2023 Lehigh Valley Christmas Bird Count Summary

Orange-crowned Warbler

On December 16th, 2023, 40 counters participated in the 2023 Lehigh Valley Christmas Bird Count. This marked the 80th year of this particular count, and 124th year of the Audubon Christmas Bird Count overall. 86 species and 40,826 individual birds were counted. Highlights included the first ever sighting of an Orange-crowned Warbler in the Topton area, a wintering Eastern Phoebe near Fogelsville, Cackling Geese in Allentown, and a Wilson’s Snipe in the western part of the circle. High counts were achieved for Green-winged Teal and Common Merganser, with 67 and 73 individuals respectively. Only 22 Black Vultures were counted, likely an impact of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza outbreak. Thank you to all of the counters who participated! The 2024 count is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, December 21, 2024.

Wilson’s Snipe

Observers: Terry Master, Barbara Malt, Brian Stamper, Stephen Kloiber, Mark Boyd, Chris Sipos, Makayla Hernandez, Brandon Brogle, Luke C . Miller, Kennedy Sullivan, Jenith Flex, Felice Cragin, Grant Stephenson, Jason Horn, Brandon Swayser, Jon Mularczyk, Steve Smith, Frank Dickman, Dan Klem, Peter Saenger, Jim Funk, Todd Underwood, Todd Watkins, Fritz Brock, Jeff Hopkins, Joe Zajacek, John Mitchell, Anne Wenninger, Carl Veltri.

Bethlehem-Easton-Hellertown Christmas Bird Count for National Audubon Society 65th Year – December 30, 2023

Elaine and Don Mease in January - March 2024 Newsletter of The Lehigh Valley Audubon Society

Thank you for participating in our 65th Bird Count for the Bethlehem-Easton-Hellertown Area and Audubon’s 124th Year!!

A total of 86 species were recorded.

The Western Kingbird was a new species for us. It was seen at the Archibald Johnson Preserve by many observers before and after, as well as by our team on count day.

Numbers for Geese or Vultures reported by the feeder counters were included in the field count.

The Snow Geese were mostly at the Nazareth Quarry, however there were MANY flocks over the entire circle that day. The ones seen at the southern edge were probably from Merrill Creek. We tried to account for that.

The Chickadee count will be listed as Chickadee Species for Audubon. The Black-capped and Carolina Chickadee are appearing in our area recently and are known to hybridize as well. ID can be difficult.

Thanks to Grant Stevenson and Kaitlyn Sommer for taking on the task of counting the crows at a roost in the western edge of the circle.

We have a cumulative list for all the past years, if anyone is interested. We don’t list past years because of so many variables in weather and effort, but it can be sent out, if requested.

If you have any questions don’t hesitate to call or email us. Next year’s count will be December 28, 2024.

Count Area: A circle 15 miles in diameter with its center on Applebutter Rd ., 0 .3 mile east of the Bethlehem City line

Weather: A .M . overcast; P .M . overcast; Low - 30; High - 44; still water, rivers and streams open; ground muddy

Observers: 53; 14 at feeders with 65 hours; 39 in the field in 18 parties totaling 116 hours and 399 miles, plus 2 hours and 4 miles owling

Field counters: Jane Barker-Hunt, Virginia Derbyshire, Dave DeReamus, Linda Freedman, Anne Frye, Marilyn Hessinger, Jason Horn, Tim and Stephanie Kita, Arlene Koch, Pete Kwiatek, Gerald, Jonathon and Robert Lahr, John Landis, Barbara Malt, Mike and Penny Maurer, Elaine and Don Mease, Carole Mebus, John Mularczyk, Brad Orey, Dan Pokras, Jason, Michelle and Aidan Porter, Chuck Pyro, Sharon Roehrig, Kyle Rogers, Barbara Ryan, Pam Schmaldinst, Ed Sinkler, Mike Skinner, Kaitlyn Sommer Family, Grant Stevenson, Jennifer Tucci, Emma Walters, Joseph Yuhas, Joe Zajacek, Dan Zmoda Feeder counters: Tom Ahern, Glenn Breidenbach, Leslie and Thaddeus Encelewski, Julie and Gary Hofbauer, Margaret Hood, Pete Jarrett, Barbara Johnson, Vivian Noblett, Barbara Ryan, Ruth Smith, Maryann Snyder, Sherry Strock

Bethlehem-Easton-Hellertown Christmas Bird Count Results 2023

Eastern PA Birdline: 12/2/2016

• RBA
• Pennsylvania
• Lehigh / Northampton Counties and Vicinity
• December 2, 2016
• PAEA1612.02
• Birds mentioned

EVENING GROSBEAK BLACK-NECKED STILT SNOW BUNTING DICKCISSEL GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE LONG-TAILED DUCK

• Transcript

Hotline: Eastern PA Birdline Date: December 2nd at 1:00 PM

The Allentown Christmas Bird Count will be held on December 17th. If interested, contact Rett Oren at 484-985-5685.

The Wild Creek / Little Gap Christmas Bird Count will be held on December 18th. If interested, contact Corey Husic at 570-269-7509.

The Bethlehem / Easton / Hellertown Christmas Bird Count will be held on December 31st. If interested, contact Don & Elaine Mease at 610-346-7754.

Directions to many of the sites in this report can be found in the area’s birding guidebook, “Birds of the Lehigh Valley and Vicinity”. A completely revised, 2nd edition of the book can be ordered at: http://www.lvaudubon.org/shop/ .

NOW FOR THE BIRDS!

Sightings from the KUNKLETOWN area, Monroe County: Rusty Blackbird – 1 on 11/26 (fly-by).

Sightings from MAUCH CHUNK LAKE, Carbon County: EVENING GROSBEAKS – 2 on 11/25.

Sightings from BAKE OVEN KNOB, Lehigh County: Bald Eagles – 4 on 11/26.

Sightings from GREEN LANE RESERVOIR, Montgomery County: At the Walt Road area: Ruddy Ducks – 438 on 11/25 (high count) BLACK-NECKED STILT – 1 from 11/13 to at least 11/28 Dunlin – 1 from 11/19 to at least 11/30 SNOW BUNTINGS – 2 on 11/25 (fly-by’s). Also Common Goldeneye, Double-crested Cormorant, and Least Sandpiper.

Sightings from the KINTNERSVILLE area, Bucks County: DICKCISSEL – 1 on 11/24 and 11/25 (at a private feeder).

Sightings from LAKE TOWHEE, Bucks County: Cackling Goose – 1 on 11/26.

Sightings from PEACE VALLEY PARK, Bucks County: GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE – 1 on 11/25 Cackling Geese – 3 on 11/25; 5 on 11/26; 3 on 11/27 LONG-TAILED DUCK – 1 on 11/25 American Pipit – 1 on 11/25.

Red-breasted Nuthatches continued to be reported from several sites this past week.

• End transcript

Eastern PA Birdline: 11/25/2016

• RBA
• Pennsylvania
• Lehigh / Northampton Counties and Vicinity
• November 25, 2016
• PAEA1611.25
• Birds mentioned

GREAT CORMORANT BLACK-NECKED STILT GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE RED-THROATED LOON TROPICAL KINGBIRD (extralimital)

The Allentown Christmas Bird Count will be held on December 17th. If interested, contact Rett Oren at 484-985-5685.

The Wild Creek / Little Gap Christmas Bird Count will be held on December 18th. If interested, contact Corey Husic at 570-269-7509.

The Bethlehem / Easton / Hellertown Christmas Bird Count will be held on December 31st. If interested, contact Don & Elaine Mease at 610-346-7754.

Directions to many of the sites in this report can be found in the area’s birding guidebook, “Birds of the Lehigh Valley and Vicinity”. A completely revised, 2nd edition of the book can be ordered at: http://www.lvaudubon.org/shop/ .

NOW FOR THE BIRDS!

Sightings from BAKE OVEN KNOB, Lehigh County: Bald Eagles – 3 on 11/21; 7 on 11/22 Northern Goshawks – 2 on 11/22 and 11/23 Golden Eagles – 4 on 11/22.

Sightings from GREEN LANE RESERVOIR, Montgomery County: At the Walt Road area: GREAT CORMORANT – 1 from 11/10 to at least 11/23 BLACK-NECKED STILT – 1 from 11/13 to at least 11/24 Dunlin – 1 from 11/19 to at least 11/24. Also Common Goldeneye, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, and Great Black-backed Gull.

Sightings from PEACE VALLEY PARK, Bucks County: GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE – 1 on 11/23 Cackling Goose – 1 on 11/17 RED-THROATED LOON – 1 on 11/23 Baltimore Oriole – 1 on 11/19.

Red-breasted Nuthatches continued to be reported from several sites this past week.

Farther afield, a TROPICAL KINGBIRD has been along the Susquehanna River at Peach Bottom, PA, particularly at or around 216 Spring Lane to at least the 24th. If accepted, it will be the 2nd record for Pennsylvania.

• End transcript

Eastern PA Birdline: 11/11/2016

• RBA
• Pennsylvania
• Lehigh / Northampton Counties and Vicinity
• November 11, 2016
• PAEA1611.11
• Birds mentioned

“Gambel’s” White-crowned Sparrow BLACK-NECKED STILT GREAT CORMORANT TRUMPETER SWAN GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE GREATER SCAUP

The next Audubon program will be held on November 11th at 7:00 PM at the Wildlands Conservancy in Emmaus. Alex Hildebrandt will do a program called “An Evening with Wildlife Photographer, Alex Hildebrandt”.

Directions to many of the sites in this report can be found in the area’s birding guidebook, “Birds of the Lehigh Valley and Vicinity”. A completely revised, 2nd edition of the book can be ordered at: http://www.lvaudubon.org/shop/ .

NOW FOR THE BIRDS!

Sightings from WILLIAMS TOWNSHIP, Northampton County: Golden Eagle – 1 on 11/6 “Gambel’s” White-crowned Sparrow – 1 to at least 11/6.

Sightings from BELTZVILLE STATE PARK, Carbon County: Pectoral Sandpiper – 1 on 11/3.

Sightings from BAKE OVEN KNOB, Lehigh County: Bald Eagles – 10 on 11/4 Northern Goshawks – 1 on 11/4, 11/5, 11/6, and 11/10 Red-tailed Hawks – 161 on 11/4; 214 on 11/6 Golden Eagles – 14 on 11/4; 7 on 11/6.

Sightings from GREEN LANE RESERVOIR, Montgomery County: At Knight Lake: BLACK-NECKED STILT – 1 from 11/2 to at least 11/10. At the Walt Road area: Ruddy Ducks – 287 on 11/6 GREAT CORMORANT – 1 on 11/10 Lesser Yellowlegs – 2 on 11/5; 1 on 11/7 Pectoral Sandpipers – 2 on 11/4 and 11/5; 3 on 11/6; 1 on 11/8 White-rumped Sandpiper – 1 on 11/4 Least Sandpipers – 2 on 11/4 Bonaparte’s Gull – 1 on 11/8.

Sightings from LAKE NOCKAMIXON, Bucks County: TRUMPETER SWAN – 1 on 11/6.

Sightings from PEACE VALLEY PARK, Bucks County: GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE – 1 on 11/6 and 11/10 GREATER SCAUP – 1 back on 11/2 Golden Eagle – 1 on 11/4 Peregrine Falcon – 1 on 11/5.

Red-breasted Nuthatches continued to be reported from several sites this past week.

• End transcript

Eastern PA Birdline: 11/4/2016 - Corrected

• RBA
• Pennsylvania
• Lehigh / Northampton Counties and Vicinity
• November 4, 2016
• PAEA1611.04
• Birds mentioned

“Gambel’s” White-crowned Sparrow BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK (origin in question) GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE SNOW BUNTING BLACK-NECKED STILT TRUMPETER SWAN AMERICAN BITTERN LONG-TAILED DUCK CATTLE EGRET MARSH WREN

• Transcript

Hotline: Eastern PA Birdline Date: November 4th at 5:00 AM To Report by E-Mail: Send to becard@rcn.com with “Birdline” in subject heading. Compiler: Dave DeReamus My reporting area includes all of Lehigh and Northampton Counties with the northern edge of the area reaching Beltzville State Park and the southern edge reaching Peace Valley Park in Bucks County. Updates are typically done every Friday, more often when necessary.

You can visit the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society Website at http://www.lvaudubon.org/ .

You can visit my 'Eastern PA Birding' Website for photos and information at http://users.rcn.com/becard/home.html .

The next Audubon program will be held on November 11th at 7:00 PM at the Wildlands Conservancy in Emmaus. Alex Hildebrandt will do a program called “An Evening with Wildlife Photographer, Alex Hildebrandt”.

Directions to many of the sites in this report can be found in the area’s birding guidebook, “Birds of the Lehigh Valley and Vicinity”. A completely revised, 2nd edition of the book can be ordered at: http://www.lvaudubon.org/shop/ .

NOW FOR THE BIRDS!

Sightings from WILLIAMS TOWNSHIP, Northampton County: “Gambel’s” White-crowned Sparrow – 1 to at least 11/1.

Sightings from the FREEMANSBURG area, Northampton County: Northern Goshawk – 1 on 10/29.

Sightings from the WALNUTPORT area, Northampton County: BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK – 1 to at least 11/2 (seen along the canal both north and south of Main Street). Origin in question.

Sightings from BELTZVILLE STATE PARK, Carbon County: GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE – 1 on 10/28 Pectoral Sandpiper – 1 on 11/1 Semipalmated Sandpiper – 1 on 11/1 SNOW BUNTING – 1 on 11/1.

Sightings from BAKE OVEN KNOB, Lehigh County: Bald Eagles – 9 on 10/28 and 10/31 Northern Goshawks – 4 on 10/31 Red-shouldered Hawks – 23 on 10/31 Red-tailed Hawks – 158 on 10/28; 167 on 10/31 Golden Eagles – 15 on 10/28; 3 on 10/29; 6 on 10/31 Merlins – 4 on 10/28 Peregrine Falcons – 2 on 10/31.

Sightings from GREEN LANE RESERVOIR, Montgomery County: At Knight Lake: BLACK-NECKED STILT – 1 on 11/2 and 11/3. At the Walt Road area: Cackling Geese – 2 on 11/1 and 11/2 Pectoral Sandpipers – 4 on 11/2 Least Sandpiper – 1 on 11/2 Bonaparte’s Gull – 1 on 10/28.

Sightings from LAKE TOWHEE, Bucks County: TRUMPETER SWAN – 1 on 10/28 and 10/30 AMERICAN BITTERN – 1 on 10/28 and 10/29.

Sightings from PEACE VALLEY PARK, Bucks County: GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE – 2 on 10/28 and 10/29 Cackling Geese – 2 on 10/28 and 10/29; 1 on 10/31 LONG-TAILED DUCK – 1 on 10/31 CATTLE EGRET – 1 on 10/28 MARSH WREN – 1 on 11/1.

Red-breasted Nuthatches continued to be reported from several sites this past week.

• End transcript