Lehigh Valley bird sightings for May 16

Yellow-breasted Chat

Here are the Lehigh Valley bird sightings for the week ended May 16. The list was compiled by Dave DeReamus, of the Eastern PA Birdline, which is sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society.

Upper Mount Bethel Township, Northampton County
Warbler, 20 different species along National Park Drive.
Gray-cheeked Thrush, 1 on May 10 along Fox Gap Road.
American Bittern, 1 on May 10 along School Road.
Also seen: Common Nighthawk.

Lake Minsi, Northampton County
Red-breasted Merganser, 1 on May 10.

Bear Swamp, Northampton County
Orange-crowned Warbler, 1 on May 9.
Mourning Warbler, 1 on May 10.

Plainfield Township Recreation Trail, Northampton County
Warbler, 21 different species.

Lower Nazareth Township, Northampton County
(at a flooded field along Route 191 north of Route 946)
Bonaparte's Gull, 1 on May 10.
Wilson's Snipe, 1 on May 10.
Dunlin, 1 on May 9.

Black-billed Cuckoo

Green Pond, Northampton County
White-rumped Sandpiper, 1 on May 14.
Also seen: Greater and Lesser yellowlegs, and Solitary, Spotted and Least sandpipers.

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

Moore Township, Northampton County
American Pipit, 26 on May 10 along Schlegel Road.

Beltzville State Park, Carbon County
Olive-sided Flycatcher, 1 on May 9.

Leaser Lake, Lehigh County
Red-breasted Merganser, 1 on May 12.
Black-crowned Night Heron, 1 on May 10.
Yellow-breasted Chat, 1 on May 11.
Also seen: Horned Grebe, Black-billed and Yellow-billed cuckoos, and 21 different species of warblers.

Greater Yellowlegs

Haafsville, Lehigh County
Semipalmated Plover, Greater and Lesser yellowlegs, and Solitary and Least sandpipers.

Jordan Creek Parkway, Lehigh County
Kirtland's Warbler, 1 on May 10 (probable sighting; heard only. Bird was never positively identified.)

Walking Purchase Park, Lehigh County
Warblers, 15 species.

Peace Valley Park, Bucks County
Ruddy Duck, 1 on May 10.
Double-crested Cormorant, 93 on May 9.
Prothonotary Warbler, 2 seen during the past week.
Also seen: Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Common Nighthawk, Eastern Wood Pewee, Winter Wren, Cerulean Warbler, and 23 additional warbler species.

Also seen at several sites during the past week: Cliff and Bank swallows, Swainson's Thrush, Orchard Oriole.

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

Many species of birds are arriving daily in the Lehigh Valley and neighboring areas. Looking for a good location to watch them? Find a favorite place by reading the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society's updated guidebook "Birds of the Lehigh Valley and Vicinity." The guidebook identifies 56 different locations in Lehigh, Northampton, Bucks, Montgomery and Carbon counties. Each site contains a description of the terrain, the kinds of birds you're apt to see, and driving directions. Many of the sites have colored maps to enable you to find parking, trails and outlooks. The book is available for sale at The Bird House.