Warblers are at their peak in the Lehigh Valley

Northern Waterthrush

Warblers, one of the smallest birds on the North American continent, have completed their long migrations from South America to reach the Lehigh Valley. If you have a sharp eye, or a keen sense of hearing, you can find these highly active, melodious birds in forests or woodlots of any good size.

These jittery birds seem to be always in motion. If they are not hopping from branch to branch, they are scurrying among leaf litter on the ground. In deep undergrowth, you may have to content yourself with their song rather than their sight.

This is the peak time of year to see warblers. Having recently returned to our area, they are busy searching for mates, chasing away competitors and building nests. Here are some of the locations where warblers have been sighted. The list was compiled by The Bird House from reports submitted by E-bird, the online reporting service, for the one-week period ended May 19.

Mount Bethel Fens, Northampton County
(at Institute Drive)
Common Yellowthroat, 2 on May 14.
American Redstart, 2 on May 14.
Yellow Warbler, 5 on May 14.
Also seen: Louisiana Waterthrush, Northern Waterthrush, Black-and-white Warbler and Black-throated Green Warbler.

Easton, Northampton County
Yellow Warbler, 1 on May 18, along North Delaware Drive.
American Redstart, 2 on May 17, on Karl Stimer Arts Trail.

Northern Parula

Easton, Northampton County
(at Paxonia Road East, all on May 15)
Yellow-throated Warbler, 2.
Ovenbird, 3.
Worm-eating Warbler, 2
Hooded Warbler, 2.
American Redstart, 4.
Northern Parula, 2.
Blackburnian Warbler, 2.
Yellow-rumped Warbler, 6.
Black-throated Green Warbler, 6.
Also seen: Blue-winged Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler (a female), Tennessee Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Cape May Warbler and Black-throated Blue Warbler.

Riegelsville, Northampton County
(at Mariton Wildlife Sanctuary, all on May 14)
Ovenbird, 15.
Worm-eating Warbler, 6.
Blue-winged Warbler, 2.
Black-and-white Warbler, 6.
Common Yellowthroat, 4.
Hooded Warbler, 3.
American Redstart, 4.
Black-throated Blue Warbler, 4.
Yellow-rumped Warbler, 3.
Black-throated Green Warbler, 4.
Also seen: Nashville Warbler and Chestnut-sided Warbler.

Nashville Warbler

Lake Minsi, Northampton County
Yellow Warbler, 1 on May 13 and May 19.
Also seen: Common Yellowthroat and Yellow-rumped Warbler.

Plainfield Township Trail, Northampton County
Magnolia Warbler, 2 on May 14.
Yellow Warbler, 2 on May 14.
Also seen: Common Yellowstart, American Redstart, Bay-breasted Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler and Wilson's Warbler.

Jacobsburg State Park, Northampton County
Ovenbird, 6 on May 15; 10 on May 16; and 1 on May 17.
Black-and-white Warbler, 1 on May 14; 3 on May 15 and 1 on May 16.
Tennessee Warbler, 3 on May 15.
Common Yellowthroat, 2 on May 14; 8 on May 15; 6 on May 16; and 8 on May 17.
Prairie Warbler, 5 on May 16; 2 on May 17.
American Redstart, 7 on May 15; 2 on May 16.
Magnolia Warbler, 1 on May 14 and May 15; 2 on May 16.
Bay-breasted Warbler, 2 on May 15.
Chestnut-sided Warbler, 2 on May 15; 1 on May 16.
Black-throated Blue Warbler, 4 on May 15; 1 on May 16.
Black-throated Green Warbler, 3 on May 15; 2 on May 16.
Also seen: Louisiana Waterthrush, Northern Waterthrush, Blue-winged Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Northern Parula, Blackpoll Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Yellow Warbler and Canada Warbler.

Bushkill Trail, Northampton County
Ovenbird, 6 on May 14.
Common Yellowthroat, 3 on May 14.
American Redstart, 2 on May 14.

Ovenbird

Bear Swamp Park, Northampton County
Ovenbird, 8 on May 19.
Common Yellowthroat, 12 on May 19.
Yellow Warbler, 6 on May 19.
Also seen: Northern Waterthrush.

Moore Township, Northampton County
Common Yellowthroat, 2 on May 17.
Also seen: Yellow Warbler, 1 on May 17.

Moore Township, Northampton County
(at Appalachian Park)
Ovenbird, 6 on May 17.
Also seen: Black-and-white Warbler and American Redstart.

Moore Township, Northampton County
(along Cigar Road)
Yellow-rumped Warbler, 2 on May 14.
Also seen: Black-and-white Warbler, American Redstart, Yellow Warbler and Black-throated Blue Warbler.

Smith Gap, Northampton County
Worm-eating Warbler, 2 on May 17.
Black-and-white Warbler, 3 on May 17.
Blackpoll Warbler, 2 on May 17.
American Redstart, 6 on May 17.
Also seen: Ovenbird, Nashville Warbler and Yellow-rumped Warbler.

Monocacy Nature Center, Northampton County
Common Yellowthroat, 3 on May 16; 1 on May 19.
American Redstart, 5 on May 16; 3 on May 19.
Magnolia Warbler, 2 on May 16; 1 on May 19.
Also seen: Northern Waterthrush, Black-and-white Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Northern Parula, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler and Canada Warbler.

Allentown, Lehigh County
(at Grange Park)
Yellow Warbler, 2 on May 19.

Allentown, Lehigh County
(along Park Drive)
American Redstart, 2 on May 16.
Yellow Warbler, 2 on May 16.

Magnolia Warbler

Lehigh Parkway East, Lehigh County
Magnolia Warbler, 3 on May 16.
Chestnut-sided Warbler, 5 on May 16.
Yellow-rumped Warbler, 6 on May 16.
Also seen: Ovenbird and Palm Warbler.

Leaser Lake, Lehigh County
Ovenbird, 1 on May 16; 10 on May 17; 28 on May 18; and 6 on May 19.
Worm-eating Warbler, 1 on May 14 and 2 on May 18.
Black-and-white Warbler, 3 on May 16; 2 on May 18; 1 on May 19.
Common Yellowthroat, 11 on May 14; 8 on May 16; 5 on May 17; 6 on May 18; and 4 on May 19.
Chestnut-sided Warbler, 2 on May 16.
Yellow Warbler, 5 on May 14; 3 on May 16; 5 on May 17; 7 on May 18; 1 on May 19.
Yellow-rumped Warbler, 6 on May 14 and May 16; 3 on May 17; 1 on May 19.
Yellow-breasted Chat, 1 on May 16 and May 18.
Black-throated Green Warbler, 2 on May 14 and 1 on May 19.
Also seen: Northern Waterthrush, Mourning Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Cape May Warbler, Cerulean Warbler, Palm Warbler, Pine Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler and Canada Warbler and Wilson's Warbler.

New Tripoli, Lehigh County
Hooded Warbler, 2 on May 17.
American Redstart, 14 on May 17.
Blackburnian Warbler, 6 on May 17.
Chestnut-sided Warbler, 3 on May 18.
Black-throated Blue Warbler, 2 on May 17.
Yellow-rumped Warbler, 5 on May 17 and 10 on May 18.
Black-throated Green Warbler, 5 on May 17 and 3 on May 18.
Also seen: Ovenbird, Blue-winged Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Magnolia Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Northern Parula, Yellow Warbler, Canada Warbler and Yellow-breasted Chat.

Wilson's Warbler

Trexler Memorial Park, Lehigh County
Common Yellowthroat, 2 on May 16.
American Redstart, 2 on May 16.
Wilson's Warbler, 1 on May 16.

Nestlé Way Retention Ponds, Lehigh County
Common Yellowthroat, 1 on May 14.

State Game Lands 217, Lehigh County
(Reservoir Road access)
Ovenbird, 2 on May 18.
Also seen: Blue-winged Warbler, American Redstart, Canada Warbler.

Lower Macungie Township, Lehigh County
(along North Krocks Road)
Common Yellowthroat, 1 on May 14.
American Redstart, 1 on May 14.

Beltzville State Park, Carbon County
Ovenbird, 1 on May 13; 6 on May 16; 10 on May 17; and 2 on May 19.
Blue-winged Warbler, 1 on May 16; 2 on May 17.
Common Yellowthroat, 3 on May 13; 6 on May 16; 8 on May 17; 1 on May 19.
Magnolia Warbler, 2 on May 16.
Yellow Warbler, 3 on May 13; 8 on May 16; 6 on May 17.
Chestnut-sided Warbler, 3 on May 16; 2 on May 17.
Yellow-rumped Warbler, 5 on May 13; 4 on May 16.
Prairie Warbler, 1 on May 13; 4 on May 16; 1 on May 17.
Also seen: Northern Waterthrush, Louisiana Waterthrush, Blue-winged Warbler, American Redstart, Prairie Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler.


Lehigh Gap Nature Center, Carbon County
Black-and-white Warbler, 2 on May 16.
Yellow-rumped Warbler, 10 on May 16.
Prairie Warbler, 4 on May 16.
Also seen: Chestnut-sided Warbler and Wilson's Warbler.

Learn about wood warblers

Golden-winged Warbler

It's not always easy to find a warbler. They're usually found in the undergrowth of forests, on the search for grubs and insects. The warbler's color and pattern gives them away. But it still takes some knowledge and experience to identify which species is which. 

The Lehigh Valley Audubon Society is conducting a program on Friday, April 14, to help make your task of identification easier. The session begins at 7 p.m. at the Wildlands Conservancy Education Center Building in the Pool Wildlife Sanctuary at 3710 Orchard Place in Emmaus.

Scott Burnet, chair of the Habitat Committee for the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society, will explain the details of these impressive species.

Directions: From Route 29 (Cedar Crest Boulevard), turn east on Riverbend Road just north of the Borough of Emmaus. Follow Riverbend Road over a bridge and up a small hill. Turn right onto Orchard Place. The entrance to the Pool Wildlife Sanctuary is down the less, less than a half mile, on the right. Look for the Main Office.

Warbler sightings in the Lehigh Valley

Blackburnian Warbler

The final week of August turned out to be a great time to see warblers, the small chickadee-sized songsters. Sightings of a variety of species were reported throughout the Lehigh Valley and vicinity. Some of the birds are getting ready to head south for the winter.

North America is home to 51 different species of warblers. Most are colorful birds. Yellow is common but you will also see blue, green, gray, chestnut, black, orange or red.

A good clue to identifying warblers is their behavior. Most warblers are quick and agile as they forage, flitting from one spot to another within the forest canopy. We often get only a few seconds to identify the species.

Generally only males sing, usually from medium high to high branches. Most songs are high pitched; some are a series of whistled notes on the same pitch and others are high-pitched trills. Still other calls (you really can't call them "songs") are raspy buzzes.


Here are Lehigh Valley warbler sightings for the week ended August 28. The list was compiled by The Bird House using reports filed with the online service ebird.org.

Black-throated Blue Warbler

Monocacy Nature Center, Northampton County
Black-and-white Warbler, 2 on August 28.
Magnolia Warbler, 1 on August 26 and 3 on August 28.
Blackburnian Warbler, 1 on August 23 and 1 on August 28.
Worm-eating Warbler, 1 on August 28.
Nashville Warbler, 2 on August 28.
Chestnut-sided Warbler, 1 on August 23; 2 on August 26; and 4 on August 28.
Canada Warbler, 1 on August 26 and 2 on August 28.
Blue-winged Warbler, 1 on August 23.
Black-throated Blue Warbler, 1 on August 23.

Green Pond, Northampton County
Yellow Warbler, 1 on August 28.

Jacobsburg State Park, Northampton County
Black-and-white Warbler, 1 on August 26.

Black-throated Green Warbler

State Game Lands 168, Northampton County
Magnolia Warbler, 1 on August 28.
Black-throated Green Warbler, 1 on August 28.

Jordan Parkway, Lehigh County
Connecticut Warbler 1 (immature) on August 28.
Magnolia Warbler, 3 on August 28.
Chestnut-sided Warbler, 1 on August 28.

Haafsville, Lehigh County
Pine Warbler, 1 on August 28.
Yellow Warbler, 1 on August 25 and 1 on August 26.

Bake Oven Knob, Lehigh County
Blackburnian Warbler, 1 on August 23.
Chestnut-sided Warbler, 2 on August 23.
Black-throated Green Warbler, 2 on August 23.
Black-and-white Warbler, 1 on August 22.
Canada Warbler, 1 on August 22.

Leaser Lake, Lehigh County
Black-and-white Warbler, 1 on August 23.

Hooded Warbler (male)

Trexler Nature Preserve, Lehigh County
Black-and-white Warbler, 1 on August 22 and 2 on August 23.

Little Gap, Carbon County
Prairie Warbler, 1 on August 26.

Peace Valley Nature Center, Bucks County
Black-and-white Warbler, 1 on August 23; 9 on August 26; 2 on August 27; and 2 on August 28.
Cape May Warbler, 1 on August 26.
Magnolia Warbler, 1 on August 26; 4 on August 27; and 2 on August 28.

Blackburnian  Warbler, 1 on August 28.
Chestnut-sided Warbler, 2 on August 26; 2 on August 27; and 3 on August 28.
Black-throated Blue Warbler, 2 on August 23; 1 on August 26; and 2 on August 28.
Black-throated Green Warbler, 1 on August 26 through August 28.
Canada Warbler, 1 on August 23; 1 on August 26; and 2 on August 28.

Hooded Warbler, 1 on August 27.
Blue-winged Warbler, 1 on August 26.

Nockamixon State Park, Bucks County
Black-and-white Warbler, 1 on August 24.
Magnolia Warbler, 1 on August 24.
Yellow Warbler, 1 on August 24.
Prairie Warbler, 2 on August 24.
Canada Warbler 1 on August 24.

Warblers

Pine Warbler

Warblers of North America are often called "wood-warblers." Most warblers are colorful. Yellow is very common but you will also see blue, green and gray. Sometimes you may see chestnut, orange or red.

All warblers are small, about the size of a chickadee (except for the Yellow-breasted Chat). They have relatively small heads and slim bodies. Their bills are fine, pointed and short, designed to catch insects. They all have nine outer wing feathers, nine inner wing feathers and 12 tail feathers. The one exception is the Olive Warbler, which is in its own family and has 10 outer wing feathers.

A good clue in identifying warblers is their behavior. Most warblers are quick and agile as they forage, flitting from one spot to another within the foliage canopy, moving even faster than chickadees. We often get only a few seconds at a time to observe the bird. Many warblers eat insects off of leaves and can be seen in leaf clusters at the ends of branches.

Olive Warbler

Warblers begin singing in early spring into summer. Some start singing during migration and increase their songs as they get close to breeding grounds. Generally, only males sing, and they usually sing from medium high to high branches.

Most songs are very high pitched; some are a series of high whistled notes on the same pitch or different pitch and others are high pitched trills. None are long or melodic. Other calls (you really can't call them "songs") are raspy buzzes.

There are 51 species of warblers in North America which is why I've kept this article more general rather than focusing on specific birds. There are field guides devoted to warblers. In the Lehigh Valley, you may be able to spot early, middle and late migrants, adding 10 to 20 species to your birding list.

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Spring migration in our area usually begins in mid to late April and into late May. Spots to find warblers in our area include Jacobsburg State Park, Monocacy Nature Center, Nockamixon State Park, Wild Creek Reservoir, Jordan Creek Parkway, Martins Creek and Green Lane Reservoir.

Some species may be confused with warblers: Kinglets, which are small and often seen migrating with warblers; Vireos, some of which have similar coloring as warblers but have thicker bills; and Gnatcatchers, which are smaller than most warblers and have very long tails with mostly gray bodies.

Lehigh Valley bird sightings for the week of May 8

Orange-crowned Warbler

The first of this season's warblers have begun returning to the Lehigh Valley from their southern wintering grounds.

During the period ended May 8, Golden-winged, Orange-crowned, Connecticut and Yellow-throated warblers were seen in the area. They are the first of many warbler species that probably will arrive in coming days.

The Orange-crowned and Connecticut warblers are passing through our area heading north to their breeding grounds, so you have to be quick if you want to see one. They can be seen again in September as they migrate southward for the winter.

The Golden-winged and Yellow-throated warblers will remain in the Lehigh Valley all summer long.

The warblers are among the Lehigh Valley bird sightings reported in to Dave DeReamus. He compiles the reports for the Eastern PA Birdline, which is sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society.

Upper Mount Bethel Township, Northampton County
(along National Park Drive)
Golden-winged Warbler, 1 on May 4.

Williams Township, Northampton County

Connecticut Warbler

Harris's Sparrow, 1 to at least May 4.

Bethlehem Boat Club area, Northampton County
Yellow-throated Warbler, 1 continuing since April 12.

Green Pond area, Northampton County
Glossy Ibis, 1 on May 4.

Monocacy Nature Center, Northampton County
Black-crowned Night Heron, 1 on April 30.

Beltzville State Park, Carbon County
Red-necked Grebe, 1 from April 23 to April 25; 12 on April 27; and 1 on April 28.
American Avocet, 1 on April 29.
Marsh Wren, 1 on April 26.
Orange-crowned Warbler, 1 on May 3.

Germansville, Lehigh County
Connecticut Warbler, 1 on May 6.

Fogelsville Quarry, Lehigh County
Red-necked Grebe, 1 from April 29.

Quakertown Swamp, Bucks County
American Bittern, 2 on April 25.

Green Lane Reservoir, Montgomery County
Double-crested Cormorant, at least 230 during the last week of April.

Pine Siskins remained at several sites in the area this past week.

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

Our wintertime warblers will migrate north shortly

Yellow-rumped Warbler

All winter long, you may have seen the flash of a yellow songbird pecking for seed at your bird feeder. No, it wasn't a male goldfinch. 

The American Goldfinch's bright yellow color is seen only in warmer months. As winter arrives, the male takes on a dull, olive plumage similar to that of the female, which wears that color all year long. Also, you might notice a black wing bar amid the olive. That's sure sign that the bird you've seen is a male goldfinch. The male will soon return to its vivid yellow; the striking display is meant to attract a mate.

The yellow flash that is seen locally in the winter is a Yellow-rumped Warbler, the only species of warbler that makes its home here in the winter. Soon the Yellow-rumped Warbler will depart, heading north to breed. Taking its place among warblers will many different species, each with their coloration and their own melodious warbling song.

The trill of a Yellow-rumped Warbler is a song of four to seven syllables (tyew-tyew-tyew-tyew-tyew-tyew-tyew) and an occasional call note (check or chip).

Yellow-rumped Warblers are one of the few warblers that come to feeders to eat. They consume sunflower seeds, suet, peanut butter and raisins. 

In nature, they eat waxy fruits—bayberries and was myrtles in particular—that most other songbirds usually ignore. The trick is the warbler's digestive system, which is able to to transform the waxy fruits into essential nutrients. They'll also eat juniper berries and the fruits of poison ivy, Virginia creeper and dogwood.

Their digestive abilities is one reason they winter so much farther north than other warbler species.

You'll see them foraging in shrubs or trees, often in parks, along woodland streams and in open pine and mixed pine-oak forests. They'll even visit cow pastures where they pick goodies from piles of manure. If you happen to be at the seashore, you may see them there, in the dunes. The easiest time to see them is during migration.

In the depths of winter, the birds are mostly a streaky brown and yellow, with the brightest yellow appearing on the top of the rump, and to a lesser extent on the throat and beneath the wings. Right now, the birds are beginning to transform into a brighter color: a dazzling yellow and gray. The males display flashes of white on their wings. The females are more subdued and a bit more brownish.

The birds will be their most numerous in mid-April, as their comrades who wintered a bit farther south begin to enter the Lehigh Valley. By mid-May they are gone, having headed north in flocks to Canada, Alaska or the Rocky Mountains to breed. They'll being returning in large numbers in late September, according to Birds of the Lehigh Valley and Vicinity.

Yellow-rumped Warblers lay four or five eggs in nests 50 feet above the ground, usually in a horizontal branch away from the trunk. The female has two broods.

During breeding season, the warblers change their diet a bit. They primarily eat insects, which they catch in midair. They also forage in leaf litter for spiders and caterpillars, in addition to insects find there. Early ripening berries remain a treat.

Fortunately the species is abundant and widespread, according to the National Audubon Society.

So be on the lookout. You may find a Yellow-rumped Warbler nearby, if not around your feeder than perhaps along the tree line at your favorite park or stream.

Lehigh Valley bird sightings for November 14

Brant

During the past few weeks, sightings of Brants have been reported at several locations in the Lehigh Valley and nearby, the most recent being lakes and reservoirs in Carbon and Bucks counties.

These medium-size geese breed in the high Arctic tundra. During winter they head south, spending their time along the Atlantic Coast from Cape Cod to North Carolina. They usually inhabit the tidal estuaries, where they feed on eel-grass, seaweed and sea lettuce. In recent decades, though, pressure on food resources has been forcing them inland to feed on agricultural fields.

The Atlantic variant of the Brant has a black head, light belly and white collar. The undertail is white. Brants differ from Canada Geese in that the latter are bigger and have a large white cheek patch and a pale tan breast.

In our area, Brants have been seen in October and November in several locations. The sightings include 28 in Merrill Creek Reservoir in western New Jersey on October 2; one in Lake Towhee, Bucks County, through November 3; one in Carbon County's Beltzville State Park through November 5; and one in Bucks County's Peace Valley Park on November 7.

The sightings were reported to Dave DeReamus, of the Eastern PA Birdline, a project of the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society. Also seen during the week ended November 14 were the following species:

Palm Warbler

Williams Township, Northampton County
Palm Warbler, 1 on November 12 (late for its migration south).
Pine Siskin, a small flock on November 12.

Bake Oven Knob, Lehigh County
Bald Eagle, 6 on November 7.
Northern Goshawk, 1 on November 7.
Golden Eagle, 20 on November 7.

Fogelsville Quarry, Lehigh County
Cackling Goose, 2 on November 7.

Beltzville State Park, Carbon County
Snow Bunting, 37 on November 6.

Peace Valley Park, Bucks County
Cackling Goose, 1 on November 7.
Bonaparte's Gull, 2 on November 6 and November 7.

Lake Towhee, Bucks County
Trumpeter Swan, 1 to at least November 13.

Green Lane Reservoir, Montgomery County
(at Church Road)
Rusty Blackbird, 1 on November 10.

Unami Creek Valley, Montgomery County
Blue-headed Vireo, 1 on November 11 (late for the migration).

Merrill Creek Reservoir, New Jersey
(at Scotts Mountain Hawkwatch)
Bald Eagle, 8 on November 7 and November 9.
Northern Goshawk, 1 on November 11.
Peregrine Falcon, 1 on November 7.

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

Lehigh Valley bird sightings for October 3

Orange-crowned Warbler

An expert birder in the Easton area reported the rare sighting of an Orange-crowned Warbler on September 28. Arlene Koch said she spotted it in a ragweed thicket on farmland near her house.

"I've been them here before but it's a bird I never expect, and often years pass between any sightings here either by myself or visitors," she said in her posting to the American Birding News website.

The Orange-crowned Warbler is one of the most common warblers in the West. It breeds from Alaska and northern Canada south to Arizona, and it frequents the Pacific Coast from Seattle to San Diego throughout the year. The birds spend their winters in California, Mexico and the Gulf Coast but they're rarely seen—even during migration—in the Lehigh Valley area.

During migration the Orange-crowned Warbler is often seen along riversides, scrub trees and low, dense vegetation. Food, rather than the length of the day, seems to drive the migratory calendar, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology explains. The birds begin leaving their summer breeding grounds in the north when cold or dry weather reduces the insect population, which is its primary prey.

The birds poke through vegetation to locate ants, beetles, spiders, flies and caterpillars. They sometimes supplement their diet with fruit, berries and seeds.

As you can see from the photo, the orange on the crown of the Orange-crowned Warbler is inconspicuous, concealed by the tips of feathers. What little orange there is, is an orange brown. The orange becomes prominent when the bird fluffs up its feathers, especially during bathing. It takes a sharp eye to distinguish the Orange-crowned Warbler from other warblers, such as an immature Tennessee Warbler. However, the Orange-crowned Warbler's yellow undertail coverts and faint, blurred olive streaks on the sides of the breast aid identification. An eye line is prominent throughout the year.

Other birds reported seen in the Lehigh Valley area recently include:

Easton, Northampton County
Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Wood Pee-wee, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, White-throated Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow and several hummingbirds.

Peace Valley Park, Bucks County
Common Tern, 40 between September 21 and September 28. (This is said to be an unusual number, other than times when the terms fly inland because of major storms along the coastline.)
Lesser Black-backed Gull, 94 on September 21.
Double-crested Cormorant, 
Scarlet Tanager, 1 through September 27.
Little Blue Heron (juvenile), 1 through September 23.
Black-crowned Night Heron, 1 through September 23.
Peregrine Falcon, 1 on September 27.
Blue-headed Vireo, 1 on September 24.
Dark-eyed Junco, 1 on September 24 (first report of the season).
Also seen: Pied-eyed Grebe; Great Egret; Spotted Sandpiper; Yellow-billed Cuckoo; Common Nighthawk; Red-breasted Nuthatch; Winter Wren; Lincoln's and Swamp sparrows; Rose-breasted Grosbeak; Indigo Bunting; Purple Finch; Ruby-crowned Kinglet; Gray-cheeked and Swainson's thrushes; and 17 different warbler species, including Tennessee, Nashville, Cape May, Palm, Bay-breasted and Yellow-rumped.

The sightings were compiled by The Bird House from reports posted at the American Birding Association's website.