Berks County birding lovers have been profitable find 249 species of birds within the county in 2023. This is three wanting the 20-year common of species seen.
The sightings might be sorted into classes. Species seen just a few occasions within the recorded historical past of Berks birding can be thought-about uncommon within the county. Species seen each few years are listed as informal. Birders had sightings of species that match into each classes.
Rare in Berks 2023
In this class, a swallow-tailed kite was seen by Kate Harms on May 9 north of Reading. Ten days later one other kite was photographed in Moselem Springs by me. This is a placing chook with black and white plumage and a deeply forked tail. The chook usually happens in southern Florida and alongside the Gulf coast. There have been three of those birds seen right here in 1995 in southern Berks, however solely twice since.
In June, a kayaker at Blue Marsh observed a big white chook sitting on the lake. He was capable of establish it as an American white pelican. It is the primary time it has been seen in Berks County. The chook was photographed and seen once more at Breneman’s Quarry in Spring Township by a number of birders.
Troy Herrel, a member of the Hawk Mountain workers, noticed a Leconte’s sparrow on the Kempton Community Center in October. This chook has solely been seen just a few occasions within the county.
Another first for the county was a tropical kingbird that confirmed up within the neighborhood of the Weber household Willow Run Farm north of Reading in early November.
Nelson and Grace Weber are native birders and members of the Baird Ornithological Club, and Nelson’s brother Lin and daughter are homeowners of the farm the place the chook was first seen. With the assistance of Nelson and Grace’s son Drew, who’s employed on the Cornell Ornithology Lab, they have been capable of get a recording of the chook’s vocalizations and establish it as a tropical kingbird.
This chook is pretty widespread in Central and South America however isn’t seen within the U.S. within the Southwest. The Webers have been gracious hosts and welcomed many guests to the farm to see this rarity.
In late December, Bill Uhrich was walking alongside the Schuylkill River close to RACC on the lookout for an unusually late warbler, an American redstart that he had seen on the Reading Christmas Bird Count. What he discovered as a substitute was the primary document of ash-throated flycatcher in Berks County, a chook of the Southwest.
Flycatchers often depart the usin winter as a result of lack of bugs that they feed on. A number of birders bought to see this chook over the last days of 2023, a becoming finish to the birding yr 2023 in Berks County.
Every yr Berks birders discover fascinating and thrilling species of birds within the county as they pursue their ardour for journey and new experiences. While these sightings should not thought-about uncommon, the birds should not seen yearly in Berks and the documentation of their presence provides to the historical past of chook life in our space.
Early within the yr, on Jan. 9, an orange-crowned warbler was photographed within the space of the Blue Marsh Lake Dry Brooks boat launch. This sometimes seen chook was discovered once more late within the yr in the identical space by members of the Weber household.
On the identical day in the identical place, a clay-colored sparrow was seen and photographed, a good-looking chook not discovered yearly within the county.
In May, L. Ingram heard a reverberating warbler music alongside the Schuylkill River Trail at Morlatton Village in Douglass Township that she acknowledged as a prothonotary warbler. The chook was confirmed by {a photograph} the next day. This warbler is pretty widespread south of Pennsylvania however not seen yearly in Berks.
Also in May, two of the extra elusive flycatchers have been seen at Angora Fruit Farm. T. Underwood discovered a yellow-bellied and lots of birders noticed an olive-sided.
In mid-July, J. and L. Spilde found a laughing gull at Blue Marsh Lake. While this gull is widespread alongside the Atlantic Coast, it not often wanders inland and is scarce in Berks County. Okay. Grim heard and noticed the secretive marsh wren in September at Kernsville Stilling Basin. The wren’s loud chatter is definitely heard and acknowledged because it skulks among the many cattails.
Long time birder J. Silagy was shocked to see a raft of goose-like birds known as brant on Blue Marsh Lake on the finish of October. Brant are smaller than Canada geese and sport a skinny, white necklace. They might be fairly widespread close to the Atlantic Coast however not often are discovered inland so far as Berks County.
In December, R. Keller was checking Breneman’s Quarry with a recognizing scope on the lookout for visiting waterfowl and noticed a small white goose. He was capable of establish the chook as a Ross’s goose. These geese are pretty widespread within the western U. S. however scarce within the east.
Some different noteworthy sightings have been reported in 2023 however didn’t get listed within the eBird database. A roseate spoonbill was seen and photographed alongside the Tulpehocken Creek within the Gring’s Mill space. This is a chook that not often wanders north from the intense southern a part of the nation.
An skilled chook counter at Hawk Mountain watched a wooden stork sail by on the Berks County aspect of the lookout. This is one other chook of the deep South, however it’s extra susceptible to wander.
Overall, the 2023 birding yr was distinctive. Local birders have been in a position so as to add fascinating species to their Berks County life checklist. We stay up for the brand new yr with anticipation of recent and thrilling experiences.
The native Baird Ornithological Club is the second-oldest membership of its form in Pennsylvania and is open to the general public. Check out the web site for extra data.
Russ Hoffman is a long-time member of the Baird Ornithological Club and has photographed birds all through the world.