Seasonal Report - Summer 2020

Lycoming County Summer 2020 Summary

Overall, it was a very dry summer, with only a couple rain events. In total, 145 species were reported in Lycoming County during the summer.

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), Dave Ferry (DF), Norwood Frederick (NF), Eric Hartshaw (EH), Jared Hollick (JH), Andy Keister (AK), Ray Kozen (RK), Steve Pinkerton (SP), Matthew Schenck (MS), Susan Schenck (SS), Clair Thompson (CT), Ron Wagner (RW)
m. obs. = many observers

Waterfowl

A male Lesser Scaup spent the entire summer season at Rose Valley Lake (BB, et al.).

Cuckoos

Black-billed Cuckoo numbers seemed unusually low this year.

Nightjars

At least 2 Common Nighthawks were flying over Montoursville on 6/4 (BB, DB), but the species was not noted otherwise.

Rails

A Virginia Rail was heard in suitable breeding habitat at SGL 252 on 6/25 (BB, AK, DanB).

Shorebirds

A Ruddy Turnstone was at Rose Valley Lake on 6/1 (RK, CT, et al.), providing the third Lycoming County record of that species. A Pectoral Sandpiper was reported from the Muncy Boat Launch area on 7/25 (DanB). A Semipalmated Sandpiper was reported at Little Pine State Park on 7/20 (RW).

Gulls & Terns

A Bonaparte's Gull was at Rose Valley Lake on 7/12 (BB). Two Laughing Gulls turned up at Rose Valley Lake after a storm on 6/10 (BB, DeB, BoB, et al.), providing the second Lycoming County record of that species. The birds continued on 6/11 (BB, AK).

A Caspian Tern flew over Mill St. on 6/3 (BB), and one was also at Rose Valley Lake in storm on 6/27 (BB, DeB, BoB). There are no known previous summer records of that species in Lycoming County.

Loons

A Common Loon was at Rose Valley Lake 6/10-11 (BB, DeB, BoB, et al.), and one was seen off and on near the Williamsport Dam all summer.

Herons

A Least Bittern was discovered in potential breeding habitat at SGL 252 on 6/3 (DanB), providing the first known Lycoming County record of that species. A follow-up survey on 6/25 confirmed that a pair was present and had a nest with eggs (DanB, BB, AK).

Raptors

An Osprey was at Rose Valley Lake on 6/17 (BB) and 6/27 (BB, DeB, BoB), and there were reports along Pine Creek in the second half of July (MS, JH). Merlins were present in decent numbers during the summer, with activity in at least four different areas in the county.

Flycatchers

A singing Alder Flycatcher was present at Rose Valley Lake for several weeks in June (BB), but it was in an inaccessible area, and nesting activity was unable to be confirmed.

Vireos

A singing White-eyed Vireo was reported in Old Lycoming Twp. on 7/7 (DF). Yellow-throated Vireo reports were limited to Bodines Rd. on 6/28 (EH) and along the Pine Creek Rail Trail on 7/21 (MS, SS).

Finches

Two Purple Finches were at Rose Valley Lake on 6/21 (BB). A Pine Siskin was at a feeder in Ralston on 7/4 (NF).

Sparrows

A singing White-throated Sparrow was heard at Rose Valley Lake on 6/1 (BB, DB, DeB), and another singing bird was seen at the same location on 7/12 (BB).

Warblers

There were no unusual warblers found during the summer, with 21 species being reported, mostly in expected breeding areas. Species reported:

• Ovenbird
• Worm-eating Warbler
• Louisiana Waterthrush
• Black-and-white Warbler
• Mourning Warbler
• Common Yellowthroat
• Hooded Warbler
• American Redstart
• Cerulean Warbler
• Northern Parula
• Magnolia Warbler
• Blackburnian Warbler
• Yellow Warbler
• Chestnut-sided Warbler
• Blackpoll Warbler
• Black-throated Blue Warbler
• Pine Warbler
• Yellow-rumped Warbler
• Prairie Warbler
• Black-throated Green Warbler
• Canada Warbler

Additional Photos

The Summer 2020 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.