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.