End of year Regional Rarity Roundup
written by Drew Weber
The big sightings in PA recently have been the Harlequin Ducks that are currently being seen in Huntingdon and Northampton Counties. I believe it is the second report of a Harlequin Duck in Huntingdon while it is the first record for Northampton.
Erie continues to have reports Glaucous Gull and Iceland Gull at the south pier
The Mud Level Rd Prairie Falcon is still being reported, although sometimes hard to find.
Harlequin Duck- Huntingdon
The Anna's Hummingbird in Berks County is still frequenting feeders in the same neighborhood, keeping hopes alive that it will still be around in January for year listers.
Northern Shrikes are being found across the state. Birds were reported from Erie and Carbon Counties on Dec. 19th, Clearfield County on Dec. 20th and possibly two at Bald Eagle State Park in Centre County on Dec. 26th-28th.
Also in Berks County, the Yellow-throated Warbler is being reported daily.
Winter finches have been reported sporadically across the state. Common Redpolls have been reported in Erie County on Dec. 19th, Carbon County on Dec. 23rd, and Lawrence County on Dec. 28th. Evening Grosbeaks have been reported at feeders in Warren County. I haven't heard of any crossbill reports recently.
In the surrounding states, the big rarity was a Northern Wheatear in Delaware that has not been reported since the big snow storm. In Connecticut, a Barnacle Goose continues as well as the Calliope Hummingbird. In New Jersey, there are a few good birds including Black Guillemot, Pacific Loon and the same Harlequin Duck that is being seen in Northampton County, Pennsylvania. A Golden-crowned Sparrow continues hanging out in Maryland.
The State College Roughleg
written by Drew Weber
Maybe you remember the adult intermediate-morph Rough-legged Hawk photos that Alex posted earlier this month? There is currently a thread in the North American Birders Forum discussing that bird, with raptor experts Vic Berardi and Jerry Liguori both chiming in on the age/sex/morph of the bird.
Rough-legged Hawk photo by Alex
Here's what Liguori had to say about Alex's bird-
Since there is a cline from light to dark in Rough-legged plumages (and several other buteos), labeling every bird specifically is sometimes a matter of opinion. There are no absolute parameters that define light, dark, and intermediate, although most Rough-leggeds are clearly light or dark morph. The bird is an adult male, they are the only age/sex that shows this extensive mottling throughout the underside (the defined dark tail tip and terminal band on the remiges are clear adult traits as well). Because the bird has a light morph tail pattern (as it appears) and white on the belly, lower chest, and underwing coverts, I call birds like this "heavily marked light morphs". To me, an intermediate morph will appear more like a dark morph but has a paler chest and possibly white on the chest that separates a "bib" (and the tail has very limited white at the base). But this bird leans toward intermediate morph and calling it one wouldn't necessarily be incorrect because where one draws the line is subjective.
Discussion of the State College Bird >> NA Birder's Forum
Intermediate Rough-legged Hawk Discussion >> Illinois Birder's Forum
Bald Eagle eating another Bald Eagle
written by Alex Lamoreaux
WARNING: The following photos may be disturbing to some viewers!
My friend Cory Ritter sent me the following photos. His mother was behind their house near the Rainbow Flowage in Oneida County, Wisconsin and came across an adult Bald Eagle sitting on the ground feeding from something. They were right near a nest that has been in use for the past few years by various eagle couples. The adult eagle flew up to a stump, where she was able to take a few photos. The adult eagle refused to fly away, even when they approached very close. Then she went over to see what the eagle was feeding on. The eagle's prey turned out to be another eagle! They sent the photos to me for verification and I really couldnt believe it, but sure enough the dead bird looks to be a juvenile Bald Eagle.
So, the big question is; what was this eagle doing eating another eagle? Did it kill the juvenile? If so was it a relative or an intruder?
Or, was the juvenile eagle killed some other way and the adult eagle was just taking advantage of a free meal? I have seen lots of eagles feeding on carrion, but to eat one of its own species seems strange. However, there are a few instances of raptors eating their own kind, for instance King Vulture, Black Vulture, and Prairie Falcon.
Take a look at the photos and let me know what you think.
The adult Bald Eagle after it was scared off its food.
Another shot of the adult Bald Eagle after it was scared off its food.
The dead juvenile Bald Eagle.
A close-up of the dead juvenile Bald Eagle.
Northern Shrike at BESP
written by Drew Weber
The Northern Shrike has finally been found at Bald Eagle State Park! I had been searching all over for it at the park for about the last two months but apparently not hard enough. There is an extensive amount of shrubby habitat that looks suitable for the shrike so we shall see how easy it is to relocate over the winter.
With directions from Nick and Jack, we headed to the West Launch area and parked where West Launch Rd is closed off before walking down to the launch area. We didn't find the shrike at first and it wasn't actually until I was on my way out that I spotted a larger black and white bird in a distant shrub. Five minutes of scanning later, I turned around and it perched in a tree top not far from me. After I got good looks I pulled out my scope but didn't manage to get any photos before it flew off.
Bald Eagle State Park- blue areas are likely shrike locations while the pins are actual locations where the shrike has been seen. Click on the image for a Google Map that you can add your shrike sightings to the map
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