2000 - Bird sightings in Westmoreland County, southwestern Pennsylvania
Screaminghawk's
Bird sightings in Westmoreland County, southwestern Pennsylvania
~~~ Year 2000 ~~~
Some bird sightings
m=male, f=female, pr=pair (1 male + 1 female), a=adult, im=immature, f/i=female or immature, b=breeding (summer) plumage, n=non-breeding (winter or basic) plumage, h=heard, s=seen, oh=overhead. An underlined entry means the sighting is somehow special, first of season, unusual, noteworthy; locally or regionally uncommon/rare, out-of-season, out-of-range, extralimital, etc.
Use the Edit & Find command from your browser's menu bar to search for a specific species name in this page. Most recent sightings are at the top of the list. Dates are formatted as month/day (mm/dd).
December 2000 was the fourth coldest on record in the Pittsburgh region of western PA. The temperature was below freezing the entire last half of the month (18 consecutive days w/o going above freezing), some snowfalls but no large accumulations, cloud-cover, ponds & lakes froze over, birds flocking to feeders. Lakes & ponds were ice-bound for two full months & then some, from December into mid-February 2001. One of the better ice-fishing & snow skiing winters in a while. No invasions of far north bird species were reported.
A Belted Kingfisher at Keystone State Park. The lake is completely froze over, people are ice fishing (a friend & I were cross-county skiing), but there is open moving water at the outlet & along the stream (Keystone Run), 12/30.
A Red-tailed Hawk perched in trees alongside the walking path & creekbank near the Loyalhanna housing highrise, a Belted Kingfisher (tuffing out a colder than average December) perched on wires over the creek between the path & LeNature's, in downtown Latrobe, 12/27.
A walk along creekside trail in Latrobe produced; a group of Gulls overhead, Red-tailed Hawk, an Accipiter, Carolina Wrens, Mourning Doves, a Beaver swimming across the creek, 12/24.
A lone Trumpeter Swan at Derry Lake, at the shoreline with Mallards & other fowl, behaving very tame, 12/23. The swan was first reported 12/21 by D.L. The swan wears a green neck collar No. M84. An email from M.J.S. to the PABirds email list says "This bird (hatched in 1997) is from an introduction program in Ohio. The bird was seen several times in 2000 at state gameland 284 (Pennsy/Black Swamp) and at a location near Grove City. Pennsy swamp is frozen solid at the moment probably explaining the bird's attempt to find open water elsewhere". (temps have been lows of 5-10 degrees, highs of 18-20)
Female Kestrel hunting the creek bank between Legion Keener Park & LeNature's beverages, perching on wires over the creek & in trees alongside the exercise path, in downtown latrobe, 12/22. Also an accipiter flyby (looked like a Cooper's).
Merlin (female/immature) perched atop a wooden utility pole alongside Lloyd Avenue (Rt981), diagonally across the intersection from Dunkin' Donut, first seen flying by the Unity Street intersection, Latrobe, 12/20.
Kestrel perched on a wire alongside Donohoe Rd between George's Station Rd & Rt30, Greensburg, 12/18.
Two Crows chasing a circling Red-tailed Hawk over St Mary's Hill Rd in sixth ward, Latrobe, 12/17.
Two Red-tailed Hawks soaring over McDonald's Restaurant on Lincoln Ave in Latrobe, 12/12.
A first-year Red-tailed Hawk perched in a tree in the athletic field, alongside Lincoln Ave, downtown Latrobe. The hawk then flew to a powerline in the alley between Lincoln & Raymond Avenues, 12/4.
On a kayak trip down the Loyalhanna Creek from the Rt30W bridge to 2nd ward bridge in Latrobe birds seen include Great Blue Heron 4, Belted Kingfisher 4, Red-tailed Hawk 4, Great Horned Owl 1, Green-winged Teal 3m, Wood Duck 1m, Mallards, Crows; later in town one Cooper's Hawk, 12/2.
A Merlin perched in a large Elm tree on Lincoln Avenue between Fairmont & Walnut Streets in downtown Latrobe, 11/30. For at least a couple weeks the Merlin has been using this tree as a perch in the afternoon hours (2:30 to 4 PM). [Photo of the Merlin by Mark M.]
Gadwall 1pr, Pied-bill Grebes, Ruddy Duck 1, Black Duck, Coots, Mallards, Canada Geese, Mute Swans at Derry Lake (Ethel Springs), 11/26.
A red Screech Owl perched in the hole of a Wood Duck cylinder at Keystone State Park. Also Hairy Woodpecker & Golden-crowned Kinglet, 11/24.
Sharp-shinned Hawk on the hunt for small birds at a bird feeder in sixth ward, Latrobe, 11/19.
A Merlin perched in a large Elm tree on Lincoln Avenue between Fairmont & Walnut Streets in downtown Latrobe, 11/18.
Hermit Thrush 1, Ruffed Grouse 4, Robins at Keystone State Park, 11/8.
Ruffed Grouse drumming at Keystone State Park, 11/6.
Great Horned Owl hooting in woods adjacent to 6th ward in Latrobe, 11/4.
Winter Wren, Mockingbird, Eastern Bluebirds, Yellow-rumped Warblers in New Alexandria, 10/30.
On a kayak trip on the Loyalhanna Creek from 2nd bridge in Latrobe to Bush Recreation Area (5.3 hours); American Coot 1, Wood Ducks, Great Blue Herons, Red-tailed Hawks, Belted Kingfishers, Pileated Woodpeckers, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Yellow-shafted Flickers, Great Egret 1, 10/21.
Osprey 2, Great Blue Heron 2, Cormorant 1 fly-by, Greater Yellowlegs 1, Killdeer 12+, Yellow-shafted Flickers, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Pileated Woodpecker 1 fly-by, Belted Kingfisher 1, Crows 75-100, Yellow-rumped Warbler 2, Eastern Bluebird 2 (m/f), Song Sparrow, Carolina Wren, at Loyalhanna Lake 10/15. I could see that one of the Osprey was a young of this year. He/she caught a fish & ate it in a dead tree in a cove, then at dusk perched in a dead tree on the far side of the bowl from the boat launch at Bush Recreation Area.
Osprey, 1 fishing from perches in a cove at Loyalhanna Lake. I watched the Osprey make 6 dives w/o making a catch. Earlier in the day I'd watched the Opsrey make 2 dives & catch one fish. Also 2 Red-tailed Hawk. 10/12.
Tree Swallows 7, Eastern Bluebird 3, Yellow-shafted Flicker 1, Yellow-rumped Warbler 2, Blue Jay, Song Sparrow at Keystone State Park, 10/9.
Two Great Horned Owls hooting in woods WNW (Meisner's Woods) of Latrobe, 10/8.
An Osprey fishing the Kiskiminetas River in Saltsburg, around the old stone piers downriver from the bridge, also a Belted Kingfisher at same location, 10/6. These fish-eating birds are a good sign that the Kiskiminetas River, one of the most polluted rivers in the state & for many years a fishless waterway, is recovering.
On Monday, 10/2, at Keystone State Park I watched an Opsrey make two dives, about an hour apart in time between 3pm & 5pm, & come up with a fish each time. On Tuesday the same thing, two dives resulting in two fish. Other people at the lake said they saw the Osprey do the same thing on Sunday, two dives resulting in two fish. On these three days no one reported seeing the Osprey make a miss. That is one skilled Osprey! Any other Ospreys I've watched fishing make a few misses for each fish caught.
Cormorants 2, Osprey 2 (seen with fish on two separate occassions), Great Blue Heron 5, Red-tailed Hawk 5, Belted Kingfisher 4, seen while canoing at Loyalhanna Lake 10/1.
Green-backed Heron 1, Great Blue Heron 1, Belted Kingfisher 1, Eastern Phoebe 2, Eastern Bluebird 2+, Red-tailed Hawk 1, at Conemaugh River Lake, 9/5.
Osprey flying over Loyalhanna Creek at the Rt30 West bridge, 9/10.
Broad-winged Hawk 11, Osprey 1, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler at Wolf Rocks & trail on Laurel Mountain, 9/16.
Last brood for the summer of House Wrens in our yard leave the nest August 28.
Flock of 10 Raven circling & kettling over Keystone State Park, also 20+ Killdeer, 4 Eastern Kingbird, Osprey, Great Blue Heron, Green-backed Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Pileated Woodpecker, Cedar Waxwings, 2 Red-tailed Hawks, Turkey Vultures, 8/14.
Flock of 20+ Turkey Vulture kettling over Keystone State Park, 8/12.
Forster's Tern, 1 at Keystone State Park, perching on bouys & lifeguard chair at swimming area, 8/7.
Yellow-billed Cuckoo on Chestnut Ridge above Baggaley, also Black-throated Green Warbler & Hooded Warbler singing. Two Red-tailed Hawks soaring together high in a thermal, diving & doing twisting turns, extending legs & flashing talons at one another, 7/27.
Caspian Tern, one at Loyalhanna Lake, 7/25.
Spotted Sandpiper 2 together on Loyalhanna Creek between Latrobe & New Alexandria, 7/13.
Kentucky Warbler, Loyalhanna Creek Gorge in Chestnut Ridge 7/11.
Three young Rough-winged Swallows in nest in cliffs, young Tree Swallows in nest in tree stump that rises out of the water, Loyalhanna Lake 7/10.
Two singing Bobolinks, Henslow's Sparrows, Whip-poor-wills (at least two), a hooting Great Horned Owl, a close fly-by Red-tailed Hawk, on a private estate in Ligonier Valley, 6/25.
Double-crested Cormorant perched atop a tree stump rising out of the water, Eastern Phoebe & Rough-winged Swallows at nests in rock ledges at waters edge, Great Blue Heron, Eastern Kingbird, Warbling Vireo, Loyalhanna Lake via kayak from Bush Recreation Area, 6/22.
Family of Ravens on Chestnut Ridge above Baggaley. The Raven, quite vocal, were having fun playing with flight in the stiff wind that preceeded an approaching thunderstorm. Also Kentucky Warbler, Acadian Flycatcher, Black-throated Green Warbler, 6/21.
Worm-eating Warbler, 2 on Laurel Mtn in Linn Run State Park. Behavior suggested the presence of a nest, 6/12.
Broad-winged Hawk, Ruffed Grouse, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Field Sparrow seen on Chestnut Ridge above Baggaley, 4/25.
Belted Kingfisher, Spotted Sandpiper, Green Heron seen at Seldom Seen Park on Rt51 Beechview, 4/22.
Two Crows dive-bombing a Red-tailed Hawk perched atop an electrical transmission line tower along Rt130 at bottom of hill west of Westpoint, 4/18.
A Pileated Woodpecker & Cormorant seen flying pass the Spee-D Mart on Rt130 in Westpoint, 4/17. A lake, the old Unity Reservoir, at LagoDeVita is nearby.
Rough-winged Swallow flying back & forth over Loyalhanna Creek in downtown Latrobe, 4/3.
Pileated Woodpecker 2, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Flicker (heard), Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Winter Wren, Eastern Towhee, Cardinal, Titmouse, Chickadees, White-throated & Song Sparrows in Nature Park behind Barnes & Nobel bookstore off Rt30, east Greensburg, 4/2.
Raven (heard), Winter Wren, Ruffed Grouse, Pileated Woodpecker on Chestnut Ridge above Baggaley. The Pileated was seen peering from his night roost hole at sunset, 3/30.
Cooper's Hawk with a Robin kill in Nature Park behind Barne's & Noble, Rt30 East Greensburg; also Pileated Woodpecker & Eastern Phoebe, 3/30.
Eastern Towhee calling & singing in woods along Kiskiminetas River at Hyde Park, 3/26.
Red-shouldered Hawk one low flyby over Four Mile Run Rd between Darlington & Ross Rd, 3/25. Quick but beautiful view of both the underside and aboveside of hawk.
Two Red-tailed Hawks circling over St Marys Hill above Lloydsville. One hawk flying above the other dove at the lower, the lower hawk turned upside down, both hawks extended their legs & feet, touching talons, then parted and flew to the west, 3/24.
Red-shouldered Hawk, Raven, Wood Duck, Eastern Bluebird, Yellow-shafted Flicker, Carolina Wren, Cardinal, Eastern Phoebe, Crows at Conemeaugh Dam & Bow Ridge, also a Red-tailed Hawk on nest, 3/23.
Red-tailed Hawk 1 pair, Kestrel 3 pair along backroads from Rt30 at Beatty Crossroads to Shotgun Road by Whitney. Eastern Bluebird, a pair at Rocking R Farm on PiperGross Rd, a Ruffed Grouse, Golden-crowned Kinglets, Hairy Woodpeckers atop Chestnut Ridge, 3/18.
Eastern Phoebe one singing at the double arch railroad bridge in downtown Latrobe (nest underneath bridge), 3/11.
Two Killdeer flying over the athletic field in downtown Latrobe, between Ligonier St & Lincoln Ave, 2/22.
Red-breasted Nuthatch at beef suet in yard in sixth ward of Latrobe, 2/15.
First year Red-tailed Hawk perched in tree in yard beside Sharkey's on Mission Rd, watching the grassy field behind the white house with old greenhouse; a Red-tailed Hawk & Mockingbird seen along Beatty Flats Rd, 2/12.
Two Eastern Bluebirds, Kestrel 2, Red-tailed Hawk 1 in fields west of Crabtree. Yellow-shafted Flicker, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Song & Tree Sparrows, Great Blue Heron at Whitethorn Creek cove Loyalhanna Lake, 2/10.
Yellow-shafted Flicker 2 on ground in field along Carr Rd off Lightcap Rd, northwest of Latrobe, 2/6.
Short-eared Owl flushed from woods at furthest point on trail system east of lake at Keystone State Park, also Hermit Thrush, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Red-breasted Nuthatch, White-breasted Nuthatch, Robins, White-throated Sparrows, 2/5.
Two Raven at Laurel Mountain Ski Resort, perched in trees between parking lot & reservoir, 2/3.
Cedar Waxwings 11, Hermit Thrush 2 at Keystone State Park, 1/28.
Short-eared Owl 1 at the reclaimed stripmine 2 miles northwest of Latrobe. Also Robins 40+ & Carolina Wren. Along the Loyalhanna Creek at 3rd bridge a Belted Kingfisher & Great Blue Heron. A Red-tailed Hawk being harrassed by 4 crows in downtown Latrobe, over the parking beside the Frontier Club on Depot St., 1/27.
Raven soaring overhead at the X-country ski parking area on Laurel Summit Road, 1/24.
Yellow-rumped Warbler feeding at suet in yard in Latrobe, an Eastern Phoebe at old stone quarry on Chestnut Ridge in the Loyalhanna Gorge, 1/18. The Yellow-rumped Warbler visits the suet infrequently during the winter & spring.
