Date: 9/10/25 7:28 am From: Julia Plummer <julia...> Subject: Fisherman's Paradise/Bellefonte State Fish Hatchery -- Sep 9, 2025
Yesterday, we had a very successful field trip to Fisherman's Paradise to
observe the Great Blue Herons coming in to roost. We estimated that at
least 50 people came to observe the herons, which didn't disappoint.
Between the time I arrived (early - at 6:10PM) and when I left around 8PM,
at least 70 Great Blue Heron's were observed flying into the trees to
roost. If you didn't get to attend last night, the herons will still be
coming in to roost at the site for a while longer.
We also observed at least four bald eagles (two adults and two younger
birds). And a big thrill for many of us was seeing several small groups of
common nighthawks (I counted at least 33 total) hunting overhead during the
evening.
Great Blue Herons can be found roosting here in summer but as we head into
October, most will migrate south. There are some Great Blue Herons in our
area over the winter, but most Great Blue Herons from the Eastern US spend
the winter in the southern US, Mexico, and the Caribbean. We're not sure
where these herons build their nests, but it doesn't seem to be in this
same roosting site.
Julia
Fisherman's Paradise/Bellefonte State Fish Hatchery
Sep 9, 2025
6:10 PM
Traveling
0.48 miles
117 Minutes
All birds reported? Yes
Comments: State College Bird Club field trip
Submitted from eBird for iOS, version 3.4.1 Build 3.4.5
12 Mallard
3 Mourning Dove
33 Common Nighthawk
70 Great Blue Heron -- I counted about 50 individual birds then added
another 20 based on counts other people did while I wasn’t watching.
44 Turkey Vulture
4 Bald Eagle
1 Pileated Woodpecker
1 Eastern Phoebe
2 Blue Jay
4 American Crow
1 Tufted Titmouse
1 Carolina Wren
1 American Robin
10 Cedar Waxwing
1 American Goldfinch
2 Chipping Sparrow
