Seasonal Highlights - 2003
Winter (January-February)
Temperatures were frigid for two weeks in January with lows around 5 degrees and wind chills below zero. Highs were in the teens or twenties. At least conditions were mostly clear and sunny. In spite of the chilly weather, Hermit Thrush and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker were present throughout the season. Winter Wren, another bird that sometimes winters here, was sighted only once. American Tree Sparrows and an Eastern Towhee were frequent visitors to feeding stations. First revealed by footprints in the snow, a Wild Turkey was occasionally seen at feeding stations in February. Turkeys have been seen infrequently in the Nature Center since 2000, but these were the first winter records. Occasional Eastern Bluebirds brightened the winter days.
Large flocks--in the hundreds--of Cedar Waxwings and American Robins were present in early January, but soon dwindled to a few birds. Perhaps food supplies were exhausted, or maybe cold temperatures caused the decline.
Temperatures were cold in February, and a record snow storm on 2/16 and 17 provided the opportunity for some “extreme birding” on cross country skis. A Lesser Scaup, the third record for the Nature Center and the first since February 27th of 2000, swam in the creek on 2/16. Common Mergansers were present on 2/23.
Cooper’s Hawks were frequently seen, as were Red-tailed Hawks. The Red-tails were often perched together in their favorite tall trees. A Great Horned Owl was seen on 2/1, the only owl sighting this year. A juvenile was heard several times in fall, but no adults were heard. This was very unusual.
Spring (March-May)
A Fox Sparrow on 3/9 was the first record for the year. A Brown-headed Cowbird on 3/10 was another sign of the change of season, but a Turkey Vulture, Red-winged Blackbird, and a Killdeer on 3/13 were strong signals that spring was on its way. Temperatures remained low through the middle of the month. The hoarse song of an Eastern Phoebe on 3/14 seemed like a warm, southern breeze. American Woodcocks soon appeared. A small flock of Snow Geese flew over head on its way back to the breeding ground in the high Arctic. Probably the most unusual bird in March was a Ring-necked Pheasant on 3/23. A Yellow-rumped Warbler on 3/26 was the first warbler of spring, followed on 3/28 by a Pine Warbler and a Northern Rough-winged Swallow. An Opossum on 3/29 was an interesting sighting, as well as a possible Mink on 3/30. A Rusty Blackbird was present on 3/29.
Two Green-winged Teal and a Hooded Merganser rested on the Paint Mill Pond on 4/2. Six colorful yellow Palm Warblers were present on 4/6. A late snowfall of about five inches on 4/7 was the swan song of a long, cold winter. The early push of migrants was not followed by much activity. 4/15 was a good day, with Swamp and Lincoln’s Sparrows, Brown Thrasher, and Osprey. Other April birds of interest included Black-and-white, Prairie, Nashville and Northern Parula Warblers, Louisiana Waterthrush, and a flyover American Bittern seen by Mike Schall.
May began with eleven warbler species on 5/1. The return of the first Wood Thrushes with their haunting song was most welcome. New species rushed north during early May. On 5/9 there were 56 species including 13 warbler species and a Yellow-billed Cuckoo. On 5/10, for the Spring Migration Count, 61 species were seen, including one very unusual species: a Marsh Wren found by Steve Thorpe. On 5/11 participants in a Lehigh Valley Audubon Society walk sighted 66 species including 19 warbler species. Cerulean, Bay-breasted, and Wilson’s Warblers, and Red-shouldered Hawk were observed. Other sightings of note during the month were Swainson’s Thrush, Tennessee Warbler, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Mourning Warbler, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, and Acadian Flycatcher. A Pileated Woodpecker on 5/24 was a new species for the Nature Center. A Red-tailed Hawk nest containing two young birds was discovered on 5/27.
Summer (June-July)
A few migrants, including Blackpoll Warbler and Veery, lingered into early June. A Red-headed Woodpecker, a first for the Nature Center, flew over the pond toward the golf course on 6/10.
26 species were confirmed as breeding. These included Red-tailed Hawk, Eastern Wood Pewee, Yellow Warbler, and Baltimore Oriole. 15 other species probably nested in or near the area. These possible breeding birds included Great Crested Flycatcher, Tree Swallow, and Common Yellowthroat.
A White-eyed Vireo, an uncommon visitor, was present from mid-July to mid-August. A Yellow-throated Vireo, present from mid-July until early October, was usually with a warbler flock and usually singing. This was a welcome aid to locating the warblers.
Fall (August-December)
Migrants increased during August. Osprey on 8/15, Canada Warbler on 8/18, Mourning Warbler on 8/20, Least Flycatcher and Merlin on 8/21, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher on 8/24, Great Egret on 8/27, Common Nighthawk on 8/28, Tennessee Warbler on 8/30 and Golden-winged Warbler on 8/31 were some of the highlights. There were 9 warbler species on 8/30 and 13 on 8/31. There were 7 Great Egret sightings in fall, but only 1 of Green Heron.
September highlights included Philadelphia Vireo, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Blackburnian Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, Gray-cheeked Thrush, and Lincoln’s Sparrow. Several days had 10 or 11 species of warblers.
Warblers decreased as sparrows increased in October. Two Green-winged Teal visited the Paint Mill Pond on 10/2. Winter Wren and Purple Finch were present on 10/5, along with the last push of warblers. There were 8 species including Bay-breasted and Wilson’s Warblers. Other species on 10/5 were Lincoln’s and Swamp Sparrows, Indigo Bunting, and Eastern Towhee. Kinglets were plentiful in mid-October, along with White-throated Sparrows and Yellow-rumped Warblers. A rare Orange-crowned Warbler was observed on 10/17, and 3 Pine Siskins were a good find by Phyllis Heller on 10/23.
Unusual November sightings included a rather late Eastern Phoebe on 11/6 and a Rusty Blackbird on 11/15. Only 2 Fox Sparrows were observed this fall, both in November.
The year came to an end with the traditional Christmas Bird Count on 12/27. Common Mergansers, American Black Ducks, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, American Tree Sparrows, and Eastern Bluebirds were observed on the Nature Center portion of the count. 41 species were found between Burnside Plantation and the Aspen Inn.
*****142 species were seen this year, including 28 warbler species. 3 species were new to the Nature Center: Red-shouldered Hawk on 5/11, Pileated Woodpecker on 5/24, and Red-headed Woodpecker on 6/10. Other unusual visitors were Marsh Wren on 5/10, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher on 5/20, and Orange-crowned Warbler on 10/17.
*****
Observers: Linda Freedman, Phyllis Heller, Jeff Hopkins, Barbara Malt, Steve Thorpe, Joe Zajacek
Compiler: Linda Freedman