October arrivals and departures

Scarlet Tanager have left the Lehigh Valley

As October nears, daylight has become noticeably shorter and the sun has become weaker in the sky. As the winter nights grow colder, insect prey becomes scarcer. Birds instinctively know it's time to move on. 

By early October, watch out for these changes in your backyard:

Vireos and veeries probably have departed. And Eastern Phoebes, Eastern Kingbirds and Eastern Wood-pewees. Consider yourself lucky if you are still seeing Baltimore Orioles, Gray Catbirds or Scarlet Tanagers.

In early October, Indigo Buntings and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks will be southbound. Eastern Towhees will depart in the middle of the month.

By mid-month it's safe to bring your hummingbird feeders indoors. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds usually are gone by then. Be sure to clean the feeders throughly before storing them; that way, they'll be ready for next April.

Blue-gray Gnatcatchers soon will be absent; there aren't enough gnats and other flying insects to be found in sufficient quantities in October.

Chipping Sparrows will be gone by end of October

Chipping Sparrows have begun migrating. By month's end, they will be gone.

Most warbler species have departed for warmer regions where their diets are richer in insects, spiders and other invertebrates. One exception is the Yellow-rumped Warbler. It spends its breeding season in northern Canada and is now arriving for the winter. In the depth of winter, watch for Yellow-rumped Warblers at your bird feeder, foraging for seed.

Other bird species soon will arrive from Canada. You may see Pine Siskins in the first part of October. By mid-month the first Dark-eyed Juncos may be here. White-crowned and White-throated sparrows will be arriving as well. 

Chickadees are year-round residents

Species that will remain through the winter include Northern Cardinals, House Finches, Purple Finches, American Goldfinches, Mourning Doves, Black-capped Chickadees, Blue Jays, American Crows, Common Grackles, Song Sparrows, House Sparrows and European Starlings. 

Most woodpecker species will remain: Downy, Hairy, Pileated, Red-bellied and Red-headed. Flickers will stay, too. They survive the winter eating nuts that they cached in tree crevices.

Many owl species remain in the area all year. If you are lucky, you may begin seeing Arctic-breeding Snowy Owls in December.

Mallard (male)

As for raptors, Red-tailed Hawks stay through the winter, preying on small rodents in the wild and avian visitors to your bird feeder. Broad-winged Hawks will be gone in early October. So, too, will Ospreys. Red-shouldered Hawks and Northern Harriers are passing overhead as the new month begins. American Kestrels will remain in October but in greatly reduced numbers.

Canada Geese have become year-round inhabitants, although some still take their instinctive cue and travel southward. Cackling Geese and Gadwalls will reach the Lehigh Valley region in October.

In ponds and lakes, Mallards remain all year. You may notice fewer Wood Ducks. Most herons will soon head south in October but Great Blue Herons stay through the end of the month.

In the woods, Wild Turkeys and Ruffed Grouse remain all year long. But most Wood Thrushes will have migrated by now.