Seasonal Report - Fall 2019
Lycoming County Fall 2019 Summary
The fall season provided quite a few solid records for Lycoming County, including two first county records. A total of 187 species were reported during the fall. Lycoming County hosted the PSO Annual Meeting in mid-September, bringing a nice influx of birders during that time period.
Observations
Observer abbreviations include: Bobby Brown (BB — county compiler), Dan Brauning (DanB), Bob Brown (BoB), David Brown (DB), Deb Brown (DeB), Jean Dalton (JD), Maddi Dunlap (MD), Wes Egli (WE), Dave Ferry (DF), Tom Forwood Jr. (TF), Norwood Frederick (NF), Bill Gehron (BG), John Green (JG), Eric Hartshaw (EH), Melissa Holland (MH), Andy Keister (AK), Gary Metzger (GM), Steve Pinkerton (SP), Fred Stiner (FS)
m. obs. = many observers
Waterfowl
An immature male Harlequin Duck was on Lycoming Creek near Elm Park 11/13-30 (BG, BB, m. obs.), providing Lycoming County's second record of that species. The bird relocated once December started (more info on that next report). A Surf Scoter was found at Rose Valley Lake on 10/26 (BB, DeB), and another was at the Williamsport Dam on 11/16 (BB, DeB, BoB, et al.). A White-winged Scoter dropped in on Rose Valley Lake on 10/19 (BB, DeB, BoB, SP, et al.).
Cranes
A pair of Sandhill Cranes was found in a field in Elimsport on 11/28 (MH, BB, DeB, BoB).
Shorebirds
Two American Golden-Plovers were at the Williamsport Dam on 9/22 (MD, JD, BB, AK, et al.), providing the first known Lycoming County record of that species. A Sanderling was at the Williamsport Dam 8/21-22 (DB, BB, et al.), which provided the second Lycoming County record of that species. A Pectoral Sandpiper was at SGL 252 on 8/4 (BB, DB, AK).
Gulls & Terns
A first-cycle Franklin's Gull flew past the Rte. 15 Overlook on 10/4 (BB, DeB), providing the first Lycoming County record of the species.
A Black Tern was at Rose Valley Lake on 8/28 (BB, DB, DeB, BoB). A Common Tern was seen at Rose Valley Lake on 9/7 (BB, DeB, BoB, DanB). Three Forster's Tern were at the Williamsport Dam on 8/28 (DB, et al.).
Herons
An immature Little Blue Heron was seen at Little Pine SP 8/5 through at least 8/22 (JG, DB, m. obs.). Photos were also posted on Facebook that showed two individuals together at that location, but the date range for the second one is unclear.
Raptors
Over 1,500 Broad-winged Hawks lifted off from the Rose Valley Lake area in about an hour on 9/17 (BB, DeB, BoB).
Woodpeckers
Three Red-headed Woodpeckers were reported from Slate Run on 9/5 (TF). Two flybys of that species were also seen during the PSO Annual Meeting field trips on 9/15: an adult at Mill St. (BB, et al.) and an immature at the Rte. 15 Overlook (m. obs.).
Flycatchers
An Olive-sided Flycatcher was found on the PSO Annual Meeting field trip at SGL 252 on 9/14 (DanB, et al.). One was also seen at Canfield Island on 9/15 (BB, DeB, et al.). A late Eastern Phoebe was at Mill St. on 11/22 (BB).
Vireos
A Philadelphia Vireo was at Mill St. on 10/6 (BB, DeB).
Swallows
A late Cliff Swallow was mixed into a flock of Tree Swallows at Rose Valley Lake on 9/21 (BB, et al.).
Wrens
Marsh Wrens were found at Rose Valley Lake on 9/16 (BB, AK) and 9/20 (BB, DeB).
Warblers
It was a great season for Connecticut Warblers, with reports from three locations. The first was at SGL 298 on 9/25 (DanB). One was also at Mill St. 9/25-26 (BB, et al.). Finally, one was at Rose Valley Lake on 10/6 (BB, DeB). A Mourning Warbler was seen at Mill St. with the Connecticut Warbler on 9/26 (AK). A Kentucky Warbler was reported from the Williamsport Water Authority on 9/19 (GM, FS). A late Pine Warbler visited a suet feeder on Log Run Rd. on 11/10 (SP).
The Fall 2019 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.
