Lehigh Valley bird sightings for February 28

Even though winter doesn't seem inclined to leave (and more snow is ahead Sunday night into Monday), there are hints that warm-weather bird life is beginning to awaken.

Gray Catbird

A Gray Catbird was spotted this past week in Walking Purchase Park in Lehigh County. Catbirds breed locally in the summertime but most spend the winter in Florida, the Gulf Coast, Mexico and the Caribbean, according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. They sometimes will stay year-round in coastal areas in New Jersey where the weather is a bit milder than ours.

Catbirds will visit backyards, but their real home is in dense shrubbery along the edges of forests. Even if you don't see a catbird, you won't mistake its call. It's a mewing sound, similar to that of a cat. Keep an eye—and an ear out—for any early arrivals in your neighborhood and be sure to report your sighting so ornithologists can obtain a greater understanding of the migration patterns of this attractive bird.

You can report sightings of catbirds—or any other bird—by sending an e-mail to Dave DeReamus, of the Eastern PA Birdline, which is a project sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society. The address is becard@rcn.com. Be sure to include the word "Birdline" in the subject heading.

With that said, here are the rest of the bird sightings compiled by Dave DeReamus for the week ended February 28.

Portland, Northampton County
White-winged Scoter, 1 through February 23.
Red-necked Grebe, 1 on February 23.

Upper Mount Bethel, Northampton County
Barrow's Goldeneye, 1 on February 16 through February 22 (a female, located along the Delaware River near the Driftstone Campground).
Also seen: Wood Duck and Rusty Blackbird.

Jacobsburg State Park, Northampton County
Red-shouldered Hawk.

Bethlehem, Northampton County
Northern Goshawk, 1 on February 18.
Peregrine Falcon, 1 on February 27.

Lehigh Valley International Airport, Lehigh County
Snowy Owl, 1 through February 27 and 2 on February 25 (near the airport's northeast sector).

Lynn Township, Lehigh County
Red-headed Woodpecker, 1 on February 23 along Kunkles Mill Road.

New Tripoli, Lehigh County
Rusty Blackbird.

Allentown, Lehigh County
Iceland Gull, 1 on February 23 at the Allentown Waste Water Treatment Plant (112 West Union Street).
Redhead and Yellow-rumped Warbler, seen at Dorney Park pond.
Canvasback, 1 on February 23 at Lake Muhlenberg.
Also seen at Lake Muhlenberg: Hooded Merganser, Greater and Lesser Scaup, and Common Goldeneye.

Walking Purchase Park, Lehigh County
Red-breasted Merganser, 1 on February 22.
Also seen: Bald Eagle, Merlin and Gray Catbird.

Peace Valley Park, Bucks County
Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, Hermit Thrush and Eastern Towhee.

Plumstead Township, Bucks County
Fox Sparrow.

Common Grackles and Red-winged Blackbirds were seen at several sites this past week.