Seasonal Nature Report: Week of October 12, 2026

This is the Seasonal Nature Report for the week of October 12, 2026. In the Lehigh Valley right now, fall color is advancing week by week, the golden eagle migration is getting underway along the Kittatinny Ridge, and waterfowl are beginning to gather on area lakes. Here is what is happening this week and where to see it, based on the latest Pennsylvania DCNR foliage report and local hawk-watch and birding notes.

Fall Foliage: Color Is Advancing

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Fall Foliage Report for the week of October 8-14, 2026, trees in the Lehigh Valley are still a few weeks away from peak color, while nearby Monroe and Carbon counties are approaching peak. The report notes a wide range of change across the region, with some areas just starting to turn and others nearly at full color. Most species are showing vibrant color now, with hickory and sugar maple in bright yellows and red maple, birch, and sassafras showing strong color, while oaks are still filling in.

Peak foliage in the Lehigh Valley historically arrives in mid-to-late October, so the strongest color is still building. Because the change advances from north to south, the higher ridgelines and the northern edge of the region, including Carbon County, are showing the most advanced color this week.

Where to See Fall Color This Week

• 🌳 Hickory Run State Park, Carbon County. A state park with ridgetop and streamside trails where foliage is approaching peak this week, a short drive north of the Lehigh Valley. Map link.
• 🌳 Trexler Nature Preserve, Schnecksville. More than 18 miles of trails and high viewpoints over the Jordan Creek valley, a good spot for the advancing color on the ridgetops. Map link.
• 🌳 Jacobsburg State Park, Nazareth. Wooded trails along Bushkill Creek near the Easton area with a mix of early-turning maples and streamside views. Map link.
• 🌳 Lehigh Parkway, Allentown. A scenic park along the Little Lehigh Creek with a mix of early-turning maples and oaks, an easy walk close to the city. Map link.
• 🌳 Saucon Rail Trail, Bethlehem. A flat, paved rail trail that follows Saucon Creek, an easy walk or ride for color along the water. Map link.

Bird Migration: Golden Eagles Are Moving In

October is the peak month of raptor migration along the Kittatinny Ridge, a globally significant flyway and Pennsylvania's largest Important Bird Area. At local hawk-watch sites, mid-October brings migrating sharp-shinned and Cooper's hawks, red-tailed and red-shouldered hawks, northern harriers, ospreys, American kestrels, and black and turkey vultures. The golden eagle push is also getting underway now, with golden eagles peaking from late October through mid-December.

Among waterfowl, the Pennsylvania Game Commission notes the fall waterfowl migration peaks from October through November. Blue-winged teal numbers are dropping while northern shovelers, gadwall, American wigeon, bufflehead, ruddy ducks, and ring-necked ducks move through, along with Canada and snow geese. The Lehigh Valley Audubon Society runs October field trips for waterfowl at local lakes like Leaser Lake, where tundra swans are among the notable visitors.

Where to Watch Migrating Birds This Week

• 🐦 Bake Oven Knob, Lehigh County. A ridgetop hawk watch on the Appalachian Trail run by Lehigh Gap Nature Center, counting from August through November and the local site to catch the early golden eagle push in October. Map link.
• 🐦 Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Kempton. A short drive from the Lehigh Valley, with scenic ridgetop viewing and a fall raptor count running from August 15 through December 15. Map link.
• 🐦 Leaser Lake, Kempton. A lake in northwestern Lehigh County where waterfowl gather in October, a regular site for Lehigh Valley Audubon Society field trips. Map link.
• 🐦 Lake Muhlenberg, Allentown. A city lake in Allentown that is a convenient local spot to check for early migrating waterfowl. Map link.

What to Expect Later This Month

DCNR updates its fall foliage report every Thursday through October, and peak color for the Lehigh Valley historically lands in mid-to-late October, with the northern part of the region peaking first. Raptor counts should stay strong into November, with the golden eagle push building through October and into December. As nights cool, the first frost typically arrives in the region during October.

These are forecast dates and seasonal patterns, not guarantees. For the most current foliage status, check the Pennsylvania DCNR Fall Foliage Report, updated weekly. For up-to-date bird counts, check the hawk-watch reports from Lehigh Gap Nature Center and Hawk Mountain Sanctuary.