Snowy Egert in Lebanon County Pa

After being reported few a few days, on August 9, 2019 I decided to try and see the Snowy Egret that was being reported at the Quittapahilla  Educational  Wetland Preserve  in nearby Lebanon, Pa.

Quittie Wetland Preserve

Quittie Weland Preserve Ebird Hotspot

As I arrived in the parking area, there was no one else present...not a good sign...was the bird gone.

I walked the trail to the viewing platform and started scanning the area. After a short time, I spotted the Snowy Egret. Below are some rather poor quality pictures that I took with my iPhone thru the scope. The are definitive in that you can see the Snowy Egrets yellow feet on them

This was the first sighting of a Snowy Egret in Lebanon County in several years and the first Lebanon County sighting for me.

Snowy Egret - notice the yellow feet

Snowy Egret and Great Egret.

Until Next time

Hawaii - Maui birding - April 12, 2019

After packing and eating a quick breakfast - it was off to the airport for a short shuttle ride to Kauai...but first as we where passing the https://www.fws.gov/refuge/kealia_pond/ Kealia Pond NWR we decided to make one last stop.

As it turned out the stop proved rather productive as we added a Chestnut Munia and Java Sparrow to my life list.

Chestnut Munia

Java Sparrow

As we left Maui my life list was a 537.

We boarded the plane at 11:30am and arrived in Kauai at 12:45pm and after picking up luggage and rental car we headed for https://www.fws.gov/refuge/kilauea_point/ Kilauea Point NWR on the northern end of the island arriving at 3;30pm. My search for the Laysan Albatross was about to begin.

More on this on the next post.

Until then good birding.

Western Tanager in Bombay Hook NWR, Delaware

A Western Tanager was being reported over several weeks from mid-December. I had seen this species on my Arizona trips but had never seen it on the East coast.

So on January 2, 2020 several members of the local Audubon made the 3 hour trip to Bombay Hook NWR in an attempt to see the Western Tanager. It was a mild mid-winter day and drive was uneventful. We arrived around 10:45am to find the main parking around the visitors center full with lots of birders and photographers.

We parked, and started walking in the general direction of the visitors center and had only been there l/t 5 minutes when someone shouted...'there it is'.

Sure enough, less that 100 ft away feeding on some berry next the VC building was our bird - the Western Tanager.

We had great looks and after about 10 minutes it flew off, so we decided to drive the tour road as we had plenty of time before heading home later that afternoon.

On the tour road loop we had Long Tailed, Pintail, Black, Mallard, Ruddy, Green winged and several other duck species.

We ended the day with 43 species and started for home around 3:30pm - after another successful 'chase' for a rare bird species.

It was a great day and a nice start to my 2020 birding season.

Until Next time

Hawaii - Maui birding - April 10, 11, 2019

We arrived in Maui after a short flight from the Big Island and after picking up the rental unit drove to our hotel - the Grand Wailea  Grand Wailea hotel - Maui . After checking in, we decided to drive to the nearby Wai'Anapanapa State Park - where I observed two more life birds - a White Tailed Tropic bird and a Black Noddy. As it was getting late, we returned to the hotel for dinner and plan the next day's activities.

White Tailed Tropic Bird

Black Noddy

After breakfast we drove the the Kelia Pond NWR in search of the endemic Hawaiian Coot. We arrived shortly after 7am and were no sooner there when we spotted our taget bird: the Hawaiian Coot - another life bird for the trip #24

Hawaiian Coot

While at Kealia Pond NWR I also added Pacific Golden Plover, Wandering Tattler and African Silverbill before leaving for Homers Grove and Haleakala Natl Park. Haleakala Natl Park 

African Silverbill

As it was raining and very foggy we really didn't get to see much at the top of the volcano, although they told us the view is spectacular -maybe next time -  but we where there!

On the way back from the top of the volcano, we stopped at Homers Grove and I picked up two more lifers: Maui Alauahio and a Red Crested Cardinal #29 for the trip. 

Red Crested Cardinal

We returned to the hotel (after some stops a few beaches & lookoutd) for dinner and while walking around the grounds I spotted a Gray Francolin - lifer #30 for the trip.

Gray Francolin

After two days in Maui my life list now stands at 535.

The next post will look at our last half day in Maui and our first afternoon in Kauai and my search for a Laysan Albatross.

Until next time - good birding.