Seasonal Report - Spring 2019

Lycoming County Spring 2019 Summary

Generally, much of the spring was somewhat slow, but there were a few huge pushes of migrants, particularly during the beginning of May. There were several good records, especially with shorebirds, and it was a good season for terns. A total of 210 species were reported in Lycoming County during the spring.

Observations

Observer abbreviations include: Bobby Brown (BB — county compiler), Dan Brauning (DanB), Bob Brown (BoB), Deb Brown (DeB), Jean Dalton (JD), Maddi Dunlap (MD), Wes Egli (WE), Dave Ferry (DF), Ronald Ferry (RF), Norwood Frederick (NF), Eric Hartshaw (EH), Andy Keister (AK), Mark Lengel (ML), Steve Pinkerton (SP)
m. obs. = many observers

Waterfowl

The Snow Goose at Indian Park continued through mid-May, ending its fourteen month stay. Several migratory flocks of that species were observed during the spring as well. A Cackling Goose was seen at South Williamsport Park on 3/2 (BB, DeB), Montoursville on 3/3 (BB, DeB), and Mill St. on 3/12 (BB, DeB). Given the proximity of those locations, all three of the records may have been the same individual traveling around with a flock of Canada Geese. An untagged Trumpeter Swan briefly stopped by Rose Valley Lake on 4/5 (NF).

A late Gadwall was knocked down by a storm at the Williamsport Dam on 5/12 (BB, DeB).

A Surf Scoter was at Rose Valley Lake on 4/13 (BB, et al.), and a pair was seen at the same location on 4/17 (BB, DeB, BoB). Two White-winged Scoters were reported at Rose Valley Lake on 4/26 and 4/30 (NF).

Grebes

Red-necked Grebe - 3/9/19, Williamsport Dam © Bobby Brown

There were a number of Red-necked Grebe sightings near the Williamsport Dam, including 3/8 (EH, et al.), two on 3/9 (BB, DeB, BoB), 3/17 (BB, DeB), 3/31 (JD), and two on 4/8 (BB, DeB, BoB).

Shorebirds

Ruddy Turnstone - 5/26/19, Williamsport Dam © Bobby Brown

A flock of approximately 350 low shorebirds flew over Montoursville at dusk on 5/25 (BB), just before a thunderstorm arrived. Based on shape, the flock was likely primarily composed of Black-bellied Plovers. That species was also detected by call several times that night at the same location, along with a good variety of other shorebird species that got knocked down by the thunderstorms. A Semipalmated Plover was at Rose Valley Lake on 5/13 (BB, DeB, BoB, et al.). Surprisingly, the first AND second Lycoming County records of Ruddy Turnstone were both found in May. The first was a flyby at Rose Valley Lake on 5/13 that was not refound (BB, DeB, BoB). The second bird spent a few hours at the Williamsport Dam on 5/26 (BB, DeB, BoB, et al.). A Red Knot was detected by call over Montoursville in the early morning hours of 5/26 (BB), which is another first record for Lycoming County. Several Dunlin flocks were also heard calling over Montoursville during the early morning of 5/26 (BB). Least Sandpipers were less abundant than most years, with only a single report from Cogan House Twp. on 5/11 (DF, RF, WE). A Semipalmated Sandpiper was at the Williamsport Dam on 5/26 (BB, DeB, BoB, AK, et al.). A Short-billed Dowitcher was heard calling over Montoursville during the shorebird event on 5/26 (BB). An early Greater Yellowlegs was found in Nisbet on 3/16 (NF).

Gulls & Terns

Common Tern - 5/13/19, Rose Valley Lake © Bobby Brown

No rare gull species were found during the spring.

All Caspian Tern reports were from Rose Valley Lake, with 3 on 4/13 (BB, DeB, BoB, NF), 3 on 4/15 (BB, DeB, BoB, EH), 9 on 4/19 (NF), and 2 on 5/10 (BB, DeB, BoB, DanB). Common Terns were seen more frequently than most years, with five sightings at Rose Valley Lake, including an impressive count of 17 on 5/13 (BB, DeB, BoB). One was at the Williamsport Dam on 5/5 (BB, DeB, BoB), and two were seen at Canfield Island later that day (BB, et al.). A late group of 6 were at the Williamsport Dam on 5/26 (BB, et al.). Three Forster's Terns were at Rose Valley Lake on 5/10 (BB, DeB, BoB, DanB), and one was at the same location on 5/13 (BB, DeB, BoB).

Loons

Red-throated Loon sightings at Rose Valley Lake included one on 3/31 (BB, DeB, SP, NF), 4 on 4/5 (NF), one on 4/18 (EH), one on 4/28 (BB, DeB), and one on 5/13 (AK). The only sighting away from the lake was a bird in breeding plumage at Canfield Island on 5/10 (BB, DeB, BoB). Common Loons were widely reported, but a notable count of at least 166 were knocked down by a storm at Rose Valley Lake on 4/28 (BB, DeB).

Herons

An American Bittern was at Rose Valley Lake on 4/17 (BB, DeB, BoB) and one was seen at a private pond near Williamsport on 5/1 (DF). A flyover Great Egret was seen at Mill St. on 4/11 (BB, DeB), two were seen at Rose Valley Lake on 5/10 (BB, DeB, BoB, DanB), and a flyover bird was seen in Ralston on 5/17 (NF). A Black-crowned Night-Heron was found at Rose Valley Lake on 5/1 (NF, SP), which represents the fourth Lycoming County record of the species. The species has now been recorded in the county three consecutive years.

Flycatchers

Olive-sided Flycatcher - 5/19/19, SGL 252 © Bobby Brown

An Olive-sided Flycatcher was at SGL 252 on 5/19 (BB, DeB, SP).

Wrens

A Marsh Wren was found at Mill St. on 5/4 (BB, DeB, BoB, SP), representing the first known spring record of that species in Lycoming County.

Pipits

American Pipits were much less abundant than most years, with only two sightings — both of which were of a single individual. Those sightings were at Rose Valley Lake on 3/30 (BB, DeB, BoB) and Mill St. on 4/21 (BB, DeB).

Finches

Evening Grosbeak - 5/3/19, Mill St. © Bobby Brown

An Evening Grosbeak was found at Mill St. on 5/3 (BB, DeB, et al.). There were reports of Pine Siskins through the end of May.

Sparrows

A Lincoln's Sparrow was at Mill St. on 5/3 (BB).

Warblers

A Golden-winged Warbler was at Mill St. on 5/3 (BB, DeB, BoB, SP). A Cerulean Warbler was found at the game commission regional headquarters in Antes Fort on 5/10 (DanB, et al.). Yellow-throated Warblers returned to their annual nesting area at Trout Run Park again this year, with the first sighting on 5/14 (BB, DeB, BoB). The species was also heard singing along Log Run Rd. on 5/21 (SP).

31 warbler species recorded during the spring:

Ovenbird
Worm-eating Warbler
Louisiana Waterthrush
Northern Waterthrush
Golden-winged Warbler
Blue-winged Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Mourning Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Hooded Warbler
American Redstart
Cape May Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-throated Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Canada Warbler
Wilson's Warbler

Cardinals, Grosbeaks, and Allies

Summer Tanager - 5/2/19, Linden © Bobby Brown

Two Summer Tanager reports during May provided the fourth and fifth known Lycoming County records of that species. The first sighting was an adult male visiting a feeder in Linden during the evening of 5/1, which continued through the following day (ML, et al.). The second sighting was an immature male briefly seen at Mill St. on 5/3 (BB, DeB, BoB, AK).

The Spring 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.