The Unami Creek Valley in western Montgomery County offers good woodland birding from April through September. Located near Sumneytown, it is within 50 minutes of Allentown, and on a good day in May, it is well worth the trip. Much of the area covered in this guide is owned by Cradle of Liberty Council, Boy Scouts of America. As such, most of the area is posted, and birders are reminded to bird from the road shoulder. Other areas are private residences and should be respected as such.From PA Route 29 in Green Lane, take PA Route 63 east for 1.3 miles and turn left at the Sumneytown Hotel onto Geryville Pike. Go 0.2 miles and turn right on Swamp Creek Road. Park in the lot on your immediate right. In spring and early summer, scan the large shade trees along the creek for Eastern Kingbird, Cedar Waxwing and both Baltimore and Orchard Orioles. Th shrubby border on the opposite side of the road yields Winter, Carolina and House Wrens, and Chipping and White-throated Sparrows in the appropriate seasons. Watch for Eastern Bluebirds on the utility wires. From the parking lot, walk Swamp Creek Road upstream for 0.4 miles to a stone-arch bridge. This stretch features the famous Sumneytown Vulture roost. While the roost has become unpredictable in recent winters, it has held up to 200 birds (as many as 50 Black Vultures). Even if the birds are out, a conspicuous band of whitewash on the road will mark the spot. During spring migration, this stretch yields an impressive array of Neotropical Songbirds. Look (and listen) for Broad-winged Hawk, Eastern Wood Pewee, Acadian Flycatcher, Great-crested Flycatcher, Red-eyed and Yellow-throated Vireo, and almost any eastern warbler. Most notable in this last group are Northern Parula, Louisiana Waterthrush, and Yellow-throated Warbler. While still considered rare, this last species has become almost annual here. When you reach the bridge, look for Spotted Sandpiper, Belted Kingfisher, and Northern Rough-winged Swallow. From here, you can continue walking north along Swamp Creek Road, or return to your car. (This second option often yields something new on the return trip). Cross the stone-arch bridge and enter the parking lot on your immediate left. (Note: during the last two weekends in April this lot can be filled with trout fisherman-plan accordingly). Along the edges of this gravel parking lot are large Sycamore, Black Walnut and spruce trees. Scan these for Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, vireos, warblers and American Goldfinch. Look up the stream for Wood Duck (Spring and Summer) and Hooded Merganser (Winter). The next stretch of Swamp Creek Road is 1.1 miles in length. There are small gravel pull-offs roughly every 0.2 miles, but some of these can be tricky. Be aware of high road shoulders and oncoming traffic! Proceed upstream through an area of mature floodplain and mixed mesophytic forest. The area hosts up to 6 woodpecker species (all but Red-headed), and is the last stronghold of the Pileated Woodpecker in Western Montgomery County. Watch overhead for vultures, accipiters, Red-tailed and Broad-winged Hawk. Eastern Screech and Great Horned Owls are fairly common here, and Barred Owl is extremely rare. Both cuckoo species can be found here in spring and summer, as can a good variety of songbirds. Watch for vireos, thrushes, Baltimore Oriole, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak and warblers. Just beyond a concrete dam/spillway, park in the small lot on your left. When not filled with excitable scouts in rowboats, this impoundment can host some nice birds. Check for Great Blue and Green Herons, Wood Duck and Belted Kingfisher. Snags along the shoreline can hold migrant flycatchers, and the scrubby lakeshore growth may harbor White-eyed Vireo, and various thrushes. From this parking lot, it is a 0.4 mile walk north to a power line crossing. A side trip up a steep slope may produce Yellow, Blue-winged, Chestnut-sided, and Prairie Warblers, Yellow-breasted Chat, Indigo Bunting, Eastern Towhee, and various sparrows. (Note: if you would rather not make the climb, take a right turn on Payne Road and it will lead you to a more level access area to the same high-tension lines). From the power line crossing, continue north on Swamp Creek Road for 0.5 miles and turn right on Knuckle Road. There is a small pull off on the immediate right. Walk upstream on Swamp Creek Road for 0.2 miles to a stone arch bridge (Price Rd). From the bridge, check the utility wires for Kingfisher and swallows, and the sycamore trees for various songbirds. Be sure to look overhead for passing raptors. On the way back to your vehicle, listen for Acadian Flycatcher, Kentucky Warbler, and Worm-eating Warbler. All of these favor moist slopes with dense shrub cover. In addition to the species already mentioned, Wild Turkey are possible in any season along the Unami Creek corridor. They can seem downright tame at times, as they are descended from pen-reared birds. The wildness returns, however, when they have broods of youngsters in tow. To continue your tour, take Knuckle Road 0.1 miles to the first intersection (Scott Road) and turn left. Follow Scott Road for 0.9 miles (it is now called Hill Road) to a stop sign (White's Mill Road). Turn right and proceed for 0.6 miles to the millpond on your left. The pond often holds Great Blue and Green Heron, Wood Duck, among others. Red-shouldered Hawk and Pileated Woodpecker are both possible here. A network of trails can provide excellent woodland birding, especially in spring. To complete your tour, retrace your steps to Swamp Creek Road and turn left. Follow it back to Geryville Pike and Route 63.
Kevin Crilley (county compiler) PO Box 100 Sumneytown PA 18084 (215) 234-6867 |