Seasonal Report - Summer 2018

Ring-necked Duck - 6/1/18, Indian Park © Bobby Brown

Lycoming County Summer 2018 Summary

There were many interesting components to the weather during the summer. June started off cool, then warmed up to normal by mid-month. There was a heat wave to start July, and towards the end of the month, scattered heavy rain fell for several days, leading to minor flooding in many parts of the county.

Season Highlights

Most of the notable records from the summer came from out-of-season waterfowl and some early-migrant shorebirds. The only true rarities during the summer were the continuing Trumpeter Swan, a fifth county record, and a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, a second county record. In total, 140 species were reported in Lycoming County during the summer.

Observations

Observers include (with abbreviation used in the text): Dan Brauning (DanB), Bobby Brown (BB), Bob Brown (BoB), David Brown (DB), Deb Brown (DeB) (BB, DB, DeB, BoB collectively as Browns), Jean Dalton (JD), Maddi Dunlap (MD), Wes Egli (WE), Dave Ferry (DF), Tom Forwood Jr. (TF), Rich Hanlon (RH), Eric Hartshaw (EH), Shannon Knodel (SK), Sean Minnick (SM), Joe Yoder (JY)

Waterfowl

Trumpeter Swan - 6/1/18, Rock Run Rd. © Bobby Brown

A Snow Goose was present at Indian Park all summer. That bird first arrived in late March. Trumpeter Swan R45 "Georgette" continued at a private pond near Glen Mawr on 6/1 (BB, DeB, BoB) and 6/3 (EH). Prior to her arrival on 5/31, the previous sighting of this individual was in Toronto during May 2017. She hatched in 2016. Interestingly, M78 "Harvey," who briefly stopped by Rose Valley Lake 3/27/17, is her older brother (hatched in 2013 to the same parents). Continuing from May, a female Redhead was present at Rose Valley Lake on 6/3 (BB, DeB, BoB). A male Ring-necked Duck that first arrived in May continued at Indian Park through 6/7 (BB, DeB, BoB). A male Lesser Scaup spent the entire summer at Rose Valley Lake. A male Ruddy Duck was at Rose Valley Lake on 6/3 and 6/9 (BB, DeB, BoB).

Grebes

A Horned Grebe was reported at Muncy Boat Launch on 6/2 (WE), and the species was also seen at the Williamsport Dam on 6/8 (DB, MD, JD) and 7/12 (JY).

Shorebirds

Four Semipalmated Plovers along with 2 Least Sandpipers were in a puddle near Canfield Island on 7/30 (BB, DeB, BoB). Lesser Yellowlegs were seen at Mill St. on 7/15 and 7/22 (BB).

Other Waterbirds

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron - 7/11/18, Rte. 287 © Bobby Brown

A Common Loon was seen at Rose Valley Lake on 6/3 (BB, DeB, BoB), 6/4 (EH), and 6/9 (BB, DeB, BoB). A juvenile Yellow-crowned Night-Heron was found at a roadside pond along Rte. 287 in northern Lycoming County on 7/11 (RH, et al.), and was reported for several days. The sighting provided the second known Lycoming County record of the species.

Raptors

Three Black Vultures were seen over Montoursville on 6/7 (BB), and one was mixed in a group of Turkey Vultures at Montgomery Boat Launch on 7/15 (BB, DeB, BoB). Osprey were reported at Rose Valley Lake on 6/4 and 7/30 (EH), along with one along Pine Creek near Jersey Mills on 6/6 (Browns). A Red-shouldered Hawk was seen at SGL 75 on 6/29 (DanB).

Woodpeckers

Red-headed Woodpecker - 6/6/18, Slate Run © Bobby Brown

Two adult Red-headed Woodpeckers were present in Slate Run on 6/6 (Browns). That location has been a suspected nest site for a few years, with summer sightings since 2016.

Flycatchers

An Acadian Flycatcher was present at Mill St. on 6/17 at the same spot where one summered last year (BB). Two Alder Flycatchers were reported from SGL 75 on 6/29 (DanB).

Vireos

Yellow-throated Vireo - 6/9/18, Upper Bodines Rd. © Bobby Brown

Yellow-throated Vireos were seen a few times in potential breeding habitat along Bodines Rd. during early June.

Finches

A Pine Siskin was reported in Ralston on 6/14 (EH), which was possibly continuing from May.

Sparrows

Grasshopper Sparrows were again observed regularly at Mill St., the most reliable spot in the county for the species. There were scattered reports of Dark-eyed Juncos in the higher elevation areas in the northern half of the county, where they likely nest in decent numbers. Savannah Sparrow reports were scarce over the summer. Swamp Sparrow reports were limited to Rose Valley Lake.

Warblers

Canada Warbler - 6/6/18, Upper Pine Bottom SP © Bobby Brown

Mourning Warblers were found along Bodines Rd. on 6/4 (EH). Two Yellow-throated Warblers were at Trout Run Park on 6/2 (BB, DB, DeB), which is an annual nesting location. Canada Warbler reports were limited to the western part of the county, particularly near Pine Creek.

Conclusion

A fairly quiet summer broke Lycoming County's streak of 7 seasons in a row with a new county record species. The last season that failed to produce a county record was Summer 2016, which was followed by a flood of rarities in the fall, so we will keep our fingers crossed for a repeat of that. The Yellow-crowned Night-Heron was a nice consolation prize, with many of the county's top birders adding that species to their county lists.

The Summer 2018 report was compiled and written by Bobby Brown. Our seasonal reports cover March-May (Spring), June and July (Summer), August-November (Fall) and December-February (Winter) to better line up with migration, breeding and wintering timings.