|
Rose Valley
Lake
Rose Valley
Lake is a 389-acre reservoir owned
by the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania and
managed by the Fish and Boat Commission for public fishing and boating.
Rose
Valley Lake
may offer the best variety of birding in
Lycoming County.
Everything from Bald Eagles and Osprey to Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers and
Willow Flycatchers.
Spring and fall migration are excellent times of the year to
catch waterfowl migration. When the
lake thaws (usually late in March) many species of ducks, loons, grebes, and
geese are there. April and May bring
waves of warblers and other neo-tropical migrants which can be best viewed
from the south boat launch area and Trimble
Road. The
north boat launch area also provides a nice mix of habitats for a wide
variety of species.
Directions from Williamsport: Rt. 15 North to Trout Run.
Take
Trout Run
Mountain. Road to the
top of the mountain. Go left on
Rose Valley Road
and go right onto Trimble Road. Follow the signs to the south boat launch.
Mill Street in Montoursville
Mill Street has been known for many years to local birders as
a great place to find spring migrants.
Mill Street
is a gated (Oct 1st to March 31st) road that parallels the Loyalsock Creek. We recommend you park at the very end of
the street where there is a small parking area and picnic ground. The Susquehanna River
and the Loyalsock Creek meet here. An
excellent mix of migrants can be found through the month of May. Walk back toward the
Lycoming Regional
Airport where many
swallows congregate. Lycoming Audubon
Society member Fred Stiner found a vagrant Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher along
the Loyalsock Creek in 2003.
White Deer Ridge (Skyline Drive)
White Deer Ridge is an excellent place to witness the spring raptor
migration. From late winter on, you
can view hawks, eagles, and waterfowl both to the south and north of the
lookout. Golden Eagles are the highlight
here and can be found on southerly winds from late February through March.
Directions from South Williamsport: Take Rt. 554 (Sulphur Springs Rd.) south from Route 15 south to the top of Bald
Eagle Mountain where Skyline
Drive is gated.
Walk approximately ¼ mile to the east where the power line right of
way crosses the mountain. Viewing is
best from the clearing to the south of the road.
Muncy Historical Society Canal Archeology Site
This site along the Susquehanna River has open fields, ponds, waterways
and a wooded area, so it's a good birding destination in any season. Take one
of two easy walks: a short path to the River's edge (you'll see a river
bridge, an old abandoned bridge abutment, and grassy areas) where you may
observe swallows, shorebirds, waterfowl, especially mergansers, and maybe
even a Bald Eagle or Osprey; or cross the road
past the dig site toward the ponds to look for warblers, waxwings, bluebirds,
nesting raptors and other birds that are fond of mudflats.
Directions from
Williamsport: I-180 east to Exit 13-A. Turn right onto Rt. 405. At the traffic
light, turn left and travel about a mile to Pepper Street. Turn right onto
Pepper Street and proceed 2 miles to the Canal Site along the Susquehanna
River.
Return to Lycoming Audubon Society Home
Page
|