Lehigh Valley bird sightings for week of November 2

Yellow-headed Blackbird

In addition to the continuing stream of eagles and other raptors migrating southward along the Blue Mountain, birders reporting seeing several other notable species during the week ended November 2.

One of the most fascinating occurrences in the Yellow-headed Blackbird. A lone bird was seen at the Merrill Creek Reservoir, which is located a few miles northeast of Phillipsburg, New Jersey. 

A migrant, the species has been seen in the greater Lehigh Valley only a few times since records have been kept by the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society. That's not surprising; the bird normally breeds in the Canadian prairie wetlands and winters in the American Southwest and Mexico. The birds usually migrate in huge flocks; rarely will the flocks stray east beyond Michigan.

The Yellow-headed Blackbird nests in cattails, bullrushes or reeds, and forages for beetles, grasshoppers, dragonflies, caterpillars and other insects found at the water's edge. They'll sometimes flip over stones to unearth food. They'll often be seen around Red-winged Blackbirds during breeding season but the Yellow-headed birds seem to usually claim the best nesting sites.

The bird has a reputation as having the worst song of any North American bird, according to the National Audubon Society. It's call is a hoarse, harsh scraping. The species is widespread and common in its normal range but the draining of marshes in some areas has reduced the population somewhat.

Male American Golden-Plover in breeding plumage in Canada

Other rarely seen species that passed through our area en route to wintering grounds include the American Golden-Plover, the Red-throated Loon and the Long-tailed Duck. 

Sometimes years will go by without any reported sighting of an American Golden-Plover, according to Birds of the Lehigh Valley and Vicinity, the birding bible of the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society. The Red-throated Loon is rarely seen; when does appear, its visits occur in mid-November. The Long-tailed Duck is another rare visitor. It usually appears from late October to mid-November.

Here are the Lehigh Valley bird sightings for the week ended November 2. The list was compiled by Dave DeReamus, of the Eastern PA Birdline, which is sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society.

Martins Creek Environmental Preserve, Northampton County
(Tekening area)
Greater Scaup, 5 on October 28.

Bath, Northampton County
(along Silvercrest Road)
American Golden-Plover, 2 on October 25.

Little Gap, Carbon County
Bald Eagle, 8 on October 23.
Golden Eagle, 9 on October 23; 6 on October 24; 4 on October 25.
Merlin, 4 on October 23.
Common Redpoll, 2 on October 26.

Palmerton, Carbon County
(along Boyer Farm Road and Hemlock Road)
Western Kingbird, 1 from October 11 through at least October 27.

Leaser Lake, Lehigh County
Red Crossbill, 2 on October 31 (fly-bys).

Bake Oven Knob, Lehigh County
Bald Eagle, 6 on October 23; 13 on October 30.
Golden Eagle, 7 on October 23 and October 24; 3 on October 25; 6 on October 30; and 4 on October 31.
Northern Goshawk, 2 on October 23; 1 on October 24; 4 on October 30.
Merlin, 4 on October 23.
Also seen: Common Raven.

Red-throated Loon

Green Lane Reservoir, Montgomery County
(at the Knight Lake area)
Common Raven, 2 on October 24.
Red-breasted Nuthatch, 1 on October 24.
Pine Siskin, 2 on October 23.

Lake Towhee, Bucks County
Trumpeter Swan, 1 to at least October 24.

Lake Nockamixon, Bucks County
Red-breasted Merganser, 1 on October 26.

Peace Valley Park, Bucks County
Long-tailed Duck, 1 on October 26.
Red-throated Loon, 1 on October 24.
Bonaparte's Gull, 2 on October 29.
Lesser Black-backed Gull, 164 on October 24.
Common Raven, 2 on October 26.
Rusty Blackbird, 1 on October 31.

Merrill Creek Reservoir in New Jersey
(at the Scotts Mountain Hawkwatch)
Bald Eagle, 5 on October 25; 4 on October 29; and 6 on October 30.
Yellow-headed Blackbird, 1 on October 24.

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