Northwestern Pennsylvania emerged relatively unscathed from Sandy’s appearance earlier this week, although creeks aren’t necessarily fishable after all of the rain we’ve received since Monday.

What Sandy did leave behind is a bonanza for birders. Birders’ reports to ebird show seabirds and shorebirds that were caught up in Sandy’s heavy winds were dropped like Dorothy and Toto on area waterways.

Surf scoter, black scoter, semipalmated plover, red-necked phalarope and red phalarope were spotted at Woodcock Creek Lake, Crawford County. And a Pomarine jaeger was identified at Clark Island, in Pymatuning State Park. Black scoter and long-tailed duck sightings also were reported at Presque Isle State Park.

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, which runs ebird, suggests being on the lookout for uncommon pelagics and passerines all weekend throughout the Great Lakes and Northeast.

Evening grosbeaks also are being seen routinely in Erie, Crawford and Warren counties.

Let us know if you see any uncommon birds in your travels.