Extend your holiday by treating songbirds

After you have enjoyed your Christmas tree, why not extend the enjoyment by putting it outside? 

Winter can be difficult for birds and animals because of scarce food and minimal shelter. Bushy bows from your evergreen tree provide shelter from snow and wind. Just lay the tree on the ground near other trees or bushes that have lost their leaves. 

You can also use cuttings of hawthorn, pyracantha or holly. The brightly colored berries look great, and birds will be happy to eat them as a welcome source of nutrition.

Also consider decorating the tree limbs with other food treats. For a great family project, dip pinecones in melted suet or smear them with peanut butter. If you'd like, you can roll the smeared cones in seed. Or try mixing peanut butter and oatmeal and smear the mixture on pine cones. Popcorn, cranberries, raisins or peanuts can be strung and draped over the branches.

Orange halves or dried fruit also attract songbirds.

Finally, be sure to place the Christmas tree nearby so you can see how the wildlife benefit from it.

Lehigh Valley bird sightings for December 29

Here are the Lehigh Valley bird sightings fro the week ended December 29. The list was compiled by Dave DeReamus, of the Eastern PA Birdline, which is sponsored by the Lehigh Vally Audubon Society.

Lesser Scaup

Portland, Northampton County
Long-tailed Duck, December 26 at the Portland foot bridge.

PPL Martins Creek power plant area, Northampton County
Short-eared Owl, December 19.

Nazareth Quarry, Northampton County
Greater White-fronted Goose, 1 on December 28.
Ross's Goose, 4 on December 28.
Cackling Goose, 4 on December 28.
Iceland Gull, 2 fly-bys on December 28.
Peregrine Falcon, 1 on December 28.
Also seen: Lesser Scaup, Red-breasted and Hooded Mergansers, Pied-billed Grebe, Bald Eagle, Common Raven, Ruby-crowned Kinglet and Hermit Thrush.

Palmer Township, Northampton County
Rough-legged Hawk, 1 on December 21 north of Van Buren Road.
Snowy Owl, 1 from December 19 through December 28 along the north end of Van Buren Road.
Snow Bunting, about 50 on December 21.

Long-eared Owl

Bethlehem, Northampton County
Long-eared Owl, 1 on December 23 at a residence.

Washington Township, Lehigh County
Peregrine Falcon, 1 on December 27 at Memorial and Heidelberg Heights roads.

Allentown, Lehigh County
Rufous Hummingbird, 1 through December 26 in the backyard of a home on North 21st Street.

Upper Saucon Township, Lehigh County
Eastern Towhee.

Green Lane Reservoir, Montgomery County
Near Knight Lake
Red-breasted Merganser, 1 on December 27.
Also seen: American Wideon, Hooded Merganser and Ruddy Duck.


Gilbertsville, Montgomery County
Bullock's Oriole, 1 through December 24 along Oberholzer Road.

Peace Valley Park, Bucks County
Cackling Goose, seen daily.
Long-tailed Duck, 2 on December 24.
Greater Scaup, 1 on December 24.
Common Merganser, about 750 on December 24.
Iceland Gull, 1 on December 24 and December 28.
Lesser Black-backed Gull, 342 on December 23.
Red-headed Woodpecker, 1 seen during the week near Angler's Pier.
Also seen: Wood Duck, Hooded Merganser, Bald Eagle, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Pipit, Eastern Towhee, and Fox, Field and Swamp sparrows.

Lake Nockamixon, Bucks County
Hermit Thrust, Gray Catbird and Eastern Towhee.

An updated version of "Birds of the Lehigh Valley and Vicinity," a guidebook published by the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society, will be published shortly. The new guidebook will be available for sale at The Bird House as soon as copies are made available.

Last-minute gift ideas from The Bird House

Lehigh Valley bird sightings for December 20

Here are the Lehigh Valley bird sightings fro the week ended December 20. The list was compiled by Dave DeReamus, of the Eastern PA Birdline, which is sponsored by the Lehigh Vally Audubon Society.

Hooked Merganser couple, male in foreground

Jacobsburg State Park, Northampton County
Savannah Sparrow.

Williams Township, Northampton County
American Robin, Gray Catbird, Eastern Towhee, Common Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird, Red-winged Blackbird, and Chipping, Swamp and Savannah sparrows.

Bethlehem, Lehigh County
American Woodcock, 1 on December 12 (photographed in a private backyard).

East Allen Township, Northampton County
Peregrine Falcon, 1 on December 16

Seemsville, Northampton County
Fox Sparrow and Red-winged Blackbird.

Moore Township, Northampton County
(During the Wild Creek/Little Gap Christmas Bird Count on December 15)
Brown Thrasher, 1 along Church Road.
Snow Bunting, 5 on Schlegel Road and also Beacon Road.
Rusty Blackbird, 5 along Church Road.
Also seen: Wood Duck, Northern Harrier, Belted Kingfisher, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Eastern Towhee, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, and Field, Swamp and Chipping sparrows.

Beltzville State Park, Carbon County
(During the Wild Creek/Little Gap Christmas Bird Count on December 15)
Red-breasted Merganser, Killdeer, Wilson's Snipe, Bonaparte's Gull, Peregrine Falcon, Winter Wren and Gray Catbird.

Allentown, Lehigh County
Rufous Hummingbird, 1 through at least December 29 in the backyard at a home on North 21st Street.

Gilbertsville, Montgomery County
Bullock's Oriole, 1 through at least December 15.

Peace Valley Park, Bucks County
Greater White-fronted Goose, 1 through at least December 14.
Cackling Goose, 11 seen daily through December 12.
Redheads, 10 on December 12 and 8 on December 14.
Long-tailed Ducks, 18 on December 18 and 9 on December 14.
Common Merganser, 449 on December 13.
Iceland Gull, 1 adult on December 12.
Bonaparte's Gull, 74 on December 13.
Lesser Black-backed Gull, 102 on December 13.
Red-headed Woodpecker, 1 seen during the week at Angler's Pier.
Also seen: Ruddy Duck, Horned and Pied-billed grebes, Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, and Fox and Field sparrows.

Trumpeter Swan

Lake Nockamixon, Bucks County
Trumpeter Swan, 1 juvenile on December 15 at the Tohikcon boat launch.

A reminder: The Bethlehem-Easton-Hellertown Christmas Bird Count will be held on December 28. Contact your group leader from last year or call Don or Elaine Mease at 610-346-7754.

Directions to many of the sites in this week's report can be found in "Birds of the Lehigh Valley and Vicinity," a guidebook published by the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society and available for sale at The Bird House.

New Product: Solar Snow Man feeder

You may remember the Snow Man feeder that we carried in previous years. Now there's a new product on the market that puts a twist on the popular feeder: solar power.

The Solar Snow Man serves double duty in your backyard or garden. By day, it's a functional feeder that draws clinging birds such as chickadees, wrens, titmice, goldfinches and woodpeckers. By night, the feeder glows, putting on its own light show. 

An solar-charged LED cell in the top hat of the Snow Man feeder captures energy from the sun during the day. When the sun goes down, the bottom of the hat glows, illuminating the white-colored mesh that comprises the bird-feeding part of the product.

The all-metal construction promises years of enjoyment. The feeder is meant to be used for black oil sunflower seed, which is rich in fat that birds need to withstand cold winter nights.

Products sold at The Bird House may be available for a limited time, so hurry in!

Feed birds high-energy suet

Seed and peanut feeders for any purpose

New Product: Dial-a-Seed Feeder

Looking for the flexibility to change types of bird seed so you can cater to different kinds of birds? The all-purpose Dial-a-Feeder may be what you're looking for. 

Dial-a-Seed has a simple rotating feed tray which changes the size of the openings in the bottom of the seed cylinder. By dialing the seed tray, you select the opening that best matches the size seed you wish to use.

For instance, the smallest seed port is meant for Nyjer seed (sometimes called "thistle"), a favorite of goldfinches. The largest opening accommodates black oil sunflower, which is enjoyed by cardinals, chickadees, finches, nuthatches, titmice and many other songbirds.

Another great feature of the feeder is the wide perch on the seed tray, which enables cardinals to feed comfortably.

The feeder holds 5 cups of seed and is easy to fill and clean.

Products sold at The Bird House may be available for a limited time, so hurry in!

New Product: 'Garden Gate' feeder

"Garden Gate," a durable, decorative feeder, is now available at The Bird House. 

The body is made of rust- and fade-resistant metal components that are securely riveted together. One benefit: The metal won't absorb bacteria, making the feeder healthier for birds to use. The seed is held in place with translucent plastic panels. 

Hang the feeder from a tree limb or shepherd's hook.

The feeder holds up to 5 pounds of seed. Made by Homestead, the product is manufactured in the United States.

Products sold at The Bird House may be available for a limited time, so hurry in!

New Product: Tumbled Stone bird coasters

A set of bird-themed ceramic beverage coasters will keep drinks from marring your the finish on your coffee table while drawing favorable glances from visitors to your home during the holidays. The coasters work equally with hot and cold beverages. A cork backing protects furniture. The set includes four coasters, one for each type of bird: cardinal, bluebird, chickadee and goldfinch. The coasters make an ideal stocking-stuffer. They're made in Tennessee by Highland Products.

Products sold at The Bird House may be available for a limited time, so hurry in!

New Product: Fly-through feeder with transparent roof

Most hopper-style feeders have a roof that protects the seed from rain and snow, but hides the seed from a birds-eye view. The Going Green line of bird feeders came up with a new idea: using plexiglas for the roof, so songbirds can locate the goodies quicker. The clear plexiglas also has a side benefit for you: If you hang your feeder close to the house,  and you have a two-story house, you can watch the action down below from your second-story window.

As with other Going Green products, the base and sides of the fly-through feeder are made of durable recycled plastic. Remember that milk jug that you tossed in the recycling bin? It, along with 20 or so other jugs, may one day become part of a bird feeder. The plastic is tough--it's the same kind used for decking material, so you know it won't crack, warp or fade. The feeder comes in one color: an appealing shade of red.

The base is recycled plastic, as are the walls. The bottom is a galvanized screen to shed any moisture. The mesh is small enough so that any seed, including white millet, won't fall through. The feeder includes a stainless steel cable for hanging from a shepherd's hook. The feeder weighs just 3 pounds, so it should carry the shepherd's hook without problem. The feeder can hold up to a pound and a half of seed.

As with most Going Green products, the feeder is made in the United States.

Products sold at The Bird House may be available for a limited time, so hurry in!

New Product: Wine Caddy

Planning on giving wine as a gift for the host or hostess of a holiday dinner? Don't put the wine in a brown paper bag. Use a decorative wine caddy! 

These tote bags are made of elegant but durable, high-quality fabric. They're beautiful to look at and practical to use. Two designs are available: a Snowy Owl and a pair of cardinals on a holly branch. 

The tote bag is 3.5 inches in diameter and 15.5 inches long, large enough to accommodate any classic wine bottle. 

The Wine Caddy makes a thoughtful yet affordable gift. 

Products sold at The Bird House may be available for a limited time, so hurry in!

Feed songbirds, not squirrels!

Lehigh Valley bird sightings for the week ended December 13

Dave DeReamus, of the Eastern PA Birdline, compiled these bird sightings for the greater  Lehigh Valley area for the week that ended December 13. The Birdline is sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society.

Snowy Owl

Saylorsburg, Monroe County
Glaucous Gull, 1 seen on December 7 at Saylor's Lake.

Beltzville State Park, Carbon County
Long-tailed Duck, 1 on December 12.
Bonaparte's Gull, 1 on December 12.
Also seen: Lesser Scaup, Pied-billed Grebe, Bald Eagle, Hermit Thrush, and Fox and Field sparrows.

New Smithville, Lehigh County
Snowy Owl, 1 on December 7 (across from the Peterbilt Truck Stop).

Fogelsville Quarry, Lehigh County
Ross's Goose, 1 on December 7.
Tundra Swan, 5 on December 7.

Fogelsville, Lehigh County
Snowy Owl, 1 on December 8 through December 10 (along Route 100 just north of Route 222).

Allentown, Lehigh County
Snowy Owl, 1 on December 5 (at the Queen City Airport).
Rufous Hummingbird, 1 through December 12 (in the backyard of a house on North 21st Street).
Peregrine Falcon, 1 on December 9 (at the PPL Building).

Alburtis, Lehigh County
(along Smith Lane)
Snow Bunting, 5 on December 10.
Horned Lark, 100 or more on December 10.
Also seen: Savannah Sparrow.

Palm, Montgomery County
Brewer's Blackbird, 1 on December 9 (amid a flock of other "blackbirds").

Peace Valley Park, Bucks County
Greater Scaup, 1 on December 7.
Long-tailed Duck, 1 on December 4.
Red-breasted Merganser, 8 on December 4.
Red-headed Woodpecker, 1 during the past week at Angler's Pier
Also seen: Cackling Goose, Ruddy Duck, Pied-billed Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, Merlin, Great and Lesser Black-backed Gull, Winter Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Eastern Towhee, and Field and Swamp sparrows

A reminder:
The Lehigh Valley Audubon annual Christmas Bird Count is about to begin:

• Saturday, December 14, in Allentown. Contact your group leader from last year or call Stephen Kloiber at 610-863-3889.
• Sunday, December 15, in Wild Creek/Little Gap. Contact your group leader from last year or call Josh Nemeth at 610-573-8577.
• Saturday, December 28, in Bethlehem-Easton-Hellertown. Contact your group leader from last year or call Don or Elaine Mease at 610-346-7754.

Directions to many of the sites in this week's report can be found in "Birds of the Lehigh Valley and Vicinity," a guidebook published by the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society and available for sale at The Bird House.

Birds need water in winter

Birds love water anytime of year. As winter progresses, water becomes more difficult to find. Heated baths provide that water; you also can put an immersion-style heater in your year-round bath. Keeping birdbaths ice-free is a sure way to attract birds to your yard.

Immersion-style heater for existing concrete
 or composte-material baths

The Bird House offers a wide range of wintertime heated baths and immersion-style heaters that are thermostatically controlled and only turn on when the temperature dips; they don't run all the time. They work in subzero temperatures.

When a winter chill descends at night, these products keep the water ice-free. As the birds awaken in the morning, the water is waiting for them to use. If the day turns sunny and warm, the thermostat automatically shuts down the heating element, preventing the water from overheating.

In most cases, operating a heated bath or immersion-style heater costs only pennies a day. The Bird House offers models with different sizes, wattages, styles and designs.

Bath includes attachments for a deck rail
or an optional 37-inch pole

Some baths can be mounted on railings; others have stands that keep the bath above ground. We consider them year-round solutions--just unplug the cord and you have a bath that serves throughout the summer.

Most of the baths are contoured to fit the claws of most birds, making perching easier. They're designed not to crack in frigid weather. Most are made in the United States.

The Bird House does not sell "solar" birdbaths. After testing several models over the years, we found that they do not work in our winter climate. Solar baths may work in the milder Carolinas but not here.

The key to attracting large number of birds in winter is to keep your bath full of water at all times. In the natural environment, most sources of water are few and far between when puddles or ponds freeze over. Birds may have to travel long distances to visit water sources. That depletes birds' much-needed energy that otherwise could be used to help them survive subzero temperatures.

3-in-1 bath: for use on decks, pole or on the ground

One final note: We haven't forgotten birdbaths meant for summertime use. Several models are still available.They make great gifts for the bird-watcher who has the patience to wait for the winter cold to end. And there's one more attraction: Summer baths are on sale now, so visit the store before they run out!

All products at The Bird House may be available for limited periods, so hurry in!
  

Heated bath with metal pedestal

Hand-painted Cardinal bath (for summer use only)

Some tips on wintertime batheing

Ground-fault interrupter

• Be sure to change the bath's water every day or so, just as you would in the summer months. You wouldn't want the water to become contaminated. Some winter baths available at The Bird House have a handy tip-out feature that makes dumping old water easy.
• Make sure to connect the electrical cord from a heated bath to an outdoor ground-fault interrupted circuit. Most electrical codes require GFIs for outdoor electric outlets. If you have a newer house, you probably have one.
• If you need to run an extension cord from the house to the bath, make sure it is rated for outdoor use.
• Never add antifreeze to a birdbath. Antifreeze is poisonous to birds and other animals. Likewise glycerin should not be used. Glycerin is a low-level toxin that could mat the bird's feathers, making them susceptible to hypothermia.

Christmas bird count begins this weekend

The 114th Annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count takes place this weekend at locations throughout the Lehigh Valley. The longest running citizen-science survey in the world, the Christmas bird count provides critical data on population trends. 

Last year 71,000 volunteers took part in the annual event--the greatest number ever. The counts range in location from above the Arctic Circle to Brooklyn and Los Angeles to Tierra del Fuego on the southern tip of South America. The Lehigh Valley count is part of that vast volunteer network.

Deborah Phillips, courtesy of the National Audubon Society

"The Audubon Christmas Bird Count harnesses volunteer power to gather knowledge that shapes conservation policy at enormous scales in this country," said David Yarnold, the Audubon Society's president and CEO.

The data collected "is at the heart of hundreds of peer-reviewed scientific studies and inform decisions by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Department of the Interior  and the EPA," said Gary Langham, Audubon's chief scientist. "Because birds are early indicators of environmental threats to habitats we share, this is a vital survey of North American and, increasingly, the Western Hemisphere."

The accumulation of counts over the years have produced these important findings:

• Northeastern states, including Pennsylvania, are experiencing a marked increase in Hooded Mergansers during the winter.
• The Ruby-crowned Kinglet and the Hermit Thrush are increasing in Northeastern forests of birch, poplar and evergreens. On the other hand, populations of Northern Shrike are declining.
• Do you know of someone who denies the existence of climate change? Birds are not climate skeptics, having spoken with their wings. Record movements of Razorbills (a relative of the Puffin) are moving to southern waters, including Florida, possibly because their normal feeding resources in the Canadian maritime are declining.
• The Bald Eagle is back. The Endangered Species Act works. Also, peregrine falcons are no longer in trouble.

The Lehigh Valley Audubon Society's Christmas Bird Count will take place between December 14 and December 28. Here is how you can participate:

Allentown
Saturday, December 14
Contact your group leader from last year, or call Stephen Kloiber at 610-863-3889.

Wild Creek/Little Gap
Sunday, December 15
Contact your group leader from last year, or call Josh Nemeth at 610-573-8577.

Bethlehem-Easton-Hellertown
Saturday, December 28
Contact your group leader from last year, or call Elaine Mease at 610-346-7754.

There is a specific methodology to the Christmas Bird Count, so be sure to contact your group leader or phone an individual mentioned above for details. If you are a beginning birder, you will be able to join a group that includes at least one experienced bird watcher. If your home is within the boundaries of a Bird Count circle, then you can stay at home and report the birds that visit your feeder on count day as long as you make prior arrangements with the count compiler.

Visit the National Audubon Society for further details on the Christmas Bird Count.

Birch birch house returns

It's that time of year again: birch bird houses.

These houses are both decorative and functional. They go equally well on the mantel or in the backyard. The houses are made entirely of bark from white birch trees. The bark is the leftovers from the harvesting of logs for furniture and other items. The peeling bark adds an attractive touch.

The houses are about 7 to 7.5 inches tall and have a hook on the roof ridge for hanging from tree limbs or shepherds hooks. Chickadees and wrens will find them ideal lodging. The houses are made in Greenwood, Maine, in the mountains not far from the northern New Hampshire border.

Unfortunately these houses are manufactured on a seasonal basis only. 
They are available for a limited time at 
The Bird House, so hurry in!

Lehigh Valley bird sightings for December 6

Who would expect to see a Rufous Hummingbird here? And at this time of year!

Since early November, a Rufous Hummingbird has been visiting a yard in the 900 block of North 21st Street in Allentown. Now comes news that new Rufous sightings have been reported elsewhere in the greater Lehigh Valley.

Rufous Hummingbird at Jacobsburg State Park, November 2011

In the week ended December 6, one Rufous Hummingbird has appeared in the 3300 block of Orchard Road in Macungie, Lehigh County, and another one at a private feeding station in Upper Nazareth, Northampton County.

The reports were listed by Dave DeReamus, of the Eastern PA Birdline, which is sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society.

Rufous Hummingbirds breed primarily in Oregon, Washington State and British Columbia, and are found in Rocky Mountain states. The birds normally overwinter in Mexico, but occasionally are being seen in the eastern United States. Unlike the Ruby-throats, Rufous Hummingbirds have the ability to withstand cold temperatures. They go into a torpor at night and reduce their body temperatures.

This isn't the first time a Rufous Hummingbird has been seen in the Lehigh Valley. Probably the best recorded case was in November 2011 when an adult male Rufous was spotted sipping from a feeder at Jacobsburg State Park in Northampton County. Scott Weidensaul, the expert hummingbird bander, noticed a band on its leg. That information led to the discovery that the Rufous had been an immature bird in River Ridge, Louisiana, 10 months earlier. It probably had been born the summer before somewhere in the Pacific Northwest. What a journey!

Here are other the Lehigh Valley bird sightings for the week ended November 6:

Nazareth, Northampton County
(at Nazareth Borough Park)
Merlin, 1 on December 2

Bethlehem, Northampton County
(Along Commerce Center Boulevard)
Lesser Black-backed Gull, 40-plus on November 30

East Allen Township, Northampton County
Ross's Goose, 1 fly-by on December 3
Merlin, 1 on December 2 along Arrowhead Road

Bake Oven Knob, Lehigh County
Bald Eagle, 3 on November 29
Golden Eagle, 6 on November 29
Also seen: Common Raven

Heidelberg Township, Berks County
(Church Road)
Northern Harrier

Coplay, Lehigh County
(at Coplay Quarry)
Greater White-fronted Goose, 4 on December 2

Peace Valley Park, Bucks County
Greater White-fronted Goose, 1 to at least November 30
Greater Scaup, 4 on November 30
Red-breasted Merganser, 4 on November 29
Red-headed Woodpecker, 2 during the week at Angler's Pier)
Also seen: Cackling Goose, Ruddy Duck, Double-crested Cormorant, Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, Killdeer, Great and Lesser Black-backed Gull, Gray Catbird, Eastern Towhee, and Fox, Field and Swamp sparrows.

Directions to many of the sites in this week's report can be found in "Birds of the Lehigh Valley and Vicinity," a guidebook published by the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society and available for sale at The Bird House.

New Product: Christmas-themed figurines

Get in the Christmas spirit! Would you like to add some  holiday décor to your home? Or maybe to someone else's as a gift? 

We have a whimsical Father Christmas with a nest full of young cardinals. 

Or a perky snowman, holding a bird house on one arm while a bright red cardinal perches on the hand of his other arm. 

Or a different version of Father Christmas, this time as if carved from a log, his long beard and robe flowing down the length. 

These 11-inch-tall figurines are made of a composite material that's handsomely decorated and elegantly detailed. They'll look great on a table, mantel or buffet.

Products sold at The Bird House may be available for a limited time, so hurry in!

Holiday hours start this Sunday

Lehigh Valley bird sightings for the week of November 30

Dave DeReamus, of the Eastern PA Birdline, compiled these bird sightings for the greater  Lehigh Valley area for the week that ended November 30. The Birdline is sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society.

But before we get to the list of sightings, we'd like to call you attention to several important events  scheduled for the Lehigh Valley area.

DECEMBER 14
Allentown Christmas Bird Count
Call your group leader from last year's count or call Stephen Kloiber at 610-863-3889

DECEMBER 15
Wild Creek/Little Gap Christmas Bird Count
Call your group leader from last year's count or call Josh Nemeth at 610-573-8577.

DECEMBER 28
Bethlehem-Easton-Hellertown Christmas Bird Count
Call your group leader from last year's count or call Don and Elaine Mease at 610-346-7754.

Every year thousands of volunteers arm themselves with binoculars, bird guides and checklists to go on an annual mission--creating a census of bird wildlife in the United States, Canada and the rest of the Americas. This year will mark the 114th annual Audubon Society bird count. The data collected enables researchers and conservation biologists to determine the long-term health and status of bird populations. You can play an important role in gathering this information while enjoying time with family, friends and fellow birders.

Now for this week's report:

Snow Bunting

Green Pond, Northampton County
Cackling Goose, 1 on November 23.

Bethlehem, Northampton County
Snowy Owl, 1 on November 29. (An immature owl, it was photographed at 2785 Commerce Center Boulevard.)

Little Gap, Northampton County
Bald Eagle, 6 on November 23 and 5 on November 24.
Golden Eagle, 12 on November 24.
Snow Bunting, 12 on November 24 (fly-bys).
Also seen: Tundra Swan.

Bake Oven Knob, Lehigh County
Bald Eagle, 3 on November 23 and November 24.
Golden Eagle, 14 on November 24.
Also seen: Common Raven.

Allentown, Lehigh County
Rufous Hummingbird, 1 through November 29 in the backyard of a house at North 21st Street.

Macungie, Lehigh County
Rufous Hummingbird, 1 through November 24 in a yard on Orchard Road.

Green Lane Reservoir, Montgomery County
(Church Road area)
Greater White-fronted Goose, 1 to at least November 27.
Cackling Goose, 1 to at least November 25.
Northern Shoveler, 38 on November 27.
Also seen: Pied-billled Grebe and Ruddy Duck.

Northern Shoveler, male (left) and female

Peace Valley Park, Bucks County
Greater White-fronted Goose, 1 during the course of the week.
Cackling Goose, seen during the course of the week.
Long-tailed Duck, 1 on November 23.
Red-breasted Merganser, 4 on November 23.
Red-headed Woodpecker, 2 seen during the week (at Angler's Pier area).
Also seen: Wood Duck, Double-creasted Cormorant, Red-shouldered Hawk, Killdeer, Great and Lesser Black-backed gulls, Winter Wren, Eastern Phoebe, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Gray Catbird and Swamp Sparrow.

Merrill Creek Reservoir, New Jersey
(Scotts Mountain Hawkwatch)
Bald Eagle, 4 on November 23 and November 24.
Peregrine Falcon, 1 on November 23 and November 24.

Bald Eagles were noted at several "off-mountain" sites this past week.

Directions to many of the sites in this week's report can be found in "Birds of the Lehigh Valley and Vicinity," a guidebook published by the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society and available for sale at The Bird House.