Species likely to be seen today along the river near Marietta, PA — powered by real-time eBird sightings data.
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9 species expected
40.054°N, 76.581°W · 5 km radius near Marietta, PA
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
The Susquehanna is one of Pennsylvania's premier eagle-watching corridors. Pairs nest in large sycamores and cottonwoods along the banks and are highly visible year-round, especially near the shad and herring runs in April.
Hotspot: Marietta riverfront park, Anderson Ferry area
Tip: Look high in riverside trees at dawn. Adults have the iconic white head; immatures are mottled brown.
Pandion haliaetus
April marks the height of osprey return migration along the Susquehanna. These spectacular fish-hunters hover 30–100 feet above the water before plunging feet-first to snatch a shad or bass.
Hotspot: Open river channel, PA 441 overlooks
Tip: Listen for their high, whistling 'kyew kyew' call. Check utility poles and channel markers for perching birds.
Ardea herodias
The signature bird of the Susquehanna shallows. Great Blue Herons stand motionless in riffles and backwaters, striking at fish with lightning speed. Rookery Island near Washington Boro historically hosted hundreds of nesting pairs.
Hotspot: Shallow riffles at low-water ramps, Anderson Ferry
Tip: Scan the rocky shallows at any time of day. Their slow, prehistoric wingbeats make them unmistakable in flight.
Cygnus columbianus
In late February and early March, the Conejohela Flats area (just south of Marietta) hosts thousands of Tundra Swans staging for their Arctic migration. By early April stragglers and small groups still move through.
Hotspot: Conejohela Flats, Washington Boro boat launch
Tip: Use a spotting scope from the York County shore. The bugling calls carry far across the water on still mornings.
Mergus merganser
These sleek, fish-eating diving ducks are winter and early-spring regulars on the Susquehanna. Males display an iridescent green head and red serrated bill; females sport a rusty-red crested head. Watch for them diving in swift current.
Hotspot: Open river channel from any access point
Tip: Mergansers prefer fast-flowing stretches. Look for small rafts resting on rocks between dives.
Bucephala albeola
North America's smallest diving duck, the Bufflehead winters and spring-stages on the Susquehanna. Males are striking in black-and-white with an iridescent head patch. They dive rapidly and are quick to flush.
Hotspot: Calmer coves and eddy pools along the main river
Tip: Scan flocks of other diving ducks — Buffleheads often mix with scaup and mergansers near mid-river sandbars.
Branta canadensis
A fixture of the Susquehanna shoreline year-round. In April, resident pairs are establishing territories and nest sites along grassy river banks. Large flocks of migrants continue pushing north through the region.
Hotspot: River access parks, grassy banks, island margins
Tip: Listen for their honking V-formations overhead at dawn and dusk as migrants pass through.
Nannopterum auritum
Cormorants have increased dramatically on the Susquehanna in recent decades. They perch on rocks and channel markers with wings spread to dry — a prehistoric-looking posture. Groups fish cooperatively in the main channel.
Hotspot: Rocky outcrops, navigation channel markers
Tip: Their low, direct flight silhouette with a kinked neck distinguishes them from geese at a distance.
Larus delawarensis
The most common gull on the Susquehanna. Ring-bills are opportunists that follow shad-fishing boats, scavenge along banks, and loaf on sandbars and parking lots. The bold black ring around the yellow bill is the key field mark.
Hotspot: Any boat launch, sandbar, or river access
Tip: Scan gull flocks carefully — Bonaparte's Gulls (smaller, with black ear spot) mix in during late March into May migration.
Species and abundance based on eBird data and the Pennsylvania Society for Ornithology site guide for the Conejohela Flats / Susquehanna corridor. Always check local hotspot reports for the latest sightings.
Today: April 2, 2026