Spring is bird-watching season

Grab your binoculars and check your bird feeder. It's migrating time for birds that call the Lehigh Valley their home during breeding season.

Naturally many familiar species stay throughout the year—Northern Cardinals, House Finches, Blue Jays and House Sparrows, for instance. But for other species, we are finally seeing evidence that summer lies ahead.

Most waterfowl became active as soon as ice on the lakes broke. Already there are reports of Mallards raising ducklings! Other waterfowl are completing their migration. Look sharp for Bald Eagles; they are now prowling the skies above rivers and lakes for meals of fish.

E-bird, the online bird-reporting service, has a large accumulation of reports for warblers, gnatcatchers and phoebes. They'll stay the summer, where they'll breed and raise new broods. Some species of native sparrows will be leaving, others will be arriving. Chipping sparrows have been around for a few weeks.

Several species are making brief stops in the Lehigh Valley as they head northward to northern Canada and the subarctic regions. You'll have to head to the fields or forests right away to catch these migrants.

The Bird House has the book "Birds of the Lehigh Valley" which includes species arriving for the breeding season and others making brief layovers. You may have luck seeing some of them at your backyard bird feeder, but more likely than not you'll have to leave the comfort of your home to enjoy the action. The sightings were reported between April 16 and April 22.

American Robins

American Robin

Always regarded as a harbinger of spring, the vast majority of robins spent their winters in the southern states. However, some stay in the Lehigh Valley year-round. Most take to the woods where they search for berries and fruits left over from autumn. Because the pickings are so slim during winter, they move from place to place to find food. As soon as the ground thaws, earthworms become the staple of their diet. They compete with robins arriving from winter roosts. By now, probably everyone has seen robins, sometimes in large numbers. The hot spot for admiring robins is the Lehigh Parkway in Allentown.

Other backyard visitors

A single Purple Martin was seen last Sunday at Leaser Lake in Lehigh County; three were reported on Wednesday.

The first E-bird report of a Baltimore Oriole occurred on Wednesday at the Blue Mountain parking lot off Route 309 near New Tripoli. An Orchard Oriole was located at Lake Muhlenberg in Lehigh County.

Gray Catbirds have been seen at Bethlehem's Monocacy Nature Center in Northampton County, and Leaser Lake and Trexler Nature Preserve in Lehigh County.

Yellow-rumped Warblers

Yellow-rumped Warblers tend to be wintertime visitors to our region. They arrive in September and stay until spring. Some even come to bird feeders seed—one of the few warbler species to do so. 

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warblers are at their peak numbers right now; they should be leaving for Canada; some will remain regionally at the highest elevations of the forested Appalachian Mountains. Within the past week, Yellow-rumped Warblers have been seen in numerous locations.
Northampton County: Bear Swamp Park, Jacobsburg State Park, East Bangor wetlands, along the Lehigh Canal Towpath near the Bethlehem Boat Club, Green Pond, the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Martins Creek Environmental Preserve and Lake Minsi.
Lehigh County: Leaser Lake, western Sand Island in Bethlehem, Coplay woodlands, woodlots along Brynwood Drive in Whitehall Township, Lake Muhlenberg, Lehigh Parkway East in Allentown and along Friedens Road in Upper Saucon Township.
Carbon County: Beltzville State Park and Lehigh Gap Nature Center.
Montgomery County: Green Lane Reservoir (Church Road access).

Other warbler species

These are the hot spots to look for warblers that are arriving in the greater Lehigh Valley area.

Black-and-white Warbler

Black-and-white Warblers. Bethlehem Boat Club and the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (both of these locations being in Northampton County), and the Blue Mountain parking lot and along Bausch Road in Lynn Township (both in Lehigh County).

Black-throated Green Warblers. One seen in New Tripoli (at the Blue Mountain parking lot off Route 309), Lehigh County.

Blue-winged Warblers. One was seen in woodlands near Coplay in Lehigh County.

Cerulean Warbler. New Tripoli (Blue Mountain parking lot), Lehigh County.

Common Yellowthroat. The western end of Sand Island in Lehigh County.

Louisiana Waterthrush. This warbler is fairly well dispersed along streams flowing through hilly, deciduous forests.
Northampton County: Bear Swamp Park and the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.
Lehigh County: Leaser Lake, Blue Mountain parking lot, State Game Lands 217 (Reservoir Road access) and Lynn Township.
Carbon County: Beltzville State Park.

Palm Warbler. This migrant is passing through out area; most have left by April 30.
Northampton County: Monocacy Nature Center, East Bangor, Bear Swamp Park, Bethlehem Boat Club and the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.
Lehigh County: Coplay, Trexler Nature Preserve, Leaser Lake, Blue Mountain parking lot and Rodale Park in Trexlertown.
Carbon County: Lehigh Gap Nature Center.

Pine Warbler

Pine Warbler. True to its name, this species prefers pine forests. They breed as far north as Ontario and the Canadian Maritimes.
Northampton County: Echo Lake, Bear Swamp Park, Bethlehem Boat Club and Lake Minsi.
Lehigh County: Blue Mountain parking lot.
Carbon County: Beltzville State Park.

Yellow Warbler. East Bangor in Northampton County and the Blue Moutain parking lot in Lehigh County.

Yellow-throated Warbler. Three were seen on Monday along the canal towpath near the Bethlehem Boat Club in Northampton County.

Swallows and swifts

Tree Swallows. Their deep blue, iridescent backs and sparkling white fronts make it hard to miss these common aerial acrobats.
Northampton County: East Bangor, Hugh Moore Park, Graver's Hill, Jacobsburg State Park, Bear Swamp Park, Bushkill Drive in Palmer Township, Echo Lake, Lake Minsi,  Cedarville Road in Williams Township, Weaversville, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, South Delaware Drive in Lower Mount Bethel Township and Martins Creek Environmental Preserve.

Barn Swallow

Lehigh County: Leaser Lake, Sand Island, Scully Court south of New Tripoli, State Game Lands 217 (Reservoir Road access), Promenade Shops, Slatington, Lynn Township, Lehigh Parkway East in Allentown and Dorney Park in Allentown.
Carbon County: Beltzville State Park and Lehigh Gap Nature Center.

Northern Rough-winged Swallows. A stocky, plain brown bird, this species is a voracious insect-eater.
Northampton County: Monocacy Nature Center, East Bangor, Lake Minsi, Bethlehem Boat Club, Martins Creek Environmental Preserve, Hugh Moore Park, Forks of the Delaware in Easton and Vein Road swamp in Bangor.
Lehigh County: Leaser Lake, Sand Island, Lake Muhlenberg and Lehigh Parkway East.
Montgomery County: Green Lake Park (near Church Road).

Bank Swallow. Promenade Shops in Lehigh County.

Barn Swallow. Bear Swamp Park, Graver's Hill and Hugh Moore Park, all in Northampton County; and Leaser Lake and Lynn Township, both in Lehigh County.

Chimney Swift. Lehigh University and Gramer Road Pond, both in Northampton County, and Lake Muhlenberg and Scully Court in Lehigh Township, both in Lehigh County.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Northampton County: Graver's Hill, Bear Swamp Park, Jacobsburg State Park, Monocacy Nature Center, East Bangor, Echo Lake, Bethlehem Boat Club, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Martins Creek Environmental Preserve and Hugh Moore Park.
Lehigh County: Trexler Nature Preserve, Coplay, Sand Island, Rodale Park, Lehigh Parkway East, Slatington and Lynn Township.
Carbon County: Lehigh Gap Nature Center.

Vireos

Blue-eyed Vireo. Most are just passing through, staying only through May, but some of them will remain all summer. Sightings were reported this past week in Jacobsburg State Park, Bear Swamp Park, Martins Creek Environmental Preserve and the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (all in Northampton County), and Leaser Lake and Coplay in Lehigh County.

Red-eyed Vireo. A common summertime breeding bird in the Lehigh Valley, the first of the species was reported in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area on April 22.

Eastern Towhee

Eastern Towhee

Its bold black back and reddish brown belly make this a striking bird—if you can see it amid the undergrowth. Eastern Towhees spend much of their time on the ground, scratching backwards through the leaves, in search of invertebrates, seeds and fruits.
Northampton County: Jacobsburg State Park, Bear Swamp Park, Moore Township (near Cigar Road), Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Martins Creek Environmental Preserve and Vein Road swamp in Bangor.
Lehigh County: Trexler Nature Preserve, the Blue Mountain parking lot, Leaser Lake, Zionsville woodlands, State Game Lands 217 (Reservoir Road access) and Lynn Township.
Carbon County: Beltzville State Park and Lehigh Gap Nature Center.

Eastern Phoebe

Eastern Phoebe

One of the East's most common flycatchers, the plump songbird is visible in yards, parks, woodlands and woodland edges—anywhere it has a ready supply of flies, wasps, beetles, moths, ticks and millipedes and other invertebrates.
Northampton County: Monocacy Nature Center, East Bangor, Lake Minsi, Bear Swamp Park, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, East Shore Drive in Upper Mount Bethel Township, Martins Creek Environmental Preserve and Hugh Moore Park.
Lehigh County: Trexler Nature Preserve, New Tripoli area, along Brynwood Drive in Whitehall Township, Sand Island, Leaser Lake, Lynn Township and Lehigh Park West in Allentown.
Carbon County: Beltzville State Park.
Montgomery County: Green Lane Reservoir (at Church Road).

Sparrows

White-throated and White-crowned sparrows will be leaving the Lehigh Valley soon, as will their wintertime cousin, the Dark-eyed Junco. Other native sparrows are arriving already to replace them. (The House Sparrow being with us during all seasons.)

Chipping Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow. One of the most common warm-weather native sparrows found in the Lehigh Valley, the species is noted for its rusty brown crown and loud, trilling calls.
Northampton County: Graver's Hill, East Bangor, Bear Swamp Park, Bushkill Drive in Palmer Township, Lake Minsi, Moore Township, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Black River Road in Lower Saucon Township and Martins Creek Environmental Preserve.
Lehigh County: Leaser Lake is the hot spot, with 42 seen during the week. Other locations include Blue Mountain, Brynwood Drive in Whitehall Township, Zionsville, Rodale Park, Lynn Township, Lehigh Parkway East, Slatington and Friedens Lane in Upper Saucon Township.
Carbon County: Lehigh Gap Nature Center.

Fox Sparrow. Migrants through our area, most Fox Sparrows winter from Virginia south, passing through our area on their way to breeding grounds in northern Canada and Newfoundland. Most have made their way through already. Stragglers were seen at the Lehigh Gap Nature Center in Carbon County and the Blue Mountain parking lot near Tripoli in Lehigh County.

Vesper Sparrow

Savannah Sparrow. Though they sometimes stay all year, Savannah Sparrows are most numerous during the warmer months. They eat seeds on or near the ground, sometimes in small flocks. Itinerants were seen in Graver's Hill in Northampton County, Blue Mountain in Lehigh County, Beltzville State Park in Carbon County and Green Lane Park in Montgomery County.

Swamp Sparrow. Most numerous during spring and fall migration, most Swamp Sparrows breed from upstate New York north to the Hudson Bay. Visitors were seen at Jacobsburg State Park, Monocacy Nature Center, East Bangor, Bear Swamp Park and Lake Minsi, all in Northampton County, and Leaser Lake, Lake Muhlenberg, Slatington and Blue Mountain in Lehigh County.

Vesper Sparrow. As its name suggests, the Vesper Sparrow sings in the evening twilight. The bird is a migrant to our area. Unfortunately, the species is declining throughout its range. During the past week it was seen at Graver's Hill in Northampton County and at Leaser Lake and in Lynn Township, both in Lehigh County.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

A tiny bird with an abundance of energy, the Ruby-crowned Kinglet flits through shrubs and the lower branches of trees in its quest for insects and spiders. It spends the breeding season in from the Canadian Maritimes to Newfoundland, the Hudson Bay and points west. Look for it now; by month's end, they will on their way north.
Northampton County: Jacobsburg State Park, Bear Swamp Park, Monocacy Nature Center, East Bangor, Echo Lake, Lake Minsi, Weaversville and the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.
Lehigh County: Trexler Nature Preserve, Leaser Lake, Rodale Park, Lynn Township and Lehigh Parkway East.
Carbon County: Beltzville State Park and Lehigh Gap Nature Center.
Montgomery County: Green Lane Reservoir.

Waterfowl

Greater Yellowlegs

Sightings of Pied-eyed Grebes were reported at the East Bangor, Easton, Lake Minsi and  Leaser Lake.
Great Blue Heron. Monocacy Nature Center in Bethlehem and Trexler Nature Preserve.
Double-crested Cormorant. Jacobsburg State Park.
Ruddy Duck. Martins Creek Environmental Center.
American Coot. South Delaware Drive in Lower Mount Bethel Township.
Blue-winged Teal. Green Pond.
Green-winged Teal. Green Pond.
Ring-necked Duck. Lake Minsi.
Greater Yellowlegs. Nestlé Way Retention Ponds, Lehigh County.
Spotted Sandpiper. Lake Muhlenberg and Lynn Township, both in Lehigh County.

Other arrivals

Northern Parula. Martins Creek Environmental Preserve (Northampton County) and Lynn Township (Lehigh County).
Eastern Kingbird. Lynn Township (Lehigh County).

Red-winged Blackbird

Rusty Blackbird. East Bangor.
Wilson's Snipe. East Bangor and Lynn Township.
Osprey. Lake Minsi, East Bangor, Echo Lake, East Shore Drive in Upper Mount Bethel Township, Martins Creek Environmental Preserve, Vein Road swamp in Bangor, Leaser Lake and Green Lane Park.
Red-winged Blackbird. Bear Swamp Park, Cedarville Road in Williams Township, Martins Creek-Belvedere Highway in Lower Mount Bethel Township, Black River Road in Lower Saucon Township, Graver's Hill, Bethlehem Boat Club, Weaversville and East Bangor in Northampton County. Lake Muhlenberg, Leaser Lake, Slatington, State Game Lands 215 (Route 309 access), Blue Mountain parking lot, Sand Island and Lynn Township, all in Lehigh County.
Broad-winged Hawk. State Game Lands (Route 309 access), Lehigh County.
Red-shouldered Hawk. Easton, Northampton County.

Thanks for Frank Baran who compiled this extensive list for your information.