Date: 7/9/25 6:05 am From: Michael Fialkovich <0000012b4af48ab0-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Scarlet tanager actions/Koch property, Northampton County
The slope between my house and my neighbor's was covered with Japanese Honeysuckle. Years ago I saw a Baltimore Oriole hopping around on top and it would repeatedly disappear in the honeysuckle. It really worked into the vegetation. I would think it was looking for insects or even the nectar.
Odd to see species that are typically high in the trees feeding on the ground. It's interesting to see these behaviors that are out of the ordinary.
A few years ago at work I found two Sanderlings in mulch under some Blue Spruce Trees next to the building. That was quite unexpected.
Notes like these are great to share on the listserv so we can discuss our experiences.
Mike Fialkovich
Pittsburgh Area, Allegheny County
On Sunday, July 6, 2025 at 04:35:02 PM EDT, DAVID KOCH <0000012d74227426-dmarc-request...> wrote:
Perhaps others have seen scarlet tanagers do this but I haven't. My husband saw a scarlet tanager atop a pile of rocks (big ones taken from fields) at the edge of our back yard. He was on a tractor looking down so he took a video to show me. The tanager constantly disappeared inside the rock pile, and then it would come up again and go right back down. Obviously it must've been getting insects or grubs down there. But do they do this often? Just wondering. Other species here include juvenile re-bellied's, blue jays, and hummingbirds. I'm currently seeing a few young male hummers along with others that are either adult females or young females. The back yard late in the day has produced several great crested flycatchers,,an eastern kingbird, Baltimore and orchard orioles, a least flycatcher, an eastern wood pewee, and yellow warblers.
Arlene Koch Easton, PA Northampton County <davilene...>
