My annual bird list for Carbon County generally averages about 175 birds. My birding buddies, Dave and Rich, have topped 200 birds a few times. (sounds like a segment from the movie “The Big Year”).

To reach that level of species takes a great deal of knowledge, a good amount of time afield, sometimes a bunch of luck, and of course, RP, RT (right place, right time). To reach that 200 bird level means that you were fortunate enough to observe some bird species that occasionally show up in our area.

You can always count on crows, a variety of sparrows and warblers, many species of raptors, etc. but it is those rare ones that “make your day.”

The one factor that increased my and many other birders’ lists was the completion of Beltzville Dam. It was and could still be controversial, but when it filled to capacity unexpectedly during Hurricane Agnes in 1972 it soon brought the chances of seeing many birds that need aquatic and lake shore habitats.

Not many shorebirds nest there because of the tremendous boat and human activity in the warmest months. But in the fall and especially spring, birds normally associated with the coast, such as terns, make yearly visits.

I have seen Forster’s, Caspian, and even the rare black terns on this lake. Tundra swans, generally migrating through the center of our state, can be seen there. I have observed them every two or three years. Sometimes a large flock makes a visit or just a few stragglers.

Again, weather and human activity play the biggest role. A day or two of steady rain during their spring migration often keeps the boats from the lake and then birds find this a safe place to rest in their travels.

Shorebirds, in particular, sandpiper species, nest and feed on bay shores and ocean dunes and beaches. As they migrate, some of them thousands of miles, they need to stop and feed.

The Times News coverage area has few mud flat areas, but the shorelines of Beltzville and Mauch Chunk reservoirs can tempt them.

Other than the rather common spotted and solitary sandpipers, if you’re at the right place and time you could find semipalmated plovers, semipalmated sandpipers, greater and lesser yellow legs, or maybe even an avocet.

Finally, great egrets make a regular appearance. But about three years ago a snowy egret was spotted at Beltzville and every now and then black crowned night herons can be found.

If you are working on a birding life list and don’t want to travel to all corners of the state, it is possible, with a bunch of time on task, to catch a glimpse of some of our “Uncommon Visitors.”

We do still have some natural areas close by, and for some individuals, only a few minutes away. So get out there and enjoy nature and the solitude in this stressful time.

Test Your Outdoor Knowledge: True or False: Only female yellow jackets sting and only female mosquitoes bite.

Last Week’s Trivia: Belted kingfishers, feeding mostly on minnows, burrow into stream banks for their nests.

Contact Barry Reed at breed71@gmail.com.