Lehigh Valley bird sightings for September 1

Common Nighthawk, seen at Muhlenberg College

Dave DeReamus of the Eastern PA Birdline, a project sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society, compiled the following list of bird sightings for the week that ended September 1.

Echo Lake, Northampton County
Snow goose, 2 during the weekend of August 24-25

Jacobsburg State Park, Northampton County
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, 1 on August 24

Lower Nazareth Township, Northampton County
Ruddy Duck and Pied-billed Grebe, both found at the Gremar retention ponds

Bethlehem Township, Northampton County

Short-billed Dowitcher, 1 on August 23 and 24 at the retention pond of the Anderson Campus of St. Luke's Hospital 

Freemansburg, Northampton County
Olive-sided Flycatcher, 1 on August 24
Also seen: Cape May Warbler

Moore Township, Northampton County
Olive-sided Flycatcher, 1 on August 25

Bake Oven Knob, Lehigh County

An Egyptian Goose, far from home

Bald Eagle, 35 on August 23
Also seen: Common Raven

Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Lehigh County
Common Nighthawks, 32 on August 27

Green Lane Reservoir, Montgomery County
Egyptian Goose, 1 on August 27 (an escaped bird)

Peace Valley Park, Northampton County
Black-crowned Night Heron, 1 during the past week
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, 1 on August 23
Prothonotary Warbler, 1 on August 23
Also seen: Lesser Black-backed Gull, and Blackburnian and Bay-breasted warblers

To report bird sightings, send an e-mail to becard@rcn.com with the word "Birdline" in the subject heading. Dave compiles updates every Friday, or more often when necessary.

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. 

One important note as migration season begins: "Birds of the Lehigh Valley and Vicinity" also tells which birds to expect at various times during the year. The information is based on years of sightings in the Lehigh Valley, plus northern areas such as Beltzville State Park in Carbon County and southern locations such as Peace Valley Park in Bucks County. The book is one of the handiest reference guides for birders in our region.