Walking the Lebanon Valley Rail - Sept 6

As the fall migration is starting, I thought I would return to one of my favorite fall and winter birding location - the Lebanon Valley Rail Trail Expo Center area Lebanon Valley Rail Trail

entrance to Rail Trail at Expo center

In didn't expect to see much...and I have never seen a warbler in this area,,,,but I was hopeful. As it turns out, the trail was very, very active on this wonderful late simmer day...lot's of bikers.

I followed my normal route, and started out hearing the Blue Jays and American Crows....and seeing Morning Doves sitting on the power line wires....a usual...nothing changed in the past 6 month.

Morning Dove

I stated down the trail and and immediately heard the Catbirds calling...along with the house finches...and Cardinals....then I heard a hawk calling and looked up to see a Broad Winged Hawk sailing overhead....a first for me in this area of the trail.

Broad Winged Hawk

as I continued down the trail (dodging bikers) I spotted several Downy, Red-Bellied and Hairy Woodpeckers and Yellow Shafted Northern Flicker...a little too early for the Yellow Bellied Sapsuckers. As it turns out..these where the hi-lights of the morning walk.

Yellow Shafted Flicker

I walked a total of 3 miles round trip...and ended the 2 hour walk with 28 species....not a bad day,,,,and I always enjoy walking this area....I will be returning at a later date once the wintering residents arrive in another month.

Not all that wander are lost.
 

Hammer Creek Road trip - Sept 4

On September 4 I led an Audubon birding walk along the Hammer Creek Road locating Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The walk started at 8am and as we assembled and left the parking area and female Rose Breasted Grosbeak was spotted.....we all had wonderful looks and added several most species to our trip list before leaving the parking area.

female Rose Breasted Grosbeak

We walked the next 1/2 mile- seeing resident species: Cardinals, Blue Jays, and had a Turkey Vulture flyover. We then observed some movement in the trees adn as it turned out...it was a small flock of warblers. We observed a female Redstart, Black Throated Green and a very drab Tennessee warbler plus several Red Eyed Vireo's mixed in the group. The trip count was not at 17 species.

female Redstart

Tennessee Warbler

Continuing along the road, we next saw a real surprise....a Canada Warbler....always a treat, After everyone got looks....we moved on and spotted a second small flock of birds foraging ahead.

Canada Warbler

As we approached several Red Eyed Vireo's, a Warbling Vireo and another surprise a Yellow Breasted Vireo was observed....no warblers in this group.....but no one was disappointment in seeing the Yellow Breasted Vireo.

Yellow Throated Vireo

After spending some time observing the vireo's (in hopes a warbler would show up) we moved on. At out next stop, we again ran into a small flock of warblers....adding to the list - Black & White warbler...our trip count moved up to 23 species.

Red Eyed Vireo

As we approached the power line cut  turnaround point @ 1.5 miles we heard the song of a Carolina Wren and several Easter Wood Peewee's. At the power line cut....we observed several Ruby Throated Hummingbirds and had looks at several more Black Throated Greens....but no other warblers where observed.

We returned to the parking area with a total species count of 36....and had only 6 species of warblers...but had good looks at them all....until next trip.