Bald Eagle trip scheduled for December 6

The Lehigh Valley Audubon Society is sponsoring a full-day trip to Conowingo Dam in Maryland to look for gulls and Bald Eagles which winter regularly at the site.

On the way, we will stop at the Lancaster Central Market, the oldest farmers market in the country, for about an hour for breakfast and shopping.

John Levin will lead the trip. For information, call 484-560-3688.

The Conowingo Dam is a large hydroelectric facility located midway between the Pennsylvania state line and the river mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. It's an excellent area for birdwatching. At least 170 species of birds have been recorded at the dam. 

The Harford Bird Club reports that Bald Eagles are present all year but their numbers rise to 30 or 40 during the winter. It is not unusual to see 20 in a single visit. The club says the site is one of the best locations east of the Mississippi to observe Bald Eagles.

Large numbers of gulls congregate for the winter, starting with the arrival of Ring-billed Gulls in November. Herring Gulls and Great Black-backed Gulls are seen often. Obeserved  in lesser numbers are Iceland Gulls and Glaucous Gulls. In an exceptional day, you may see Thayer's Gulls, Slaty-backed Gulls and California Gulls. A half dozen rarer species have been reported.