Seasonal Report - Spring 2022
Lycoming County Spring 2022 Summary
In total, 208 species were reported in Lycoming County during the spring.
Notable Observations
Observer abbreviations include: Bobby Brown (BB — county compiler), Dan Brauning (DanB), Bob Brown (BoB), Deb Brown (DeB), Rebecca Brown (RB), Jean Dalton (JD), Maddi Dunlap (MD), Dave Ferry (DF), Eric Hartshaw (EH), Melissa Holland (MH), Evan Houston (EvH), Andy Keister (AK), Brett Matlock (BM), Karol Pasquinelli (KP), Bryce Perles (BP), Steve Pinkerton (SP)
m. obs. = many observers
Waterfowl
Two Trumpeter Swans were near Montgomery Boat Launch on 3/16 (BB, DeB, BoB, RB).
A male Surf Scoter was at Rose Valley Lake on 4/16 (EH, et al.). After a pretty poor year in 2021, White-winged Scoters were found on a number of occasions, mostly at Rose Valley Lake during April and May, with 5 reports during that time (m.obs.). Aside from Rose Valley Lake, there was one on the river in Nisbet on 3/12 (BB, DeB, BoB), and a flyover group of 15 birds was seen in Montoursville on 5/19 (BB).
Grebes
Four Red-necked Grebes were at Rose Valley Lake on 4/20 (EH, et al.).
Shorebirds
Three Semipalmated Plovers were at Mill St. on 5/16 (BB, DeB). There were additional reports of single individuals at the same location on 5/17 (BB), 5/19 (BB, DeB, BoB), and 5/27 (BB, DeB). A Semipalmated Sandpiper was at Rose Valley Lake on 5/21 (BB, DeB).
Gulls and Terns
A Laughing Gull was at the Williamsport Dam on 5/26 (BB, et al.), and a different one was at the same location on 5/30 (BB, DeB, BoB). Those sightings provided the third and fourth Lycoming County records of that species. The Iceland Gull first seen at the Williamsport Dam on 2/28 continued to be seen on 3/1 (BB, et al.). A Lesser Black-backed Gull was at Rose Valley Lake on 4/9 (BB, et al.), providing the seventh record for Lycoming County.
A high count of 28 Caspian Terns dropped in at Rose Valley Lake on 4/16 (MH, BB, DeB, BoB). A Common Tern was at Mill St. on 4/28 (BB), and 2 were at the same location on 5/6 (BB, DeB, BoB). One was also at the Williamsport Dam on 4/28 (KP, et al.). Sightings of the species at Rose Valley Lake included one on 5/6 (BB, DeB), one on 5/7 (BB, DeB, BoB, et al.), and 3 on 5/19 (BB, DeB, BoB).
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 4/9/22, Rose Valley Lake © Bobby Brown
Laughing Gull - 5/26/22, Williamsport Dam © Bobby Brown
Laughing Gull - 5/30/22, Williamsport Dam © Bobby Brown
Common Tern - 5/7/22, Rose Valley Lake © Bobby Brown
Loons
A Red-throated Loon was on Rose Valley Lake on 3/24 (BB, et al.).
Pelicans
A group of 13 American White Pelicans dropped in at the Williamsport Dam on 5/18 (MD, et al.), and the group was also present at the same location the following morning, and was later observed flying upriver as far as Nisbet before returning to the original spot. The group eventually departed for good in the early afternoon on 5/19. This represents the second record of the species in Lycoming County.
Herons
An American Bittern was at the Robert Porter Allen Natural Area on 5/6 (BB, DeB, BoB).
Owls
A homeowner north of Williamsport photographed a Snowy Owl that was reportedly present for about a week in late March (fide SP). Short-eared Owls continued to be observed at Mill Hill Rd. as late as 3/2 (BM).
Woodpeckers
A Red-headed Woodpecker was at SGL 252 on 5/22 (BB, EvH).
Vireos
White-eyed Vireos were seen at SGL 252 a number of times during the spring, including a pair on 4/24 (BB, EvH), one on 4/27 (DanB), 3 or 4 birds on 5/1 (BB, AK, EvH, BP), and one on 5/29 (BB, AK). Philadelphia Vireos, which are pretty rare during spring, were seen at SGL 252 on 5/15 (EvH, BB) and at Rose Valley Lake on 5/16 (BB, DeB, DanB).
White-eyed Vireo - 4/24/22, SGL 252 © Bobby Brown
White-eyed Vireo - 5/1/22, SGL 252 © Bobby Brown
Philadelphia Vireo - 5/15/22, SGL 252 © Bobby Brown
Philadelphia Vireo - 5/16/22, Rose Valley Lake © Bobby Brown
Wrens
A Marsh Wren was at Rose Valley Lake on 4/17 (BB, DeB, MH, et al.).
Longspurs
A Lapland Longspur was in Nisbet on 3/12 (BB, DeB, BoB).
Sparrows
A Vesper Sparrow was at the Robert Porter Allen Natural Area on 4/24 (BM), and one was at Mill St. on 4/29 (BB, RB, DeB, BoB) and 4/30 (BB, RB, DeB). A Lincoln's Sparrow was at the Lycoming County Conservation Trail on 5/2 (BB), one was at Mill St. on 5/4 (BB, DeB), and one was at Rose Valley Lake on 5/16 (BB, DeB).
Chats
A singing Yellow-breasted Chat was found at SGL 252 on 5/22 (BB, EvH).
Warblers
A singing Cerulean Warbler was at Williamsport High School on 5/5 (DF), and one was seen at Rose Valley Lake on 5/6 (BB, DeB). A Yellow-throated Warbler was at Mill St. on 5/9 (BB), and the species was also reported in the more expected areas of Trout Run Park and along Pine Creek.
30 species of warbler were reported during the spring:
- Ovenbird
- Worm-eating Warbler
- Louisiana Waterthrush
- Northern Waterthrush
- 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
Videos
The Spring 2022 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.
