MA). COLUMBIA COUNTY: A RUFFED GROUSE was found on March 7 during a field trip to State Game Lands 226 near Millville (DGr, SG). FRANKLIN COUNTY: AMERICAN WOODCOCKS were displaying in the orchard along Heisey Road on March 10 (BK). HUNTINGDON COUNTY: An immature BALD EAGLE was seen on March 6 at the Aitch Boat Launch on Raystown Reservoir (BD). JUNIATA COUNTY: A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was observed on March 9 near Oakland Mills (P). LANCASTER COUNTY: Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area produced up to 2 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, 120,000 SNOW GEESE, 1 SNOWxROSS'S GOOSE HYBRID, 1 blue morph ROSS'S GOOSE, 2 CACKLING GEESE, 2300 TUNDRA SWANS, a wide variety of duck species and 3 BALD EAGLES between March 5 and 10 (DB, JB, RK, BC, ME, CG, SG, HE, DS, PA Game Commission). Also, 2 SHORT-EARED OWLS were observed near stop 3 on the tour road on the evenings of March 6 and 7 (ME). The tour road is now open around the lake at Middle Creek as of March 5 (RK). The ponds at Greenfield Estates yielded 1 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE and 9 CACKLING GEESE on March 7 (JB, DB). There was 1 NASHVILLE WARBLER at the Water Pollution Control Plant in Washington Boro on March 7 (JB, DB). Approximately 2500 TUNDRA SWANS were seen on March 9 flying over Columbia (ML). LEBANON COUNTY: There were 58 TUNDRA SWANS and other waterfowl at Memorial Lake on March 8 (RM). State Game Lands 145 produced thousands of SNOW GEESE, 1 ROSS'S GOOSE and 1 SANDHILL CRANE on March 9 (RM). LUZERNE COUNTY: Thousands of SNOW GEESE flew over Misericordia University in Dallas on March 10 (EJ). LYCOMING COUNTY: White Deer Ridge Hawk Watch counted 35 TURKEY VULTURES, 1 RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, 8 RED-TALED HAWKS, 1 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK and 6 GOLDEN EAGLES on March 7 (JY, ML). A GOLDEN EAGLE was seen flying along Bald Eagle Ridge on March 7 (JY, ML). Two separate flocks of SNOW GEESE flew over Warrensville on March 8 (RL). SNYDER COUNTY: There were 20 TUNDRA SWANS at Faylor Lake on March 7 (DG). SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY: A small flock of SNOW GEESE flew over the county on March 9 (JS). Thousands of SNOW GEESE flew over on March 10 (JS). YORK COUNTY: There were 21 TUNDRA SWANS on Long Arm Reservoir on March 9 (BM). CLOSING ANNOUNCEMENTS: If you miss the usual Thursday postings of the Central PA Birdline on BIRDEAST and PABIRDS, I will also be posting it on my page web site at: http://people.delphiforums.com/MCCONAUGHY/currentbl.htm *PORC = Pennsylvania Ornithological Record Committee. Rare bird sightings should be documented with written descriptions and photographs whenever possible and sent to PORC for review. Send PORC reports to Nick Pulcinella, 613 Howard Road, West Chester, PA 19380. The following people have contributed to this: Dan Altif (DA), Marianne Atkinson (MA), Nick Bolgiano (NB), Devin Bosler (DB), Justin Bosler (JB), Bruce Carl (BC), Barbara Dunn (BD), Mike Epler (ME), Howard Eskin (HE), Sandy Goodwin (SG), Bob Gorsuch (BG), Chet Gottfried (CG), Sue Gottfried (SG), Doug Gross (DGr), Deborah Grove (DG), Molly Heath (MH), Ed Johnson (EJ), Jon Kauffman (JK), Bob Keener (BK), Rudy Keller (RK), Nick Kerlin (NK), Meredith Lombard (ML), Rosemary Lunz (RL), Randy Miller (RM), Bob Moul (BM), Paul (P), Jason Petlock (JP), Jerry Skinner (JS), Dan Snell (DS), Joe Verica (JV), Dustin Welch (DW) and Joe Yoder (JY). I apologize if I have misspelled their names and I will also refrain from naming that person on request. -End Transcript ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mark A. McConaughy      TimeTraveler50 AT comcast.net Bushy Run Battlefield P.O. Box 486 Harrison City, PA 15636-0468      (724) 527-5585 x103 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Subject: Harlequin Duck captured From: Jerry McWilliams <jerrymcw AT AOL.COM> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:46:44 -0400 I just received a message from a person who said that she saw the Harlequin Duck in one of the cage traps set on Presque Isle S.P. this afternoon. I believe these traps are set by the Pennsylvania Game Commission as a waterfowl study program. If anyone from the PGC gets this message perhaps they could inform the listserve as to what this survey is about. Thanks, Jerry McWilliams Erie, erie County, Pa. jerrymcw AT aol.com Subject: Long-tailed Ducks & Tundra Swans - Pymatuning St. Pk. - Crawford County From: Bob & Mary Ann <van126 AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:22:36 -0400 There was a good variety of waterfowl present today on Pymatuning Lake as more water is becoming ice free on the lake's north end. On the PA side near the mid point of the causeway were 10 Long-tailed Ducks and 6 more were discovered at the Spillway on the lakeside. Forty Tundra Swans were observed swimming between the Linesville Fish Hatchery and the Wildlife Center. Other waterfowl present in the area were all 3 merganser species, Ring-necked, Bufflehead, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Common Goldeneye, Pied-billed Grebe, Green-winged Teal, Wood Duck, and Black Duck. The Least Sandpiper which had been over wintering at the fish hatchery was not located today. Here are some other outing highlights. Greater Yellowlegs - 2 Tree Swallows - 10 Eastern Meadowlark - 4 Rough-legged Hawk (dark morph) - 2 Bald Eagle - 1 adult and 4 immature Mute Swan Good birding, Bob VanNewkirk Subject: Red-Breasted Merganser Lake Minsi Northampton cty From: Dan Altif <swiftwaterbirds AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:20:00 -0700 Briefly stopped by Lake Minsi this afternoon and found a female Red-Breasted Merganser among the Common Mergansers. Other birds there included: 4 Ring-Necked Ducks 1 pair Wood Ducks 3 Hooded Mergs Dan Altif Subject: Harlequin Duck not seen today at Presque Isle From: Jerry McWilliams <jerrymcw AT AOL.COM> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:01:30 -0400 As far as I know the Harlequin Duck was not seen today. However there was a flock of 35 Long-tailed Ducks in Presque Isle Bay not far from where the Harlequin had been hanging out. Jerry McWilliams Erie, erie County, Pa. jerrymcw AT aol.com Subject: Black-headed Gull - Dauphin Co. From: Ramsay Koury <rkoury123 AT AOL.COM> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:00:41 -0400 Hi Everyone, The Black-headed Gull continues at Marsyville. Joan Renninger, Drew Weber and I observed it at 3:00 this afternoon. Good birding, Ramsay Koury Subject: Presque Isle Hawkwatch for March 17, 2010 From: Jerry McWilliams <jerrymcw AT AOL.COM> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:59:12 -0400 Presque Isle Erie, Pennsylvania, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 17, 2010 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 11 115 115 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 0 0 0 Northern Harrier 0 1 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 3 7 7 Cooper's Hawk 2 22 22 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 28 38 38 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 10 59 59 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 0 3 3 Merlin 0 1 1 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 1 1 1 Unknown Buteo 0 1 1 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 55 248 248 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 10:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 5 hours Official Counter: Jerry McWilliams Observers: Jerry McWilliams, Sam Stull Visitors: Linda McWilliams, Mark lethaby, Diane Kalor, Janet Price,and Pat Howell. Weather: Clear and cold with wind off the lake Raptor Observations: Once again cold air off the lake slowed movement with birds moving through low and direct with almost no circling. Non-raptor Observations: Highlight today was a couple of Sandhill Cranes that flew low over the watch at 1445 hrs. Other non-raptor related birds recorded: Canada Goose--31, Tundra Swan--60, Mourning Dove--3, American Crow--37, American Robin--2, Red-winged Blackbird--hundreds, Common Grackle--hundreds, Brown-headed Cowbird--12 Predictions: Depending on wind direction, probably about the same as today. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Jerry McWilliams (jerrymcw AT aol.com) information may be found at: http://www.presqueisle.org/audubon/ Jerry McWilliams Erie, Erie County, Pa. jerrymcw AT aol.com Subject: Middle Creek - White-fronted, Ross' Geese From: Ramsay Koury <rkoury123 AT AOL.COM> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:58:27 -0400 Hi Everyone, There were five species of geese visible from Willow Point late this morning including a Cackling, a white Ross' and a Greater White-fronted. There are still many thousands of Snow Geese and a few hundred swans, including 2 Mute Swans. Good birding, Ramsay Koury Camp Hill Subject: Yellow-bellied Sapsucker From: "Beth D. Pugliese" <bethdpugliese AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:30:27 -0400 Female present in my front yard this morning at 11:30. Worked up and down the Hickory Tree. Beth Pugliese Hanover, PA Subject: Washington/ allegheny county From: Shawn Collins <pghdjshawn AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:22:56 -0400 Washington Canonsburg lake 1 swamp sparrow who was singing away 1 hermit thrush near the small pond offshoot next to parking lot same place he was before 2 wood ducks Many turtles on logs in water Boyce mayview park allegheny co. 1 Eastern Phoebe my fos bird!! 1 brown creeper 3 eastern bluebirds 2 hooded mergansers 1 black duck 1 great blue heron 1 belted kingfisher Shawn Collins Sent from my iPhone Subject: Woodcock-Prince Gallitzin State Park-Cambria From: John Salvetti <JSalvetti70 AT AOL.COM> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:11:59 EDT Dave Gobert and myself went Woodcock hunting last evening at Prince Gallitzin State Park. We were able to observe the elaborate flight displays of at least 3 individuals. John Salvetti Ebensburg Cambria Subject: RBA western Pennsylvania, 15 March 2010 From: Amy Taracido <meadowlark4 AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:01:06 -0400 RBA *Pennsylvania *Pittsburgh and western Pennsylvania *PAWE03.15.10 Highlights: RED-NECKED GREBE (Mercer County) HORNED GREBE TUNDRA SWAN ROSS'S GOOSE (Butler County) RUDDY DUCK HARLEQUIN DUCK (Erie County) NORTHERN PINTAIL GREEN-WINGED TEAL BLUE-WINGED TEAL REDHEAD MERLIN ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK SANDHILL CRANE LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (Mercer County) GLAUCOUS GULL (Crawford County) RED-HEADED WOODPECKER NORTHERN SHRIKE (unconfirmed) FISH CROW (Indiana County) TREE SWALLOW (FOS) HERMIT THRUSH (FOS) PINE WARBLER RUSTY BLACKBIRD Contributors: Carole Borek, Jeff Brinker, Jack Christman, Shawn Collins, Marcy Cunkelman, Larry Durgin, Steve Gosser, Cris Hamilton, Margaret Higbee, Scott and Sherry Kinzey, Jeff McDonald, Jerry McWilliams, Richard Nugent, Steve Sanford, Jack Solomon, Kate St. John, Marge Van Tassel, Mark Vass, Timothy Vechter, Carole Winslow. Compiler: Amy Taracido Monday, 8 March 2010 through Monday, 15 March 2010 ***This report is distributed by e-mail only. Compiler is not responsible for errors on websites who reproduce/reprint these reports. If you would like to receive western PA RBAs, contact meadowlark4 AT verizon.net NOTE: "FOS" means "first of season" and normally refers to a common bird that probably will not be mentioned again after the "FOS" sighting. Transcript- ALLEGHENY COUNTY: From last week: on 3/7 at Duck Hollow, COMMON LOON, 4 GADWALL (JS). On 3/9 at Duck Hollow, sightings included 2 AMERICAN WIGEON, 1 hen SCAUP SP.; on 3/10, 1 AMERICAN WIGEON (JS). At Reed's Landing on 3/9, 5 SCAUP SP. and others (JS). On 3/10 along the Allegheny River in Lawrenceville, sightings included 4 RUDDY DUCKS, PEREGRINE FALCON (CB). On 3/10 at Boyce Mayview Park, pair of NORTHERN PINTAILS (JMcD). In Pittsburgh on 3/14, 2 PEREGRINE FALCONS (RN). On 3/14 at the Imperial Grasslands, 1 NORTHERN SHRIKE, pair of AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS, 1 EASTERN MEADOWLARK (FOS) (MVas); on 3/15 at Bald Knob, WILSON'S SNIPE (FOS), 1 AMERICAN BLACK DUCK, 1 NORTHERN PINTAIL, 20+ AMERICAN WOODCOCKS, and others (SC). This week in Warrendale, AMERICAN WOODCOCKS (FOS) (SK). On 3/15 at the Moody Road ponds, 1 AMERICAN WIGEON, 1 BLUE-WINGED TEAL (SC). ARMSTRONG COUNTY: At Crooked Creek Lake on 3/9, sightings included 2 BALD EAGLES, 1 COMMON RAVEN; on 3/13, 2 BALD EAGLES and others (MVan). BEAVER COUNTY: On 3/13 in Independence Township, 3 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS (MVas). On 3/14 at Independence Marsh, 1 BLUE-WINGED TEAL and others (KSJ). BUTLER COUNTY: On 3/14 at Lake Arthur, 1 ROSS'S GOOSE, 1 BALD EAGLE (AH with Pat McShea); on 3/15, BALD EAGLE (RN). CLARION COUNTY: In Sligo this week, TUNDRA SWANS, AMERICAN WOODCOCKS (FOS) (CW). CRAWFORD COUNTY: On 3/9 along Geneva Marsh, ~50 flyover TUNDRA SWANS that headed for Conneaut Lake (SK). At Conneaut Lake on 3/9, ~40 TUNDRA SWANS (SK). On 3/9 at Pymatuning, NORTHERN PINTAILS, TUNDRA SWANS, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, and others (SK); on 3/12, 11 TURKEY VULTURES (FOS) (JC); on 3/13 at the Game Commission building, 1 TREE SWALLOW (FOS) (reported to MVas by Ron Leberman); on 3/14 in Pymatuning, 1 GADWALL, 1 NORTHERN PINTAIL, 6 REDHEADS, 2 BALD EAGLES (SS); on 3/15, 1 adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, 1 first-cycle GLAUCOUS GULL (SK). ERIE COUNTY: On 3/9 and 3/10 at Presque Isle State Park, sightings included 1 MERLIN; on 3/12, 1 NORTHERN HARRIER; on 3/13 through 3/15, 1 HARLEQUIN DUCK (JMcW). FAYETTE COUNTY: On 3/14 at Deer Lake, NORTHERN PINTAIL and others (LD). At Lake Paige (Nemacolin) on 3/14, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, 1 unconfirmed NORTHERN SHRIKE (LD). INDIANA COUNTY: This week in Clarksburg, EASTERN TOWHEE (FOS), AMERICAN WOODCOCK (FOS) (MC). On 3/9 at Yellow Creek State Park, 162 flyover TUNDRA SWANS, 1 COMMON RAVEN, 4-5 PURPLE FINCHES, and others (MVan with Margaret Higbee, Lee Carnahan, Sue & Jenny Dickson); on 3/13, 12 AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS, 14 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS, and more (MH with Roger Higbee and Lee Carnahan). On 3/13 near Shelocta, 1 singing PINE WARBLER (MH). At Creekside on 3/13, AMERICAN WOODCOCKS (reported to MH by Mary Assenat). In Indiana on 3/14, 7+ FISH CROWS (MH with Roger Higbee). LAWRENCE COUNTY: At Black Swamp on 3/10, GADWALL, NORTHERN PINTAILS, AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, 2 flyover SANDHILL CRANES, and more (SG); on 3/13, 33 NORTHERN PINTAILS, 12 GREEN-WINGED TEAL, 4 AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS, 12 GADWALL, 6 AMERICAN WIGEON, and more (MVas). In Plain Grove on 3/13, 22 SANDHILL CRANES, NORTHERN HARRIER, 4 GADWALL, and others (MVas). On 3/11 at Edinburg Lake, 5 GREEN-WINGED TEAL, 2 AMERICAN WIGEON, 4 NORTHERN PINTAILS, 1 RUDDY DUCK, 1 BALD EAGLE, and more (MVas). MERCER COUNTY: At Shenango Lake on 3/9, sightings included CANVASBACKS, REDHEADS, 370 TUNDRA SWANS, NORTHERN PINTAILS, SCAUP SP. (SK); on 3/10, TUNDRA SWANS, 5 BALD EAGLES (SG), 1 HORNED GREBE, 5 GADWALL, 10 AMERICAN WIGEON, 10 RUDDY DUCKS, and others (SS); on 3/11, 54 AMERICAN WIGEON, 44 NORTHERN PINTAILS, 4 GADWALL, 10 AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS, 10 GREEN-WINGED TEAL, 17 CANVASBACKS, RUDDY DUCKS, and other divers, 2 BALD EAGLES (MVas); on 3/12, 1 NORTHERN PINTAIL, ~10 GREEN-WINGED TEAL, AMERICAN WIGEON (SS); on 3/13, 1 BALD EAGLE, 15-20 AMERICAN WIGEON, 6+ GREEN-WINGED TEAL, 33 NORTHERN PINTAILS, and others (JB); on 3/14, 1 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, CANVASBACKS, AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS, GADWALL, NORTHERN PINTAIL, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, AMERICAN WIGEON, several BALD EAGLES, and more (KSJ), 1 CHUKAR (SS), 1 RED- NECKED GREBE, 1 MERLIN (reported to MVas by Dave & Debbie Darney). On 3/15, highlights were AMERICAN WIGEON, NORTHERN PINTAILS, 2 AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS, BALD EAGLES (SK). WASHINGTON COUNTY: At the AMD pond on 3/9 and 3/10, sightings included 1 REDHEAD; also on 3/10, 1 RUDDY DUCK (SC); on 3/15, 1 RUDDY DUCK and others (MVas). On 3/11 at Canonsburg Lake, 1 HERMIT THRUSH (FOS), 1 RUDDY DUCK, 2 AMERICAN WIGEON, and others (SC). On 3/11 along Donaldson Road in Robinson Township, 1 EASTERN PHOEBE (FOS), 1 EASTERN MEADOWLARK (FOS) (reported to MVas by Becky Smith and Shirley Mutz). At Washington Cemetery on 3/11 and 3/12, 1 MERLIN (CH, SG with CH). WESTMORELAND COUNTY: From last week: On 3/7 at Loyalhanna Lake, sightings included BALD EAGLE, KILLDEER (FOS) (TV). On 3/12 at Loyalhanna Lake, NORTHERN PINTAILS and others (SG). End transcript- Amy Taracido Washington Co., PA To send in reports: meadowlark4 AT verizon.net Thank you to all the contributors. Subject: Re: Northern Northampton County sightings From: Adam Sabatine <birdman538 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:49:17 -0400 Sorry for that repeated section, I was posting from my phone. AS Sent from my iPhone On Mar 17, 2010, at 2:36 PM, Adam Sabatine wrote: > Hi all, I birded around the northeastern section of the county for a > few hours this morning, > stopping at lakes Echo and Minsi, Bear Swamp and sections of the > Delaware in Portland. > Highlights included: > Echo Lake: > bufflehead-24 > Ring-necked Duck-10 > Eastern Phoebe-1 singing away (FOS) > Lake Minsi: > A merganser hat trick with one drake RED-BREASTED being the highlight > also: > Common Merganser-34 > Hooded Merganser-6 > Bald Eagle-1 adult, who I suspect may be from the met Ed nest. It > usually perches in one of > three spots at the lake, which can't be more than a couple of miles > away as the eagle flies > Tree Swallow-6 (FOS) > also lots of grackles and the newly arrived Red-wings > Bear Swamp: > (south side mostly) > North side ntables were a pair of Wood Ducks, a single Hermit Thrush > and a pair of WInter > Wrens > Brown Creepers(3) were singing away, as were two Ruby-crowned Kinglets > Barred Owl- one hooted at us around 11 and was seen briefly from the > archery platform. We > also heard lots of peepers and a single wood frog calling here. > At the metEd Bald Eagle nest, one of the pair was sitting low in the > nest while the other was > m.I.a. (perhaps fishing over at lake minsi?) > Song, Field and Chipping Sparrows were heard singing at several > locations as well. > Bird on, Adam sabatine > Bangor > > > > > > Field,song and chipping sparrows were all singing away at various > locations Subject: Northern Northampton County sightings From: Adam Sabatine <birdman538 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:36:14 -0400 Hi all, I birded around the northeastern section of the county for a few hours this morning, stopping at lakes Echo and Minsi, Bear Swamp and sections of the Delaware in Portland. Highlights included: Echo Lake: bufflehead-24 Ring-necked Duck-10 Eastern Phoebe-1 singing away (FOS) Lake Minsi: A merganser hat trick with one drake RED-BREASTED being the highlight also: Common Merganser-34 Hooded Merganser-6 Bald Eagle-1 adult, who I suspect may be from the met Ed nest. It usually perches in one of three spots at the lake, which can't be more than a couple of miles away as the eagle flies Tree Swallow-6 (FOS) also lots of grackles and the newly arrived Red-wings Bear Swamp: (south side mostly) North side ntables were a pair of Wood Ducks, a single Hermit Thrush and a pair of WInter Wrens Brown Creepers(3) were singing away, as were two Ruby-crowned Kinglets Barred Owl- one hooted at us around 11 and was seen briefly from the archery platform. We also heard lots of peepers and a single wood frog calling here. At the metEd Bald Eagle nest, one of the pair was sitting low in the nest while the other was m.I.a. (perhaps fishing over at lake minsi?) Song, Field and Chipping Sparrows were heard singing at several locations as well. Bird on, Adam sabatine Bangor Field,song and chipping sparrows were all singing away at various locations Subject: Delaware Valley RBA, 17 MARCH 2010 From: Stephen Kacir <rba AT DVOC.ORG> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 10:44:10 -0700 - RBA * PA, NJ, DE * Delaware Valley: Southeast PA, Central/Southern NJ & DE * PADV1003.17 * March 17, 2010 - Birds Mentioned Eared Grebe (NJ)+ Harlequin Duck (PA)+ -Extralimital- Black-headed Gull (PA)+ -Extralimital- (NJ)+ (Details requested by NJBRC) (PA)+ (Details requested by PORC) (DE)+ (Details requested by DERC) Red-throated Loon Horned Grebe Red-necked Grebe Northern Gannet Little Blue Heron Cattle Egret Egyptian Goose Snow Goose Ross's Goose Lesser Canada Goose Cackling Goose Tundra Swan Eurasian Wigeon Canvasback Redhead Common Eider Harlequin Duck Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter Black Scoter Long-tailed Duck Common Goldeneye Red-breasted Merganser Osprey Peregrine Falcon Wild Turkey Northern Bobwhite Sandhill Crane Piping Plover American Oystercatcher American Woodcock Little Gull Black-headed Gull Bonaparte's Gull Iceland Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Razorbill Barred Owl Pileated Woodpecker Northern Shrike Purple Martin Red-breasted Nuthatch Blue-gray Gnatcatcher American Pipit Clay-colored Sparrow Rusty Blackbird Purple Finch - Transcript Hotline: Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert Email reports to: rba AT dvoc.org Compiler: Steve Kacir, Delaware Valley Ornithological Club Phone: (215) 240-7547 Voice of the Delaware Valley RBA: Mike Lyman & Cindy Ahern URL: http://www.dvoc.org/RBA/Current/Active/Index.htm Welcome to the March 17, 2010 edition of the Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert, a service provided by the joint efforts of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club (DVOC), covering the Delaware Valley Region of Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. I'm Steve Kacir your guide for birding in the Greater Philadelphia Region. This week, we highlight reports of EARED GREBE in Cape May County, NJ. Remember to check out our website for additional content and information: http://www.dvoc.org/RBA/Current/Active/Index.htm -------------------------------------------------------------- FOR NEW JERSEY: Cape May County: An EARED GREBE was at the south end of Nummy Island on March 15-17. The EARED GREBE was seen at such locations as the channel on the east side of the island, near Champagne Island, in the company of HORNED GREBES at the north base of the toll bridge and between the ocean and the north side of the toll bridge. Up to three different BLACK-HEADED GULLS have been seen around Cape May, with the most recent sighting from March 11. Other locations where the BLACK- HEADED GULLS have been seen included The Nature Conservancy (TNC) Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge, the mouth of Cox Hall Creek, Norbury's Landing and "Miami Beach," which is the beach at the end of Miami Ave in the Villas. On March 10, Norbury's Landing also had a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL and 2 HORNED GREBES. A COMMON EIDER was seen off Cape May Point on March 11, and two COMMON EIDERS were off the Whilldin Ave and Coral Ave jetties on March 16. On March 14, ten HORNED GREBES, 3 NORTHERN GANNETS, 5 COMMON EIDERS and a possible RAZORBILL were reported from a round trip on the Cape May- Lewes Ferry. On March 14, the pair of SANDHILL CRANES flew over the fields at New England Rd and Bayshore Rd. A PIPING PLOVER was at TNC Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge on March 14. The two EURASIAN WIGEONS were still on Lighthouse Pond at Cape May Point State Park through March 16. The six TUNDRA SWANS were on the park's Bunker Pond through March 16. On March 14, sixty RED- THROATED LOONS were reported around the Concrete Ship at Sunset Beach. A hen HARLEQUIN DUCK was there on March 13, and good numbers of BONAPARTE'S GULLS were at the Concrete Ship on March 16. On March 16, a CATTLE EGRET was at the intersection of Seashore Rd and Academy Rd in Cold Spring. On March 17, a LITTLE BLUE HERON was in a flooded vineyard, seen from Stevens St. A hen COMMON GOLDENEYE was at Beaver Swamp WMA on March 10-16. PURPLE MARTINS were back in Cape May on March 16. Cumberland County: On March 14, single hen COMMON GOLDENEYES were reported from Heislerville WMA and Turkey Point. Atlantic County: The Brigantine Division of Edwin B Forsythe NWR had TUNDRA SWANS. Monmouth County: The first spring PIPING PLOVER for Sandy Hook was at B Lot on March 14. Other reports from Sandy Hook included HORNED GREBES and AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS. Salem County: Two LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were in a field in Pennsville on March 15. Morris County: In Rockaway, the EURASIAN WIGEON was on Mount Hope Lake through March 15. NJ Extralimitals: The NORTHERN SHRIKE at DeKorte Park's Disposal Rd was reported as recently as March 12. -------------------------------------------------------------- FOR DELAWARE: New Castle County: Two EGYPTIAN GEESE were seen at the University of Delaware Campus, near the Agriculture Hall on March 10. A PILEATED WOODPECKER was at the Winterthur Museum and Country Estate. Kent County: Bombay Hook NWR had TUNDRA SWANS, WILD TURKEY, NORTHERN BOBWHITES, BARRED OWL, AMERICAN WOODCOCKS, AMERICAN PIPIT and RUSTY BLACKBIRD. Sussex County: On March 14, WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS were spotted in Delaware waters from the Cape May-Lewes Ferry. The Cape Henlopen State Park Hawk Watch reported SURF SCOTERS and 1000 Scoters 200-300 yards offshore. -------------------------------------------------------------- FOR PENNSYLVANIA: Philadelphia County: On March 16, John Heinz NWR at Tinicum had an OSPREY and 2 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS. Chester County: Struble Lake had 12 TUNDRA SWANS on March 10. That day, a CANVASBACK was at the Kurtz Fish Farm. On March 14, Bucktoe Creek Preserve had a flyby LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL. Montgomery County: A BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER appeared in Schwenksville on March 11. Bucks County: Reports from Peace Valley Park mentioned LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, AMERICAN WOODCOCK and PILEATED WOODPECKER. The William Tennent High School soccer fields had a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL and an adult ICELAND GULL on March 14. Northampton County: The CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was seen at the Koch property on March 14. On March 13, a ROSS'S GOOSE and 2 LESSER CANADA GEESE were with a flock of 2,000 SNOW GEESE at Hecktown Rd. Schuylkill County: Sweet Arrow Lake had TUNDRA SWAN and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH. Berks County: At Lake Ontelaunee 35,000 SNOW GEESE slowed traffic on March 11, and 3 CACKLING GEESE were there as well. A yard in Dryville had displaying AMERICAN WOODCOCKS and 2 PURPLE FINCHES at the feeders. On March 15, a PEREGRINE FALCON was at the Berks County Courthouse in Reading. Lancaster County: On March 14, a LITTLE GULL and 120 BONAPARTE'S GULLS flew up the Susquehanna River at Peach Bottom, while two drake BLACK SCOTERS were loafing downstream. A basic-plumaged LITTLE GULL foraged with hundreds of BONAPARTE'S GULLS at "The Rocks" across from Blue Lane (just south of Columbia) on March 13, where 30 COMMON GOLDENEYES were also to be found. On March 14, some river-watching from Blue Lane and the Lemon St river access in Wrightsville afforded sightings of a basic-plumaged LITTLE GULL with migrant BONAPARTE'S GULLS. On March 16, a basic-plumaged LITTLE GULL fed with a flock of 330 BONAPARTE'S GULLS off the Blue Lane river access, and other birds in the area that day included TUNDRA SWAN, LONG-TAILED DUCK, COMMON GOLDENEYE and RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS. High counts from Middle Creek WMA were 120,000 SNOW GEESE on March 10 and 2,300 TUNDRA SWANS on March 10. Middle Creek had a RED-NECKED GREBE on March 16, ROSS'S GEESE on March 10-11 & March 16, a CACKLING GOOSE on March 10, a RED-BREASTED MERGANSER on March 16 and displaying AMERICAN WOODCOCKS on March 14. On March 15, a ROSS'S GOOSE and a CACKLING GOOSE were with SNOW GEESE and Canada Geese at Woods Edge Park, off S Centreville Rd east of Mountville. A PURPLE FINCH visited a feeder in Gap on March 14-15. Lebanon County: The SANDHILL CRANE at SGL 145 near Lake Duffy was seen as recently as March 16. Carbon County: On March 10, Beltzville State Park had 2 REDHEADS and AMERICAN WOODCOCK. PA Extralimitals: On March 14-16, a BLACK-HEADED GULL was spotted from the boat launch in Marysville, Dauphin County. The drake HARLEQUIN DUCK was reported from Presque Isle State Park in Erie County through March 15. That day, twenty-two SANDHILL CRANES were in a field along Old Ash Rd at Plain Grove in Lawrence County. -------------------------------------------------------------- ANNOUNCEMENTS: On March 27, Tony Croasdale will lead a DVOC field trip to Franklin Parker Preserve in Burlington County, NJ. The trip will meet at 9:00AM at the Chatsworth Firehouse at the corner of Route 563 and Route 532. Please contact Tony if you plan on attending. On March 28, Frank Windfelder will lead a DVOC field trip to Southwest NJ, including Pedricktown and Mannington Marsh. Information on the meeting times and places for this trip can be found on-line at the DVOC website. Please contact Frank if you plan on attending. Additional information, including past trip reports and contact information for the trip leaders can be found on the DVOC website: http://www.dvoc.org The next meeting of the DVOC is on March 18, 2010, featuring a program by Win Shafer, entitled "Birds of the Appalachian Trail." The meeting takes place at The Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia at 7:30PM. The meeting after that will take place on April 1. More details are available on the DVOC website: http://www.dvoc.org The Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert is a weekly report on birding in the Delaware Valley Region including Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey. To report birds or significant birding events and planned pelagic trips, please email rba AT dvoc.org. This is Steve Kacir, good birding to you all and thanks for calling, surfing and reporting. - End Transcript Steve Kacir rba AT dvoc.org DVOC Rare Bird Alert Committee Chair Academy of Natural Sciences Delaware Valley Ornithological Club Philadelphia Subject: SGL 110, Berks County From: Kerry Grim <grim04 AT ENTER.NET> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:41:10 -0400 Wednesday 17—walked at the Northkill Gap during the morning. Time, EST: 7:16 (11:07) A.M. Sky: clear (clear) Temperature °F: 44 (57) Wind MPH: N 7-12 (variable 1-3) Ground: saturated, a few traces of snow on the mountaintop A strong migration was occurring upon my arrival. Canada Geese, American Robins, Red-winged Blackbirds, and Common Grackles flew overhead in an east-northeast direction. Later it was observed that the grackles were flying above and through the ravine. A single Hermit Thrush was found on the mountaintop, although the wintering Hermit Thrushes were not found, and apparently moved on. An Eastern Phoebe sang from along Forge Dam Road but apparently none had arrived yet along Northkill Road. [a good list considering the location, and that Winter Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Northern Flicker, and Swamp Sparrow are all due for arrival, but none seen today] The list of 35 bird species and 2 mammal species included— Snow Goose (1111) Canada Goose (1810) Wood Duck (2) Mallard (5) Ruffed Grouse (2) 1 flushed, 1 a walk-away, no drumming heard yet Turkey Vulture (1) Sharp-shinned Hawk (1) Red-tailed Hawk (1) American Woodcock (1) Ring-billed Gull (10) Mourning Dove (8) Red-bellied Woodpecker (1) Downy Woodpecker (1) Hairy Woodpecker (1) Eastern Phoebe (1) Blue Jay (2) American Crow (4) Chickadee Species (7) Tufted Titmouse (2) White-breasted Nuthatch (1) Eastern Bluebird (3) Hermit Thrush (1) American Robin (48) European Starling (5) American Tree Sparrow (1) Fox Sparrow (8) Song Sparrow (7) White-throated Sparrow (2) Dark-eyed Junco (25) Northern Cardinal (5) Red-winged Blackbird (101) Common Grackle (1916) Brown-headed Cowbird (3) House Finch (1) American Goldfinch (3) Eastern Gray Squirrel (2) Eastern Chipmunk (3) Subject: Franklin County: Bat: Of fTopic From: Rachael Shapiro <rshapiro AT AWOUS.COM> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:24:20 -0400 Hello PA Birds, Yesterday ~ 4:30 PM while watching the bird show from my window...... I notice a Bat flying high above the pond! Raking light.... But showed colors of brown and yellow. Birds did not seem to mind. Kinda flipped me out....... Daylight...... And this bat is zipping around???? Any comments will help me to un-flip and be able to walk again into my attic! ;-) Glide In, Hang Out, Rachael -- ATTENTION: NEW EMAIL ADDRESS: rshapiro AT awous.com Rachael Shapiro, President A Woman of Uncommon Scents, Inc. P.O. Box 103 Roxbury, PA 17251 1-800-377-3685 1-800-ESSENTL Subject: Clarion and Venango Co- screech owls, kestrels, woodcock displays From: Carole Winslow <cjnal AT WINDSTREAM.NET> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:19:22 -0400 Spring greetngs, Early yesterday morning at the UPMC hospital in Seneca, Venango Co. there were at least 5 calling and displaying woodcocks in the fields surrounding the buildings as I arrived for work (approx 6:45 am) Today being a beautiful spring day took a quick walk down the road and around the property and found multiple bluebirds calling and checking out the bluebird boxes, flickers calling loudly, pileated woodpeckers also vocal and seen. No phoebes yet but plenty of RW blackbirds and song sparrows singing, and best of all, a pair of kestrels were flying over and checking out the kestrel box, making multiple trips in and out of the box and landing on their favorite perch from last year in a nearby snag. No meadowlarks singing yet which is late for them, and also have continued to strike out on any snipe in the local fields. Lastly, on checking out the barn I found two screech owls now roosting, one gray and one red phase. There have been two present for the past 5 or 6 days, where as there has been only one gray one there through the winter. So we'll see what continues with that. Enjoy the spring weather, Carole Winslow Sligo, Clarion Co. Subject: First Falcon Egg @ Gulf Tower From: Laura Ellis <laura.ellis AT AVIARY.ORG> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:09:10 -0400 National Aviary News Contact: Laura Ellis, National Aviary, 412.559.3519 Dr. Todd Katzner, National Aviary, 412.323.7235, x210 First Peregrine Egg Laid at Gulf Tower Nest Pittsburgh FalconCam Offers Live Streaming Video of Nest (PITTSBURGH, March 17, 2010) – Tasha2, the female peregrine falcon at the downtown Gulf Tower, has laid her first egg, and devoted followers in Pittsburgh and around the world can enjoy intimate up-close views of the nest via the National Aviary's Pittsburgh FalconCam http://www.aviary.org/cons/falconcam_gt.php . Dorothy, the female peregrine at the Cathedral of Learning, laid her first egg last week and has produced three eggs in total. Dorothy’s nest can be viewed at http://www.aviary.org/cons/falconcam_cl.php . “Chicks will hatch about 30 days after the eggs are laid," says Dr. Todd Katzner, director of Conservation and Field Research at the National Aviary. "Three to four weeks after hatching, the chicks will be banded by the Pennsylvania Game Commission and given a full medical exam. Live video streams via cameras installed at nests in both locations will this year provide sharper, and more focused views of the birds. The cameras were installed by PixController, a Murrysville company specializing in wildlife cameras. The images and sounds they collect are streamed by WildEarth.tv to the National Aviary web site, providing real-time web tv images accessible world-wide. FalconCam footage at both sites can be accessed via the National Aviary web site: www.aviary.org/falcon . The cameras operate 24 hours a day and produce images of the birds during the day and at night. The real-time web tv we are streaming this year is light years ahead of what we were able to offer last year” says Katzner “By streaming real-time tv images, with sound, viewers will be able to see intimate details of peregrine falcon life that were previously not available to anyone, even the most careful scientists. Peregrine falcons were once one of the most widespread birds in the world, but the use of long-lived pesticides such as DDT caused females to produce thin eggshells that often cracked during incubation. By the 1960s, populations crashed throughout much of the world, and in 1974, peregrines were listed as Endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. After a nation-wide recovery program enabled the species to make a comeback, the peregrine falcon was federally de-listed in 1999. The peregrine falcon continues to be listed as a Pennsylvania Endangered species under the state wildlife code because their populations have not fully recovered here. The Pennsylvania Game Commission is the official regulatory and management agency for peregrines in the Commonwealth. The National Aviary collaborates with the Game Commission to increase local peregrine falcon populations and educate the public about this remarkable bird. ### The urban peregrine falcon recovery project is a project of the National Aviary conducted in partnership with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, University of Pittsburgh, Cathedral of Learning, Gulf Tower, the Make-a-Wish Foundation, PixController www.wildearth.tv , Robert Pierce and Associates, and numerous private citizens who have lent their support. The National Aviary works to inspire respect for nature through an appreciation of birds. The National Aviary is America’s only independent indoor nonprofit zoo dedicated exclusively to birds. Located in West Park on Pittsburgh’s historic North Side, the National Aviary’s diverse collection comprises 600 birds representing more than 200 species from around the world, many of them threatened or endangered in the wild. The National Aviary’s large walk-through exhibits create an intimate, up-close interaction between visitors and free-flying birds, including opportunities to hand-feed and to meet many species rarely found in zoos anywhere else in the world. As an environmental organization composed of educators, conservationists and researchers, the National Aviary’s goals are many. The Aviary aims to provide high quality education programming for varied audiences; provide the highest quality family recreational experience that a zoological institution can offer; save endangered species by preserving natural habitats; continue endangered bird breeding programs and conduct meaningful avian research; engender a sincere appreciation of nature and a respect for natural law; and instill a conservation ethic that teaches our immense responsibility as stewards of the planet. More information at www.aviary.org or by calling 412.323.7235. Laura Ellis Media Relations Manager National Aviary 412.323.7235, x215 412.559.3519 (cell) laura.ellis AT aviary.org Subject: Timberdoodles! From: "Hopkins,Jeffrey A." <HOPKINJA AT AIRPRODUCTS.COM> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 12:32:10 -0400 Finally had some woodcocks last night (Tuesday) here in Lehigh County. I went up to a spot that overlooks the bluebird field at Whitehall Parkway and found about a half-dozen of them displaying. Spring is here! Jeff Hopkins Whitehall Subject: Birds, Schnecksville Lehigh County. From: Matt loyko <phillies0810 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:26:58 -0700 Hello, In between classes I did a little snooping around in the lands around LCCC.  In one section (basically the only section I stayed in) produced some nice surprises. WB Nuthatch DE Junco RB Woodpecker GC Kinglet Brown Creeper BC Chickadee Song Sparrow RT Hawk American Crow (one with white patches in the wing) Killdeer (fly over) Mockingbird Also around 9pm in the town of Northampton in Northampton County, along the river across from Cementon I had a Killdeer calling in flight. Take care, Matt Loyko Lehigh County Subject: Come Join in the Birding Odyssey !!! From: Dave Kruel <accip AT INFIONLINE.NET> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 10:17:59 -0400 Hi All, It would be great if you could join in on the 24-hour Birding Odyssey coming up shortly. It will take place from 6:00pm Friday April 30 to 6:00pm Saturday May 1. This is a friendly competition to see who can identify the most birds in eastern State Parks and State Forests of PA......and also an opportunity for us to raise some funds for the park, forest, or organization of your choice. You can bird in one park or forest spot, or multiple locations if you'd like. If you are interested, but yet dont have a team....one suggestion is to post onto PABIRDS that you're looking for team members, or that you'd like to hook up with a team that's already out there. There is a $20 registration fee per team. A team may consist of 3-6 members. It can be alot of fun. You dont have to be a "hard-core" birder to join in...anyone down to first-day birders can get involved. Hope you can join. For further information about the event (including registration forms and maps) please contact Rob Neitz at 215-453-5000 or email him at rneitz AT state.pa.us Dave Kruel Pottsville Subject: Wild Turkeys & Common Raven-Clearfield County From: Rick & Marianne Atkinson <marianne5 AT WINDSTREAM.NET> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 08:26:35 -0400 This morning around 6:45, right before twilight began, Wild Turkeys were gobbling up a storm. They were just out of sight over the top of a rise in a horse pasture. This has been going on for the past several days. A little later, while putting out my bird feeders, the resident Common Raven called out a good morning. And what a good day it will be! Sunny, warm and no rain! Marianne Atkinson DuBois Clearfield County Subject: First peregrine egg at Gulf Tower, 3 at the Cathedral of Learning, Pittsburgh From: "Kate St.John" <kstjohn001 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 04:19:01 -0700 (sorry for cross-postings) Tasha2 laid her first egg overnight at the Gulf Tower in downtown Pittsburgh, right on schedule. She normally lays her first egg between 3/10 and 3/17 and yes, it's March 17. Also overnight, Dorothy laid her third egg at the University of Pittsburgh nest. Dorothy will likely begin incubation now. I've posted pictures on my blog at http:// www.wqed.org/birdblog and you can view the nests here: The Gulf streaming webcam --> http://www.aviary.org/cons/falconcam_gt.php The Pitt streaming webcam --> http://www.aviary.org/cons/falconcam_cl.php and if you can't see the stream at Pitt, look at the snapshot camera --> http://aviary.org/cons/FalconCam/Cathedral_refreshCam.php Kate St. John, Pittsburgh Visit my bird & nature blog at www.wqed.org/birdblog Subject: Northampton Co: Walnutport to Lehigh Gap From: Bill Etter <billetter01 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 02:46:51 -0400 We took our "winter-weight" dogs for a long-overdue spring walk/swim along the Lehigh canal, Walnutport to Lehigh Gap on the Northampton Co side of the Lehigh River Tuesday evening. Nothing spectacular to report, but it really felt like spring...wood frogs and peepers were calling, and the birds were pretty vocal too. No woodcocks, but we left early...they were displaying on the Lehigh Co side back on the 9th. Six species of ducks seemed pretty good, but most were fly-bys...a wigeon chased a pair of Mallards up and down the river, only to be found loafing alone on a marshy stretch of the canal a bit later. Lots of bats were active well before sunset. Also found the fattest mink i've ever seen stalking the edge of the muskrat-infested canal before disappearing up a hollow tree. A distant styrofoam cup lurching about in the shallows near Lehigh Gap bore an uncanny or should i say un-cuppy resemblance to a Bonaparte's Gull, but proved to be little more than a waste of several minutes of my time and the most recent addition to my "trash that looks like a bird" list. Accipiters seemed to be moving north over the yard in nearby Slatington this afternoon; sharpie was a new yard bird for the year, along with E Bluebird and a small flock of ravenous Cedar Waxwings that devoured juniper berries and untold quantities of newly emerged bugs along our wood edge most of the day... eBird list below. Take care, Bill Etter Slatington, Lehigh Co ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Location: Walnutport towpath Observation date: 3/16/10 Number of species: 26 Canada Goose 350 Wood Duck 6 American Wigeon 1 American Black Duck 3 Mallard 12 Hooded Merganser 1 Common Merganser 4 Black Vulture 6 Turkey Vulture 4 Cooper's Hawk 2 Mourning Dove 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 Downy Woodpecker 1 American Crow 15 Carolina/Black-capped Chickadee 1 Tufted Titmouse 2 Eastern Bluebird 6 American Robin 2 European Starling 55 Cedar Waxwing 3 American Tree Sparrow 2 Song Sparrow 4 White-throated Sparrow 5 Northern Cardinal 1 Red-winged Blackbird 1200 Common Grackle 150 Brown-headed Cowbird X This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Subject: Bald Eagle, Allegheny River, Allegheny County From: Thomas J Moeller <ThosJMoel AT AOL.COM> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 01:14:31 -0400 On Tuesday, stopping by the Allegheny River along Chapel Harbor Road near the gazebo, with the water up into the weeds on the river, we were delighted by our FOY adult bald eagle rising up in circles above us. We got good views of the bird as it circled and watched as it flew west down the Allegheny. In the wetlands at the mouth of Squaw Run, we saw and heard our FOY red-winged blackbirds as well as several mallards, song sparrows, and gulls. A nice warm day to be out! Glad Spring is back, Tom and Nancy Moeller Subject: Lower Susquehanna River, Lancaster County From: Bob Schutsky <info AT BIRDTREKS.COM> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 23:09:31 -0400 Dear PABirders, Late this afternoon I scoped the Susquehanna near my home in Peach Bottom. New arrivals were Double-crested Cormorant (1) and an Eastern Phoebe. The cormorant was perched on a large piece of floating wood. A flock of about 25 Bonaparte's Gulls was flying upriver. Sincerely, BOB SCHUTSKY Brand New Web Site: www.birdtreks.com -- BIRD TREKS--Quality Worldwide Birding Tours 216 Spring Lane Peach Bottom, PA USA 17563-4008 VOICE: 717-548-3303 FAX: 717-548-3327 E-MAIL: info AT birdtreks.com Subject: Red-necked Grebe, Red-breasted Merganser - Middle Creek WMA (Lancaster Co.) From: Justin Bosler <justin.bosler AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 23:06:17 -0400 PABIRDS, A brief stop at Middle Creek WMA this afternoon yielded a first-winter/ basic adult RED-NECKED GREBE and a brilliant adult male RED-BREASTED MERGANSER way out in the southeast corner of the lake, as viewed from Willow Point, with a total of about 45 Common Mergansers. This may or may not be the same adult male Red-breasted Merganser first observed by Devin and myself on 10 March. As expected, waterfowl quantity, as well as diversity, has really dropped off over the past week. Check the official PGC website for timely updates on geese and swan numbers: http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=514&objID=621427&mode=2 Boredom was setting in for my non-birder girlfriend, so I didn't even have a chance to scope through the Snow Geese for oddballs. The overwhelming majority of snows were foraging in the fields adjacent to the auto tour drive. I heard there were as many as 5 goose species seen today. Good birding, Justin -- Justin Bosler Lancaster, PA Subject: Yellow Creek State Park in Indiana County From: Margaret Higbee <bcoriole AT WINDSTREAM.NET> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 22:15:31 -0400 Today at Yellow Creek State Park in Indiana County we had a little open water, but there is still a lot of ice. Among our 39 species were the following: 94 Canada Geese (79 of these were migrating overhead) 23 Tundra Swans (high overhead); later in the day Jim Dumm had 40 Tundra Swans on the lake. 14 Wood Ducks 2 Gadwalls 1 Am. Wigeon 12 Am. Black Ducks 6 Mallards 2 Green-winged Teal 7 Ring-necked Ducks 3 Greater Scaup 1 Bufflehead 10 Hooded Mergansers 1 Red-breasted Merganser 3 Turkey Vultures 4 Sharp-shinned Hawks 1 Cooper's Hawk 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 2 Red-tailed Hawks 1 Am. Kestrel 4 Am. Coots 1 Killdeer 38 Ring-billed Gulls 2 Common Ravens 2 Brown Creepers 1 Winter Wren - singing and bopping around in a downed tree 1 Purple Finch Observers: Lee Carnahan, Gloria Lamer, Margaret Higbee Margaret Higbee Indiana, PA bcoriole AT windstream.net Subject: Franklin Co From: Bill Oyler <oylerbill AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 22:00:28 -0400 This evening at Bender's Farm near Upper Strasburg: 5 Tundra Swan flying low over the farm field On the main pond ... 4 Hood Mergansers, 30 Ring-Necked Ducks, 2 Lesser Scaup Screech Owl winnowed from dusk for the next 45 minutes I was there moving from the woods east of the dam to the woods north of the pond. American Woodcock began peenting and flew up about 7:40 PM from beyond the north end of the dam ... heard four series of peenting over about fifteen minutes. Bill Oyler Chambersburg Subject: HSR: Tussey Mountain (16 Mar 2010) 39 Raptors From: "Hawkcount.Org Reports" <reports AT HAWKCOUNT.ORG> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 22:03:59 -0400 Tussey Mountain State College, Pennsylvania, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 16, 2010 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 1 9 9 Turkey Vulture 10 48 49 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 0 12 12 Northern Harrier 0 2 2 Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 18 19 Cooper's Hawk 3 13 13 Northern Goshawk 0 2 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 3 35 35 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 12 126 128 Rough-legged Hawk 0 2 3 Golden Eagle 6 161 166 American Kestrel 0 9 9 Merlin 0 1 1 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 2 6 6 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 2 2 Total: 39 446 456 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:30:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8.5 hours Official Counter: Jon Kauffman Observers: Jon Kauffman Visitors: Ron Crandell, Matt ODonnell, Carolyn Mahn with students from Penn State Altoona, Linda Whitesel Weather: Clear skies throughout the day with visibility ~9-15 miles. Winds NNW AT 6-12mph. Temps b/w 36 and 55F. Raptor Observations: GE(EST): 1053(Unk), 1100(Sub), 1105(Ad), 1108(Unk), 1111(Unk), 1214(Unk) 26 of the 39 raptors recorded were observed b/w 10:00-12:00. At that time temps were 39-42F and winds 6-9mph. Majority of the flight was over stone valley and out far. 4 of the 6 GOEA's took that path, 1 ridgetop, and 1 parallel to the ridge close by. Displaying Cooper's Hawk observed again. Non-raptor Observations: American Robin(112), Red-winged Blackbird(90), Brown-headed Cowbird(2) Finch sp.(5) Tundra Swan(111), Canada Goose(311), Dark-eyed Junco(3) Common Grackle(74), Eastern Bluebird(7), Eastern Meadowlark(1), Common Merganser(6), American Goldfinch(1), Killdeer(2), Ring-billed Gull(19) Mourning Cloaks and Commas observed on the trail. Predictions: Similar conditions as today with higher temps. NW winds and sunny. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Jon Kauffman (jonk10 AT hotmail.com) Tussey Mountain information may be found at: http://ww2.lafayette.edu/~brandesd/tussey/ Subject: Eastern Phoebe Indiana, PA From: Marcy Cunkelman <plant4nature AT DISHMAIL.NET> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 21:28:00 -0400 Hi All, Almost all the snow is melted except the huge pile that we had from the deck....pond/creek water feature is going and the birds are very happy with the creek running and the water is already beginning to clear (without any chemicals)... While waiting for my dentist appt, I heard a cardinal, tufted titmouse and robins singing outside the office (he's a birder)...and my first of the year Eastern Phoebe near the cliff walls by the Indiana Mall. Our Phoebe didn't show up yet and thought it would be here today....A meeting in Johnstown tomorrow, so I hope it's here calling before I leave or when I get home...Numbers of Juncos are dwindling...had near 30 yesterday and only about 1/2 that number today...maybe 5 each of white-throated and tree sparrows yesterday...today only 3 WT and 2 Tree Sparrows...Bluebirds were singing and checking out the boxes. The floodlands below us are way up, seems like the most ever...according to the Army Corp of Engineers site it was 80% flood storage capacity...I took some photos and hope to to see some waterfowl(only rafts of pop bottle ducks and alligator logs) , but only saw a few TVs and a pair of Red-tailed Hawks...This is why Pittsburgh didn't flood and why the rivers are going down...we keep going up...I think tomorrow is going to be the highest...if it stays up, this will be a great body of water to see the migrating waterfowl...my first DCCormorants were on this water, years ago. Here is the site if you are interested in the water levels..... http://wmw.lrp.usace.army.mil/current/forecast.html Till tomorrow, Marcy Cunkelman Conemaugh Twp. Clarksburg, PA Indiana Co. plant4nature AT dishmail.net Subject: Presque Isle Hawkwatch for March 16, 2010 From: Jerry McWilliams <jerrymcw AT AOL.COM> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:05:50 -0400 Presque Isle rie, Pennsylvania, USA aily Raptor Counts: Mar 16, 2010 ------------------------------------------------------------------ Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ----------------- ----------- -------------- -------------- lack Vulture 0 0 0 urkey Vulture 13 104 104 sprey 0 0 0 ald Eagle 0 0 0 orthern Harrier 0 1 1 harp-shinned Hawk 0 4 4 ooper's Hawk 9 20 20 orthern Goshawk 0 0 0 ed-shouldered Hawk 1 10 10 road-winged Hawk 0 0 0 ed-tailed Hawk 2 49 49 ough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 olden Eagle 0 0 0 merican Kestrel 1 3 3 erlin 0 1 1 eregrine Falcon 0 0 0 nknown Accipiter 0 0 0 nknown Buteo 0 1 1 nknown Falcon 0 0 0 nknown Eagle 0 0 0 nknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 26 193 193 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 10:00:00 bservation end time: 15:30:00 otal observation time: 5.5 hours Official Counter: Jerry McWilliams Observers: Jerry McWilliams Visitors: ark Lethaby, Julie Leonard and her nephew, and a park employee. Katie ndersen asssitd me with the count after 1330 hours. eather: lear to mostly clear and cold with a light breeze off the lake Raptor Observations: ery little movement. Most birds were flying low, but rather south away rom the lakeshore Non-raptor Observations: ighlight today was the group of four calling Sandhill Cranes that flew irectly overhead at 1520 hrs. ther non-raptor related birds recorded: Canada Goose--48, Killdeer--6, ourning Dove--1, American Crow--111, Horned Lark--5, Eastern Bluebird--1, merican Robin--89, Red-winged Blackbird--hunreds, Common rackle--thousands, Brown-headed Cowbird--hundreds, American Goldfinch--1 Predictions: robably the same as today unless a more desireable southerly wind occurs. ======================================================================= eport submitted by Jerry McWilliams (jerrymcw AT aol.com) information may be found at: ttp://www.presqueisle.org/audubon/ Jerry McWilliams Erie, erie County, pa. jerrymcw AT aol.com Subject: Camp Tuckahoe-Woodcocks From: Dale Bicksler <bickhouse AT AOL.COM> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 20:16:09 -0400 I went to Camp Tuckahoe this evening to see if the woodcocks had arrived. The sun set at 7:15, and the first bird began to sing at 7:36 and flew about five minutes later. Dale Bicksler Mechanicsburg Cumberland County Subject: Tinicum NWR - Philadelphia County - Osprey and Tree Swallows From: Sandra Keller <sandrakeller AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:03:39 -0500 Hello, A 3 hour walk around the refuge today - Tues. 3-16-10 - sunny, 60 degrees or so. NE winds. My highlights were species back: 8 TREE SWALLOWS 1 OSPREY - way early. I am glad someone else had it independantly of myself! WOOD DUCKS - two sets of one drake and two hens each. Interesting. At least that is what I saw - some could have been in the reeds! 1 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET 2 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS - both these species could have been here all winter. The snow kept me away. EAGLES, 1 COOPER'S HAWK, a DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT perched on a Tree Swallow nest box. That was different. Nature notes - Mourning Cloak, Eastern Comma butterflies, Spring Peepers and Wood Frogs sounding off. Good birding all. Sandra Keller Barrington, NJ sandrakeller AT verizon.net Subject: Sweet Arrow Lake, Schuylkill co. From: Denise Donmoyer <nightowl57 AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:26:49 -0400 Sweet Arrow Lake 3/9 Spring Peepers Kingfisher Killdeer Common Mergansers Flicker Phoebe Denise Donmoyer Sweet Arrow Lake Pine Grove, Schuylkill Co. nightowl57 AT verizon.net Subject: Harlequin Duck still present From: Jerry McWilliams <jerrymcw AT AOL.COM> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:12:53 -0400 The Harlequin Duck was in the same place as it has been the last couple of days in Presque Isle Bay near the edge of the ice viewing SW from the pull-off where the all-purpose trail crosses over the road at the east end of Long Pond Trail. The four Sandhill Cranes that flew over the hawkwatch this afternoon appeared to have dropped down onto Presque Isle. Jerry McWilliams Erie, Erie County, Pa. jerrymcw AT aol.com Subject: Black-headed Gull continues From: Matt Sabatine <mattsab12 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 11:03:14 -0400 Ramsay Koury, Andy Markel and I watched the gull at around 10:45 at the Marysville boat launch. good birding, MS Subject: Lebanon Co. SGL 145 Sandhill Crane From: Randy Miller <birder AT DEJAZZD.COM> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:45:53 -0400 The Sandhill Crane was seen at 8:30 am today in the upper marsh past Lake Duffy about 100 yards. I could not find it an hour later. When I saw the crane at 40 yards it froze while standing. I kept moving on the rails to trail so it could feed again. Also in the area were a pair of Wood Ducks, a E. Phoebe , and a Brown Creeper. Randy C. Miller Manheim Lancaster Co. Subject: Re: RFI - Conowingo Dam & Middle Creek From: Les Eastman <les AT BIRDTREKS.COM> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:38:27 -0400 Rick wrote: > I'm thinking of going to Conowingo Dam and Middle Creek later this week = > to see bald eagles and snow geese/tundra swans. Now is not the time to come to Conowingo for eagles. They have dispersed for nesting. I was there one day last week and there were no eagles to be seen. Les =========== Les Eastman mailto:les AT birdtreks.com Havre de Grace, MD The eagle looked down on the river below And he wrapped his wings round him and he fell like a stone And the big salmon fought but the talons held true And he shuddered as the world turned from silver to blue Steve Earle Subject: Woodcock-Clearfield County From: Rick & Marianne Atkinson <marianne5 AT WINDSTREAM.NET> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 04:45:07 -0400 After searching for Woodcocks in vain for the last several days on my property, I was finally rewarded yesterday evening with my first one! In past years, Woodcocks have called and displayed in our horse pastures. After having a brainstorm, I decided to check behind the barn for them. It is a neighbor's field that hasn't been plowed for about 10 years. It is still mostly open, but shrubs are growing quite well there. I heard the Woodcock in that field from 7:30 till 8:00. Marianne Atkinson DuBois Clearfield County Subject: Saw whet owl's - Lycoming County From: Steve Pinkerton <stevepinkerton AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 22:37:22 -0400 I had some free time tonight so I grabbed my owl caller and headed out Rt.287 in the Larry's Creek area of Lycoming County and very quickly found out there is a very good push of saw whets moving thru the area tonight. Every stop produced atleast one or more saw whet owl's' Steve Pinkerton Lycoming County Subject: RFI: Little Gull spots for Philadelphia area From: Russ Namitz <namitzr AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 19:12:20 -0700 Hello~ I've read with interest the sighting(s) of LITTLE GULL at the Susquehanna River. I will be staying in Philadelphia (Fri & Sat) and only have public transport to get me around. Are there any spots in Philadelphia to check out the Bonaparte Gull migration in hopes of gleaning a LIGU? Thank you, Russ Namitz Coos Bay, OR Subject: Lancaster Co, 3/15 - Little Gull, Ross's Goose From: William Keim <keimwj AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 02:04:43 +0000 I spent 2 hours this morning along the Susquehanna River at Blue Lane in Columbia (also an uneventful stop at Lemon St in Wrightsville). The flock of Bonaparte's Gulls (I counted 330) was feeding below the island, and I scoped them until my eyes were bleary. Finally, as they all climbed high in the air with the passing of a Bald Eagle, I was able to spot the one with the black underwings - an adult nonbreeding Little Gull. Birds seen while waiting included Tundra Swan, Wood Duck, American Wigeon, Scaup sp., 1 drake Long-tailed Duck, Common Goldeneye, a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers, Great Black-backed Gull, and Tree Swallows. My afternoon was spent at Middle Creek, where I was able to tease a Ross's Goose out of the Snow Goose flock along the trail to Willow Point. Bill Keim Langhorne, Bucks Co, PA KeimWJ AT hotmail.com _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail has tools for the New Busy. Search, chat and e-mail from your inbox. http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?ocid=PID27925::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HMP:032010_1 Subject: Wyoming Co. birds From: Sandra Goodwin <chickadd AT PTD.NET> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 21:05:51 -0400 Sorry, I forgot to attach my name at the end of Joe DeMarco's report! Sandy Goodwin Wyoming Co. Subject: Wyoming Co. pintails, harrier From: Sandra Goodwin <chickadd AT PTD.NET> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 21:04:42 -0400 > Reported by Joe DeMarco > March 11 > River Access south of Tunkhannock(WY) > > 20+ Common Grackles > > Grist Flats Road in Mehoopany(WY) > > 4 Red-winged Blackbirds > 5 Green-winged Teal > 2 Ring-necked Ducks > 6 Northern Pintails > 2 Hooded Mergansers > All on or around ponds along the road. > > March 14 > Sordoni's pond (WY) > 4 Ring-necked Ducks > > March 15 > Phelps Swamp, West Nicholson(WY) > 3 Hooded Mergansers > > Brown's Farm, Lemon (WY) > a Northern Harrier Subject: Washington/ Allegheny Co. Snipe/Woodcock From: Dj Shawn <pghdjshawn AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 20:55:10 -0400 I had a good afternoon/evening birding. Donaldson Rd / Wash Co. at the Pond, there was 1 Ring Necked Duck 2 Canada Geese Flyover of Cedar Waxwings ( est. 10ish) Along Beagle Club Road 1 Tree Sparrow 1 Goldfinch 1 Song Sparrow Bald Knob Main Pond First, it was great seeing things at this pond after a horrible Fall 1 Hooded Merganser 2 Mallards 1 Wilson's Snipe ( My FOS Snipe) 2 Killdeers 1 Eastern Meadowlark ( FOS) 1 Black Duck Moody Road Ponds 1 American Wigeon 1 Blue Wing Teal 8 Mallards Canada Geese Toy Airport If you are at the area of the toy airport, look to the left, there is some ponds, and to My surprise, there was 1 Pintail I was looking for the Shrike...but my visit was ended by a Coyote that came over and stared at me. I waited for him to leave, then I left. I didn't want him to bring any of his friends for a visit, and My jeep seemed to be so far from me I waited to see if I could hear/see any Woodcocks, I parked between the 2 Bald knob ponds, then moved down a bit so the one pond is right in my path ( near the drywall or wood that was left on the road) by the smaller pond. Around 730pm, they started calling and displaying, there was over 20 plus, and you had many good view since it was still light out, and they were against the sky, then around 745 it started getting too dark....so I left. ** i would def try and get there around by 730 so you can see/hear them...I had a few close ones** -- Shawn Collins Subject: Ross's and Cackling Geese - Woods Edge Park (Lancaster Co.) From: Justin Bosler <justin.bosler AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 20:39:34 -0400 PABIRDS, This afternoon (15 Mar), Devin Bosler and I had 1 adult ROSS'S GOOSE and 1 adult CACKLING GOOSE in with about 1,800 Snow and 1,300 Canada Geese at Woods Edge Park off S. Centerville Rd., just E of Mountville. Alongside the Ross's was an apparent Snow x Ross's Goose hybrid showing the typical intermediate traits of that pairing. Meredith Lombard also stopped by to have a look through the newly arrived geese. Other waterfowl included: Tundra Swan, 1 ad. (flyover) Mallard, 44 Northern Shoveler, 2 Am. Green-winged Teal, 6 Ring-necked Duck, 3 Also of interest were 2 American Coots. Ross's Goose: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dbosler/4436575536/in/photostream/ Cackling Goose: http://www.flickr.com/photos/29219448 AT N08/4435779007/in/photostream/ A brief check of the Susquehanna River from Lemon St. in Wrightsville failed to turn up any small hooded gulls. There were, however, no fewer than 2,000 Ring-billed Gulls foraging in the highly turbid, debris-laden waters. Good birding, Justin -- Justin Bosler Lancaster, PA Subject: Re: Woodcocks at Middle Creek WMA From: Bruce and Sherri Carl <carls94 AT PTD.NET> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 19:55:05 -0400 PA BIRDERS, After some investigating into the strange sound made by a Woodcock last evening during their courtship display I found the call on the Stokes Field Guide to Bird Songs (Eastern Region). This call seems to take place during an aggressive encounter which could be towards another Woodcock in the area as Stephen Respasky had mentioned on the list earlier today or possibly even towards a group of human beings standing along a road side as the bird flys by as our bird might have done last evening. It always nice to learn or hear something new. I know our group had never heard that call before last night. Bruce A. Carl Akron, PA Lancaster County ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bruce and Sherri Carl" To: Sent: Monday, March 15, 2010 5:57 AM Subject: [PABIRDS] Woodcocks at Middle Creek WMA PA BIRDERS, I led a group of (12) birders from the Lancaster County Bird Club on a field trip last evening mainly to hear and observe the courtship display of the American Woodcock. We were not disappointed. At about 6:45pm the first bird started to call and by 7:15pm we had up to at least 6 birds in the area along Girl Scout Road on the east side of the refuge calling and in the air at the same time this lasted for the next 30-40 minutes until we decided to call it a night. We had close views of these birds doing their arial display and also on one occasion heard the duck like/rattling type call that I believe Dave Kruel in Schuylkill County also heard last evening. This was the first time I have ever heard this call from a Woodcock. It happened only on one occasion as a close bird flew directly over top of the group as it made this call. I wonder if it was some type of alert call as it flew over. If anyone has witnessed this and knows what this call might represent please reply to back to me or post to the list. Thanks in advance for any information on this call. Other highlights for the evening: Adult Bald Eagle at a dead Snow Goose in a field along the tour route just down from Stop #3 along with many Red-winged Blackbirds and a few Meadowlarks. Along Hopeland Road before the Willow Point parking area we witnessed thousands of Snow Geese in the fields on both sides of the road and at one moment they were all in the air and flew directly over our group on their way towards the lake. A wonderful sight that anyone visiting this area at this time of year would like to experience. A breath taking moment to say the least. Bruce A. Carl Akron, PA Lancaster County Subject: Woodcocks allegheny co imperial From: Shawn Collins <pghdjshawn AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 19:46:57 -0400 If anyone is in area there are about 20 plus woodcocks displaying around the smaller pond between both ponds Shawn Collins Sent from my iPhone Subject: Black-Headed Gull cont. From: mike weible <feather_ridge AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:32:44 -0700 I observed the Black-Headed Gull, found yesterday by Ramsay , at Marysville from 5:15 to about 5:45 this evening. The bird was within 75 yards of the shoreline at times. Mike Weible Biglerville Subject: Lake Arthur; Butler County; 03/15/2010 From: Richard Nugent <rmnugent AT EXCITE.COM> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 19:30:03 -0400 I birded Lake Arthur this morning. The lake is still 99% ice covered and the waterfowl were few and far between. My best observation was a Red Fox which was a couple hundred yards from shore on the ice. When a Bald Eagle flew near the fox, I got to see how fast a fox can run on a frozen lake. I am not sure if the eagle was a serious threat, but the fox was definitely fearful. I also saw a Red-tailed Hawk carry nesting material into a tall pine tree. Too bad the BBA is finished. On the way home I saw a Sharp-shinned Hawk in Lancaster Township, Butler County. Below is my list of bird highlights in the order encountered: Bald Eagle (2) Bufflehead (1) Hooded merganser (13) Wood Duck (1); FOS for me R N Duck (6) G B Heron (1) T Vulture (4) Best Regards ...... Richard Nugent Hampton Township, Allegheny County ------------------------------------------------------------ Save on hotels. Click here to find and compare hotel deals. Hotel http://tagline.excite.com/c?cp=EJMLAkqjL4U2Is_tgXbsJgAAKZSiSvxOSKEYFtA9wJD2GWNZAAYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATRAAAAAA= Subject: Barred Owl & Waterfowl - Washington Co. From: Mark Vass <mvas1200 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:27:22 -0700 I stopped to check some bodies of water in N. Strabane & Peter`s Twps. today on my way home from work   not much found     Hahn Rd.,AMD Pond   1 Ruddy Duck 6 Ring-necked Duck 1 Coot   Canonsburg Lake   2 Ring-necked Duck 3 Wood Duck   Peter`s Lake Park   Barred Owl(heard) 2 Hooded Merganser     Mark Vass Beaver Co. Subject: HSR: Tussey Mountain (15 Mar 2010) 29 Raptors From: "Hawkcount.Org Reports" <reports AT HAWKCOUNT.ORG> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 19:03:42 -0400 Tussey Mountain State College, Pennsylvania, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 15, 2010 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 8 8 Turkey Vulture 4 38 39 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 1 12 12 Northern Harrier 0 2 2 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 16 17 Cooper's Hawk 0 10 10 Northern Goshawk 0 2 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 32 32 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 9 114 116 Rough-legged Hawk 0 2 3 Golden Eagle 13 155 160 American Kestrel 0 9 9 Merlin 0 1 1 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 0 4 4 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 2 2 Total: 29 407 417 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:45:00 Total observation time: 7.75 hours Official Counter: Jon Kauffman Observers: Bob Fredrick, Jon Kauffman, Robert McLaughlin Weather: AM fog and drizzle with poor visibility until 1300(EST). Then visibility became 12-14 miles. Winds NNW AT 8-14mph. Temps b/w 37-41F with wind chill ~27F. Raptor Observations: All but a few raptors were observed on the north. GE(EST): 955(Ad), 1127(Unk), 1144(Unk), 1146(Ad), 1148(Ad), 1222(Ad), 1224(Unk), 1306(Ad), 1354(Unk), 1358(Ad), 1408(Sub), 1412(Ad), 1417(Unk). BE: Ad(1155) Juv. GOEA AT 837 going SW. Adult BE AT 1329 going SW low in the valley to the north. Coopers Hawk exhibiting breeding display AT 8:30. This is 7 days earlier then last springs first observation. Display took place over the Ag pens each spring. Non-raptor Observations: Eastern Meadowlark(1), Common Merganser(33), Mallard(6), Red-winged Blackbird(10), Eastern Bluebird(2), Killdeer(1), Common Grackle(11), American Robin(4), Dark-eyed Junco(6), Pileated Woodpecker(1) Predictions: Partly cloudy with Northernly winds with warmer temps. Could see a good flight. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Jon Kauffman (jonk10 AT hotmail.com) Tussey Mountain information may be found at: http://ww2.lafayette.edu/~brandesd/tussey/ Subject: Red-breated Mergansers (2), Allegheny County From: Geoff Malosh <pomarine AT EARTHLINK.NET> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 19:00:20 -0400 This afternoon there were two male Red-breasted Mergansers in the big pond on Moody Road, Findlay Twp., Allegheny County. Both ponds are nearly ice-free. The pond on Bald Knob Road is completely ice-free as well but was also duck-free today. Geoff Malosh Allegheny County Geoff Malosh | Editor, Pennsylvania Birds 450 Amherst Avenue | Moon Township, PA 15108-2654 | 412.735.3128 pomarine AT earthlink.net | http://home.earthlink.net/~pomarine/index.html =========================================================================== Pennsylvania Birds is published by the Pennsylvania Society for Ornithology Preview the latest issue: http://www.pabirds.org/pabirds/pb_sample.html Subscription information: http://www.pabirds.org/PSOJoin.htm Subject: RFI - Conowingo Dam & Middle Creek From: Rick <g8tr8 AT PTD.NET> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:58:32 -0400 No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.436 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2749 - Release Date: 03/15/10 19:33:00 Subject: Shenango and Pymatuning Lakes From: Scott Kinzey <blackburnian AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:57:28 -0700 3/15 Shenango Lake in Mercer County was not nearly the gem that it was last Tuesday when I was pressed for time. The Golden Run Access area was flooded and almost got stuck in mud trying to get there and out. We skipped the eastern arm. Most of the ice is melted in the Clark Recreation area and the gulls were scattered. Most of the good birding was along the Propagation Area walkway which is open Jan. 1 to Aug. 31. There were maybe two dozen American Wigeon and fewer Pintails, two Black Ducks. The gulls and a few Bald Eagles were here and especially in the lake section far out from this area. Maybe 800 to 1,000 total and less Herring Gulls than last Tuesday, closer to 50 or less rather than 100 or more, the remainder Ring-billed. There was a small raft of Red-breasted Mergs. I saw NO SWANS anywhere today. Pymatuning Lake in Crawford County was the treat today. It is melting pretty well in the southern end up to Jamestown Beach. Seen from the Jamestown Marina was one adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL and one 1st cycle GLAUCOUS GULL. A smaller, darker gull may be a 1st cycle Lesser Black-backed but is probably just a runt, dark Herring Gull. I got close photos of it to look at. There weren't all that many gulls, but the variety was good. After 4:30 pm more gulls came in and put the total number above 500, but less than 1000. The bulk were Ring-billed but dozens of Herring and the two above mentioned birds. I will try again at sunrise tomorrow. Bread worked as an attractant for a little while allowing close photos of Herring Gulls mingling with the Ring-billeds. I want to chum in the other gulls that are more interested in dead fish. Other birds on the lake were all three mergnasers in small numbers , Buffleheads and a few Common Goldneye. Water is opening up well at the causeway and less at the spillway. There weren't many ducks in the open water today though. I didn't go to Miller Ponds. I have a photo of a frog that was found alive on a tissue box in a house on the kitchen counter. Any frog experts? The property has resident Spring Peepers, Gray Tree Frogs, Green Frogs, American Toads and I found a Wood Frog in the grass once. This one looks like an EASTERN SPADEFOOT. I can send the picture. Scott Kinzey Allegheny County Subject: Win Shafer to speak at Thursday's DVOC meeting From: "F.Arthur McMorris" <mcmorris AT MAC.COM> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:34:01 -0400 The next meeting of the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club (DVOC) is this Thursday, March 18, 2010, at 7:30 PM at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, PA. Details at www.dvoc.org . Everyone is invited to attend. Visitors are always welcome. Featured speaker: Win Shafer, “Birds of the Appalachian Trail” DVOC member Win Shafer and his son Blake (AKA Birdman and Li’l Wayne) spent 4 1/2 months in 2009 through-hiking the entire 2175 miles of the Appalachian Trail from Springer Mountain, Georgia to Mt. Katahdin, Maine. Being in the mountains and woods in many different life zones during spring migration afforded incomparable opportunities for bird observation. Win will give a travelogue of his unique adventure and birding experience. Also: Bert Filemyr -"In the Field: Bonaparte’s Gulls and Black-headed Gulls" Art McMorris Bala-Cynwyd, Montgomery County, PA Vice President, DVOC Subject: Harlequin Duck again today From: Jerry McWilliams <jerrymcw AT AOL.COM> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:39:59 -0400 The Harlequin Duck was still present in Presque Isle Bay. I viewed it this morning by looking SW from the pull-off where the all-purpose trail crosses over the road at the east end of Long Pond Trail. The bay is really starting to open up, so it will soon be a challenge trying to track it down, that is if it sticks around. Jerry McWilliams Erie, Erie County, Pa. jerrymcw AT aol.com Subject: Berks Co. Woodcock From: Steve Fordyce <spfordyce AT FORDYCE.US> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:03:09 -0400 We presently have an American Woodcock performing courtship displays in the wooded and shrubby area next to our house. It is exhibiting a nice example of peenting and the twittering flight sounds. 2 Purple Finches are coming to our feeders,the first since last fall. Steve Fordyce Dryville, Pa. Subject: Eastern Phoebe, Berks Co. From: Kerry Grim <grim04 AT ENTER.NET> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:24:07 -0400 One Eastern Phoebe along the Bartrum Trail at Hamburg. Likely not my earliest date but does tie the SGL 110 early date. No Rusty Blackbirds yet. Kerry Grim Hamburg, PA Subject: BH GULL, Waterfowl / Dauphin Co. From: Ramsay Koury <rkoury123 AT AOL.COM> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:10:38 -0400 Hi Everyone, The BLACK-HEADED GULL is still present on the river at Marysville. It was seen between 11 and 1 today. Other birds at Marysville: Double-crested Cormorant - 1 N. Shoveler - 1 Bufflehead - 25 American Wigeon - 2 Ring-billed Gull - 2000+ On the river from Front St. in Harrisburg (across from West Fairview): Double-crested Cormorant - 1 Horned Grebe - 3 BLUE-WINGED TEAL - 2 Green-winged Teal - 54 American Wigeon - 59 Ring-necked Duck - 52 Bufflhead - 50 Common Goldeneye - 9 N. Pintail - 8 Gadwall - 14 Hooded Merganser - 5 Wood Duck - 2 Both scaup, Black Duck, Mallard, Canada Goose Ring-billed Gull - 250 Good birding, Ramsay Koury Camp Hill Subject: Kestrals, Mergansers Susq. Co, Turkey Vultures etc. Brad Co (Wayne Co yesterday) From: Trudy Gerlach <tgswoods AT EPIX.NET> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:22:15 -0400 Today on the way home from N. Wayne Co (where I saw a FOY (in Wayne Co) Turkey Vulture on Chinaman's Road near Lakewood yesterday) just west of Montrose on Rt. 706 I was treated to two American Kestrels on a power line. One, whose back was not really reddish, but rather brownish, was following the other briefly in flight as the second one moved a few times to different areas on the power line, sidling up on the line to the second one, which appeared smaller and had strong rufous on its back with grey at the sides of its back. I sort of assume the smaller was a male and the larger one was a female, but it wasn't rufous, but rather barred brownish. Of course, either of them could have been juveniles, I suppose. I'm not sure whether the pursuit and sidling was part of courtship or interaction between juvenile and adult? Then, at Stump Pond further west of Montrose on Rt. 706 there were 12 Common Mergansers (4 female) interacting with each other fairly enthusiastically, a pair of Mallards and a few Canada Geese. In Camptown there were about 3 FOY Common Grackles (FOY to me, but I suspect they've been here for a while). When I got home to my farm near New Era, a found a mixed flock of American Robins and Red-winged Blackbirds...about 40 in all, feeding in a hayfield; I'm not used to seeing the two species so close together in one flock. Trudy Gerlach Bradford Co. tgswoods AT epix.net