Lehigh Valley bird sightings for November 14

Brant

During the past few weeks, sightings of Brants have been reported at several locations in the Lehigh Valley and nearby, the most recent being lakes and reservoirs in Carbon and Bucks counties.

These medium-size geese breed in the high Arctic tundra. During winter they head south, spending their time along the Atlantic Coast from Cape Cod to North Carolina. They usually inhabit the tidal estuaries, where they feed on eel-grass, seaweed and sea lettuce. In recent decades, though, pressure on food resources has been forcing them inland to feed on agricultural fields.

The Atlantic variant of the Brant has a black head, light belly and white collar. The undertail is white. Brants differ from Canada Geese in that the latter are bigger and have a large white cheek patch and a pale tan breast.

In our area, Brants have been seen in October and November in several locations. The sightings include 28 in Merrill Creek Reservoir in western New Jersey on October 2; one in Lake Towhee, Bucks County, through November 3; one in Carbon County's Beltzville State Park through November 5; and one in Bucks County's Peace Valley Park on November 7.

The sightings were reported to Dave DeReamus, of the Eastern PA Birdline, a project of the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society. Also seen during the week ended November 14 were the following species:

Palm Warbler

Williams Township, Northampton County
Palm Warbler, 1 on November 12 (late for its migration south).
Pine Siskin, a small flock on November 12.

Bake Oven Knob, Lehigh County
Bald Eagle, 6 on November 7.
Northern Goshawk, 1 on November 7.
Golden Eagle, 20 on November 7.

Fogelsville Quarry, Lehigh County
Cackling Goose, 2 on November 7.

Beltzville State Park, Carbon County
Snow Bunting, 37 on November 6.

Peace Valley Park, Bucks County
Cackling Goose, 1 on November 7.
Bonaparte's Gull, 2 on November 6 and November 7.

Lake Towhee, Bucks County
Trumpeter Swan, 1 to at least November 13.

Green Lane Reservoir, Montgomery County
(at Church Road)
Rusty Blackbird, 1 on November 10.

Unami Creek Valley, Montgomery County
Blue-headed Vireo, 1 on November 11 (late for the migration).

Merrill Creek Reservoir, New Jersey
(at Scotts Mountain Hawkwatch)
Bald Eagle, 8 on November 7 and November 9.
Northern Goshawk, 1 on November 11.
Peregrine Falcon, 1 on November 7.

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