Seasonal Report - Spring 2024

Lycoming County Spring 2024 Summary

In total, 217 species were reported in Lycoming County during the spring.

Notable Observations

Observer abbreviations include: Bobby Brown (BB — county compiler), Dan Brauning (DB), Bob Brown (BoB), Deb Brown (DeB), Rebecca Brown (RB), Bruce Buckle (BBu), Jean Dalton (JD), Dave Ferry (DF), Evan Houston (EH), Melissa Holland (MH), Andy Keister (AK), Wayne Laubscher (WL), Steve Pinkerton (SP), David Rothrock (DR), Shannon Scheffler (SS), Annette Sheets (AS)
m. obs. = many observers

Waterfowl

Approximately 250 Brant briefly dropped in at Rose Valley Lake during fallout conditions on 5/10 (SP). A Mute Swan was at the Williamsport Dam on 3/18 (m. obs.), and presumably the same bird flew over South Williamsport on 3/23 (BB, DeB, BoB)

The only Canvasback reports of the spring were one at Rose Valley Lake on 3/10 (BB) and one at the Williamsport Dam on 4/11 (BB). A female-type Surf Scoter at Rose Valley Lake that was first seen 4/6 (BB, SP) continued through at least 4/21 (BB). Additionally, two males were at Rose Valley Lake on 4/27 (BB, DeB, BoB). White-winged Scoters were seen at Rose Valley Lake a number of times during the spring, including 25 on 5/12 (BB, RB). Two were also at the Williamsport Dam on 4/3 (BB).

Cranes and Rails

A Common Gallinule was at Indian Park 5/20-21, and was probably present for several days prior (m. obs.)

A group of 4 Sandhill Cranes flew over Rose Valley Lake on 4/14 (MH), and one was reported near Beaver Lake on 4/26 (SS).

Shorebirds

A flyby Black-bellied Plover was seen at Rose Valley Lake on 5/6 (BB), and the species was detected by nocturnal flight call flying over Montoursville on 5/21 and 5/22 (BB).

Two flyby Whimbrels were seen at Rose Valley Lake during fallout conditions on 5/18 (BB, DeB, BoB), which provided the first sight record of that species in Lycoming County. The species was also detected by nocturnal flight call in Montoursville on 5/18 and 5/22 (BB). A Red-necked Phalarope was briefly seen at Rose Valley Lake on 4/12 (BB, DeB, SP), which provided the earliest-ever spring record for Pennsylvania on eBird. A Dunlin was at Mill St. on 5/5 (BB, DeB), and the species was also detected by nocturnal flight call in Montoursville on 5/25 (BB). Ten Semipalmated Sandpipers were in a farm field near Water St. Wetlands on 5/18 (SP), and at least two were in a farm field near Canfield Island on the same day (BB, RB, et al.).

Terns

Caspian Terns were less abundant than a typical spring, but two were at Rose Valley Lake on 5/8 (BB, DeB, BoB). At least two Black Terns were seen at Rose Valley Lake on 5/10 (BB, et al.). At least one Forster's Tern was at Rose Valley Lake on 4/12 (BB, DeB, SP, et al.), and one was reported in Nisbet on 5/5 (DR, JD). A group of 18 Common Terns dropped in at Rose Valley Lake on 4/20 (BB, DeB, BoB), two were at the same location on 5/10 (BB), and four were also there on 5/18 (BB, DeB, BoB).

Herons

An American Bittern was at the Robert Porter Allen Natural Area on 4/15 (MH, et al.) along with one at a private pond near Williamsport on 5/7 (DF). The species was also detected by nocturnal flight call in Montoursville on 5/12 and 5/22 (BB). A Least Bittern responded during a wetland survey at the Robert Porter Allen Natural Area on 4/30, but was not detected during follow-up surveys (DB, BBu). One was also detected by nocturnal flight call in Montoursville on 5/13 (BB). A Snowy Egret was briefly at Rose Valley Lake on 5/8 (BB, DeB, BoB), providing the third Lycoming County record of that species, and the first since 1992.

Raptors

An immature American Goshawk was seen in southern Lycoming County on 4/28 (BB, DF, et al.).

Woodpeckers

Up to two Red-headed Woodpeckers were in Moreland Twp. 4/22-27 (AS)

Flycatchers

An Olive-sided Flycatcher was heard at Rose Valley Lake on 5/6 (BB), and one was seen later that day at Mill St. (BB). One was also seen near Calvert on 5/27 (BB, DeB, BoB).

Vireos

A Philadelphia Vireo was seen at Rose Valley Lake on 5/6 (BB), and one was at Williamsport High School on 5/13 (EH)

Shrikes

The Northern Shrike that wintered at Rose Valley Lake was seen through 3/17 (BB).

Wrens

A Marsh Wren was at the Robert Porter Allen Natural Area on 4/30 (BB, DeB, BoB).

Finches

Up to five Red Crossbills were seen at continuing locations around Haneyville on 3/4 (AK) and 3/7 (WL).

Sparrows

It was a decent spring for Lincoln's Sparrow reports, with one at Rose Valley Lake on 5/3 and 5/20 (BB), one at the Robert Porter Allen Natural Area on 5/5 (BB), one near Larryville on 5/6 (DR), and one near Williamsport on 5/13 (DF).

The Spring 2024 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.

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