Lehigh Valley bird sightings for the week of May 23

Alder Flycatcher

Now that the weather is warming (or at least is better than it was weeks ago), flies have emerged and a number of species of flycatchers are now on duty.

The past week saw sightings of Yellow-bellied, Alder and Olive-sided flycatchers at several locations in the Lehigh Valley. As their name suggests, they feast on insects, including flying ones.

The Alder Flycatcher breeds here during the summer but the Yellow-bellied and Olive-sided usually make visits to the region and then move on. They are rarely seen, so it's a treat to spot one. 

Small inhabitants of wet thickets, the Alder Flycatcher chases insects, catching them on the wing or picking them from the foliage of trees or shrubs. They have brown upper parts, browner on the wings and tail, and grayish-olive-white underparts. White wing bars, a small bill, a short tail and a bit of orange on the lower bill help distinguish them from other species. They place their nests in a deciduous shrub about 2 feet off the ground.

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher

The Yellow-bellied Flycatcher is the easiest of the three to spot because to it is mostly bright olive with yellow underparts. It's a small flycatcher with a relatively large round head. The wing bars are broad and white. You'll find it in boreal forests, moist forests, bogs and swamps. Insects and arthropods are its diet.

The Olive-sided Flycatcher spends time in burned forests and open areas where finding insects is easy. Otherwise they inhabit northern coniferous forests and forest edges between the woods and meadows. One of their favorite food source is bees. The Olive-sided species are a large, stocky flycatcher with a large head and a relatively short tail. The sides are gray and the best white.

Here are the Lehigh Valley bird sightings for the week ended May 23. The list was compiled by Dave DeReamus, of the Eastern PA Birdline, which is sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society.

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Upper Mount Bethel Township, Northampton County
(along National Park Drive)
Gray-cheeked Thrush, 1 on May 18.
Mourning Warbler, 2 on May 19.

Bear Swamp, Northampton County
Gray-cheeked Thrush, 2 on May 18.

Jacobsburg State Park, Northampton County
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, 1 on May 21.
Alder Flycatcher, 2 on May 17.
Mourning Warbler, 1 on May 19.

Lower Nazareth Township, Northampton County
(at the Gremar Road retention ponds)
Common Gallinule, 1 on May 17.

Monocacy Nature Center, Northampton County
Mourning Warbler, 1 on May 19.

State Game Lands 217, Lehigh County
Olive-sided Flycatcher, 1 on May 15 and 1 on May 17.
Alder Flycatcher, 1 on May 17.

Leaser Lake, Lehigh County
Ruffed Grouse, 1 on May 16 near the top of the mountain.

Allentown, Lehigh County
(at Lehigh Canal Park)
Yellow-throated Warbler, 1 on May 17.

Peace Valley Park, Bucks County
Prothonotary Warbler, 2 continued this past week.

Pine Siskins were reported at several sites this past week. They probably will be migrating northward within days.

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