Green Lane Park and Upper Perkiomen Valley Park
| Montgomery |
| DESCRIPTION: Green Lane Reservoir, an 800-acre lake, two smaller lakes, and a variety of terrestrial habitats make the area attractive to a wide variety of birds. Terrestrial habitats include oak and mixed forest, conifer plantations, red-cedar barrens, fallow fields, and a shallow marsh/meadow. Diving birds, including loons, grebes, and cormorants, are most easily found at the Walt Road boat launch area, especially after rainstorms in March to April and October to November. Early morning is best at this site, as heavy boat traffic usually spooks the birds. Dabbling ducks can best be seen at Church Road (where the best light is after 2:00 p.m.) and Knight Lake. Green Lane is also well-known for its shorebirds during fall migration. Extensive mudflats in the area of Church Road are present most years and have attracted over 30 species of shorebirds. Fall migration begins by mid-July and continues into November if the water level is low. Among the shorebirds seen here have been Black-bellied Plover and American Golden-Plover, American Avocet, Ruddy Turnstone, White-rumped, Baird's, Stilt, and Buff-breasted sandpipers, Sanderling, all three phalaropes, and Hudsonian Godwit. Most of these birds are rare and not to be expected every year. Herons, gulls, and terns can also be found at Church Road in the appropriate seasons. Field birds such as American Pipit and Snow Bunting can sometimes be found on the mudflats in late autumn. American Bittern, Sora, and Virginia Rail are all considered rare in the marshy area here. Sparrows including White-crowned, Swamp, Savannah, and Lincoln's can be found in the marsh most years. Green Lane has many other productive birding habitats as well. The tall-grass agricultural lease fields along Church and Knight roads often host raptors including Northern Harrier, Rough-legged Hawk, and Short-eared Owl. Check the fields along Church Road just before dusk from December to March for the owls. Up to 7 birds have been seen here, though 1 or 2 is more likely, and in some years there are none. These same fields produce Eastern Meadowlark and a variety of sparrows year-round. Hock Road opposite the Church Road parking lot can also produce raptors, and, in early spring, American Woodcock. Woodland birding for warblers and other migrants can also be good in the park, including on the trails at the park office on Hill Road or behind the Nature Center. The Nature Center has a feeding station and observation room which are operational September to May. In addition to the usual feeder species, Brown Creeper, Purple Finch, and Fox Sparrow can be found here most winters. Pine Siskin are sometimes present. Maps, a bird list, and a sightings log are available at the Nature Center. Restrooms are available at the Nature Center, Walt Road boat launch area, and the park office on Hill Road. Church Road has a sightings log sheet, maps, and checklists, but no restrooms. The lake can be very crowded with boats and fishermen, especially between April and October. Boating and fishing are prohibited at Church Road and behind the Nature Center. Horses are permitted on all park trails except the Hemlock Point Trail at the Nature Center. Park hours are 6:00 a.m. to sunset year-round. Description adapted from Birds of the Lehigh Valley and Vicinty, available at http://www.lehigh.edu/~bcm0/lvas/BOLV.htm. |
DIRECTIONS: To begin at the Nature Center, from the intersection of PA 29 and PA 663 in Pennsburg, go south on PA 29 for 4 miles and turn right into the Nature Center drive. (The sign is easy to miss; look for the Marlborough Elementary School at the same spot). Follow the driveway to the first building on the right. To go directly to the Church Road shorebird spot, from PA 29 and PA 663 in Pennsburg, take PA 663 south 1.9 miles and turn right (west) on Kutztown Road. Then make the first right onto Church Road. The parking area will be on the right. |
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Maps - other than Google (Click on map for larger view)
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| Posted: 2009-10-24 00:00:00 Updated: |
