Birding Tioga County: Rails-to-Trails Pine Creek/Darling Run

I took a brief walk with two friends along the rails-to-trails along Pine Creek this morning. We started at Darling Run parking area and walked north to the Rt. 6 overpass and then headed back.

Gary had warned us that there might be bugs, but I believe even he was surprised to find that a large mayfly hatch last night had a multitude of large light green flies as well as some large dark brown flies resting on the trees and shrubs. Whether they normally hawked insects out of the air or not, there was a lot of swooping going on. Even a chipmunk seemed to have got into the act as it climbed some of the shrubs to--presumably--go after mayflies. Every time a branch quivered under its weight, a dozen mayflies took wing.

One of the highlights of the day were the half dozen or more Baltimore Orioles moving up and down the shores of Pine Creek. WE spotted at least four active nests high in the sycamore trees. Then there was the Common Merganser family consisting of mom and 7 or 8 little ones who were having a grand old time running across the surface of the water and diving. Could they, too have been feeding on mayflies? Or were they just displaying youthful energy? (Well, all except the one that decided to hitch a ride on mom's back.)Finally, after not seeing any Bald Eagles at the nest across from the parking area when we arrived, we spotted two adults that landed in a tree right next to the path and then three young on the nest further down.

All in all a pretty good morning in which we spotted 31 species according to my list.

Location: Pine Creek/Darling Run, US-PA, Tioga

Observation type: Traveling Count
Observation date: 5/27/10 Distance covered: 1.5 mile(s)
Start time: 8:00 AM Area covered: N/A
Duration: 2 hour(s) 15 minute(s) Elevation: N/A
Number of people in party: 3

Comments:
Calm, clear morning with temperatures in the 60s. We walked from the parking lot north to the Rt 6 overpass and back.

Many Baltimore Orioles along the creek. We saw at least four nests.

A mayfly hatch (large flies, some pale green others dark brown) had all the birds (and even a chipmunk) gorging on the bounty.
Species


Canada Goose
Mallard
Common Merganser
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Spotted Sandpiper
Chimney Swift
Belted Kingfisher
Northern Flicker
Eastern Phoebe
Eastern Kingbird
Blue Jay
American Crow
Tree Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Barn Swallow
Veery DELETE
American Robin
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
American Redstart
Song Sparrow
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Baltimore Oriole
House Finch

Total species reported: 31