Seasonal Report - Spring 2020

Lycoming County Spring 2020 Summary

Spring migration was not particularly strong overall, especially in the first half of May, which mostly had unfavorable winds and cool temperatures. Many expected species were seen in reduced numbers. Despite that, there were quite a few rarities found during the spring, including two first county records and three second county records. Shorebird numbers were stronger than most springs. In total, 211 species were reported in Lycoming County during the spring.

Observations

Observer abbreviations include: Bobby Brown (BB — county compiler), Joe Ananea (JA), Maria Ananea (MA), Dan Brauning (DanB), Bob Brown (BoB), Deb Brown (DeB), Jean Dalton (JD), Maddi Dunlap (MD), Dave Ferry (DF), Wes Egli (WE), Norwood Frederick (NF), Catie Harbach (CH), Eric Hartshaw (EH), Evan Houston (EvH), Duane Keefer (DK), Andy Keister (AK), Gary Metzger (GM), Steve Pinkerton (SP), David Smith (DS)
m. obs. = many observers

Waterfowl

Trumpeter Swan V31 continued at Rose Valley Lake until 3/15 (m.obs.).

A late pair of Northern Shovelers was on Rose Valley Lake during a fallout event on 4/30 (BB, DeB, BoB) and a very late male was at Mill St. on 5/12 (BB, DeB, BoB). Late American Wigeons were at SGL 252 on 5/3 (BB, DeB, AK).

A late Redhead was at Rose Valley Lake 4/18-5/4 (BB, DeB, BoB). A Lesser Scaup continued at Rose Valley Lake through the end of the season (m.obs.).

White-winged Scoters were reported at Rose Valley Lake on 3/17 (EH, NF), 4/13 (BB, DeB, BoB), and 4/26 (BB, DeB, EH), with each of those sightings consisting of a single bird, and a pair were at the Williamsport Dam 4/25 (BB, DeB, BoB).

Grebes

A Red-necked Grebe was reported at Rose Valley Lake on 3/27 (DS), and one was at the Williamsport Dam on 4/13 (BB, DeB, BoB, et al.).

Cranes & Rails

A Sora was at Myers Swamp 4/29-5/2 (DF, et al.), and one was at South Williamsport Wetlands on 5/4 (DanB). A Common Gallinule was at SGL 252 on 5/3 (BB, DeB, AK) and 5/13 (DanB). American Coots were pretty scarce during the spring, with only two reports: one at the Williamsport Dam on 3/20 (BB) and two at South Williamsport Wetlands 4/1 (EH).

The Sandhill Crane in Jersey Shore that was originally found in December was reported as continuing on 3/1 (CH).

Shorebirds

It was a particularly strong spring season for shorebirds.

A flock of 13 American Avocets were on the river just above the Williamsport Dam on 4/18 (MD, JD, et al.), providing Lycoming County's second record of the species. They were mostly floating in the water until they got close to the dam, and then they would fly upriver and float back down.

A Dunlin was in the big puddle at the Water St. Wetlands on 4/26 (SP, et al.), and one was at the Williamsport Dam 5/14-18 (MD, BB, et al.). Least Sandpipers were frequently seen during May, with a high count of 13 at Mill St. on 5/15 (BB). A Pectoral Sandpiper was at Mill St. on 4/11 (BB, DeB, BoB), and another was at Water St. Wetlands 4/18-19 (SP, et al).

A Red-necked Phalarope was at Rose Valley Lake 4/30-5/1 (BB, DeB, BoB, et al.), providing Lycoming County's fourth record of that species. Rose Valley Lake also hosted a Red Phalarope 5/24-25 (CH, et al.), providing Lycoming County's second record of that species.

Greater Yellowlegs and Lesser Yellowlegs were unusually abundant by Lycoming County standards.

Gulls & Terns

A Caspian Tern flew by the Williamsport Dam on 4/13 (BB, DeB, BoB), and two flew over Mill St. later that morning (BB, DeB, BoB). All other reports of that species were at Rose Valley Lake, including one on 4/21 (EH, et al.), 3 on 4/25 (BB, DeB, BoB), and up to 6 on 4/30 (BB, DeB, BoB, et al.). A Black Tern was at Rose Valley Lake on 5/6 (BB, DeB, BoB, et al.). Common Terns were reported at Rose Valley Lake twice, with 10 reported 4/26 (EH) and 2 on 5/6 (BB, DeB, BoB, et al.). The species was also reported several times at the Williamsport Dam, including single birds on 5/8 (BB, DeB, BoB), 5/15 (BB, DeB, BoB, et al.), 5/17 (EH), and 5/18 (BB, DeB). Four Forster's Terns dropped in at Rose Valley Lake on 4/13 (BB, DeB, BoB). Other tern sightings included an unidentified Sterna species at Rose Valley Lake 4/25 (BB, DeB, BoB), and another one at the Williamsport Dam 5/5 (BB, DeB, BoB).

Loons

A Red-throated Loon dropped in at Rose Valley Lake on 4/30 (DanB). A breeding plumage Pacific Loon was at Rose Valley Lake with a group of Common Loons on 4/21 (EH, et al.), which provided the first Lycoming County record of that species. Surprisingly, another one, also in breeding plumage, dropped in during fallout conditions at Rose Valley Lake on 4/30 (BB, DeB, BoB, et al.), and was reported as leaving early on 5/1 (NF). The lake had been checked daily for five consecutive days after the first one, with no sightings, and there were no loons at all on the lake early in the morning on 4/30, which quickly grew to close to 100 Common Loons as the rain picked up, so this should be considered the second Lycoming County record.

Herons

It was a fairly good spring for Great Egrets, with reports from six locations.

Raptors

A Golden Eagle flew over Rose Valley Lake on 3/7 (BB, DeB, BoB, NF). There were a few Northern Harriers seen into May, with one in Antes Fort 5/7 (BB, DeB, BoB), one at SGL 252 on 5/17 (BB, DeB, AK), and one on Ridge Rd. on 5/21 (CH).

A Short-eared Owl was seen in Antes Fort at dusk on 3/27 (SP, et al.).

Peregrine Falcons fledged one young at Muncy Boat Launch on 5/28 (WE, et al.), which is the first time nesting occurred at that site in several years.

Flycatchers

Two Olive-sided Flycatchers were at SGL 252 on 5/24 (BB, AK), and one was on private land on the west side of Williamsport on 5/25 (DF). A Yellow-bellied Flycatcher was at Canfield Island on 5/18 (BB, DeB).

Vireos

A Yellow-throated Vireo was at Canfield Island on 5/21 (BB, et al.).

Corvids

Common Ravens successfully fledged young in Montoursville.

Thrushes

A singing Gray-cheeked Thrush was at Mill St. on 5/26 (BB).

Finches

Purple Finches were very scarce, with only a few reports.

Sparrows

Grasshopper Sparrows returned to Mill St. again this year, with an arrival date of 4/21 (BB). It was a good spring for Vesper Sparrows at Mill St., with numerous sightings 4/8-24 (BB, DeB, BoB). A Lincoln's Sparrow was at SGL 252 on 5/3 (BB, DeB, AK), and one was at Mill St. 5/14-16 (BB, DeB, BoB).

Chat

A Yellow-breasted Chat was seen at SGL 252 on 5/17 (BB, DeB, AK), and at least one was heard singing at the same location on 5/24 (BB, AK).

Warblers

A Golden-winged Warbler was on private land on the west side of Williamsport on 5/16 (DF). A Prothonotary Warbler was at the pond at Indian Park on 5/21 (BB, et al.), providing the first documented Lycoming County record of that species. A Kentucky Warbler was at the Williamsport Water Authority on 5/27 (DK). Yellow-throated Warblers returned to their normal nesting area at Trout Run Park, with sightings on 5/4 (EH) and 5/7 (BB, DeB, BoB).

32 warbler species recorded during the spring:

• Ovenbird
• Worm-eating Warbler
• Louisiana Waterthrush
• Northern Waterthrush
• Golden-winged Warbler
• Blue-winged Warbler
• Black-and-white Warbler
• Prothonotary Warbler
• Tennessee Warbler
• Nashville Warbler
• Mourning Warbler
• Kentucky Warbler
• Common Yellowthroat
• Hooded Warbler
• American Redstart
• Cape May 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, & Allies

A female Summer Tanager visited a backyard jelly and orange feeder in Newberry on 5/14 (JA, MA), providing Lycoming County's sixth known record of that species.

Additional Photos

The Spring 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.