Knowing full well that I would not see the Gyrfalcon if I tried for it I decided to take it easy. Myna was a bit restless mid morning so after a bit of ball time in the yard I thought a nice walk along the Paxtang Parkway was in order. This portion of roadway once was drivable and connected Paxtang to the Kline Village area, it is now a part of the Capital Area Greenbelt. http://caga.org/ The Paxtang Parkway section passes through a nice piece of suburban woodland offering the city dweller a forest like experience.
The morning air was nowhere near as bitter as the previous morning and this made for a pleasant walk. Warming sunlight was also helpful and bird activity was high. During our two mile jaunt I observed 32 species of which 4 were new for the year for me, Merlin (a bird found on the Harrisburg CBC, 12/17/11, and seen several times the past few weeks), Hermit Thrush, Cedar Waxwing and Fox Sparrow.
The Merlin was hanging out in the area it was first spotted a few weeks back, the power line cut that crosses the Parkway near Myna's Pool. The Merlin must like the openness of the area and the brushy edges that always harbor a good population of small passerines.
Myna and I had a pleasant walk, she got to play and swim a bit and I got to add four birds to the list for the year...a win, win all the way around!
Species for the year Dauphin--57 PA--60
Friday, January 6, 2012
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
The one that got away---AGAIN!
I recall this statement from yesterday--- will attempt to spot the Gyr tomorrow but I don't have much hope!
Well, I was spot on. I arrived to the location in eastern Berks County where a Gyrfalcon has been seen sparingly over the past few days around 7 A.M. The location was already buzzing with other eager birders despite the bitter temps, brisk wind and occasional snow showers.
I and the others waited and waited and waited, enduring the elements, with the hope of seeing this rare arctic visitor. I had limited time this morning having worked last night, needing some sleep and having to get up early to make dinner with the in-laws to celebrate C's birthday. I decided 9 A.M. would be my departure time. Well, 8:50 A.M. was my limit. I wished the others luck and to enjoy the view when the bird came by once I left. I have had a LONG running streak of bad luck seeing a Gyrfalcon within the confines of the Keystone State. Sure enough, as I was making my way westward on I-78 my cell phone went off--caller--Chuck Chalfant, birding buddy on site. His call was to inform me that a "large dark falcon" had just buzzed over the nearby hillside and vanished to the west. I blurted out a few, choice, four letter words, informed him I was on my way home and would not come back to potentially ruin the birds possible return with my bad luck presence!
As a conciliation prize I stopped off at Karcher Lake Park, Hamburg, PA to grab a 2012 view of the long staying immature White Ibis. I figured with bitterly cold temps forecasted for the next few days this could be my last opportunity to see this bird. The ibis was present in the small spring seep between the two parking lots looking a touch forlorn....if an ibis can look forlorned!
I MAY try for the Gyrfalcon again on Thursday if it's observed on Wednesday. We shall see.
Species for the year Dauphin--53 PA--56
Well, I was spot on. I arrived to the location in eastern Berks County where a Gyrfalcon has been seen sparingly over the past few days around 7 A.M. The location was already buzzing with other eager birders despite the bitter temps, brisk wind and occasional snow showers.
I and the others waited and waited and waited, enduring the elements, with the hope of seeing this rare arctic visitor. I had limited time this morning having worked last night, needing some sleep and having to get up early to make dinner with the in-laws to celebrate C's birthday. I decided 9 A.M. would be my departure time. Well, 8:50 A.M. was my limit. I wished the others luck and to enjoy the view when the bird came by once I left. I have had a LONG running streak of bad luck seeing a Gyrfalcon within the confines of the Keystone State. Sure enough, as I was making my way westward on I-78 my cell phone went off--caller--Chuck Chalfant, birding buddy on site. His call was to inform me that a "large dark falcon" had just buzzed over the nearby hillside and vanished to the west. I blurted out a few, choice, four letter words, informed him I was on my way home and would not come back to potentially ruin the birds possible return with my bad luck presence!
As a conciliation prize I stopped off at Karcher Lake Park, Hamburg, PA to grab a 2012 view of the long staying immature White Ibis. I figured with bitterly cold temps forecasted for the next few days this could be my last opportunity to see this bird. The ibis was present in the small spring seep between the two parking lots looking a touch forlorn....if an ibis can look forlorned!
I MAY try for the Gyrfalcon again on Thursday if it's observed on Wednesday. We shall see.
Species for the year Dauphin--53 PA--56
Monday, January 2, 2012
Up the river
A cold, windy morning greeted me as I left work on Monday 1/2/12. With my initial idea of a morning hike dashed I decided to take a drive north along the Susquehanna River. A pre-dawn arrival at Myo Park, Millersburg, PA offered the opportunity to try for owls, I was hopeful since the wind here was diminished. With some effort I was able to elicit a response from an Eastern Screech-owl. Nearly simultaneously, I heard two Great Horned Owls preforming a courtship duet.
From Myo Park I crossed the Wiconisco Creek to await daylight so I could scan the Susquehanna for waterfowl. Nearby hunter activity proved to be my undoing and the only highlight was a small group of Bufflehead.
I left Millersburg and headed south to the PA Fish Commission Halifax Access located off PA Rt. 147 just north of Halifax borough. A scan from this location yielded a pair of Common Goldeneye and an adult Bald Eagle, most likely a bird from the Girty's Notch, Perry County nest, which is located almost directly across the river from here.
After a brief stopped at the PFC Fort Hunter Boat Launch I decided to brave the chilly wind and take a walk around Wildwood Lake Park, Harrisburg. Due to mild temperatures here this winter the lake is still unfrozen and is harboring a nice variety of waterfowl. During my walk I found 4 Gadwall, 6 Northern Shoveler, 2 Northern Pintail, 2 Green-winged Teal, 17 American Black Duck, 2 Wood Duck, 50 Mallard and 150 Canada Goose. In addition to the waterfowl a group of 6 Rusty Blackbird and a single Yellow-bellied Sapsucker were added to my year list. During the drive home I spotted another year bird, a lone male American Kestrel, sitting on power wires near the Pennsylvania Game Commission headquarters along Elmerton Avenue.
Overall a nice, albeit chilly, morning out and about in Dauphin County. I most likely will be taking a break from county birding on January 3rd---word on the street is a dark morph Gyrfalcon has been seen sparingly the past few days patrolling farmland near Lenhartsville, Berks County. A rare visitor from the far north, Gyrfalcon, along with its raptor brethren, Swainson's Hawk, is my personal nemesis bird for Pennsylvania. I will attempt to spot the Gyr tomorrow but I don't have much hope! Stay tuned!
Species for the year Dauphin--53 PA--55
From Myo Park I crossed the Wiconisco Creek to await daylight so I could scan the Susquehanna for waterfowl. Nearby hunter activity proved to be my undoing and the only highlight was a small group of Bufflehead.
I left Millersburg and headed south to the PA Fish Commission Halifax Access located off PA Rt. 147 just north of Halifax borough. A scan from this location yielded a pair of Common Goldeneye and an adult Bald Eagle, most likely a bird from the Girty's Notch, Perry County nest, which is located almost directly across the river from here.
After a brief stopped at the PFC Fort Hunter Boat Launch I decided to brave the chilly wind and take a walk around Wildwood Lake Park, Harrisburg. Due to mild temperatures here this winter the lake is still unfrozen and is harboring a nice variety of waterfowl. During my walk I found 4 Gadwall, 6 Northern Shoveler, 2 Northern Pintail, 2 Green-winged Teal, 17 American Black Duck, 2 Wood Duck, 50 Mallard and 150 Canada Goose. In addition to the waterfowl a group of 6 Rusty Blackbird and a single Yellow-bellied Sapsucker were added to my year list. During the drive home I spotted another year bird, a lone male American Kestrel, sitting on power wires near the Pennsylvania Game Commission headquarters along Elmerton Avenue.
Overall a nice, albeit chilly, morning out and about in Dauphin County. I most likely will be taking a break from county birding on January 3rd---word on the street is a dark morph Gyrfalcon has been seen sparingly the past few days patrolling farmland near Lenhartsville, Berks County. A rare visitor from the far north, Gyrfalcon, along with its raptor brethren, Swainson's Hawk, is my personal nemesis bird for Pennsylvania. I will attempt to spot the Gyr tomorrow but I don't have much hope! Stay tuned!
Species for the year Dauphin--53 PA--55
Sunday, January 1, 2012
And in the beginning...
Well, here it is 1/1/12, the beginning of my blogging career. I decided to initiate this online journal to keep a running account of my travels and adventures during the upcoming year and hopefully beyond.
Birding, a.k.a. bird watching, has almost always been a big part of my life, but lately I have strayed away from it. I vowed late last year to reinvigorate my birding interest by creating a challenge for myself. I decided to go back to my roots in birding and focus on my home area of Dauphin County. I intend to bird, at least once during the year, in every one of the counties 40 municipalities and keep track of the species I observe in each. Today was the beginning of the journey and I started in Lancaster County!
Yesterday, 12/31/11, a hatch year male Painted Bunting was found in Washington Boro by Justin Bosler while he was participating on the Lancaster Christmas Bird Count. This is an excellent sighting and would represent a county life bird for me. Unable to make it down yesterday I decided to make it priority number one today.
I arrived shortly after 7 A.M. with the morning light just starting to penetrate the brush piles located along River Road in "downtown" Washington Boro. Numerous Dark-eyed Juncos, White-throated and Song Sparrows were already up and active. Shortly after new activity to my right attracted my interest. A few Carolina Chickadees, Tufted Titmice and then BOOM--the female Painted Bunting. I delighted in the observation for mere seconds until a pugnacious Northern Mockingbird flew in, full of aggression, scattering the smaller birds. I lingered till after 9 A.M. to no avail, our little southern visitor decided not to show himself again to me.
Photos of the Painted Bunting, taken by Tom Amico, can be seen here http://www.nemesisbird.com/2011/12/painted-bunting-washington-boro/
Feeling guilty that I started my 2012 birding year off in Lancaster County I decided I would make amends on the way home and hit some locations along PA 441 in Londonderry Township, Royalton and Middletown. I made stops near Three Mile Island and The Canal Lock Boat Launch in Londonderry Twp, Water Street and Kiwanis Park in Royalton and Union Street in Middletown. Overall I tallied 38 species in Dauphin County during my homeward journey.
All in all a nice morning of birding highlighted by my brief observation of the Painted Bunting....to bad it wasn't in Dauphin County! Oh well, there is always tomorrow!
Species for year Dauphin--38, PA--40
Birding, a.k.a. bird watching, has almost always been a big part of my life, but lately I have strayed away from it. I vowed late last year to reinvigorate my birding interest by creating a challenge for myself. I decided to go back to my roots in birding and focus on my home area of Dauphin County. I intend to bird, at least once during the year, in every one of the counties 40 municipalities and keep track of the species I observe in each. Today was the beginning of the journey and I started in Lancaster County!
Yesterday, 12/31/11, a hatch year male Painted Bunting was found in Washington Boro by Justin Bosler while he was participating on the Lancaster Christmas Bird Count. This is an excellent sighting and would represent a county life bird for me. Unable to make it down yesterday I decided to make it priority number one today.
I arrived shortly after 7 A.M. with the morning light just starting to penetrate the brush piles located along River Road in "downtown" Washington Boro. Numerous Dark-eyed Juncos, White-throated and Song Sparrows were already up and active. Shortly after new activity to my right attracted my interest. A few Carolina Chickadees, Tufted Titmice and then BOOM--the female Painted Bunting. I delighted in the observation for mere seconds until a pugnacious Northern Mockingbird flew in, full of aggression, scattering the smaller birds. I lingered till after 9 A.M. to no avail, our little southern visitor decided not to show himself again to me.
Photos of the Painted Bunting, taken by Tom Amico, can be seen here http://www.nemesisbird.com/2011/12/painted-bunting-washington-boro/
Feeling guilty that I started my 2012 birding year off in Lancaster County I decided I would make amends on the way home and hit some locations along PA 441 in Londonderry Township, Royalton and Middletown. I made stops near Three Mile Island and The Canal Lock Boat Launch in Londonderry Twp, Water Street and Kiwanis Park in Royalton and Union Street in Middletown. Overall I tallied 38 species in Dauphin County during my homeward journey.
All in all a nice morning of birding highlighted by my brief observation of the Painted Bunting....to bad it wasn't in Dauphin County! Oh well, there is always tomorrow!
Species for year Dauphin--38, PA--40
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