The spring bird movement north is finished, but I still had high hopes of adding a bird or two to my 2025 Carbon County bird list.

I had two locations in mind in the northeastern part of the county within miles of the Monroe County line. One was my favorite wooded hillside that I check out about a half-dozen times each year on Bethlehem Watershed lands.

It is comprised of mostly deciduous trees, a dense mountain laurel understory, and a few hemlock trees that favor the moist areas along a beautiful clear, cold but small mountain stream. (One of the many that feed the Penn Forest Reservoir).

In early May I generally can see 12 to 15 different warbler species and many other forest songbirds as they feed here on their way northward. I’ve also seen coyotes, fox, porcupines, chipmunks aplenty, and even a bear or two. This is the same area where I look for rattlesnakes.

Near the edge of the steepest part of the mountain there is a 1½-inch pipe protruding from the hillside. From that pipe flows a steady stream of spring water. I have no idea who put it there, but I can remember my father and I stopping to get a drink there a number of times back in the ’60s when we hunted grouse and bear.

I often stop there to get a drink to remember my dad. A few feet below the pipe, I overturned a few stones in the spring seep and found two mountain dusky salamanders. They, a red eft and wood frog were the amphibians I found that day.

My second hike took me atop the Pocono Plateau bordering the Pennsylvania Turnpike. I follow a power line right of way leading me to a section of the Weiser Forest, also in Penn Forest Township. I like to get there early in the a.m. in late May or early June when I can determine what species have remained to nest.

This area has shrubby vegetation under the high-tension lines (scrub oaks, young maples, sheep and mountain laurels) surrounded by a mostly deciduous forest. The location is blessed with a variety of ferns (mostly hay-scented ferns) but also many beautiful cinnamon ferns.

Since it is mostly plateau area, there are a number of vernal pools that attract a number of amphibians. As expected, a few pickerel frogs jumped into the waters at my approach, scattering hundreds of common toad tadpoles.

My two hikes totaled about 7½ miles through some beautiful areas; however, I was a bit disappointed. I did log 48 bird species. But in last 10 years, again a bit distressing, I didn’t see or hear a single ruffed grouse. I only heard or saw two each of scarlet tanagers, rose breasted grosbeaks and wood thrushes. Checking back in my notes from eight years ago, I saw about a dozen of each.

I’m unfortunately starting to realize that the rapid loss of winter-feeding areas in Central and South America is reducing their numbers. I did see a number of catbirds, black and white, and prairie warblers. Many of those winter in the U.S.

One positive note: I did see a number of ovenbirds. I had two serene mornings in some wonderful Pennsylvania surroundings, and I can hope that the declining bird populations will somehow recover so I, and those who follow me, can enjoy them even more.

Test Your Outdoor Knowledge: A rattlesnake’s rattle is technically called a _____. A. cloche B. scute C. spade; D. tympanum; E. carapace.

Last Week’s Trivia Answer: Red, scarlet, scrub and chestnut oaks all grow in our area.

Email Barry Reed at breed71@gmail.com