On Saturday, my friend Jon and I visited what I now believe to be the best Warbler hotspot in the area – the Delaware Water Gap NRA Headquarters in Bushkill and Freeman Tract Road, which is nearby and follows the Delaware River. I’ve been reading previous eBird reports from this area and they were loaded with Northern Parulas, Cerulean Warblers, Hooded Warblers and more really good birds. We had to go check it out during prime migration. The trees are tall and the birds stayed up high for the most part, but that did not stop us from seeing good birds and having a great time.
We knew that it would be a good day when the very first bird we heard when we stepped out of the car was a Golden-winged Warbler. A life bird for Jon and my first time seeing one outside of Ohio.
This was another Golden-winged Warbler that we spotted later on
We birded around the Water Gap Headquarters waiting for the sun to peak through the clouds. The building overlooks a really nice marsh that is full of birds.
Blackbirds, Grackles, Swamp Sparrows and Rails love this habitat
Tree Swallows, Ducks and Warblers seem to be around this part
We found a couple of hot spots that provided loads of birds moving through the trees and brush around the water. Some of them came down low, but for the most part they were distant. We saw and heard 50 species around the marsh.
Blue-gray Gnatcatchers are abundant
Tree Swallows in a natural nest
Yellow Warbler near the marsh
Red-winged Blackbird displaying
American Robin on a log
Green Heron hunting in the reeds
After exploring a bit up the hill, we made our way down to Freeman Tract Road, with our windows opened. On our way down, we heard a bird sing in the trees and I instantly knew that is was one of our target birds – the Cerulean Warbler. We had a few of them singing in the one spot.
One of many Cerulean Warblers
Down the road, we stopped for a singing Hooded Warbler – another lifer for Jon. He was difficult to find, but we finally spotted singing at the treetops.
Hooded Warbler singing up high
Even though the birds were mostly up high and moving quickly, it was a great time. We had many great birds and really took our time getting down the road. Every time we stopped the car, there was something exciting to see.
Black-and-white Warbler going up a trunk
Blue-winged Warbler singing in the distance
The best photo I could get of this Northern Parula who was foraging off the road
We even caught a glimpse of a snake making its way through the leaves.
Garter Snake in the leaves
Best subject of the day goes to an Ovenbird that Jon found posing down low, showing off his crest.
Our best subject from the trip, an Ovenbird
I also finally got some decent photos of a male Parula.
One of the few Northern Parulas who posed
My bird of the day was still the Cerulean Warbler. It’s my favorite little Warbler and I was so happy to see so many of them in one place!
The breeders and migrants have been slowly trickling in to the Northeast. Migration seems to be somewhat late this year and, this week, is being pushed back some more with all of this bad weather. My county, Monroe, seems to be a bit under-birded and I am trying to correct that.
I found a nice spot that is not far from my house that I can monitor for migrants off of Brodhead Creek in Stroudsburg – there are a few parks with trails surrounding it. Something tells me that it is not visited much by birders, however, I was pleased to find swallow and bluebird houses spread throughout.
Tree Swallow peaking out of a house
The habitat is very nice and I can see it being a popular stop for birds, especially in the fall with all of the brush under the trees. The creek is fairly large and stocked with trout so it attracts some nice birds of prey.
Adult and juvenile Bald Eagles off of Brodhead Creek
Osprey taking off
It already has some birds in territory – Tree Swallows, Eastern Bluebirds, House Wrens, Flickers, Gnatcatchers, Brown Thrashers, Eastern Towhees, Phoebes, Chipping Sparrows, Robins and our resident birds.
One of the local House Wrens singing away
The Tree Swallows have claimed their nesting sites
I came across nice waves of Warblers that consisted mostly of Yellow-rumps – others mixed in included Palms, Pine, Black-and-white and Yellow Warblers along with Kinglets and Blue-headed Vireos.
One of many, MANY Yellow-rumped Warblers
Palm Warbler sitting pretty
Pine Warblers move slowly, but stay at the tree tops
Song and White-throated Sparrows are scattered throughout.
White-throated Sparrow posing nicely
And, unlucky for other breeders, Cowbirds are also in high numbers.
A male Brown-headed Cowbird
I visited two ponds to see what they could bring. One is Zachary’s Pond, which did not have much and was too open for birds aside from Mallards and Geese to enjoy. The other, across the woods and road, is Gregory’s Pond – this one has a much nicer habitat for water birds with plenty of cattails to hide in. This pond attracted the usual crowd – Red-winged Blackbirds, Swallows, Phoebes, Herons and possibly more. I think this one has a better chance for having bitterns, rails and marsh birds show up.
An Eastern Bluebird at Zachary’s Pond.
An Eastern Phoebe at Gregory’s Pond
Another treasure of a spot that I visited a couple of times is a more well known spot near the Delaware Water Gap NRA Headquarters – McDade Trail and Freeman Tract Road. The birds are a little more difficult to see here since the trees are so tall, but it is a great spot to bird-by-ear and, with patience, see some of them. So far, I’ve counted over 20 singing Northern Parulas. Pretty soon, other birds will join them in high numbers.
The only chance I had at getting a Northern Parula and I screwed it up!
Gnatcatchers seem to be the bird of the year for me. I don’t know if this is normal for the area or if this is an unusually high year. I see and hear them everywhere.
Blue-gray Gnatcatchers don’t stop moving!
I’ve also visited the public trails for the Tannersville Cranberry Bog. I think these will be alive with birds once migration really kicks in. I already heard two good birds there – a Barred Owl and the beautiful song of the Hermit Thrush (who I’ve only seen in other locations). I am signed up for public birding walks starting next week, so I’ll really be able to see what this gem brings.
Before the snow melted in the early spring, I also visited Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge. I’m not entirely sure of the best places to go here yet, but I hope to learn them soon. There are trails that are near a highway, which worries me that I will not be able to hear anything.
Wood Ducks with Hooded Mergansers in the background at Witmer’s Lake
I’m not sure what else to expect, but I see tons of good birds in my future within the next couple of weeks as I continue to explore my county. Keep em coming!
