Lehigh Valley bird sightings for February 23

Here are the Lehigh Valley bird sightings for the week ended February 23. The list was compiled by Dave DeReamus, of the Eastern PA Birdline, which is sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society. 

Barrow's Goldeneye

Before we begin the individual reports, it might be worth noting that this week's compilation is the first time since December 7 that no one has reported seeing a Snowy Owl, the bird that has been on everyone's "must see" list this winter. As has been mentioned in the past, it's highly unusual to see Snowy Owls this far south. Usually their winter grounds are in the very northern parts New England and the Midwest.

It's unclear whether the Snowy Owls have left for their breeding grounds in the Arctic regions, or whether simply no one visited the locations that the owls have been seen this winter.

Now back to the rest of Dave DeReamus's list of sightings for the past week:

Portland, Northampton County
White-winged Scoter, 1 through February 21.
Long-tailed Duck, 1 through February 21.
Red-breasted Merganser, 1 on February 14 and February 15.
Also seen: Redhead.

Upper Mount Bethel, Northampton County
Barrow's Goldeneye, 1 on February 16 through February 21. The bird was a female seen along the Delaware River near the Driftstone Campground.
White-winged Scoter, 1 on February 20.
Long-tailed Duck, 1 through February 20.

White-winged Scoter

Martins Creek, Northampton County
(near the PPL power plant)
Long-tailed Duck, 1 on February 16.
Red-breasted Merganser, 3 on February 16.
Red-necked Grebe, 1 on February 16.
Eastern Phoebe, 1 through February 20.
Rusty Blackbird, 1 on February 14.
Snow Bunting, 1 on February 15.

Plainfield Township, Northampton County
Iceland Gull, 2 seen on February 16 near the Grand Central landfill.

Jacobsburg State Park, Northampton County
Red-shouldered Hawk and Hermit Thrush.

Easton, Northampton County
(at the "Forks of the Delaware")
Red-necked Grebe, 3 on February 16; 1 through February 19.
Iceland Gull, 4 on February 16 and 8 on February 19.
Peregrine Falcon, 2 on February 19.

Williams Township, Northampton County
Rusty Blackbird, 1 on February 21.
Also seen: Eastern Towhee.

Bethlehem, Northampton County
Northern Goshawk, 1 on February 18
Peregrine Falcon, 1 on February 19 and 2 on February 22.
Iceland Gull, 1 on February 25 at Sand Island.

East Allen Township, Northampton County
Ring-necked Pheasant.

Lynn Township, Lehigh County
Red-headed Woodpecker, 1 on February 17 along Kunkles Mill Road.

Allentown, Lehigh County
Peregrine Falcon, 1 on February 21.
Also seen: Canvasback and Redhead at the Dorney Park pond.
Also seen: Greater Scaup, Common Goldeneye and Red-breasted Merganser at Lake Muhlenberg.

Coopersburg, Lehigh County
Eastern Towhee.

Belvidere, New Jersey
Red-necked Grebe, 1 on February 14.
Also seen: Greater Scaup.

Plumstead Township, Bucks County
Brown Thrasher.

Fox Sparrows were seen at several sites during the past week.

To report bird sightings to Dave DeReamus, send an e-mail to becard@rcn.com with the word "Birdline" in the subject heading.