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.