Lehigh Valley bird sightings for March 21

Great Cormorants are sometimes seen in Pennsylvania, but it's a treat to see one visiting this area. For the second week in a row, a Great Cormorant has been seen along the Delaware River at the Portland foot bridge.

Greater Cormorant

The Great Cormorant is a fish-eater, diving from the surface of the water and chasing prey underwater. It grabs the fish in its bill, without spearing it. The largest cormorant found in North America, the Great Cormorant stands 35 to 40 inches tall. The adult is black, with a band of white feathers on the cheeks and chin. It emits deep, guttural grunts.

Great Cormorants breed the rocky coasts of the Canadian maritimes, nesting on cliff ledges or rocky islands free of predators. They will head south for the winter, usually staying close to the Atlantic coast.

The Great Cormorant is widespread in the Old World. In China, they are trained to catch fish. Fishermen tie a ring around the bird's neck tightly enough to prevent it from swallowing the fish. Once the bird catches the fish, the fisherman retrieves the cormorant and then forces open its mouth, relying on the bird's regurgitation reflex, to get the fish.

The cormorant was among the birds reported this past week to Dave DeReamus, of the Eastern PA Birdline, which is sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society.

Martins Creek PPL Power Plant, Northampton County
(at the boat launch area)
Cackling Goose, 1 on March 15.
Red-necked Grebe, 1 on March 15.

Sandt's Eddy, Northampton County
(at the boat-launch area)
Red-necked Grebe, 2 through March 16.

Lower Mount Bethel Township, Northampton County
(along the Delaware River near Lower Mud Run Road)
Red-necked Grebe, 2 on March 13.

Easton, Northampton County
(at the Forks of the Delaware)
Red-necked Grebe, 1 on March 15.
Also seen: Red-breasted Merganser.

Green Pond, Northampton County
Ross's Goose, 1 on March 17.
Cackling Goose, 7 on March 17.

Bethlehem, Northampton County
Peregrine Falcon, 2 seen during the past week.

East Allen Township, Northampton County
Ross's Goose, 1 on March 19.
Greater White-fronted Goose, 1 on March 19.

Graver's Hill, Northampton County
Snow Bunting, 1 on March 15.

Green Lane Reservoir, Montgomery County
Canvasback, 5 on March 15 along Hill Road.
Eurasian Wigeon, 1 on March 16 at Deep Creek Lake.
Greater Scaup, 2 on March 15 along Knight Road.
(The following sightings were along Church Road)
Cackling Goose, 1 on March 17.
"Eurasian" Green-winged Teal, 1 through March 15.
Also seen: Redhead, Osprey and Tree Swallow.

Peace Valley Park, Bucks County
Red-necked Grebe, 1 on March 16 and March 17.
Bonaparte's Gull, 1 on March 15.
Red-headed Woodpecker, 1 continues through the week east of Angler's Pier parking area.
Also seen: Red-breasted and Hooded mergansers, Osprey and Eastern Phoebe.

Tundra Swan, Wood Duck, Bald Eagle and American Woodcock were reported from several sites this 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.

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