Central Pennsylvania Bird Hotline

- RBA
* Pennsylvania
* Central Pennsylvania
* June 29, 2006
* PACE0606.29
Bird Highlights
BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK (Lancaster Co.)
Upland Sandpiper
Black Tern
Prothonotary Warbler
Dickcissel
- Transcript
Hotline:   Central Pennsylvania Birdline
Date:      June 29, 2006
To Report: 

Compiler: Mark A. McConaughy Coverage: Central Pennsylvania, Susquehanna River Drainage System Transcriber: Mark A. McConaughy

Welcome to Pennsylvania Audubon's and the Patriot-News' Birdline. This Birdline covers sightings made primarily during the week prior to Thursday, June 29, 2006.

ADAMS COUNTY:
There were at least 3 UPLAND SANDPIPERS at the Arentz Farm on Bigham Road on June 22 (DSe, CS).

A DICKCISSEL was singing along Cunningham Road on June 23 (BM).

BEDFORD COUNTY:
Breeding bird atlas block 88A23 yielded AMERICAN KESTREL, 1 BARRED OWL, RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS, 3 PILEATED WOODPECKERS, ACADIAN FLYCATCHER, GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER, YELLOW-THROATED VIREOS, CLIFF SWALLOWS, BARN SWALLOWS, WOOD THRUSH, AMERICAN ROBINS, NORTHERN PARULAS, AMERICAN REDSTARTS, WORM-EATING WARBLERS, GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS, 2 HENSLOW’S SPARROWS, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, 10 BOBOLINKS, EASTERN MEADOLWARKS and PURPLE FINCH (DS, DH).

CARBON COUNTY:
Birds seen west of Hudsondale on June 22 included ALDER FLYCATCHER, HORNED LARK, 2 BLACKBURNIAN WARBLERS, 2 CANADA WARBLERS, 4 SAVANNAH SPARROWS, SWAMP SPARROW, BOBOLINKS and PURPLE FINCHES (DK).

Beltzville State Park yielded 1 BALD EAGLE on June 25 and RING-BILLED GULLS and 1 ROYAL TERN on June 26 (DHa).

CENTRE COUNTY:
There were 2 young HOODED MERGANSERS at the beaver pond on the upper part of Black Moshannon Creek just south of the Mid-State Airport on June 24 (NB). A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW continues to be seen at Mid-State Airport through at least June 24 (NB).

CUMBERLAND COUNTY:
There were 4 EURASIAN COLLARED DOVES in Shady Grove near Kine’s Store on June 21 (TJ, DW).

Birds found on June 21 along Route 997 east of Newville included 1 EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE, VESPER SPARROWS, SAVANNAH SPARROWS, GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS, 1 BLUE GROSBEAK, 1 DICKCISSEL and BOBOLINKS (TJ, DW).

DAUPHIN COUNTY:
Birds found in Stony Creek Valley on June 21 included 1 possible OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, EASTERN PHOEBE, GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER, CEDAR WAXWING, PRAIRIE WARBLER, WORM-EATING WARBLER, KENTUCKY WARBLER, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, FIELD SPARROW and INDIGO BUNTING (Anonymous).

HUNTINGDON COUNTY:
A probable FORSTER’S TERN was seen at Lake Perez on June 24 (RF).

JUNIATA COUNTY:
A few young GREAT HORNED OWLS and at least 10 SWAMP SPARROWS were seen in a swampy area near Mifflintown on June 23 (CK, HP).

There were 4 EASTERN SCREECH OWLS along Mountain Road on the evening of June 23 (CK, HP).

LANCASTER COUNTY:
Birds found around Conejohela Flats between June 22 and 25 included 30 WOOD DUCKS, 26 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS, 1 OSPREY, 4 adult and 23 immature BALD EAGLES, 33 KILLDEER, 7 SPOTTED SANDPIPERS, 1 WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, 1 BONAPARTE’S GULL, 2 CASPIAN TERNS, 3 COMMON TERNS, 3 FORSTER’S TERNS, 4 YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOOS, 1 CLIFF SWALLOW and 3 PROTHONOTARY WARBLERS (BS).

A BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK was seen at Alcoa Marsh on June 24 (TA, BS, FH, TJ, CB, TH, NH, LS). Directions: From US Route 30 take the Fruitville Pike exit. Turn south and turn into the shopping center. Keep left and go to the area just past the shopping center buildings and park. Alcoa marsh is on the left (FH).

LEBANON COUNTY:
There were 2 possible ORCHARD ORIOLES at Memorial Lake on June 21 (MC).

A BLACK TERN was seen flying around the detention pond along N. Mt. Pleasant Road on June 27 (CB, AS).

LUZERNE COUNTY:
Birds seen at Kirby Park on June 25 included 11 WOOD DUCKS, 11 MALLARDS, 6 COOPER’S HAWKS, 1 BROAD-WINGED HAWK, 10 ROCK PIGEONS, 2 MOURNING DOVES, 1 YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, 2 CHIMNEY SWIFTS, 1 RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, 2 BELTED KINGFISHER, 5 DOWNY WOODPECKERS, 3 HAIRY WOODPECKERS, 4 NORTHERN FLICKERS, 1 EASTERN PHOEBE, 4 RED-EYED VIREOS, 2 BLUE JAYS, 6 AMERICAN CROWS, 4 FISH CROWS, 8 NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS, 3 BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, 10 TUFTED TITMICE, 6 WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, 5 CAROLINA WRENS, 3 WOOD THRUSHES, 25 AMERICAN ROBINS, 58 GRAY CATBIRDS, 6 EUROPEAN STARLINGS, 2 CEDAR WAXWINGS, 9 YELLOW WARBLERS, 1 AMERICAN REDSTART, 1 COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, 1 CHIPPING SPARROW, 15 SONG SPARROWS, 6 NORTHERN CARDINALS, 3 INDIGO BUNTINGS, 1 BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD, 10 AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES and 6 HOUSE SPARROWS (SG).

MCKEAN COUNTY:
The male from a pair of MERLINS was observed carrying food to their nest on June 28 (JF). The nest location will not be revealed for their protection. This is the first documented nesting of MERLINS within the state.

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY:
A VIRGINIA RAIL was heard calling in a reconstructed Pennsylvania DOT wetlands on June 21 (TP).

SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY:
The Bonnie Dell Farm in Franklin Township attracted 26 CANADA GEESE, 1 MALLARD, 4 ROCK PIGEONS, 8 RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS, 2 YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS, 2 NORTHERN FLICKERS, 1 EASTERN KINGBIRD, BLUE JAYS, AMERICAN CROWS, TREE SWALLOWS, BARN SWALLOWS, 1 EASTERN BLUEBIRD, AMERICAN ROBINS, 2 GRAY CATBIRDS, EUROPEAN STARLLINGS, CEDAR WAXWINGS, 4 YELLOW WARBLERS, 2 CHIPPING SPARROWS, 1 ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, 1 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD, COMMON GRACKLES, 3 BALTIMORE ORIOLES, 2 AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES and 3 HOUSE SPARROWS between June 22 and 28 (HF).

TIOGA COUNTY:
Some Pennsylvania DOT reconstructed wetlands yielded 1 PIED-BILLED GREBE, 3 GREEN HERONS and 1 VIRGINIA RAIL on June 20 (TP).

CLOSING ANNOUNCEMENTS:
If you miss the usual Thursday postings of the Central PA Birdline on BIRDEAST and PABIRDS, I will also be posting it on my page web site at:
http://people.delphiforums.com/MCCONAUGHY/currentbl.htm

The address for the home page of the web site is:
http://people.delphiforums.com/MCCONAUGHY/index.html Also, people can access both the current and older birdlines at:
http://groups.msn.com/CentralPABirdlinebackupfiles/messages.msnw

*PORC = Pennsylvania Ornithological Record Committee. Rare bird sightings should be documented with written descriptions and photographs whenever possible and sent to PORC for review. Send PORC reports to Nick Pulcinella, 613 Howard Road, West Chester, PA 19380. I would like to acknowledge people who have contributed to this report; Tom Amico (TA), Chuck Berthoud (CB), Nick Bolgiano (NB), Mary Coomer (MC), John Fedak (JF), Herb Flavell (HF), Roana Fuller (RF), Sandra Goodwin (SG), Frank Haas (FH), Dave Hawk (DHa), Nancy Hopson (NH), Tom Hopson (TH), Donna Housel (DH), Tom Johnson (TJ), Chad Kauffman (CK), Dave Kruel (DK), Bob Moul (BM), Henry Petersheim (HP), Tom Pluto (TP), Art Schiavo (AS), Leon Schreffler (LS), Bob Schutsky (BS), Deb Seifkin (DSe), Carole Simon (CS), Dan Snell (DS) and Drew Weber (DW). I apologize if I have misspelled their names and I will also refrain from naming that person on request.

I would also like to point out that one of the people who regularly reports to the hotline is Bob Schutsky, owner of BIRD TREKS Tours. He leads birding tours in other areas of North and Central America. You can contact him at 717-548-3303 or at his new web site:
http://www.birdtreks.com I want to thank Bob for his reports and recommend booking one of his tours if you want to view local and extraregional birds.

-End Transcript

Mark A. McConaughy                 

Bushy Run Battlefield P.O. Box 486 Harrison City, PA 15636-0468 (724) 527-5585 x103


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