Back Oven Knob, PA

I went to a local Hawk and other migratory bird watching spot along the Kittattiny ridge approx. 10 miles from my house in Palmerton called Bake Oven Knob.

The most well known Hawk watching spot is called Hawk Mountain which is near Hamburg, PA., and is 30 miles from my house and has big crowds.

When I arrived I spoke with a birder who was sitting with binoculars in hand and camera ready. He told me the conditions were near perfect, with semi high elevation clouds that would force birds lower bringing them closer for viewing purposes. The other condition was the NW wind which was consistent and I'm guessing around 10-20 miles an hour.

We didn't have many sightings though. We saw a couple flocks of Canadian Geese, 1 Flock of Cormorants,Wrens, Flickers, 1 Osprey, 1 Red Tail Hawk, 1 Sharp Shined.

It was a good time though and some more birders showed up and I learned a lot. I learned that Cormorants don't make a V shape like Canadian Geese. Flickers are type of Wood Pecker, but peck at the ground for insects, instead of trees. Osprey can be identified at a distance by the curve in their wings when flying, and when they get closer you can see their light color and white head.

I learned that not all the Hawks in the area will migrate if they have enough food, which they do.

The coolest thing that we saw was a sail plane and I didn't know this, but they are different than gliders. Apparently Sail Planes are much lighter and either the longest or one of the longest flights was from somewhere north of the Delaware Water Gap to Tennessee and back. That's amazing! They only weigh around 300 lbs., which is crazy to me. I'd like to try it!