Lehigh Valley bird sightings for January 6

Another huge flock of Snow Geese touched down at Nazareth Quarry last week. The bird watcher estimated that 50,000 geese were seen at the quarry, one of the largest gatherings ever seen in the Lehigh Valley.

Long-tailed Duck

The biggest reported sighting of Snow Geese in a single location at the Nazareth Quarry occurred on December 18, when an estimated 100,000 created a spectacle never seen before in the valley.

This week's sighting was reported to Dave DeReamus, of the Eastern PA Birdline, which is sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society. His report this week covers the two weeks that ended January 6.

Also noteworthy in his report is the appearance of Long-tailed Ducks at the Green Lane Reservoir in Montgomery County and Lake Nockamixon in Bucks County. An Eastern Phoebe and a Pine Warbler—species usually seen here only in the warmer seasons—also were reported.

Martins Creek Environmental Preserve, Northampton County
Spotted Sandpiper, 1 from December 11 to at least January 2.

Easton area, Northampton County
Barrow's Goldeneye, 1 from December 26 to at least January 4. (The bird was a female seen along the Delaware River north of Easton.)
Eastern Phoebe, 1 on December 31 (at the roadside stop north of Easton).
Also seen: Common Goldeneye.

Eastern Phoebe

Nazareth Quarry, Northampton County
Snow Goose, approximately 50,000 on December 31.
Ross's Goose, 1 on December 31.
Cackling Goose, 1 on December 31.
Canvasback, 1 on December 31.
Redhead, 5 on December 31.
Also seen: Gadwall, American Wigeon, Ruddy Duck, Pied-billed Grebe and Peregrine Falcon.

Glendon, Northampton County
(at the Chain Dam)
Iceland Gull, 1 on January 2 (an adult fly-by).

Williams Township, Northampton County
Pine Warbler, 1 from December 27 to at least January 1.

Coplay, Lehigh County
(at the Scheetz Quarry)
Greater White-fronted Goose, 2 on January 1.
Ross's Goose, 1 on January 1.

Fogelsville Quarry, Lehigh County
Greater White-fronted Goose, 1 on December 30.

Green Lane Reservoir, Montgomery County
(at the Walt Road area)
Long-tailed Duck, 2 on January 4.
Double-crested Cormorant, 2 on January 2.
Also seen: Common Goldeneye.

Lake Nockamixon, Bucks County
Long-tailed Duck, 5 on January 5.

Peace Valley Park, Bucks County
Greater White-fronted Goose, 2 on December 27; 1 to at least January 4.
Cackling Goose, up to 3 to at least January 4.
Canvasback, 1 on December 26.
Red-breasted Merganser, 2 on December 27.
Iceland Gull, 2 on December 30.
Lesser Black-backed Gull, approximately 200 on December 28.

Red-breasted Nuthatches continue to be reported from several sites.

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