The weather in western Pennsylvania was great last weekend so I ignored my chores and spent both days outdoors.
I’m glad I did. Spring migration is gearing up and I saw a several new arrivals.
On Saturday I went north to Jefferson County and hiked near the Clarion River. The woods there are full of yellow-bellied sapsuckers (they nest there) and I saw two species who had just arrived from the south: blue-headed vireos and a broad-winged hawk. The vireos traveled from Florida or the Gulf coast to get to northern Pennsylvania, but the broad-wing made quite a long trip — from South America — and he was still traveling when I saw him.
Yesterday I went south to Cedar Creek Park in Westmoreland County along the Youghiogeny River. The wildflowers are gorgeous at Cedar Creek and so are the birds. The streams and the river attracted three new arrivals: yellow-throated warblers sang from the sycamores, Louisiana waterthrushes sang in the stream valleys and a northern parula (shown above) sang from the top of an oak.
It’s always exciting to see new birds. How quickly they become “old” to me!
(photo by Chuck Tague)
Kate, I know we all have “peregrine fever” right now, but I just wanted to let you know that I appreciate your other posts too! And the Cornell Lab of Ornithology website is fantastic – especially the “voice” button. Thanks for all you do to make us more aware of the natural world around us!
I give a full throated “Ditto” in appreciation for your nature gems. I hope the public schools are alerted to this website, so that the students who have an interest in nature can tune in and get these precious bits.