The
Distelfink
Spring 2024 Newsletterof the Baird Ornithological Club
Contents
President’s Message by Sheila Martin ............................................. 2
BOC Leadership Opportunities Starting Summer 2024. .................. 3
Rare Birds found in Berks County, PA in 2023, by Russ Hoffman .... 4124rd Reading Christmas Bird Count Wrap-up - Lucy Cairns ............ 7
124rd Bernville Christmas Bird Count Wrap-up – Mike Slater.......... 8
Elverson Christmas Bird Count: A firsthand Experience – Sheila
Martin ............................................................................................ 10
BOC Meetings/Programs – Spring 2024......................................... 11
Our temporary move: April 2024 in-person meeting location to
Albright College! ............................................................................ 12
Albright College Information for our meetings this coming season....................................................................................................... 12
BOC Field Trips/Bird Walks – Spring/Summer 2024** .................. 13
Past Season’s Field Trip Reports .................................................... 16
Berks County Birds, June-July 2023 compiled by Rudy Keller........ 18
Berks County Birds, Fall 2023 compiled by Matt Wlasniewski ...... 20
Birding in Monterey, California – Peter & Jane Wolfe ................... 24
BAIRD ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB ANNUAL BANQUET May
10, 2024.......................................................................................... 27
A Tropical Kingbirs was found on a farm near Fleetwood in late
Baird Ornithological Club gratefully acknowledges our Sustaining
Donors of ‘23-‘24 ........................................................................... 28 November. See Russ Hoffman’s Rare birds in Berks report on

Baird Ornithological Club, Current Officers and directors ............. 28
BOC MEMBERSHIP and Renewal ................................................... 29
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page 4. Photo by Russ Hoffman.

President’s Message by Sheila Martin
Welcome to Baird Ornithological Club’s spring 2024 issue - offering many updates, reports, event schedules,
plus extraordinary color photos submitted by passionate photographers! Herein you’ll find mentions of oursustaining donors, our annual meeting & banquet on May 10, 2024, and our need to hear you say, “Yes!” toservice on BOC’s board of directors for ’24-’25, as nominating season gets underway. Your officers and boardof directors worked hard in the now-seemingly-distant nine-months’ past of June ’23 to not only ensure arobust club outdoor program, but also to administer dues & the ongoing, more-administrative sides of anactive club’s oversight.
“Zoom meetings during the winter months have been well-supported, where - in the opening moments of
those sessions, I intentionally bring online head counts to everyone’s attention, driving home how our club
flexes, appreciating the numbers we’re still reaching during the year’s darkest months. By way of Zoom, acomfortable, popular-yet-hard-to-shake-off post-Covid tendency, showings have been consistent to what we’dachieved in the past at McConnell Hall – and this year, at Albright Science Hall. We are very appreciative of Ian
Cost for facilitating the invitation to meet at Albright College
this term, bringing birding programs and club community“home”, whether in-person or remotely. March’s meeting
had to be reformatted - remaining on Zoom for one moremonth before returning onsite/in-person to Albright in April.
Once we are back there, if you still wish to opt to a real-time
remote link, request streaming contact access from Ian.
bairdornsec@gmail.com
Mid-February is when birding intensifies across North
America, and BOC’s field trip list lays out an enticing menu
of most-weekly, well-established venues. Pick long-timefavorites and try some of the new listings too! Check – andkeep on checking – www.bairdornithological.club - forexpansive offerings of spring bird walks which hopefully suitthe availability of many, members & the public alike. Theretoo, click on the latest e-bird reports for Berks County,
seeing posts too, more photos and flash-&-Tuesday birdwalks possibly not yet published. Mentioning just a few of
my favorites, check out March 24 at French Creek State
Park: the Sunday evening Woodcock Watch at 7:00pm EDT
for some brief, buzzy, big-eyed-bird frenzy. Or, Sunday,
April 21’s Union Meadows/Early Migrants walk at 8:00am;
another of my inked-in Must-Do’s, lured by maddeningly
animated Ruby-crowned Kinglets in oh-so-close, chest-hightrailside shrubs!
BOC President Sheila Martin outstanding in a field

Late winter is also the time when BOC is contacted forcollaborative participation in springtime public events staged all over Berks County, its townships & beyond with respected, long-allied nature-partnering interests like Mengel, Nolde, Hawk Mountain, Jim Dietrich,Middle Creek, French Creek, Hopewell Furnace, and more. As of this writing, Baird Ornithological Club’s Ian
Cost is slated for a fascinating, free-yet-reserved talk at Berks Nature on the topic of The Color Of Birds: What
Colors Mean and How Birds Hide in Plain Sight on Wednesday, March 13 at 6:00 pm; plus BOC will have an
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ornithology display at Berks County Conservation District’s spring fair/seedling sale on May 4 starting at
11:00am at the Ag Center. Keep watching Facebook and our website’s Blog & Bird Walk Info click for added
activity – where your help might be needed.
The 3rd Pennsylvania Bird Atlas will be the most important truly ornithological initiative which Baird – as a club– can engage in, for the next five years, (per December’s Dr. Wilson). Sign-in participation is now live. In your
In Box, dated January 26 (you saved it, right?,) find Ian’s all-members e-blast offering further understanding of
this expansive, immersive project with weblinks he curated - which I personally found to be easy reading andquite clarifying.
I continue in tremendous pride of our club, its elected leaders, volunteer speakers and illustrious veteran fieldcoordinators – in the tools BOC offers members of all ages, tenures & levels of commitment – of close-tohome outdoor involvement & continuing education of birds & birding worldwide, its inherent science &beauty, as well as the compelling concern of bird welfare on Planet Earth, felt by us all. Thanks very much forallowing me to serve this year!

BOC Leadership Opportunities Starting Summer 2024.
- by Sheila Martin
Dear Member - The Board of Directors Needs Help!
Dear Member - HELP WANTED!
Baird Ornithological Club’s nominating committee (specifically) – and our club (generally) – need your serious
consideration and “Yes” – asking you to accept a board position, the candidate slate of which is being
formulated now, to be filled & elected with an April ballot, for service in ’24-’25.
We’re lucky to have a mostly-still-sitting board of officers & directors, but three board positions are available:
one about to be vacated through completion of term, another which, awkwardly, had not been filled with thisterm’s election, and the office of secretary, due to an amicable resignation at end of this term, which thisboard graciously & gratefully accepted.
Please consider giving back to the club and paying forward what satisfaction we all undeniably experiencethrough birding in all its aspects and reach in our lives – by serving on the board.
My 8 years serving on the board have not only been enlightening & academically focusing, but enjoyable too.
Being part of it all amid the current, ongoing changes in birding science in PA – and seeing the club grow, notjust coasting with the status quo, has been rewarding for me. For this to continue, we need you.
Prior to this Distelfink issue, you received an e-mail with summary descriptions of officer & board duties,
masterfully penned by IPP Lucy Cairns while as president last spring. Please contact Lucy atljanetcairns@gmail.com or her cell 610-223-4501 – OR me directly at H: 610-582-3401, C: 610-858-6005 or
sheilamartin554@gmail.com after mid-March.
First-call slate of nominations will be at the March 8th meeting, then repeated with any additions onto thatslate in April – with elections at that meeting, and installation at our annual meeting/banquet on May 10th,2024.
I sincerely appreciate your consideration – and your “Yes!”3.

3RD PA Bird Atlas is starting!
By Rudy Keller and Ian Cost
The most important thing we BOC members can do for the next five years to help
conserve birds in Berks County is to participate in the third PA Bird Atlas. To begin
the work of bird conservation, we need to know where each species is and how
common or uncommon it is, especially during the breeding season. To find that out
on a finely detailed scale, the state’s map has been divided into small blocks, with the goal of learning which species livein each block. That’s where we come in. A handbook for atlasers is available here on the PA Bird Atlas website.
This atlas will be conducted via eBird observations. By entering our bird lists with breeding codes on the PA Bird Atlas
portal or with the eBird app on your smart phone with the PA Bird Atlas portal selected as we bird in any block, we canbegin to fill in the blanks in our knowledge of bird distribution. At our December 2023 meeting, (video here) Andy
Wilson gave an overview presentation of what the atlas does, how it is conducted (including a graphic explanation ofblocks) and how birders can help.
BOC secretary Ian Cost sent the following winter email message to members providing very useful links that will further
explain how to participate. (A Quick Start Guide for eBird and the PA Bird Atlas is here)" Hello Members,
We recently received a message from Greg George, Berks County Coordinator for the PA Bird Atlas, that theblock signup list is now live.
If you'd like to see more information on the atlas, please see this page from the game commission and please
note that eBird does have a homepage for the atlas at this link.
Information on birding blocks within the state can be found here.
Signing up to be a principal birder in a block of the state can be done through this link to "live" bird atlas.
If you would like to sign up as the principal birder for a block, zoom into the map on this last link, select a block.
Then you may use the button shown below (follow the arrow) to sign up to be the principal birder for thatblock.”

Be aware: You may only sign up for up to 5
blocks in one region, and 10 blocks total
across the state, at a time
Each block has aerial maps, species lists, anda topographic satellite map associated with it
to help you orient yourself. These are on theleft side of the screen above.
Ian Cost,

After digesting all that information, go out birding with the atlas in mind.

Rare Birds found in Berks County, PA in 2023, by Russ Hoffman
2023 was a year for rare Birds in Berks County. Berks County birding enthusiasts were successful in finding 249 species ofbirds in the county in 2023. This is three short of the 20-year average of species seen. The sightings can be sorted into
categories. Species seen only a few times in the recorded history of Berks birding would be considered rare in the
county.
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Species seen every few years are listed as casual. Birders had sightings of species that fit into both categories.
Rare in Berks 2023:
In this category, a Swallow-tailed Kite was seen by Kate Harms on May 9 north of Reading. Ten days later another was
photographed in Moselem Springs by me. This is a striking bird with black and white plumage and a deeply forked tail.
The bird normally occurs in southern Florida and along the Gulf coast. There were three of these birds seen here in 1995
in southern Berks, but only twice since. (see photo on page one of the previous, Fall 2023, Distelfink)

In June, a kayaker at Blue Marsh noticed a large white bird sitting on the lake.
He was able to identify it as an American White Pelican. It is the first time it
has been seen in Berks County. The bird was photographed and seen again at
Breneman’s Quarry in Spring Township by several birders.
Troy Herrel, a member of the Hawk Mountain staff, saw a LeCconte’s
Sparrow at the Kempton Community Center in October. This bird has only
been seen a few times in the county.
A first for the county was a Tropical Kingbird (picture on page 1) that showed
up in the vicinity of the Weber family’s Willow Run Farm near Fleetwood inearly November. Nelson and Grace Weber are local birders and members of
the Baird Ornithological Club, and Nelson’s brother Lin and daughter are
owners of the farm where the bird was first seen. With the help of Nelson
and Grace’s son Drew, who is employed at the Cornell Ornithology Lab, they
American White Pelican. Photo by Russ
wereable to get a recording of the bird’s vocalizations and identify it as a
HoffmanTropical Kingbird. (To separate it from the visually similar Couch’s Kingbird.)
This bird is common in Central and South America but is rarely seen in the U.S. in the Southwest. The Webers weregracious hosts and welcomed many visitors to the farm to see this rarity.

In late December, Bill Uhrich was walking along the
Schuylkill River near RACC looking for an unusuallylate warbler, an American Redstart that he had seenon the Reading Christmas Bird Count. What heMale American Redstart. Photo by Russ Hoffman

found instead was the first record of an Ashthroated Flycatcher in Berks County, aAsh-throated Flycatcher along the Schuylkill River in Reading. Photo by Russ Hoffman
bird of the Southwest USA. Flycatchers5

usually leave the U.S in winter due to the lack of insects that they feed on. A few birders got to see this bird during thelast days of 2023, a fitting end to the birding year 2023 in Berks County.
Every year Berks birders find interesting and exciting species of birds in the county as they pursue their passion foradventure and new experiences. While these sightings are not considered rare, the birds are not seen every year inBerks and the documentation of their presence adds to the history of bird life in our area.
Early in the year, on Jan. 9, an Orange-crowned Warbler (left) was photographed in
the area of the Blue Marsh Lake Dry Brooks boat launch. This infrequently seen bird
was found again late in the year in the same area by members of the Weber family.
On the same day in the same place, a clay-colored
sparrow (right) was seen and photographed, ahandsome bird not found every year in the county.
Orange-crowned Warbler.

In May, L. Ingram heard a reverberating warbler
song
along the Schuylkill River Trail at Morlatton
Photo by Russ Hoffman
Village in Douglass Township that she recognized asa Prothonotary Warbler. The bird was confirmed by a photograph the following day.
This warbler is fairly common south of Pennsylvania but not seen every year in Berks.

Clay-colored Sparrow. Photo by
Russ Hoffman

Also in May, two of the more elusive flycatchers were seenat Angora Fruit Farm. T. Underwood found a Yellowbellied Flycatcher (below) and many birders saw an Olivesided Flycatcher (right).

Olive-sided flycatcher. Photo by Russ Hoffman

In mid-July, J. and L. Spilde discovered a Laughing Gull atBlue Marsh Lake. While this gull is common along theAtlantic Coast, it rarely wanders inland and is scarce in Berks County.
Yellow-bellied flycatcher. Photo by Russ Hoffman

K. Grim heard and saw the secretive Marsh Wren in September at Kernsville Stilling Basin. The wren’s loud chatter iseasily heard and recognized as it skulks among the cattails.

6Long time birder J. Silagy was surprised to see a raft of gooselike birds called Brant on Blue Marsh Lake at the end of
October. Brant are smaller than Canada Geese and sport a thin, white necklace. They can be quite common near the
Atlantic Coast but rarely are found inland as far as Berks County.
In December, R. Keller was checking Breneman’s Quarry witha spotting scope looking for visiting waterfowl and spotted asmall white goose. He was able to identify the bird as a Ross’s
Goose. These geese are fairly common in the western U. S.
but scarce in the east.
Some other noteworthy sightings were reported in 2023 but
did not get listed in the eBird database. A Roseate Spoonbill
was seen and photographed along the Tulpehocken Creek in
the Gring’s Mill area. This is a bird that rarely wanders northfrom the extreme southern part of the country.
An experienced bird counter at Hawk Mountain watched a
Wood Stork sail by on the Berks County side of the lookout.
This is another bird of the deep South, but it is more prone towander.

A Ross's Goose flying with 2 Canada Geese.
Photo by Russ Hoffman

Overall, the 2023 birding year was exceptional. Local birders were able toadd interesting species to their Berks County life list. We look forward to 2024 with anticipation of new and exciting
experiences.
The local Baird Ornithological Club is the second-oldest club of its kind in Pennsylvania and is open to the public. Checkout the website, https://bairdornithological.club, for more information.
Russ Hoffman is a longtime member of the Baird Ornithological Club and has photographed birds throughout the world.

124rd Reading Christmas Bird Count Wrap-up - Lucy Cairns
Comments and Comparisons
The 124th Reading CBC took place on December 17, a mild day during a mild early winter season with no snow on the
ground and no ice on the water. The day began very grey and gloomy, with low clouds and a fine mist. The sun
remained hidden all day, turning the dimming switch down on plumage color. However, the predicted rain held off until
afternoon and was very light in most places, so we had that to be thankful for. By the end of the day, 80 species of birds
and almost 20,000 individual birds had been counted. Close to 65% of the individual birds consisted of Canada Geese,European Starlings, American Robins, and Rock Pigeons (in declining order of abundance).
Importantly, the number of field observers remained strong at 53, thanks to eight new volunteers, a group that included
both highly skilled, experienced birders and a few novice enthusiasts. The number of feeder counts submitted, on theother hand, shrank from 19 last year to just 8, which may have suppressed this year’s numbers of common feeder birds
a bit when compared with last year.
The American Tree Sparrow disappeared from the Reading count for the first time in its 124-year history. During thefirst Reading count, on December 25, 1911, 20 Tree Sparrows were found along the Wyomissing Creek! The two otherbirds that have appeared in every Reading count—American Crow and Dark-eyed Junco—were found this year, but innumbers below average compared to the last 10 years.
The good news includes the continuing recovery of the Tufted Titmouse and chickadees from the drastic decline of 2018.
Despite the smaller number of feeder counts contributed this year, numbers of titmice were stable and chickadees
increased compared to last year. Of note, whereas last year we had an unusually high number of Black-capped
Chickadees reported, this year we had none.
7Bald Eagles added up to 15, the highest number since they climbed out of the single digits in 2020. Other high numbers
were 27 Hermit Thrush and an all-time high of 168 Carolina Wrens. Thanks to an experienced CBC-er new to our circle,
Jacob Socolar, Saw-whet Owls were documented for the first time since 2012. This is a bird documented on only eightof the Reading counts, and the 2 found by Jacob match the previous high number.
The woodpeckers as a group continue to do well, and this year 2 Red-headed Woodpeckers were found in Alsace by
Alison Fetterman and Jim Eckert. Since 2012, this bird has been found on the Reading count only twice, and a single bird
each time. The number of Northern Flickers found—65—is above the 10-year average.
Among the non-eagle raptors, Bill Uhrich found both City of Reading Peregrine Falcons this year, and Kestrels held
steady at 9. Numbers of Red-tailed hawks and accipiters were stable. (All comparisons are to the previous 10 counts.)
The most unusual bird was a Lincoln’s Sparrow, found by Rudy Keller. A search of the CBC database indicates that this is
the first record of Lincoln’s Sparrow in the Reading count. This sparrow breeds in the northern tundra and winters far to
the west and south of Pennsylvania. The description on the Cornell Lab’s All About Birds website includes: “The dainty
Lincoln’s Sparrow has a talent for concealing itself. It sneaks around on the ground…” which makes it all the more
remarkable that one showed itself to Rudy. Birds found during count week (the 3 days just before and just after countday), but not on count day, were some Lapland Longspurs, Snow Buntings, a Greater White-fronted Goose, and a groupof Cackling Geese.
I counted in my usual territory this year—a portion of the Wyomissing Park, the Reading Public Museum grounds, and a
few other smaller spots. One high moment came while walking a path along the Wyomissing Creek. A member of myparty noticed a Winter Wren skipping under and over the blanket of dead leaves along the path. All wrens are cute, but
the Winter Wren epitomizes cuteness, with its tiny round body and little tail cocked straight up. This bird was so intent
on its foraging that it paid no mind to the group of humans staring at it with rapt adoration from just a few feet away.
Later, when Holly Armbuster and I were the only members of our group who had not had to resume their usual routines,
we were up on the parking lot of the Granite Point building to count the Rock Pigeons and starlings who usually line theutility wires along State Hill Rd. Well, except for a small flock of starlings those birds had found a less exposed spot tospend a very damp afternoon, so for a few minutes we were disappointed. Then Holly suggested we drive all the way
around the office building, and I reluctantly agreed. As we pulled around to the side overlooking the Wyomissing Family
Restaurant and Bakery, Holly saw a bird fly to a utility wire almost at eye level with us. It was a gorgeous male American
Kestrel with a dead vole in its talons! The average adult Kestrel weighs a hair over 4 oz, while the voles common insoutheastern PA weigh roughly 1-1.5 oz, so this Kestrel had quite a feast in its grip! It noticed us watching it (I think
raptors always see us before we see them), but allowed us to observe it enjoying its meal for so long that we finally tore
ourselves away.
The Christmas Bird Count is all about collecting data to help guide bird conservation efforts, when all is said and done,
but it is much more than the numbers. It is a welcome excuse, during the hectic run-up to the holiday season, to spend
a day outside in the company of others who find their lives immeasurably enriched by paying attention to and being
amazed by birds. Participation is free and novice birders are teamed up with experienced leaders for a day of discovery
and service to our avian friends. Anyone with an interest should google ‘join the Christmas Bird Count’ in early
December to find Audubon’s website for the count and all the information needed.

124rd Bernville Christmas Bird Count Wrap-up – Mike Slater
The Bernville CBC was held on 01-04-2024. All the water
was open, nothing was frozen and no snow on the ground.
Cloudy all day with a few snow squalls in the afternoon.
Many of the birds with low numbers this year arecommonly seen at bird feeding stations. Many of theobservers this year noticed that most feeders theynormally see birds at were empty this year. Many people

may not have been feeding yet because we have had amild weather with no snow yet.
Note: The numbers in brackets [x/39] are the number ofcounts out of 39 total counts on which this species has
been observed on the Bernville CBC.
3 Snow Goose, low but not recorded every year. [22/39]
798 Canada Goose, below our average of 1784. [39/39]
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2 American Wigeon, only seen 1 year out of 3. [11/39]
4 Am. Black Duck, below our average of 12. [35/39]
197 Mallard, below our average of 368. [39/39]
1 Common Loon was only the 3rd occurrence on the
count. [3/39]
8 Great Blue Heron was average. [39/39]
39 Black Vultures were above the average of 25, but well
shy of the record of 169 in Jan. 2015. [22/39]
140 Turkey Vultures was above the average of 67, butalso shy of the record 262 in January 2019. [29/39]
3 Northern Harriers was slightly below the average of 5.
[29/39]3 Sharp-shinned Hawks reported was half of our averageof 6. [39/39]
6 Cooper’s Hawks reported was above our average of 4.
[36/39]22 Bald Eagles seen was a new record high, beating theold record of 14 seen on Dec. 31, 2018. [19/39]
6 Red-shouldered Hawks seen was also a new record,
beating the old record of 4 seen in 2018. [10/39]
71 Red-tailed hawks was below our average of 86. [39/39]
1865 Ring-billed Gulls was below the average of 4483.
[38/39]150 Herring Gulls was slightly below the average of 177.
[36/39]1 Iceland Gull at the Dry Brooks Beach made for the 7th
appearance on the count. [7/39]
1 Lesser Black-backed Gull was right on the average.
[20/39]3 Great Black-backed Gulls were found far away from thebeach at the northern edge of the circle and was anaverage #. [19/39]
11 Eurasian Collared Doves in Shartlesville was a newhigh, beating the old record of one seen last year. [2/39]
647 Rock Pigeons was a little below average. [38/39] (Wasthere a data entry error one year???)237 Mourning Doves was well below the average of 764.
[39/39]16 Eastern Screech Owls was slightly above average.
[38/39]1 Great Horned Owl was well below the average of 14,
but relatively little owling was done this year. [39/39]
9 Belted Kingfishers was average. [39/39]
2 Red-headed Woodpeckers was just below last year’srecord of three! [10/39]
86 Red-bellied Woodpeckers was above the average of59, but nowhere near the count record of 106. [39/39]
10 Yellow-bellied sapsuckers was above the average of 4,
but below the all-time high of14. [37/39]

53 Downy Woodpeckers was below the average of 87.
[39/39]10 Hairy Woodpeckers was almost up to the average of
12. [39/39]
30 Northern Flickers was above the average of 15, but not
close to the record of 74. [21/39]
2 Pileated Woodpeckers was right on the average. [27/39]
14 American Kestrels was below the average of 36 andwell below the January 3, 1993 record of 83. [39/39]
2 Merlins was double the count average of 1. [16/39]
140 Blue Jays was just about the average of 143. [39/39]
280 American Crows was well below the average of 571
and far below the record of 1873 counted on 1/3/2009.
[39/39]1 Fish Crow was below the average of 25. [21/39]
21 Common Ravens was a new record, beating the oldrecord of 6 counted 12/26/2020. [10/39]
34 Horned Larks was far below the count average of 477
and this is undoubtedly due to the lack of snow covercombined with the increasing use of winter cover crops by
farmers, which makes them harder to see. [39/39]
55 Carolina Chickadees was a very high count but notquite up to the record 77 seen on 1/1/2017. They were
not reported in the first 7 years of the count and then one
was found 1/3/1993 and then only rarely until 12/25/2015
when the count jumped from less than 10 to 42. This may
have been due to confusion in chickadee identification as
Carolina Chickadees replaced Black-cappeds as thebreeding species in the area. [13/39] No Black-capped
Chickadees were found this year.
26 Tufted Titmice counted is still below our average of
111 and below last years count of 42. [39/39]
1 Red-breasted Nuthatch seen by one of our feeder
watchers was a good find in this non-irruption year.
[29/39]61 White-breasted Nuthatches just about reached our
average of 67. [39/39]
6 Brown Creepers was only 1 below the count average of
7. [39/39]
3 Winter Wrens was above the count average of 1 andthis may be due to newly accessible habitat in the recently
created William Penn State Forest near Wernersville.
[14/39]91 Carolina Wrens was an above average count, but not
up to the 118 seen last year or the record of 129 counted
12/28/2019. [39/39]
14 Golden-crowned Kinglets was one shy of the averageof 15. [39/39]
5 Ruby-crowned Kinglets was above the average of 3.
[32/39]9

131 Eastern Bluebirds was just a little below the averageof 148. [39/39]
9 Hermit Thrush was more than double the count averageof 4, but less the record high count of 15. [31/39]
718 American Robins was more than triple the averagecount of 251, but well below the record of 1854 counted
on 12/26/2015. [39/39] (Note: some years almost no
Robins were counted, notably 1/1/1989 when only ONE
was counted!)
1 Gray Catbird was right on the average for this species,
which doesn’t winter in our area in any numbers. [20/39]
41 Northern Mockingbirds was just over half the averagecount of 75. [39/39]
5452 European Starlings was below the average count of6506. [37/39]
57 Cedar Waxwings was about 1/2 of the average countof 104, somewhat surprising in this winter when berries
seemed to be plentiful. [36/39]
1 Cape May Warbler seen by Ed Barrell and Irene Taylor
was obviously a first for the count. This bird should be in
the tropics by now, but recent warm autumns and early
winters have caused several warblers to hang around in
Berks County, including the Wilson’s Warbler seen at afeeder on this count last winter. [1/39]
6 Yellow-rumped Warblers was one more than the countaverage of 5. [32/39]
7 Chipping Sparrows seen in one flock was a new all timehigh, beating the old record of 3! [8/39]
19 Field Sparrows was higher than the average of 15, butwell short of the record 71 reported on 1/3/1988. [38/39]
407 Dark-eyed Juncos was just over half of the countaverage of 777 and below the high count of 1966. [39/39]

4 White-crowned Sparrows was not quite a record low
count; that was 3 seen on the 12/30/2017 count. [39/39]
469 White-throated Sparrows was below the average of680. [39/39]
There were no (0) American Tree Sparrows reported thisyear. [36/39]
1 Savannah Sparrow was reported, which is our average.
The record high is 8. As with the Horned Larks, this may bepartly due to the lack of snow which allows them to roam(and hide) anywhere in the farm fields. [15/39]
110 Song Sparrows were reported, less than half thecount average of 242. This may also have been due to themild weather preceding the count, which gave these seedeaters the freedom to range widely through the “weedy”
fields and forest edges looking for seeds to eat. [39/39]
2 Swamp Sparrows was well below the average of 11.
[36/39]142 Northern Cardinals was below the average of 204.
[39/39]2 Red-winged Blackbirds was below the average of 22,
but the 4 ‘Blackbird sp.’ reported may have been Redwings. [27/39]
20 Brown-headed Cowbirds was less than 1/3 of thecount average of 64. [30/39]
210 House Finches was almost exactly ½ of the countaverage 411. [39/39]
2 Purple Finches were a nice find for this species, which
isn’t seen many years. [26/39]
3 Pine Siskins convincingly reported by a feeder counter
were a very nice find, as this species seems to be staying
farther north for this winter. [11/39]
308 House Sparrows was also below the average of 595,
but well above the low count of 62. [39/39]

Elverson Christmas Bird Count: A firsthand Experience – Sheila Martin
Friday, December 22, 2023
I’d been hearing about “Christmas Bird Count” ever since first joining birding clubs, listening intently (thenletting it lapse); trying to grasp the Why, the How, the Who does it for What purpose? – the deeper rationaleof it all, as a totally uninitiated birder on in my sixth decade! After years of club involvement and service –plus now, as president, I decided it was time to let my birdwalk experience and strengthening ID skills be the“rubber meeting the road”. Time to put my “money where my mouth was”. In this, my 10th year as a BOC
member, I finally volunteered in December 2023 for a Berks County CBC circle, my choice being that ofElverson, near my residence! Knowing that county compiler Lucy Cairns had the Reading circle well-honed andstaffed, I felt free to lend my services, however modest, to this circle, which straddles the Berks/Chester
County lines, with Mr. Jim Cook of Elverson as circle compiler.
This area includes two incredibly strong, birdy-through-all-seasons spots: the well-known and highly visible
Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site plus French Creek State Park. Mr. Jared Brandt of FCSP – whom many10

of us met ‘way back in June ’22 joining us for BOC’s now-popular, annual Big Woods Trail walk (where Prairie
Warbler has taken the outing blue ribbon for the past two years!) – assigned himself to two locales aroundthat park; at Scott’s Run Lake for an hour & forty minutes with 16 species/93 birds, then on to Hopewell’s Fire
Tower locale for forty-five minutes, counting 26 birds among 6 species. Jared’s highlight of note were four
Hermit Thrushes; yet he also ticked off Pileated Woodpecker, Belted Kingfisher & Northern Flicker.
Meanwhile, I worked with Ms. Alissa Kane, Park Guide at HFNHS for an hour-&-a-half portion of the almost
three hours she mentally committed in time at the outset – afterward with park associate Nick Shollenberger
shoring up the duo after I left ranks due to the cold! (Next year I know to dress in layers from head-to-toe; notjust snuggies at torso & feet!) And – yes indeed, there WILL be a “next year” for me! I was wow’d by thesheer NUMBERS of birds in some of our species noted, plus the general breadth of species still hanging aroundwhich - to my still-intermediate awareness, would have been dismissed as “long-gone!” The three of us at
Hopewell tallied 270 total birds among 18 species, having a highly irregular day in how high the numbers werefor Am. Robins (85!), Cedar Waxwings(24!) & Eur. Starlings(55!)
Of both counts combined from both parks however, the popular “handsome group” favorite was a nice BlueJay total; so pleased to see them gracing us with their presence, so late in the season. Consider joining the
Elverson count circle many months from now, at ‘24’s end - at the bottom tip of Berks at the start of winter, ina reliably vibrant bird habitat!

BOC Meetings/Programs – Spring 2024
March 8, 2024, 7:00 pm NOW BY ZOOM ONLY the link will be emailed to all members“A Defense of the Unholy Trio” – Bernard “Billy” Brown, nature writer for Grid magazine, co-host of the
Urban Wildlife Podcast, and cofounder of local nature hub PhillyNature.org. Pigeons, starlings, and housesparrows are the most abundant and easily observed birds in urban settings. They can be entertaining towatch and listen to. Give them a chance, and you might even appreciate their beauty. Nature writer Billy
Brown discusses their history, their place in the urban food web, and why he recommends that beginning
birders start with the most disrespected birds in the Philly region.
April 12, 2024, 7:30 pm in person at AlbrightCollege and streaming.
(Directions and info for attending the meetingat Albright College are below)“Birding PA State Parks” – Chris Kemmerer,
PA DCNR. Pennsylvania has one of the largest
state park systems in the country. With 124
parks across 64 counties, the system includes
geographic wonders, prominent moments in
American history, old growth forests, tidal
waterways, and Great Lakes access. This
A Blue-headed vireo incubating eggs in Rickett's Glen State Park. Photo by Mikediversity is also represented in the flora andSlaterfauna that call our Pennsylvania State Parks
home. Join Chris Kemmerer, Education and Interpretation Chief for Pennsylvania State Parks, on a tour of thebest birding spots in PA’s state parks.
11

May 10, 2024, Our “Annual Event” held jointly with the Mengel Natural History Society.
“pOrnithology: The Birds and the Birds and the Bees” – George Armistead
Location: The Peanut Bar
A review of interesting and unusual courtship and reproductive habits of birds, littered with copious innuendoand anthropomorphism to keep the concepts firmly in perspective.
(Details on the Banquet Flyer at the end of this newsletter.)

Our temporary move: April 2024 in-person meeting location to
Albright College!
Informed of an uncertain construction schedule of Nolde’s McConnell Hall this fall, at Nolde Forest’s
suggestion & with their blessing, B.O.C. will be guests of Albright College for months where we meetin-person in ’23-‘24, e.g. September-November then again in May Find extensive, detailed info
elsewhere on this change – but boiled-down locators are“13th & Bern Streets” or “1650 Palm
Street”, Reading. Maps & even a walking video are shown. Basically, one is “crossing thru” campus
with some elevation gain toward Science Hall, then to Lecture Hall 256, ultimately to one’s seat.
Check it out at your convenience! Kudos to Ian Cost for smoothly seeing to this offering.

Albright College Information for our meetings this coming season
Dear Baird Birding Friends Please read on carefully to park, navigate your way and find the meeting - and your seat! – for our in-person
B.O.C Friday night meeting in September, October, November, March and April:
B.O.C. will meet in Lecture Hall 256; an Interior Map of Science Hall indicates a floor plan so that you can findthe large Front Lobby (foyer) and our room.
You can use the Visitor Parking
located at the corners of 13thand Bern Streets in
Reading. This is shown inthe blue rectangle in the images
below. Alternatively, if you
have mobility concerns and do
not want to walk up a hill withlong, spread-out steps, you maypark on Palm Street
alongside/parallel to the redsquare marking
Science Hall, with fewer
steps. Use 1650 Palm Street,
Reading as a GPS address All are
welcome! Parking is also
usually available in the evenings
on Palm St. right beside Science
Hall.
12

COVID Policy - your Board of Directors asks:
If you are feeling ill, have recently been exposed to COVID, or are

awaiting the results of a test for COVID-19, please stay home.
Consider wearing a mask if you wish to minimize your risk forcontracting the virus. A highly effective mask (N95, KN95, or KF94) isrecommended.

BOC Field Trips/Bird Walks – Spring/Summer 2024**
GPS addresses/coordinates are included as given by Google Maps.
Flash Bird Walks Field trips may be scheduled at short notice any time it appears conditions areright for an additional outing. Email announcements will be sent to all members and the information
will be on our website at the same time https://bairdornithological.club/ More Tuesday Bird Walks(2nd & 4th Tuesdays) will be planned, Spring 2024 Tuesday walks Some are listed below, additional
bird walks may also be scheduled and be announced on the B.O.C. Blog/Birdwalk info and on the
Field Trips web page.
March 3, 2024 (Sunday) L. Ontelaunee. Introduction to Spring Waterfowl -12 Noon
Meet at dam breast on Rte. 73 to carpool to the different areas of the lake. Bring a spotting scope if
you have one. Experienced birders with scopes will be there to help you get good looks. Coordinator
Rudy Keller 610-845-7310 Meeting Location: at the west end of the dam on Rt. 73 between Rts. 61
and 222, Lake Shore Dr, Shoemakersville, PA 19555.

13

Tuesday walk at Berks Leisure Area March 19, 2024 (Tuesday) – 8:00 am 1stDay of Spring Walk
Celebrate the early arrival of spring with BOC members and walk along the Tulpehocken Cr. looking for earlyharbingers of the season. Also, this is the time for the now annual "cake" get-together, as previous attendees
will remember. Meet at the Berks Leisure Area parking lot. Coordinator: Russ Hoffman, 484-794-7053.
Directions: Exit Rt. 12 at Paper Mill Rd., turn right on Broadcasting Rd. and go east to Tulpehocken Rd. Makeright and go 1 mile to sign on left and park. Meeting Loc.: 1901 Tulpehocken Rd, Wyomissing, PA 19610
March 23, 2024 (Saturday) Green Hills Preserve – Wintering Birds -8:00 am
Wintering birds and early spring arrivals in managed grassland and edge habitats. From Rte. 10, go west on
Rte. 568 (Kurtz Mill Rd.), turn right onto Gunhart Rd. Parking lot is on the right. Coordinator: Art Zdancewic
610-858-3315 Meeting Loc.: Natural Lands' Green Hills Preserve, 553 Gunhart Rd, Mohnton, PA
March 24, 2024 (Sunday) French Creek State Park – Woodcock Watch -7:00 pm
American Woodcock courtship display. Coordinator: Art Zdancewic 610-858-3315
Meet at park office 843 Park Road, Elverson PA 19520.
April 6, 2024 (Saturday) Gring’s Mill - Spring Walk for Early Migrants –8:00 am
Meet at the Gring’s Mill Recreation Area. Dir. East on Broadcasting Rd to end. Make right 1/2 mile toentrance on left. Coordinator and for more information Russ Hoffman 484-794-7053.
Meeting Location: Gring's Mill Recreation Area, 2083 Tulpehocken Rd, Reading, PA 19610
April 9, 2024 (Tuesday) Kernsville Dam & Recreation Area - Rail and Bittern Walk - 8:00 am
Join BOC birders and search for these secretive and elusive birds in the recently enhanced wetlandsof the Kernsville desilting basin. Previously seen here at this time of year were Sora, Virginia Rail andboth Bitterns. The habitat also transitions to river woodlands, so a variety of species is possible.
Coordinator: Matt Wlaniewski, 484-577-3530. Directions: Rte 61 north to the light at Cabella's inHamburg. Make a right onto Jetson Dr. and another onto Industrial Dr. Go 1 mile to Kernsville Dam
Rd. and make left and go to the parking lot. Meeting Location at the big parking Lot: John Bartram
Trail, Hamburg, PA 19526, 40.56242, -75.99471
April 13, 2024 (Saturday) State Game Lands 280 Spring Outing -8:00 am
Walk the fields and edges of Blue Marsh Lake looking for migrant and resident birds.
Coordinator Brian Lineaweaver. Russ Hoffman 484-794-7053
Meeting Location: 40.37066, -76.06973 Directions: State Hill Rd. to Brownsville Rd. Make left andtravel 4 miles to Justa Rd. Take right and go to end and park.
April 21, 2024 (Sunday) Union Meadows - Early Migrants -8:00 am
Spring migrants including early warblers. An easy walk on a wide flat trail through wooded and open
field habitats. Meet at Union Meadows East parking lot, Schuylkill River Trail, Rte.724/East Main St.
in Monocacy, 2 miles east of Birdsboro. Coordinators: Rudy Keller 610-845-7310 Linda Ingram 610621-7473 Meeting loc.: Union Meadows East parking lot, 100 Campbell Ford Road, Douglassville PA
April 27, 2024 (Saturday) Hay Creek Watershed -8:00 am
Walk the Hay Creek Watershed in search of spring warblers, including La. Waterthrush, nesting
raptors and possibly nesting Bank Swallows. Meet at the closed south end on Hay Creek Rd. From
traffic light at Rtes. 568 and 724 in Gibraltar, take 568 west approximately 1.5 miles and turn left on
White Bear Rd. Drive 4 miles through 2 stop signs and turn left on Hay Creek Rd. Drive to the deadend and park on the shoulder Coordinator: Russ Hoffman 484-794-7053, Meeting Location: Old 82 &Parking Area, 2000 Hay Creek Rd, Birdsboro, PA 19508

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April 27, 2024 (Saturday) Butterflies & Botany, Neversink Mountain -10:00 am (with Mengel
Natural History Society) For butterflies flying only in early spring, this is one of the few accessible
Berks County locations. Meet at S 10th & South ST., Reading. (Park on South St.) Coordinators: Karl
Gardner 610-987-3281, Ryan Woolwine 484-883-6461. Meeting Location: 999-975 South St,
Reading, PA 19602. 40.326248, -75.918611
May 4,2024 (Saturday) Nolde Forest Spring Walk -8:00 am
Join BOC members for a walk to search for spring migrants including Louisiana Waterthrush, otherwarblers, and Acadian Flycatcher. Maybe also catch sight of a Barred Owl which usually nests here.
We will meet at the Sawmill Parking Area just off Rt. 625, south on Rt. 625 from Shillington to sign for
Sawmill Parking. Coordinator: Linda Ingram 610-621-7473 Meeting Location: 2910 New Holland Rd,
Reading, PA 19607
May 5, 2024 (Sunday) State Game Lands 106, Pine Swamp Rd. -8:00 am
Excellent location for neotropical migrants and one of the few Berks County locations where Ruffed
Grouse is possible. From Hawk Mt. Sanctuary go south on Hawk Mt. Rd. 4 miles and turn right on
Pine Swamp Rd. Drive 1 mile to parking area on right. From Rte 143, turn left on Hawk Mt. Rd. anddrive 4 miles to Pine Swamp Rd. (left turn) then 2 miles to parking lot on left. Coordinator: Russ
Hoffman 484-794-7053, Rudy Keller 610-845-7310 Meeting Location: Pine Swamp RD, Kempton PA,
19529, 40.6262, -75.9520
May 7, 2024 (Tuesday) Angora Fruit Farm, Berks County Parks - 7:30 am
A good time in a good habitat for migrating spring warblers. The orchard borders a mature woodlandwhich is ideal for a variety of spring migrants. The meeting time is at 7:30 but late arrivers can catchup since the birding area is compact. In the last ten years, 124 bird species have been seen hereaccording to eBird postings. Coordinator: Russ Hoffman - 484-794-7053. Directions: Rte. 12 bypass
to Spring Valley Rd. exit. Make right and drive 1/4 mile to Midnight's Gap Rd. Make left and continue
uphill and down the other side of hill to Angora Rd. Go right and immediately left to park. Meeting
Location: Angora Rd, Reading, PA 19606 , 40.36232, -75.88390
May 11, 2024 (Saturday) Hopewell Furnace NHS – Spring Migrants & Breeding Birds -8:00 am
This revived venue was a hit with walkers last spring! Eastern Towhees & Baltimore Orioles reliable;
spring migrants, shorebirds, maybe. Coordinator: Sheila Martin 610-858-6005 Disregard the nat’l park
gates; still closed at our arrival time. Use 23 Clement Brooke Ln, Elverson 19520 This exact GPS isto their secondary handicapped lot, at historic “boarding house”&“tenant house #3”. Orange cones ID
lane. Limited to ~10 spaces. Restrooms might not be open yet for the season..
May 18, 2024 (Saturday) Exeter Scenic River Trail at Trout Run Park -7:00 am
Spring migrants & breeders along the Schuylkill River. Park anywhere on both sides of the road.
Coordinator Russ Hoffman 484-794-7053 Meeting Location: just before the Exeter Twp. Yard Waste
Composting area next to Trout Run Park, 914-920 East Neversink Rd, Reading, PA

June 1, 2024 (Saturday) Hopewell Big Woods Trail -7:00 am Breeding birds of grassland & edge
habitats. A wide trail meanders through open fields. Yellow-breasted Chat, breeding warblers andWillow Flycatcher are reliable. Since birds and their behaviors are easy to see in this open habitat, we
will watch for breeding behaviors and learn how to enter them in the PA Bird Atlas.
Meet at the trailhead adjacent to Union Township maintenance building. Meeting Location: 165
Center Road, Douglassville Coordinators: Rudy Keller 610-845-7310 & Irene Taylor 610-856-1116.
June 8, 2024 (Saturday) Green Hills Preserve Butterflies -10:00am (with Mengel Natural History
Society) Extensive open fields and some wooded habitat. Directions: From Rte. 10, go west on Rte.
568 (Kurtz Mill Rd.) Turn right onto Gunhart Rd. Parking lot is on the right. Coordinators: Karl Gardner15

610-987-3281, Ryan Woolwine 484-883-6461 Meeting Location: Natural Lands' Green Hills Preserve,
553 Gunhart Rd, Mohnton, PA
June 22, 2024 (Saturday) Dragonflies & Damselflies at Hay Creek-Birdsboro Reservoir-10am(with Mengel Natural History Society) Coordinators: Mike Slater paplantings@gmail.com, Todd
Underwood underwoo@kutztown.edu & Karl Gardner 610-987-3281 A new Location with different
dragonflies. We’ll be looking for Tiger Spiketails, Prince Baskettails and Gray Petaltails plus otherspecies not seen on our walks before!
Meet at the closed south end on Hay Creek Rd. directions as for the April 27 bird walk. Meeting Location: Old 82 & Parking Area, 2000 Hay Creek Rd, Birdsboro, PA
June 29, 2024 (Saturday) Nolde Forest EEC Moth Night -8:30 pm to ? (with Mengel Natural
History Society) – With UV lights and trees baited rotten fruit//beer night insects show up for viewing.
Bring flashlight. Meet at Mansion parking lot. Coordinators: Ryan Woolwine 484-883-6461, Jim Eckert
610-373-1064, Karl Gardner 610-987-3281 Meeting Location: 3025 New Holland Rd, Reading, PA
July 20, 2024 (Saturday) Wildflowers and Pollinators at Union Meadows West -10:00 am (withMengel Natural History Society) A meandering path through this pollinator meadow provides goodaccess for observing a variety of butterflies and bee species. Directions: Route 724 (East Main St.,
Birdsboro) (turn opposite St. Michael's Cemetery) Park in the ball field parking lot. Coordinators: Mike
Slater paplantings@gmail.com, Linda Ingram (610-621-7473) Meeting Location: 980 E Main St,
Birdsboro, PA 19508
August 3, 2024 (Saturday) Blue Marsh Butterflies -10:00 am (with Mengel Natural History
Society) Coordinators: Karl Gardner 610-987-3281 and Ryan Woolwine 484-883-6461
Meeting Location: Blue Marsh Visitor's Center, 1268 Palisades Dr, Leesport, PA 19533
August 17, 2024 (Saturday) Angelica Park Butterflies -10:00 am (with Mengel Natural History
Society) Meet in the parking lot adjacent to Berks Nature, the entrance is off Rt. 10, Morgantown Rd.,at the big sign for Alvernia University. Coordinators: Karl Gardner 610-987-3281, Ryan Woolwine
484-883-6461 Meeting Location: Berks Nature Angelica Creek Park, 575 St Bernardine St, Reading*(GPS addresses are included as given by Google Maps)

Past Season’s Field Trip Reports
Old Morlatton Village, Schuylkill R. Trail – September 5, 2023 – Russ Hoffman
Four BOC members were joined by three first time
participants for the first walk of the fall season. At 4 pm
the temperature was still in the upper nineties, so it wasgood that the trail is mostly under the tree canopy, which
made it somewhat bearable. Although the heat kept thebirds in their secret nooks on a day like this, we still
managed to see 26 species. Also, we were able toanswer the question: What do eagles do on a day when
the heat is extreme? The eagle we saw was sitting in the
middle of the river for the entire time we were there (morethan an hour).
A Bald Eagle cooling off in the Schuylkill River. Photo by Russ Hoffman

16

Angora Fruit Farm - September 12, 2023 – Irene Taylor
September 12th was a beautiful late summer day, cool and crisp with a brilliant blue sky. A group of
BOC members enjoyed a lovely walk around the Angora Fruit Farm grounds, ably led by Russ
Hoffman. We saw a total of 28 species, including great looks at several Cape May Warblers feastingon Devil's Walking Stick (a.k.a. Japanese Angelica Tree, Aralia elata) berries, numerous bluebirds,
blue jays and flickers, and a variety of other birds detailed on the eBird checklist. The checklist also
includes Russ' terrific photo of a female Cape May warbler.
BOMBAY HOOK NWR - September
27, 2023 – Irene Taylor
September 27th, after heavy rainstorms overnight, was overcast anddamp with a moderate northeast
wind, not too promising for
birding. However, 5 BOC birders
who made the trip to Delaware wererewarded with a banner day! We
saw a respectable 58 species,
among them were approximately 104
Blue-winged Teal, 320 Northern
Shovelers, 450 Green-winged Teal

A Merlin at Bombay Hook. Photo by Russ Hoffman

and 220 American Avocets. But the highlights for the
day were 2 American White Pelicans, flying low over
our cars, white plumage with black wingtips and hugeyellow bills very apparent, two perched Merlins and theWestern Sandpiper that 3 birders got to see later in theday. The eBird checklist details all 58 species andincludes a number of Russ Hoffman's terrific photos.

A Western Sandpiper at Bombay Hook. Photo by Russ Hoffman

State Hill Hawk Watch by Russ Hoffman
The fall State Hill, Blue Marsh L. hawk watch consisted of one day each in Sept., Oct., and Nov.
Although it was not a great year for numbers of hawks here, the participants were treated to many
good looks at the raptors that passed by. The best day for Broadwings was Sept. 17, when the countwas 25 during the 6 hours of counting. Bald Eagle sightings were also a highlight as they werecounted in all three months. While local eagles cannot be ruled out, there was enough diversity in theplumages to know some were passing through. Also, many of the eagle sightings were close up as
they checked out the lake for a possible meal. Good looks at passing accipiters occurred on all threedays of the watch. Other sightings of note included Osprey, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, and Northern
Harrier. Spending so much time at one place gives you an idea of what is taking place during theseason. Although we did not count them, the number of Chimney Swifts going past was probably inthe thousands. Other numerous migrants were Tree, Barn, and N. Rough-winged Swallows, Blue
Jays and blackbirds of various species.
17Hopewell Big Woods Trail – November 5, 2023 – Rudy Keller
Birds are not always the highlight of a birdwalk. Our group of eight had been alerted in the parking lot
to be on the lookout for a stray husky and her litter. Not more than a quarter mile down the trail, apiteously yelping husky pup emerged from the tall grass covered with seeds and glad to see friendly
people. Nan Kennedy scooped it up and walked it back to the parking lot, where a dog rescue
volunteer waited. Seeds from the pup’s fur stuck like velcro to Nan’s fleece jacket, becoming a moreor less permanent souvenir of the occasion. We continued on our walk, but the 27 bird species werea bit of an anti-climax.

Berks County Birds, June-July 2023 compiled by Rudy Keller
Abbreviations: Blue Marsh L. (BML), Blue Mt. Academy (BMA), E. J. Breneman Quarry (BQ), French Creek SP(FCSP), Hamburg Reservoir (HRes), Kittatinny Ridge (KR), L. Ontelaunee (LO), Rodale Experimental Farm, Maxatawny Twp. (Rodale).
A non-birding kayaker found Berks County’s first Am. White Pelican on BML early on the morning of
6/16. Word spread on social media and many birders saw and photographed the white giant at BML and laterat nearby BQ, It was last seen at BQ early on 6/18 (JB).
Three overwintering duck species were tardy in leaving this year. Two Am. Wigeons were still at BQ
6/18 (JB). An imm. male Ruddy Duck lingered at BQ till at least 7/8 (RK). Two Ring-necked Ducks were at BMA
6/5 & 8 (DK, JS), one of them staying till 7/10 (DK). Over decades, Ring-necked Duck has been the most likely
non-breeding duck to stay for part or all of the summer. A Hooded Merganser hen was seen with ducklings ina riverine swamp near Old Morlatton Village in May (LI). Common Mergansers again nested along the Manatawny Cr. in Amity Twp. (RS). Both divers have become well established as breeders.
A N. Bobwhite, an escapee first reported in early spring, was seen near Gring’s Mill 6/9 (PJW). Three
Wild Turkey hens leading 30 poults presented a vivid example of breeding success as they crossed Sell Rd. insouthern Berks 6/22 (AZ). Two hens with 12 poults were seen near Shoemakersville 7/15 & 21 (MW). Single
turkeys were reported at many other places. Ruffed Grouse persists on the KR, where one was seen at HRes
6/15 (KG). It is unusual for Eurasian Collared-Doves to be seen outside Shartlesville, but this summer one wasseen to the west at Camp Swatara with three Mourning Doves 7/20 (EH). There were several drive-by viewings of one to four ECDO perched on utility wires along Main St. in Shartlesville during the period. No nest or
dependent young of this dove have yet been found at this colony.
One or two Yellow-billed Cuckoos were intermittently heard at all the usual places, but this was thefirst summer since 2015 during which no Black-billed Cuckoo was reported. An anomalous Common Nighthawk, maybe a late migrant, was seen at 1:15 p.m. in Fleetwood 6/20 (DK). Whip-poor-wills still sing throughsummer nights on the KR. Two were heard near Port Clinton 6/8 (DB) and as many as four were enjoyed byevening birders at Northkill Gap well into Aug.
Two Am. Avocets, apparently finding no suitable place to land, spent much of the afternoon of 7/16
flying back and forth around LO (LI, TL, BL, PJW; photos). Refueling on their northbound flight were 5-8 Semipalmated Plovers at BMA 6/5-7 (DK, JR, AW, MW). Southbound Least Sandpipers, Pectoral Sandpipers, Solitary Sandpipers, Greater Yellowlegs and Lesser Yellowlegs appeared as usual in small numbers in Jul and increased in Aug (m.ob.). Presumably breeding Spotted Sandpipers were reported at about 10 places, one tothree birds per location. Courtship behavior and territorial chases were sometimes noted.
Two late migrating Bonaparte’s Gulls were at BML 7/16 (BL, et al.; photos). A coastal storm pushed an
adult Laughing Gull inland to BML 7/16 (JS; photo). The usual small group (< 12) of Ring-billed Gulls scavenged
18

the beach at BML all summer. A Common Tern at BML 6/8-10 (BL, JR, PJW; photo) stayed long enough to give
several birders good looks. One to six non-breeding Double-crested Cormorants, annually summering birds,
were occasionally reported at BQ, BML, LO and on the Schuylkill R. through Jul.
Every year starting in late May or Jun, local birders see adult Black-crowned Night-Herons at LO or
BML and wonder where they might be nesting. No rookery has been found since 2014, but reports of juveniles
in summer give hope that the ‘Quok’ may still breed in Berks. This year, there were about 10 reports of juveniles, all singletons, between 7/17 and 8/23, probably including multiple sightings of some individuals. Most
were seen with one to four adults at various places around LO and BML, but one juvenile was seen alone at
School Rd. pond, Fleetwood 8/15-23 (RK). Perhaps the coming bird atlas will raise interest in finding a rookery.
The coming atlas may also confirm or debunk the perception that Red-shouldered Hawk (and Barred
Owl) have increased as breeders since the last atlas. There were five reports of the hawk and several of the
owl in the wooded hills of eastern Berks this season, more than usual. The more secretive Broad-winged
Hawk was reported singly at the usual places: Piedmont forest around FCSP, the oak forested KR, and thewooded hills of eastern Berks. Red-headed Woodpecker was confirmed breeding at three locations including
Bastian Rd., Bowers (SFo), a nesting site active for decades. Singletons were seen at several other probablebreeding locations. The only reported Barn Owl was seen by chance when it flushed from a farm and waschased by an Am. Kestrel and other birds into a field in Heidelberg Twp. 6/26 (Anon). Perhaps the easiest way
to confirm breeding by Am. Kestrels is to watch for adults accompanied by fledged young on roadside utility
wires in Jul. Ten such family groups, numbering three to six birds each, were reported at 10 farmland locations
across the county this Jul, a very encouraging breeding outcome for this declining falcon.
Blue-headed Vireos reported in non-breeding habitat at BML 6/1 (JS) and Heidelberg Twp. 6/14 (BL)
belong in the late migrant group. Single birds reported on the KR at Northkill Gap 6/5 (BL) and 6/10 (SF) andthree at HRes 6/9 (KG), where annually found in summer, were in hemlock breeding habitat. Early nesting
Horned Larks are inconspicuous by Jun, but likely breeders were seen or heard on various dates in the limestone farm belt of the Great Valley that extends across central Berks. There are many Purple Martin colonies
on farms in the Great Valley, but none documented by their owners or by birders except on drive-by counts. A
colony at Fleetwood Mennonite School had about 50 birds 6/30 (Anon). Our only known Bank Swallow colony
at Haines & Kibblehouse Quarry near Birdsboro got little attention. Four birds were seen there 6/7 (TU) andnine on 6/11 (AW). The perception that the two Cliff Swallow colonies at LO (now 57 years old) are declining
was reinforced by a count of only 20 birds at each of the bridges in mid-Jun (RK). As recently as 2017, thecount for both bridges was 140. The only other colony reported to be active (there were once five) was thesmall one at the bridge on Old Church Rd, BML, where just four birds were seen 6/17 (EB).
There have been many reports over the years of White-throated Sparrows lingering into Jun. This
year’s bird was singing in a rhododendron thicket at HRes 6/9 (KG). The grassland sparrow trio continues to bewell reported in Berks farmland. Up to six Grasshopper Sparrows were counted in the Monument Rd., Hamburg hay fields in Jun (KG). As many as eight Savannah Sparrows were found in the shaggy pastures at Rodale,with several breeding confirmations. Vesper Sparrow, often the under-reported member of the trio, was citedseven times on seven farms. Swamp Sparrow, an uncommon and thinly distributed breeder, was reported
twice in suitable breeding habitat. One was in a wetland along Ammon Rd. near FCSP 7/18 (S&F) and two wereat Hamburg Commerce Park basins 7/24 (SH).
One to four Yellow-breasted Chats pleased birders with their antics in Jun along the Big Woods Trail,
FCSP, where everyone goes to see them. One was reported at Green Hills Preserve 6/24 (AZ). Bobolinks and E.
Meadowlarks persist in pockets of habitat that may sustain breeding, but reported numbers are small (mostly
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one to three birds per location, sometimes more of Bobolinks), and breeding outcomes are largely unknown.
However, small groups can reproduce, evidenced by breeding confirmation (via CF) of Bobolink at Goose Run
Park near Pottstown, where only two or three birds were present (NW, JT).
Yet more additions to the lengthy list of tardy migrants of 2023 are a Magnolia Warbler and a Canada
Warbler at Hay Cr. 6/3 (BL), a Blackpoll Warbler at FCSP 6/4 (CL) and another at Hay Cr. 6/13 (BL). A Blackburnian Warbler at HRes 6/13 (KG), though singing in hemlocks, probably should also be part of this group.
Counts of seven Worm-eating Warblers on the rocky slopes of Neversink Mt., Reading 6/11 (CL) and five at
Northkill Gap on the KR 6/10 (SF), indicated healthy breeding populations. Kentucky Warbler, often confined
to one or two locations, was reported at five this summer. Three were previously occupied sites, but birds on
the Appalachian Trail near Rt. 183 on 6/3 (RW) and at Bear Creek Resort in eastern Berks 7/15 (AR) were on
new territory. Hooded Warbler’s winning streak continues. Its stronghold is the large, mature Piedmont forest
around FCSP, where 17 were counted in an old burn area on the Berks/Chester line 7/28 (PW), and 13 atneighboring Hopewell Furnace Natl. Historic Site 7/13 (PW). Up to 10 were counted at HRes on the KR in Jun(KG). About three were at each of two sites in the more fragmented woods of the eastern Berks hills in Jun(RK). Blue-winged Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler and Prairie Warbler, all of which need some form of early
successional habitat, were reported at only one or two sites each. Our KR specialty warblers are Blackthroated Blue Warbler and Black-throated Green Warbler. Singing BTBW were at three places in Jun (DB, KG,
BL), more than usual. The slightly more common BTGW was at about four places, including HMS, but seems tobe best established in the hemlock/rhododendron ravine at HRes, where 2-4 males can be found annually(KG).
One or two Blue Grosbeaks were reported at each of 11 locations, which is about standard. Dickcissels
returned to Rodale’s rotationally grazed pastures for the eighth consecutive year, first seen 5/20 and last reported 7/30 (m.ob.). As in previous years, birders mostly reported one, sometimes two, males singing tirelessly from roadside utility wires. No female was reported till 7/30, when a male and female were photographed while perched near each other on a fence. There was no breeding confirmation. Dickcissels were reported on none of the other farms that had intermittently attracted them in the past.
OBSERVERS: Rudy Keller, rckeller544@gmail.com, Anonymous eBirder, Joe Beatrice, Ed Bernot, Dan
Brennan, Kevin Dougherty, Steve Ferreri, Steve Fordyce, Kerry Grim, Scott Harp, Eric Hartshaw, Russ Hoffman,
Linda Ingram, Dan Knarr, Chris Langman, Tom Lecky, Brian Lineaweaver, Andrew Reiter, John Ruggles, Jo
Spilde, Robert Sprague, Stollery & Flood, Jaime Thomas, Todd Underwood, Patty Werth, Nicholas Wilson,
Renee Wolcott, Andy Wlasniewski, Matt Wlasniewski, Peter & Jane Wolfe, Art Zdancewic.

Berks County Birds, Fall 2023 compiled by Matt Wlasniewski August –November, 2023
Locations: Angora Fruit Farm (AFF), Berne Township (BT), Bernhardt’s Dam (BD), Blue Mountain Academy(BMA), Blue Marsh Lake (BML), Blue Marsh Lake State Hill Boat Launch (BMLSH), Blue Marsh Lake Sheidy Boat
Launch (BMLSBL), Blue Marsh Stilling Basin (BMSB), EJ Breneman Quarry (BQ), French Creek State Park (FCSP),
Gotwal’s Pond (GP), Hamburg Commerce Park (HCP), Hamburg Reservoir (HR), Hawk Mountain North Lookout
Data (HMNL), Hawk Mountain South Lookout (HMSL), 183 Hawk Watch (HW), Hay Creek (HC), Kaercher Creek(KC), Kernsville Dam Recreation Area (KDRA), Kutztown University (KU), Lake Ontelaunee (LO), Lake
Ontelaunee Bailey’s Creek (LOBC), Lake Ontelaunee Blue Falls (LOBF),Lake Ontelaunee Water Street (LOWA),
Lake Ontelaunee West Shore Drive (LOWS), Lowland Road Retention Pond (LRRP), Mount Penn (MP), Northkill
Gap (NG), Peter’s Creek (PC), Pine Swamp Road (PSR), Rodale Experimental Farm (REF), School Road Pond
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(SRP), Shartlesville Farm Pond (SFP), State Game Lands 52 (SGL52), State Game Lands 106 (SGL106), State
Game Lands 110 North Kill Gap (SGL110), State Game Lands 280 Brownsville (SGL280), State Hill Hawk Watch(SHHW), Willow Run Farm Fleetwood (WRFF).
Above average rainfall in both August and September resulted in scattered numbers of passerine
migrants and several unproductive days at Berks raptor migration sites. The Atlantic hurricane season was
overly active; however, due to the effects of El Nino weather patterns, the named storms had little effectinland. The persistent large fires in the northwestern Canadian forests were thought to have impact on
migration routes, which resulted in some unusual birds throughout the county.
Waterfowl movement was relatively light this quarter. Snow Goose activity was not significant at hawk
watches or lakes. A surprising find at LO 11/29 (RK) were two adult and two immature Ross’s Geese that werelikely a family unit. Reports of immature Ross’s Geese are rare in the East and previously unknown in Berks.
Off-ridge numbers of Brant are rare and in small numbers if found on the two large lakes In Berks. The 116
Brant that made a brief appearance at BML10/30 (AP, JS, BW, KW) were definitely unusual. The only report ofoff-ridge Tundra Swans were 12 that stopped at BML 11/10 (JW, PW).
Bay ducks were slim this quarter. Eight Black Scoter 11/1 at LO (RK) and twenty-five Bufflehead 11/2 at
BML (JSp) took refuge during stormy weather. An annual but rare Red-necked Grebe was a storm surprise at
LO 11/2 (AP).
Eurasian Collared-Doves were consistently present in the area of First Street in Shartlesville, usually insmall numbers. Common Nighthawk numbers seemed above average in several locations. These totals werereported at three sites on 8/26: 48 at HMNL, 52 in Hamburg along the Schuylkill River (MW) and a notable 145
at KDRA (KG). Eastern Whip-poor-will continued to be active in August with 4 heard 8/1 at SGL110 (RK) and alone “whip” called 8/9 in District Twp. (RK). JS was astounded 8/31 when a “whip” flew over her Bern
Township residence. KG witnessed a remarkable migration event when 745 Chimney Swifts passed over KDRA
8/28.
Since the draining and reseeding of the impoundment at KCP, shorebird sightings have shifted to newvenues. Fleetwood’s SRP maintains a small feeding area for shorebirds with a good variety of species but notin great numbers. Two American Golden-Plovers at SRP 9/10 (RK) were reduced to one 9/28 (JR). JSp found
one Semipalmated Plover 8/12 SRP. A small wetland near a commercial pumpkin crop on Krause Road
provided a short-term feeding area for a Short-billed Dowitcher 8/22 (BL). A rare fall migrant Stilt Sandpiper
lingered 8/26 to 10/5 at BD (m.ob.) On 9/3, MW watched two Stilt Sandpipers at SRP. Dunlin are usually foundin scattered rain pools. From 10/30 to 11/12, Dunlin numbers varied from 1-3 at SRP (m. ob.). On 10/31, JR
happened upon 3 Dunlin at BML. The farm pond on Zweizig Road, Hamburg is often covered in a thick growthof algae. A lone Baird’s Sandpiper was seen balancing on the algae covering 8/18-8/20 (JR, AW, MW). On
8/22, another Baird’s Sandpiper found more suitable feeding at BD (BL). One of the rarest migrant shorebirds,
a White-rumped Sandpiper was seen at SRP 9/26 (RK) and 10/13 (JW, PW). One to three Semipalmated
Sandpipers were found 8/5 to 9/28 at SRP (m. ob.).
The raft of 116 Brant at BML 10/30 was more unusual than first thought. Mixed in with the Brant were
five or six Black Guillemot (BW, KW, RW). The Black Guillemot swam through the Brant making it difficult to
get a sure count. Although the birds were not photographed, a rare bird report was filed with PA Birds. If thisreport is accepted, this will definitely be a new species for Berks County and perhaps Pennsylvania. The raft of
Brant was harassed by American Herring Gulls which flushed the Black Guillemot. They were not relocatedand were deemed to be misplaced by the stormy weather.
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An unusually high number of 13 Bonaparte Gulls were seen at LO 11/7 (JSp). Caspian Terns are
irregular visitors to Berks lakes. Three sightings were reported: one at LO 8/21 (RK), five at BML 8/26 (RH) andone at LO 8/29 (MW). An increasingly rare Black Tern made an even rarer 8/18 visit to BML (AP). RH, on one of
his frequent visits to BML, photographed a Common Tern 10/7.
Anhingas are unusual migrants at HMNL. They are usually observed high above the rocky outcrop in
the middle of a hot hazy autumn day. On 9/14, an Anhinga appeared over the lookout and circled in a thermal
until it was out of sight (HMNL).
A Common Loon gave some good looks 11/29 at LOWS (RF, DG). Black-crowned Night Herons’
preferred fishing ground is LO, so an adult Black-crowned Night Heron seemed out of place at SRP 8/14-8/23(m. obs.). Five Black-crowned Night Herons seemed to be at home at LOBF 8/12 (JSp). On 8/17, MW watched
an adult Black-Crowned Night Heron trying to fish in the spillway below LO dam. A light fishing line dangledfrom its bill with the hook imbedded in its lower mandible. The heron did not appear to be suffering but its
fishing was not successful. In July, MW spent an hour trying to rescue a Green Heron that was hanging above
an LO cove at the fishermen’s pull-off. A long piece of fishing line was wrapped around one wing. The bird
must have been spinning above the water for hours. That spot is a favorite for local fishermen, but it iscovered with litter and discarded fishing lines. MW was able to snag the line, bring the Green Heron to shore
and remove the fishing line. A single immature Little Blue Heron found SRP to its liking and remained there
8/22-8/31 (m. obs.). The pond at the Zweizig Farm was a quiet place for a Little Blue Heron 8/15 (MW).
While birders were enjoying the exotic Tropical Kingbird 11/6 – 12/1 at WRFF, a Western Cattle Egret
appeared in a neighboring pasture 11/17-11/24 (MSc). The small egret was difficult to spot as it fed aroundthe cattle and behind the tall grasses. Great Egrets were reported throughout Berks 8/1-9/25 (m. obs.).
A Wood Stork, a first for Hawk Mountain’s records, appeared near the Donat 8/31 (PH), then passed
by HMNL on its journey south. A rare bird report was filed with PA Birds. It was a quiet August day at HMNL
and the few visitors were given a special treat for enduring the August heat with the staff and counters. The
only previous Berks Co. record is of a bird found dead in Albany Twp. in 1921.
A self-proclaimed casual birder spotted a Roseate Spoonbill as she walked her dog along theTulpehocken Creek near Reading 10/15 (anon.). She first saw the Roseate Spoonbill as it appeared to benapping in a tree. It quietly dropped down to the creek bank, after which the surprised birder walked on but
not before taking several photographs which have been sent to PA Birds. After she realized how unique hersighting was, the birder notified some birding friends but the Roseate Spoonbill could not be located that day
or the next. If accepted by PORC, the sighting is a first for Berks.
August 31 was a day for unusual sightings at HMNL. Sandhill Cranes make appearances each fall but
usually as single birds. A high count of five Sandhill Cranes appeared above the ridge 8/31 (HMNL) andcontinued down the ridge to the south.
A summary of the 2023 Raptor Count Season at HMNL will be published in a future edition of PA Birds.
Highlights for the season are: a new record of 619 Bald Eagles, five American Goshawks, 7,365 Broadwings
and first Golden Eagle on 10/15. The wrap up for the season will address totals for each species and theeffects of numerous rainy days and the fires in western Canada forests. Locally, Broadwings wandered awayfrom the ridges on 9/18 when MW counted 130 in a kettle over Hamburg. For the past four years, reports
have been made of albino/leucistic Red-tailed Hawks in the West Leesport countryside. On 11/7-9, MW
observed a leucistic Red-tailed Hawk along River Road south of Hamburg. A local farmer reported he has seen
this beautiful hawk several times over the summer.
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Northern Saw-whet Owl banding was active at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary this fall. A summary reportwill be issued in a future PA Birds. An off-ridge Northern Saw-whet Owl was heard at SGL106 11/20 (AP) andnear a Bern Township residence 11/1 (JS). On 9/11, a Great Horned Owl delighted a Bern Townshiphomeowner with its serenade in her backyard (JS).
An Olive-sided Flycatcher was very cooperative as it hawked insects from its snag perch at AFF 8/21 –8/29 (m.obs.). Nearby, a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher also delighted birders as it fed in its favorite apple tree at
AFF 8/24-8/28 (m.obs.). SGL 280 proved to be suitable habitat for these flycatchers: Acadian Flycatcher 8/27
(BL) and Alder Flycatcher 8/14 (BL). Least Flycatcher sightings were numerous during migration with no
dedication seen to staying on the ridges 8/1 – 10/3 (m.obs.).
The numerous reports of vagrant western kingbirds and flycatchers were a source of envy for Berks
birders. That is until November 6 when NW followed up on the report of a strange yellow bird hanging around
farm buildings on Pleasant Hill Road, Fleetwood. With cooperation of the land owner, NW was able to see theTropical Kingbird that was feeding off the insects clinging to the silos around the barnyard. Permission was
obtained for birders to park in the nearby Walnuttown Mennonite Church if their hours of worship were
honored. It is pleasant to report that there were no reports of bad birder behavior and because of that, access
was given for closer observation. Needless to say, hundreds of birders were able to photograph the bird. A
rare bird report was filed with PORC along with confirmation via audio recording. The Tropical Kingbird waslast reported December 2 as temperature dropped and insect life dwindled.
Philadelphia Vireos were reported 9/09-9/16 at MP and the Reading Pagoda (JSo). A daily ritual of Fish
Crow movement from daily feeding grounds to their evening roosts near the Schuylkill River continued 8/209/16 (MW). The daily count numbered 200 to 300 Fish Crows.
Purple Finch were reported 8/1 – 11/30 throughout Berks (m.obs.). Three White-winged Crossbills
flew by HMNL 11/6 (TH). Pine Siskins were the most numerous of the winter finches. High daily counts at
HMLS were: 181 on 11/2 and 164 on 11/6 (TH). Early Snow Bunting reports were from the fields surrounding
Lyons and Fleetwood 11/13 (JY) and 11/18 (DB).
The fields of the Kempton Valley proved excellent feeding areas once the crops were harvested. On
10/25, TH found a Clay-colored Sparrow that tarried there for a couple of days. A Vesper Sparrow kept the
Clay-colored Sparrow company 10/25 (TH). A second record for Berks County, a Leconte’s Sparrow was foundat Kempton Community Park grassland 10/25 (TH - photo) and found and photographed again 10/27 (JH,
DDR). Lincoln’s Sparrows made many appearances in Berks 9/8 – 11/1 (m.obs.). Two Lincoln’s Sparrows werereported on two occasions: 9/17 at KDRA (KG) and 9/19 at KDRA (AW).
Fall warbler migration at HMNL was sporadic due to weather conditions and wind direction andvelocity. September 4 and 5 were excellent morning flight days. On 9/4, fifteen species of warblers passed thelookout. That afternoon, 82 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds buzzed the lookout (HMNL). On 9/5, 122 Cape May
Warblers were tallied at HMNL. On 11/25, the much sought-for Orange-crowned Warbler appeared at BML(DW, GW, NW). The rare Connecticut Warbler was found at Union Meadows Park 10/3 (PWe, JWe). Anotherfall warbler jewel, the Wilson’s Warbler, cooperated for (JSp) on 9/29 at Bastian Road, Lyons.
Note: This is my last quarterly report for PA Birds and the Distelfink. I have every issue of PA Birds
including the very first and have always thought we have a fantastic journal. Publishing each issue requires
hundreds of hours of labor from bird walks to the printing of each journal. It’s been hard work but I’ve been
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proud to contribute to this fine publication. Thanks to all the Berks birders who have given me theirobservations over the years.
Observers: Matt Wlasniewski, 191 Scenic Drive, Hamburg, PA 19526, 610-463-8845,
martind28@comcast.net Ed Barrell, Joe Beatrice, David Berford, Bracken Brown, Lucy Cairns (LCr), Liz Cates,
David De Reamus, Kevin Dougherty, Cheryl Faust, Steven Fordyce, Roana Fuller, Kerry Grim, Mary-Therese
Grob, Deborah Grove, Hawk Mountain Data, Holly Hartshorne, Troy Herrel, Jason Horn, Russell Hoffman, PaulHeveran, Rudy Keller, Edward Komito, Brian Lineaweaver, Kevin Lutz, Andy Matsko, Holly Merker, Zach Millen,
Sandra Moroney, Paul Nale, Steve Northrop, Derek Price, Brent Richardson, John Ruggles, Peter Saenger,
Aaron Shirk, Joan Silagy, Jacob Socolar (JSo), Joan Spilde ( JSp), Michael Schall (MSc), Mike Slater (MS), Jamie
Thomas, P Tranquillo, Todd Underwood, Bill Uhrich, Karen Wagner, Ron Wagner, Helen Weaver, Drew Weber,Grace Weber, Nelson Weber, John Werth (JWe), Patty Werth (PWe), Barb Witman, Andy Wlasniewski, Jane
Wolfe, Peter Wolfe, Joe Yuhas, Art Zdancewic.

Birding in Monterey, California – Peter & Jane Wolfe
Photos by Peter Wolfe
A birding trip tosunny California
with Road
Scholar,November 26 to
December 1,
2023, sounded
good to us so we
signed up. The
San Jose Airport
proved to be very
convenient forthis trip.
Our first day in CA
on our own weenjoyed theMonterey
Aquarium. FromThe Old St Angela
Inn Bed andBreakfast in Pacific Grove, a quiet suburb of Monterey, we walked on the Monterey Bay Coastal Trail to theAquarium. The Pacific Ocean crashed onto rocks due to the King Tide. What a sight! A highlight at the
Aquarium was meeting a 17 year old Laysan Albatross who could not survive in the wild due to a broken wing.

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For the Road Scholar trip, we
stayed at Hidden Valley Music
Seminars in Carmel Valley. A
comfortable bus carried the 14
people in our group with ourguide Steve Johnston. At Point
Lobos State Natural Reserve wefound Townsend’s Warbler,
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Audubon’s (with the yellow
throat), Western Gull (pink legs),
Heermann’s Gull, Brandt’s
Cormorant, Black Turnstone, Black
Oystercatcher, and Brown Pelican.
The next day, we parked in adevelopment on Holman Road,
1Whimbrel (left) and Long-billed Curlew (right)

with the homeowner’s permission. Here we saw
California Scrub-Jay, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Western
Bluebird, Oak Titmouse, Golden-crowned Sparrow (ouronly lifer) and White-crowned Sparrow, California
Towhee, and Acorn Woodpecker. A group of Bushtit
were busy in a bush.
We drove the impressive 17 Mile Road, stopping at
Pebble Beach Golf Club. On the grass were 8 Greater
White-fronted Geese. At the marina pier, an Osprey
stood on top of a sailboat mast, oblivious to everything
happening below. We also saw Double-crested
Golden-crowned sparrow
Cormorant, Short-billed (Mew) Gull, Black Turnstone,
Eared Grebe, and Bufflehead. During a photo-op at The Lone Cypress, whale spouts were seen far out in theocean. Next stops were Bird Rock Vista Point, Asilomar State Beach, and Quail Lodge Golf Club. Whimbrel,Long-billed Curlew, Marbled Godwit, 4 Sanderlings, Hooded Merganser, Ring-necked Duck, and Black Phoebe
were added to our list.
Docents Deb and Jackie opened the Discovery Center at Palo Corona Regional Park just for us. There we
examined a display explaining El Nino (warmer) and La Nina (cooler) water in the Pacific Ocean, and an
example of Tule Boat built of bundles of tule reeds. Walking the grounds, we saw Chestnut-backed Chickadee,
American Robin, American Crow, Common Raven, Lesser Goldfinch, and Nuttall’s Woodpecker.
On a free afternoon, one of our group, Anne from Alaska, accompanied Peter and Jane to Cachagua
Community Park along the Carmel River Riparian Corridor. We enjoyed great views of some of the western
birds and added Brown Creeper to our list.
Our last full day with Road Scholar, we started at Salinas River State beach, then Moss Landing Harbor, to Jetty
Rd including Moss Landing State Beach and Moss Landing Wildlife Area. We were happy to see Snowy Egret,Great Egret, Willet, Greater Yellowlegs, Black-necked Stilt, White-tailed Kite, Ruddy Duck, Common
25Goldeneye, Surf Scoter, Clark’s Grebe, Pacific Loon, and Common Loon. Our final stop was at Elkhorn Slough,formerly a cattle ranch with the old barns still standing. Northern Pintail, Gadwall, American Wigeon, 300
Least Sandpipers, and Black-bellied Plover were seen here.

Dec 1 after adding Spotted Towhee, Steller’s Jay, Anna’s Hummingbird, and Red-shouldered Hawk to the list,
we said goodbye to our Road Scholar friends, and headed to Pinnacles National Park. We parked at Chaparral
Parking Area on the west side, walked a short distance into the park where to our great excitement weobserved 5 California Condors flying above with Turkey Vultures. At least 40 California Quail flushed as weheaded back to our car. A fitting ending to a great trip! Trip total was 98 species.

White-tailed Kite

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BAIRD ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB ANNUAL
BANQUET May 10, 2024
Held jointly with the

MENGEL NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY
Program: George L. Armistead

Founder and Guide of Hillstar Nature
Presents:“pOrnithology: The Birds, and the Birds & the Bees”❖ A PG-rated talk with an R-rated title❖ A highlight reel of interesting reproductive-related behavior❖ Copious innuendo to keep the concepts grounded firmly insubjectivity❖ Even a little science thrown in too!
George Armistead, a birder since
the age of nine years old, has a long history in connecting people with nature
through guided trips and expedition travel. Leading field trips since his
teenage years he began guiding tours professionally in 2002. After 20 yearsof developing and guiding tours to dozens of countries across all sevencontinents, he formed Hillstar Nature with the goal of bringing together ateam who can provide fulfilling and authentic wildlife experiences.

Location: The Peanut Bar, 332 Penn St. Reading, PA 19602
5:30 pm - Social hour, book signing, cash bar
6:00 pm – Chicken Marsala (boneless, skinless breast sautéed with shallots & mushrooms, finished with a Marsala wine sauce,
served over pasta) OR Lemon Parmesan Flounder (fillet of flounder dusted with breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, finished withlemon and butter), Salad, Dessert, Coffee/Tea. Vegetarian and Gluten Free options are available, indicate on the reservation
form below.
Cost: $40.00 per person
Reservation Deadline is Thursday April 18
Pay online at: https://bairdornithological.club/boc-banquet-registration
Or by check payable to BOC
Send with payment to: Charles Coleman, 129 Grecian Terrace, Sinking Spring PA 19608
Questions? Call Charles Coleman 610-763-2548-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Names(s) attending: ________________________________________________________________________________
Amount Enclosed: $ ____________________________Your Phone # _____________________

E-mail ____________________________________________________

Gluten Free option # (Selected by Restaurant) ________

Vegetarian options # (Selected by Restaurant) ________
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Baird Ornithological Club gratefully acknowledges our Sustaining
Donors of ‘23-‘24
Katie Andrews
Christine A. Basso
Sandy Bixler
Dan & Christine Brennan
Lucy J. Cairns
Charles Corbit
Ian Cost
Lynn Cronomiz
Anthony Damore
Jeffrey & Cheryl Dorko

Jeffrey Duplak
Gregory George
Sean Grace
Marie Therese Grob
Russell Hoffman
Linda Ingram
Rudy Keller
Nancy Kennedy
Sheila A. Martin
Heather McFadden

Phil Phucas
Mr. & Mrs. Barry Pounder
Jonathan Ruiz-Cortes
Hannah Salvatore
Mike & Jan Slater
Irene Taylor
Bryan & Karen Wang
Sue Yoder
Deb Yohn

Baird Ornithological Club, Current Officers and directors
Sheila Martin

President (2023-25) sheilamartin554@gmail.com

Vice President(office vacant)

Ian Cost

Secretary (2023-25) bairdornsec@gmail.com

Charles Coleman

Treasurer (2023-25) coleman1801@comcast.net

Lucy Cairns, Immediate Past President(2023-25) ljanetcairns@gmail.com

Directors:
Mike Slater(2021-24) paplantings@gmail.com(&Website manager and newsletter composer)
Russell Hoffman(2022-25) Russhoff@yahoo.com(and Field Trip Coordinator)
Hannah Salvatore(2022-25) hannah.salvatore@comcast.net

Lynn Cronomiz(2023-26) Lynsekie@ptd.net(and Social Media Coordinator)
Irene Taylor(2023-26) iltaylor@dejazzd.com

Linda Ingram Newsletter Coordinatorlindamingram29@gmail.com

Rudy Keller Newsletter Editor and
Avian Report Compiler for the Summer & Winterrckeller@dejazzd.com

Avian Report Compiler for the Fall and Spring season - open

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BOC MEMBERSHIP and Renewal- Payment is for September 2023 – August 2024••

Regular Membership Dues $15/ year /per person
Sustaining Membership Dues $25 or more/ year / per person(This recently established category helps us support our programs and activities and will berecognized in our newsletter.)

Now we have two ways to join or renew your B.O.C. membership!
••

We will still happily take a check and the completed membership form (below) or
you can do it online though our website at https://bairdornithological.club/join-or-pay-duesonline in two easy steps! 1) Use the button to pay with a credit card or Paypal. Pay the appropriate amount and step 2) Fill out the online information form and submit it. By joining
or renewing online you give your permission for BOC to contact you by email for club relatedannouncements and newsletters.

If paying by mail, please print out this form and mail it to the address below.
Name(s):Address:
Email address:________________________________________________________
Note: An email address is required if you want to receive electronic communications and thelink to receive the digital copy of The Distelfink from BOC and links for when the club’s
meetings are held via Zoom in the winter. By supplying my email address, I give mypermission for BOC to contact me by email for club related announcements and newsletters.
[ ] I do not have access to or can’t read an electronic version of the newsletter. Please sendme a quick-printed version by USPS.
Phone # (optional): ___________________________________
Send this form with payment to the BOC Treasurer: Charles Coleman, 129 Grecian Terrace,
Sinking Spring, PA 19608-1164 coleman1801@comcast.net

29