Pennsylvania Birdlists Summary 2018

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Compiled by Andy Keister

This is my first year taking over compilation of the yearly PA Bird Lists for Peter Robinson. I would like to start by thanking Peter for his years of service to the PSO and for helping me get up to speed with the list for 2018.

It’s important to understand that the lists contained within this report have been tracked and updated for many years but are still very incomplete. Many birders chose not to report numbers to the PSO or use other means such as eBird to maintain their lists.

Some birders are probably unaware that these records even exist. All birders are expected to abide by the honor system. As compiler of this list, I am merely reporting numbers not cross-checking and verifying the authenticity of bird sightings.

For 2018, 93 birders have reported PA Life Lists of 300 species or greater. The number of birders with PA Life Lists of 350 species or greater now stands at 27, up two from the previous year. The leader is now Devich Farbotnik with an impressive 396 species.

The total number of birders with unassisted Life Lists of 300 species or greater remains at 11. For 2018, the year’s high Annual List was reported by Devich Farbotnik with 269 species followed closely by Zach Millen with 267 species. Devich Farbotnik also holds the highest county Life List with 344 species recorded in Bucks County. In annual county birding, Carol Hildebrand set the new high total for Clinton County with 192 species, Chad Kauffman set the new high total for Juniata County with 198 species, Bobby Brown set the new high total for Lycoming County with 230 species, Karol Pasquinelli set the new high total for Northumberland County with 184 species and Roy Ickes set the new high total for Washington County with 202 species. Also of note, Bobby Brown set the new high mark for a Life List in Lycoming County with 255 species.

A few birders mentioned that they have added Black-backed Oriole and White-winged Tern to their PA Life Lists now that they have been officially added to the State checklist. Anyone who has not yet done so should update their numbers at the end of 2019.

A total of 48 individuals submitted list information or Bird of the Year votes for 2018. They include: Chuck Berthoud, Scott Bills, Gerry Boltz, Bobby Brown, Bryan Byrnes, Bruce Carl, Dick Cleary, Michael David, David DeReamus, Mike Epler, Devich Farbotnik, Mike Fialkovich, John Flannigan, Carl Garner, Tom Garner, Deb Grove, Greg Grove, Al Guarante, Barb Haas, Frank Haas, Jeffrey Hall, David Hawk, Jonathan Heller, Carol Hildebrand, Evan Houston, Roy Ickes, Bruce Johnson, Ryan Johnson, Ken Lebo, Chad Kauffman, Andy Keister, Arlene Koch, Wayne Laubscher, Ron Leberman, Geoff Malosh, Peter Mauss, Jerry McWilliams, Zach Millen, Richard Nugent, Karol Pasquinelli, Thomas Reeves, Peter Robinson, Michael Schall, Kurt Schwarz, John Snarey, Russ States, Mark Vass, and Eric Witmer

The Bird of the Year 2018

A total of 25 birders voted for 16 different species as Bird of the Year for 2018. A total of three points were awarded for a first place vote, two points were awarded for a second place vote and one point was awarded for a third place vote. Competition was tight this year and Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (34 points) edged out Rock Wren (32 points) and Varied Bunting (30 points) as Bird of the Year. Voting is always impacted by several factors. This year the length of stay and ease of access most likely pushed Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch and Rock Wren past Varied Bunting. The remaining votes included Townsend’s Solitaire (7 points), Sandhill Crane and Gyrfalcon (6 points), Wood Stork (5 points), Roseate Spoonbill and Black-throated Gray Warbler (4 points), Red-breasted Nuthatch (3 points), Barrow’s Goldeneye, Gull-billed Tern and Golden Eagle (2 points) and Lapland Longspur, Little Gull and Brant (1 point).

Comments About 2018 Birding in PA
(Bird of the Year, New PA Life List Species and other comments)

Chuck Berthoud
Bird of the Year: Gray-Crowned Rosy-Finch, Wood Stork, Rock Wren

Bobby Brown
Bird of the Year: Rock Wren, Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, Varied Bunting
New PA Life List Species: Cackling Goose, Harris’s Sparrow, LeConte’s Sparrow, White-eyed Vireo, Yellow-crowned Night- Heron, Baird’s Sandpiper, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, White-rumped Sandpiper, Rock Wren, Evening Grosbeak

Bruce Carl
Bird of the Year: Rock Wren, Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, Varied Bunting

Dick Cleary
Bird of the Year: Varied Bunting, Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, Townsend’s Solitaire/Rock Wren (tie)

Michael David
Bird of the Year: Varied Bunting, Rock Wren, Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch
New PA Life List Species: Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, Gyrfalcon, Brewer’s Blackbird, Varied Bunting, Brown Pelican, Wood Stork, Rock Wren, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Townsend’s Solitaire

Dave DeReamus
Bird of the Year: Varied Bunting, Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, Rock Wren
New PA Life List Species: Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, Varied Bunting, Rock Wren

Mike Epler
Bird of the Year: Rock Wren, Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, Black-throated Gray Warbler
While the Rock Wren was not the rarest bird to show up in the state in 2018, it was the most fun for me to watch. The Black- throated Gray Warbler gets a vote for being a first Lancaster County record. The Varied Bunting gets an honorable mention. It would probably have been number one had I not waited a day too long before chasing it.

Mike Fialkovich
Bird of the Year: Varied Bunting, Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, Rock Wren
New PA Life List Species: Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, Swallow-tailed Kite, Rock Wren, Black-throated Gray Warbler
Almost a toss up for the first two state records. I went with the bunting because there are fewer records in the east than the rosy finch.

John Flannigan
Bird of the Year: Varied Bunting, Townsend’s Solitaire, Rock Wren

Carl Garner
Bird of the Year: Sandhill Crane

Tom Garner
Bird of the Year: Varied Bunting, Gray-crowned Rosy Finch, Rock Wren

Al Guarente
Bird of the Year: Townsend’s Solitaire, Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, Rock Wren
New PA Life List Species: Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, Rock Wren, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Townsend’s Solitaire

Barb Haas
Bird of the Year: Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, Rock Wren, Varied Bunting

Carol Hildebrand
New PA Life List Species: Willet, Stilt Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, American Golden-Plover, Baird’s Sandpiper, Buff- breasted Sandpiper, Grasshopper Sparrow

Evan Houston
Bird of the Year: Varied Bunting, Gray-Crowned Rosy-Finch, Rock Wren

Bruce Johnson
Bird of the Year: Roseate Spoonbill, Wood Stork, Rock Wren

Ryan Johnson
Bird of the Year: Sandhill Crane, Barrow’s Goldeneye, Lapland Longspur
New PA Life List Species: Sandhill Crane, Merlin, Barrow’s Goldeneye, Lapland Longspur, Black Vulture, Acadian Flycatcher, Eastern Screech Owl, Swainson’s Thrush, Northern Waterthrush
I was excited to share the observation of Wayne County’s first known report of Sandhill Cranes with my father Dave Johnson. Four were seen and were spotted regularly throughout the summer according to a local farmer. Two trips to Northampton County allowed me to stumble upon the female Barrow’s Goldeneye that’s been seen regularly on the Delaware the past few years as well as my first Lapland Longspur. Overall, it was a terrific year!

Chad Kauffman
Bird of the Year: Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, Rock Wren, Townsend’s Solitaire

Andy Keister
Bird of the Year: No vote since I know the voting results and don’t want to impact the winner
New PA Life List Species: Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, Red Phalarope, LeConte’s Sparrow, Wood Stork, Brown Pelican, Rock Wren, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Townsend’s Solitaire
My personal best year increased from 299 to 301 with the addition of Black-backed Oriole and White-winged Tern.

Arlene Koch
Bird of the Year: Gyrfalcon
New PA Life List Species: Brown Pelican
 
Ronald Leberman
Bird of the Year: Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, Gull-billed Tern, Brant New PA Life List Species: Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch

Geoff Malosh
New PA Life List Species: Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, Varied Bunting, Rock Wren

Paul Mauss
Bird of the Year: Red-breasted Nuthatch, Golden Eagle, Little Gull

Zach Millen
Bird of the Year: Rock Wren, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Roseate Spoonbill
New PA life birds were too many to list, but while not in my BOY votes, Gyrfalcon was probably my favorite!

Peter Robinson
Bird of the Year: Varied Bunting, Rock Wren, Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch
New PA Life List Species: Gray-crowned Rosy Finch, Varied Bunting, Rock Wren
Honorable mention goes to Evening Grosbeak, a species that is not easy to get in PA in recent years. It has been a favorite species of mine since the late 1950’s when it was a regular winter visitor to Jamestown, NY when I was in high school.

Michael Schall
Bird of the Year: Gyrfalcon, Rock Wren, Black-throated Gray Warbler
My personal best year was 2017 when I had 285. This increased with the addition of the Black-backed Oriole and White-winged Tern to our state list.

Kurt Schwarz
New PA Life List Species: Blue-winged Teal, Brown Pelican, Dunlin, Semipalmated Sandpiper, White-rumped Sandpiper, Blackpoll Warbler, Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Eric Witmer
Bird of the Year: Varied Bunting, Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, Rock Wren