A Winter Wren was hopping around the nearby stream so I decided I would try to digiscope it. It’s been quite a while since I tried digiscoping little birds, but with warblers coming back in just two months I need to get back into it.

Winter Wren

Like a typical Winter Wren, this one would perch in view for a couple seconds, do its double chirp, and then change perches. I was lucky if I could find the wren in my scope and fire off a shot or two before it would move. It was also uncooperative when it came to perching in the open so the best shots I got were had a few branches in front of it. Still, I am pretty happy with the result. Anyone have tricks for getting good digiscope shots of quick, little birds?

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Occasionally, Chester County Water Authority does some work on the dam and lowers the water level which expands the mud flats off of Bluegill Rd.  When this happens, or if it has been exceptionally dry recently, conditions are optimal to see lots of shorebirds.

During spring shorebird migration, the area along Mt. Eden Rd can be productive if the water level is low and the vegetation is still thin. Fall shorebird migration is best observed at Bluegill Rd. At times there can be several hundred birds foraging in the shallow water and along the shore. Often birds will fly in and out from unviewable areas so if no birds are visible when you first arrive, it is worth waiting around.

Bluegill Rd is also probably the best place to check for late summer dispersing herons and egrets. While Great Blue Herons and Great Egrets are the most common, Little Blue Herons and Snowy Egrets can both be almost expected if you can make several visits. Perhaps the most exciting heron seen here has been a small white egret with dark lores- resembling a Little Egret.

Spring passerine migration is probably best along Mt. Eden Rd and Tick Hill Rd but I have not spent much time at Octorara Lake at this time of the year.

Late fall and winter are the times to check for ducks and geese. I have seen Long-tailed Duck, Cackling Geese and a Ross’ Goose at Octorara. In the surrounding fields there are often huge flocks of blackbirds that can include Brewer’s and Yellow-headed Blackbirds.

The Octorara Lake area is definitely a place to check out year round. There is even a boat launch (for a small fee) and boat rentals along Spruce Grove Rd.