2001 - Bird sightings in Westmoreland County, southwestern Pennsylvania
Screaminghawk's
Birding in Westmoreland County, southwestern Pennsylvania
~~~ Year 2001 ~~~
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).
Red-throated Loon (winter plumage) at Derry Lake (Ethel Springs), 12/21.
Red-tailed Hawk perched atop the Loyalhanna Highrise in downtown Latrobe, 12/19.
Two Great Horned Owls hooting at Nature Park near Rt30 east of Greensburg, 12/15.
Swamp Sparrow & Song Sparrows in marsh cattails, Great Blue Heron in a farm field of corn stubble, St Vincent, Latrobe, 12/11.
Two Great Horned Owls hooting in woods just wnw of Latrobe, 12/9.
Fox Sparrow, Brown Creeper on Hemlock Trail in Laurel Hill State Park, Somerset County; Golden-crowned Kinglets in the old growth Hemlocks. Belted Kingfisher along Laurel Hill Creek at Barronvale covered bridge (1830, double span); 11/10.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1, Robins, Cedar Waxwings, Blue Jay, White-breasted Nuthatch at Buttermilk Falls, Indiana County. Bufflehead 4m 1f, Green-winged Teal 12, Ringneck Duck 2f, Black Duck 20~, Mallards, Belted Kingfisher, Latrobe Reservior, 10/28.
Winter Wren, Linn Run State Park, 10/19.
Great Blue Heron, Mallards in Turtle Creek, Allegheny County, between the Greensburg Pike bridge & Thompson Run, 10/14.
Spotted Sandpiper still present at Keystone State Park, 10/12.
Dark-eyed Juncoes, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Black-throated Green Warblers, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hairy Woodpecker, Linn Run State Park, 10/11.
American Widgeon 4, American Coot 1, Pied-billed Grebe 1, Wood Ducks 3+, Keystone State Park, 10/8.
Winter Wren 1 at Conemaugh River Lake in railroad (1907) cut, 10/7.
Gray-cheeked Thrush, Sharp-shinned Hawk harrassing a Turkey Vulture, Linn Run State Park. Spotted Sandpiper, Keystone State Park, 10/5.
Screech Owl, Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl, Killdeer, Great Blue Heron, all heard at night at Loyalhanna Lake while kayaking during the full moon, 10/2-10/3.
Red-headed Woodpeckers 4 (2a 2im) at Conemaugh River Lake, 9/19.
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1, Turkey Vultures 6~ at a dead groundhog in a field adjacent to the park, Red-tailed Hawk, Great Blue Heron, Killdeer, at Keystone State Park, 9/14.
Greater Yellowlegs 1 at the beach at Keystone State Park, 9/13.
Sharp-shinned Hawk at Keystone State Park, 9/6.
Broad-winged Hawk & Osprey at Keystone State Park, 9/3.
Two Common Nighthawk fly over Spruce Flats Bog, 3 Raven, Cedar Waxwings on Laurel Summit. A Black-throated Blue Warbler along Fish Run, 8/26.
Eagle, one soaring high (very) over Keystone State Park, 8/25.
Osprey, Cormorants 2, Eastern Wood Pewee 2, Eastern Kingbirds 5, Red-eyed Vireo 1 heard, Cuckoo 1 heard, at Loyalhanna Lake. A flock of 6 Common Nighthawks flying over Mannitto golf course, 8/24. Spiny Softshell Turtle basking on a log in the lake.
One Greater Yellowlegs at Keystone State Park, 8/24.
Two Kestrel over a field along Solomon Temple Road atop Chestnut Ridge, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch on a spruce tree trunk along Noel Road, 8/17.
An Osprey (flying w/fish in grasp) at Keystone State Park lake, 8/14.
Three Osprey (2im 1a) at Donegal Lake (also a mass of Bryozoa (moss animal), species Pectinatella magnifica), 8/12.
A Raven (heard & seen) near Hudock (Camelback) Road on Chestnut Ridge. Five Turkey Vultures flying over Latrobe, 8/10.
One, maybe two Broad-winged Hawks (heard & seen) near Hudock (Camelback) Road on Chestnut Ridge, 8/9.
Spotted Sandpiper, Great Blue Heron, Eastern Kingbirds, Peregrine Falcon (fly-by) at Keystone State Park, 8/7.
Screech Owl doing its wailing scream & cooing in the AM hours on Chestnut Ridge while a friend & I sat at a pondside fire, 8/4.
A Common Tern at Bush Recreation Area, Loyalhanna Lake. The tern was flying around, diving into the water, and perching on SLOW NO WAKE & SHALLOW AREA bouys. We canoed pass a bouy within 5-10 feet of the perched tern, 8/4.
Henslow's Sparrow heard in grassy field next to Slag Road & Rt981, adjacent to Keystone State Park, 7/31.
Three Red-tailed Hawks thermalling together, one quite vocal; Great Blue Heron 1, Turkey Vulture 1, at Keystone State Park, 7/30.
One Mockingbird perched on wire near the intersection of Barchesky Rd & the New Derry-New Alexandria Road (catty corner from old school house), 7/29.
Four gulls fly over the Unity Plaza (Rt30-Rt981) parking lot, 7/26.
One Solitary Sandpiper at Loyalhanna Lake, 7/23.
Two adult Ring-billed Gulls at Keystone State Park swimming beach, 7/22.
A Broad-winged Hawk overhead at Ohiopyle, near the loop take-out. Two Ring-billed Gulls (imm. & adult) at the Latrobe Plaza parking lot on Rt30. A pair of Osprey with two young in nest at Donegal Lake. 7/14.
Two Cormorants overhead, Great Blue Heron, Osprey 3, at Loyalhanna Lake, 7/13.
Two Osprey at Donegal Lake, one sitting in the nest & one perched at the edge of the nest, 6/23.
Kestrel, Green-backed Heron, Great Blue Heron 2, Grey Catbird, Acadian Flycatcher, along the Loyalhanna Creek in 5th ward, Latrobe, 6/22. The Common Loon that has been staying on the Loyalhanna Creek in Latrobe for two months has apparently left. The Loon was last seen & heard on 6/17 (first seen in mid April).
Screech Owl & Great Horned Owl (heard), Sharp-shinned Hawk, White-eyed Vireo, Catbird, Wood Thrush, Carolina Wren in woods west of Latrobe, 6/21.
Two Eastern Kingbird at nest with chicks. The nest is in the top of a broken trunk of a Black Willow tree at the head of a sandbar at Loyalhanna Lake, 6/21.
Kentucky Warbler 2 (m/f), Hooded Warbler, Ovenbird, Black-throated Green Warbler, American Redstart, Broad-winged Hawk, Pileated Woodpecker on Chestnut Ridge above Baggaley. Purple Martin 2 fly over Keystone State Park , 6/14.
A Prothonotary Warbler is still present (since at least 5/10) at Loyalhanna Lake, along the shoreline west of Bush Recreation Area. Other birds at the lake & in woods around the lake; Blue-winged Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Parula Warbler, Cerulean Warbler, Ovenbird, Acadian Flycatcher, Indigo Bunting, Northern Oriole, Rough-winged Swallows, Tree Swallows, Belted Kingfisher, Great Blue Heron, Red-tailed Hawk (adult carrying snake in bill, young hawks heard). A Common Loon is still present (since mid April) on the Loyalhanna Creek in 5th ward Latrobe, 6/12.
Common Loon, Rough-winged Swallows, Barn Swallows, Chimney Swifts, families of Canada Goose, Belted Kingfisher (carrying food to a burrow in the creekbank), Willow Flycatcher (at Sewage Treatment Plant), Green Herons 2, Eastern Wood Pewee heard; Red-tailed Hawks (3 young in nest, 2 adults), Northern Oriole, Cedar Waxwings during a kayak float down the Loyalhanna Creek from Rt982 to 2nd ward bridge, 6/3.
Common Loon, a Groundhog climbed a black willow to eat leaves, Loyalhanna Creek in 5th ward Latrobe. At Saint Vincent wetlands; Least Sandpiper 1 (wetland#2), Spotted Sandpiper 1 (#2), Killdeer 2, Hooded Merganser 2 female (#2), Willow Flycatcher 1 singing, Warbling Vireo 1 singing, Swamp Sparrow 1 singing, Eastern Bluebirds 1 pair. At Latrobe Stripmine; Cedar Waxwing 13, Blue-winged warbler 2, Prairie Warbler 2, Song Sparrows, Field Sparrows, Grasshopper Sparrows, Henslow's Sparrows 4+ singing from topmost dead branches of small shrubs/trees, American Woodcock 2 peenting & performing display flights after sunset,
5/17.
Spotted Sandpiper 2 (#2), Solitary Sandpiper 1 (#2), Virginia Rail 1, American Coot 1 (#2), Swamp Sparrow 1 singing, Yellow Warblers, Gray Catbird, Warbling Vireo, Savannah Sparrow 1 singing, Yellow-throated Vireo, also a Mink, carrying a small young Mink in its mouth, that crossed the path in front of me, Saint Vincent Wetlands, 5/15.
Two families of Canada Geese with young at Keystone State Park, 5/13.
Bobolink in fields along Shotgun Road near Whitney. Black & White Warbler, Ovenbird, Hooded Warbler, Ruffed Grouse (drumming) on Chestnut Ridge east of Baggaley. 5/12.
Prothonotary Warbler, one singing in woods along the edge of Loyalhanna Lake at 3 in the afternoon. The exact location is along Koontz Road a hundred yards or so beyond where the Swainson's Warbler was seen a couple years ago, where the road skirts the lake in view of Bush Recreation Area, pass the gas pipeline right-of-way. (via boat from the beach at Bush Recreation area the compass bearing is 280 degrees). Other birds seen/heard while kayaking; Rough-winged Swallows (carrying food to cavities in rock ledges), Tree Swallows, Great-crested Flycatcher, Northern Oriole, Eastern Wood Pewee, Green-backed Heron, Great Blue Heron, Warbling Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Hooded Warbler, Yellow Warbler, American Redstart, Scarlet Tanager, Flicker (poking head out of tree cavity of stump jutting out of water), Wood Thrush, Osprey 2, Red-tailed Hawks, Turkey Vulture, 5/10.
Osprey & Red-tailed Hawk soaring over downtown Latrobe, above the Rogers Building at the corner of Main St & Ligonier St (across from the Mellon Bank building). The Red-tail was soaring above the Osprey in the same thermal, 5/9.
Killdeer with 3 eggs in gravel nest on ground in empty lot at corner of Depot St & Alexandria St, downtown Latrobe, 5/7.
A WCBC outing to the Andrico Access of Loyalhanna Lake, just north of New Alexandria on Rt981, 5/6, number of participants 8; Northern Oriole, Acadian Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe (nest underneath bridge), Wood Thrush, Yellow-breasted Chat 4+ (singing & doing fluttering display flights, somtimes 2-3 were being seen & heard at the same time. Very good area for chats.) White-eyed Vireo, Blue-winged Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Field Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Black-billed Cuckoo 1 seen & heard, Blue Jay, Rufous-sided Towhee, Accipiter 1, Turkey Vulture 1, Eastern Towhee, American Goldfinch, Indigo Bunting, Gray Catbird, Cardinal, House Wren, Carolina Wren, Ring-necked Pheasant heard, a Red Squirrel napping on a tree branch, its tail flexed forward covering its back & head, 2 Northern Watersnakes. Later, at the Christopher Access Area; Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Song Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Tree Swallow, Rough-winged Swallow, Gray Catbird, Red-tailed Hawk, White-eyed Vireo, Blue-winged Warbler seen at close range, Warbling Vireo, Orchard Orioles 1 pair, a Raccoon napping in a nest in a tree.
On a bird outing at the Saint Vincent wetlands #2 & #3, Latrobe, 5/5. Partial list of 30+ species seen/heard; Northern Oriole (several, a pair nest-building), Swamp Sparrow 1 singing, Red-tailed Hawk 2 at nest, Hooded Merganser 1f using nest box, Mallard (nest w/eggs), Canada Goose on nest, American Coot being secretive in marsh grasses, Solitary Sandpiper 2, Least Sandpiper 1, Eastern Kingbird 1, Eastern Bluebird 1m, Eastern Phoebe (nest under bridge with one newly hatched chick & 2 eggs), Yellow Warbler, Warbling Vireo, Virginia Rail 2 together in marsh grasses at lake.
These warblers seen & heard singing, most of them on breeding territories: Warblers; Black & white, Hooded, Chestnut-sided, Cerulean, Ovenbird, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Green, Black-throated Blue; also Indigo Bunting, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Winter Wren, Scarlet Tanager. A Raven & Red-tailed Hawk circling in same thermal/updraft. Raven young have fledged from nest. Turkey Vultures 6+, Laurel Mtn, Linn Run State Park, 5/4.
Solitary Sandpiper 1, Great Blue Heron 1, Green-backed Heron 1, Common Loon 1, Ovenbird 1 heard at Keystone State Park, 5/2.
Warbling Vireo, Common Loon at Keystone State Park, 5/1.
Mallard, female with 2 chicks in Loyalhanna Creek in Latrobe. At Keystone State Park; Baltimore Oriole 2, Eastern Kingbird 2, Yellow Warbler 2, Blue-winged Warbler 1, White-eyed Vireo 2, Green-backed Heron 1, Red-tailed Hawk 1, 4/30.
Sixteen people participated in a bird outing at the Conemaugh River Lake - Bow Ridge on Sunday, 4/29. The morning started out a bit chilly - there had been a frost overnight - but it warmed up to be a sunny & beautiful day. Warblers: Louisiana Waterthrush 1 along stream in Pump Station Rd hollow (other side of Conemaugh River from Tunnelton village), Nashville (heard singing), Parula, Cerulean, Yellow-throated (1 landed in the mesh of the chain link fence on the bridge & then on the guard rail just a few feet away, extraordinary), Black-throated Green, Black & White (heard), Blue-winged (heard), Yellow-rumped, Hooded, Prairie. White-eyed Vireo (heard), Yellow-throated Vireo, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (pair putting finishing touches on a nest), Cormorant (double-crested) 1-2, Canada Geese, Killdeer (one with 2 eggs in rock-lined nest on ground), Turkey Vulture (seen from the eastern side of bow ridge, one dragged a large dead carp from the water onto the shore), Ruffed Grouse (1 flushed), Wild Turkey 1, Mourning Doves, Rock Doves, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-shafted Flicker, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Kingbird, Rough-winged Swallow, Tree Swallow, Eastern Bluebird 1m, Crow, Carolina Wren, Tufted Titmouse, Blue Jay, Brownheaded Cowbird, White-throated Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Cardinal, Eastern Towhee, American Goldfinch, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle.
At Bow Ridge, Conemaugh River & Lake, Wednesday 4/25. Parula, Yellow-throated, Blue-winged, Yellow-rumped, Cerulean, Blackburnian, Hooded Warblers; Louisiana Waterthrush 2 in railroad cut, White-eyed Vireo, Yellow-throated Vireo, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Eastern Bluebird, Raven (heard), Red-tailed Hawk, Rough-winged Swallow, Tree Swallow, Eastern Phoebe, COMMON MOORHEN 1 found dead (had not been dead for long) on stone-arch bridge, Osprey 1 seen in flight and later perched in a tree near the nesting platform. Eastern Kingbird 1 along Auer Rd, 4/25.
Indigo Bunting 2m at feeder in Latrobe, 4/23.
Chimney Swifts in downtown Latrobe, 4/22.
Shoveler 1pr, Red-breasted Merganser 1f, Spotted Sandpiper 1, Pileated Woodpecker 1 low fly-by, Broad-winged Hawk 1 cirling overhead, Cormorant 1 in flight over lake, Osprey 1 fishing the lake, BALD EAGLE 1 immature made a few passes overhead. The eagle had an all dark head (as seen from below) base of tail feathers grayish-white, body all dark, white spots & lines on underside of wings. Every time the Eagle came near, the Osprey would start calling out. Heron 1 heard after dark (sounded like a green-backed), Keystone State Park 4/21.
At the Walk For Wildlife Fundraiser for Wildlife Works Inc., Twin Lakes County Park; Pine Warbler 1 singing in pines around playground on upper lake, near pavilion #1, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1-2 singing in spruce trees at parking lot for pavilion #1, Osprey 1 fishing the upper lake, Turkey Vulture 1 perched in a tree near the upper lake in the morning. The vulture may have been roosting there for the night & had not yet taken to flight. Canada Goose 1 sitting on eggs in nest seen from the marsh boardwalk on lower lake, 4/22.
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Opsrey 2, Pileated Woodpecker 2, Flickers (heard), Canada Geese 6, Tree Swallows 2, Wood Ducks 3+, Wild Turkey at Loyalhanna Lake, 4/19. The stillness of the evening reverberated with the constant raucous honking of a Canada Goose, the calling of Flickers & Pileated Woodpecker, the gobbling of a Wild Turkey, and some other sounds.
Broad-winged Hawk, 1 on chestnut ridge, apparently just arrived on territory. It was circling low over the woods and landing in trees. Savannah Sparrow, 1 singing in fields beside kennametal corporate headquarters, rt981 just south of rt30, 4/15. Toad tadpoles in a small rain puddle on chestnut ridge.
House Wren heard singing in Latrobe, 4/14.
Mockingbird, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher along Slag Road near Keystone State Park, Louisiana Waterthrush heard along Loyalhanna Creek. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker on Laurel Mountain above Lauglintown. 4/12.
On a kayak float down the Loyahanna Creek thru Latrobe; Belted Kingfisher 4, Great Blue Heron 3, Red-tailed Hawk 1, Rough-winged Swallows 4, Eastern Phoebe (some heard). We saw the kingfishers in twos, they appear to be pairing up. Three spots along the creek had kingfisher burrows in the creek bank. A Red-tailed Hawk was sitting in a nest in a large oak tree. The swallows were flying around, & perching in, drain holes in a concrete retaining wall, 4/7.
Great Blue Heron 4+, Cormorant 1, Osprey 2, Red-tailed Hawk 2 (1 im, 1 a), Eastern Bluebirds (m/f), Yellow-rumped Warblers (male in full song); heard Wild Turkey, Yellow-shafted Flicker, Raven, at Loyalhanna Lake, 4/4.
An adult Accipiter perched low in a tree in a backyard in the alley behind the A-Plus on Lloyd Avenue in Latrobe. I walked by the hawk at very close range (about 10 steps) & he/she didn't fly away until after I had passed, 4/3.
From Blairsville to Conemaugh River Lake along Livermore Road, heading west pass the Westinghouse plant road; Kestrel 1f, Mockingbirds 2. At Conemaugh Lake; Red-tailed Hawks 3, Turkey Vulture 5+, Great Blue Heron 1 with lavish nuptial plumes on the head, breast, & back (draping down over wings when perched), orange bill. Looked great thru the scope & impressed two non-birding friends. Wood Ducks 5 (3m 2f) on the river, Ringneck Ducks (10+) & more Wood Ducks (10~) on a pond in the woods. An adult Great Horned Owl & two well developed young on a nest used last year by Red-tailed Hawks. It looks like the young are on track for being off the nest before the end of this month. Eastern Bluebird 1pr, Eastern Phoebe (heard), Carolina Wren (heard). Wood Frogs (watched a female laying egg masses) & peepers breeding in drainage ditches where the old railroad grade cuts thru a ridge. This old railroad grade, a great & wild place to hike or bike as is, is due to be developed into a recreational biking trail as part of a master plan to develop wild places in the region into "greenways" for the tourism economy. The trail, when development is done, after high steel mesh fences have been placed on the sides of the old stone arch bridges, will be marketed in tourism brochures.
Swamp Sparrow 1, Osprey 1, Belted Kingfisher 2f 1m, American Coot 1, Yellow-shafted Flicker 1, Downy Woodpecker 2, Great Horned Owl (1 heard) at Loyalhanna Lake, 3/29.
Osprey 1, Tree Swallow 1, Wood Duck 6-7, at Loyalhanna Lake, 3/28.
Great-blue Heron, 7-8 together in backwaters of Loyalhanna Lake; a large owl, appeared to be a Great Horned Owl in the quick look I had of it in flight, being harrassed & chased by Crows. Raven heard at the Moreing Rd access area. Elsewhere, at undisclosed locations, a Red-tailed Hawk on nest & Great Horned Owl on nest, 3/25.
Yellow-shafted Flicker 1, Turkey Vulture 50~, Common Merganser 3m 2f, American Woodcock 1 heard, at Loyalhanna Lake; Ringneck 30~, Bufflehead 3m 2f at Mannitto Lake, 3/23. The Turkey Vulture were kettling over the night roost trees on a hilltop after sunset but before twilight. The woodcock was heard tweetering in its downward spiraling diving mating flight. Gizzard Shad are still dying, I saw some freshly dead ones awash on the shoreline.
Monday, March 19 2001, in downtown Latrobe an immature Cooper's Hawk landed at the top edge of the mellon bank building on Main Street. A few moments later flying to perch on the chimney, one of the highest perches with a commanding view in the downtown business area. Two pigeons neared the top of the building, where they like to perch during the day, but changed their minds when they saw the hawk. The hawk, seeing the pigeons approach, changed from a relaxed upright posture to a horizontal ready-to-take-action posture. Nothing more happened. The Cooper's Hawk stayed there for at least 15 minutes, relaxing & preening. I watched the hawk thru a spotting scope, having walked a block and half to get the sun to my back. A Red-tailed Hawk cirled low over the stone arch railroad bridge over the creek in town. At Mannitto Lake off Bush Road, north of New Alexandria, Gadwall 2 pr, Bufflehead 1 pr, Ringneck duck 30~, Kestrel 1f at ruins of old barn on Derbytown Road & 1 at farm on rt981 on 3/4 mile hill. At Keystone State Park; Wood Duck 1pr at marsh, Belted Kingfisher 1m, Spring Peepers (heard). On Sunday, 3/18, a Red-tailed Hawk was circling low over the Latrobe downtown intersection of Ligonier Street & Thompson Street, near Loyal Hotel.
Summer resident Turkey Vultures are on territory in the Loyalhanna Creek - Chestnut Ridge Gorge. At our feeder in sixth ward we are getting American Goldfinch at niger seed, a Yellow-rumped Warbler, Downy Woodpeckers, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, & Hairy Woodpecker at beef suet. A female Red-bellied Woodpecker kept chasing a lone Starling away from the suet, until the Starling left. 3/14.
One adult accipiter on the hunt over empty lots in Lawson Hieghts, behind Joe's Store , Latrobe, flying fast within inches of the ground trying to catch one of the Robins off-guard, 3/11.
Canada Geese, Mallards, Black Ducks, American Widgeon 6+m, Common Goldeneye 1m, Horned Grebe 11 winter plumage, Ringneck Duck, 100+ mostly males, Redhead Duck, 3m & a few females, Lesser Scaup 3m & f ?, Red-breasted Merganser 1m, Bufflehead 1m, Gadwall 1m 3f, Northern Shoveler 6m 3f, Woodduck 3m 2f, Great Blue Heron 1 fly-by, Red-tailed Hawk 1 perched in dead tree near shoreline, at Latrobe Reservoir at & after sunset. There most likely were more ducks than I saw at the lake, I ran out of daylight. I ended up staying at the lake longer than intended as my car wouldn't start when I wanted to leave. I waved down a total stranger & she kindly made a phone call for me when she got home. In the hour+ time that I waited for help to arrive a young couple stopped & offered to help jump start the car. We tried w/o success. A township policewoman happened by, asked what was the matter, surveyed the situation, turned on the patrol car flashing lights, & stayed until help arrived. Turns out the battery cable has been chafing against the engine block & grounding where the insulation is worn thin. urgg. Crescent Venus was bright in the sky & shining on the lake water. Ducks were vocal, making soft sounds in the darkness (had time for all this while waiting for help to arrive). 3/10.
Turkey Vulture, 5 soaring over Idlewild Park on rt30. At Laurel Mtn Ski Slopes; Robins 50-100 flew over lower wildcat slope, landing in a tall Eastern Hemlock along rolling rock stream. Raven 2 low overhead (while riding chairlift, favorite way of seeing them); Chickadees, Goldfinches, Downy Woodpecker heard. On a walk in 16 inches of snow along the rim of rolling rock hollow I flushed one Ruffed Grouse. Could see where the grouse had been buried in the snow. Currently there is 15-19 inches of snow on top laurel ridge, folks are cross-country skiing & snowmobiling. While driving pass a golf course to visit a friend I saw & counted a herd of 51 white-tailed deer. 3/9.
Four Raven, flying together & interacting; Crows, flock of 50~, Pileated Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, at Laurel Mtn Ski Slopes, 3/7.
One Killdeer at beach, 14 Red-winged Blackbirds singing in treetops at the marsh after sunset, a Song Sparrow singing after sunset in the marsh, 9 Canada Geese, 2 Mallards, a Great Horned Owl hooting, at Keystone State Park. A late winter storm has just put 3.5 inches of snow on the ground. Monday night temperatures are in the teens, 3/5.
A Robin singing for a few moments early in the morning in our nieghborhood, Latrobe. One gull at Derry Lake, probably a Ring-billed. 3/4.
One gull flying over our place, heading north, & two more seen moments later over Unity Street, Latrobe, PA. They looked like Ring-billed Gulls, 3/3.
A Yellow-rumped Warbler feeding on beef suet in our yard. Two Turkey Vulture at Kingston along Rt30, 3 Robns atop Laurel Mtn near the ski resort parking lot, 3/2.
Ring-billed Gulls 30, Common Merganser 3m, Ringneck Ducks 13 (4f), Killdeer 1, Eastern Bluebirds, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1m, Yellow-shafted Flickers, Pileated Woodpecker 1pr, Red-tailed Hawk 2, Raven 1pr at Bush Recreation Area, Loyalhanna Lake. Mockingbird 1 along rt981 between Oasis Bar & Flowers Rd, 2/27.
Ring-billed Gulls 6 at rt22/rt981 intersection, Red-breasted Merganser 3m at Bush Recreation Area, Loyalhanna Lake. One Mockingbird somewhere between Conemaugh Dam & Bush Recreation Area, 2/26.
At Derry Lake 1 male Hooded Merganser, 1 Ring-billed Gull at rest on water. Enroute to Loyalhanna Lake 2 Raven in the farm field (again, 12:50pm) near the storage warehouse on Bush Rd. They were taking to flight as I approached, one carrying a rodent in its bill. At the lake I didn't see any waterfowl. I stayed for about an hour, & didn't see the Bald Eagles being seen by others. It was very windy, which may have kept some birds from flying much. Gizzard shad are still dying. I saw one freshly dead 13" shad, as with the last one I saw dying this one had bleeding thru the skin, at base of fins, bloodshot eyes. The shad are prolific egg-layers. In one season a female can lay up to 500,000 eggs. They tend to overpopulate & thus their numbers crash. It could be the bald eagles are finding easy pickings with weakened gizzard shad. I left Bush Recreation area & continued on along Bush Rd. I was greeted with the sight of new logging. The wooded hollow between Bush Recreation Area & Loyalhanna Woodlands & beyond is being logged. A new logging season is starting. More of Westmorelnd County's woodlands are meeting with the logging tractor & chainsaw. Along Auen Rd going to Conemaugh Dam I saw in a farm field what looked like a flock of horned larks flying. I glassed the flock to see what they were. Turned out to be a bunch of leaves blowing in the wind. Back in Latrobe I stopped at a friend's house. They live just outside of town, beside the loyalhanna creek, with a wooded hillside behind their place. From there I walked up along the creek, following a trappers (muskrat, coon) path & deer trails. A Great Blue Heron flushed from the creekbank. I was going to check a Red-tailed Hawk nest to see if the hawks or Great Horned Owls were using it. The Red-tailed Hawks were there. This pair is a resident pair. My friend & I see them from his yard & from within the house looking out the windows. They do not migrate away, so the nest is not easily taken over by Great Horned Owls. The nest is in a large oak tree just above the creekbank, near a farm, at the base of a steep hillside with cliffs & rock outcrops. From an outcrop above the nest I can look down into the nest. (coincidentally the line of sight from rock to nest passes beyond over two well known landmarks, the Rolling Rock Brewery in town, & Saint Vincent College in the distance). The hillside has nice large oaks, maples, & cherry. Last year the top of the hill was logged. Two oak trees that had been cut had growth rings of 90 & 100, solid wood to the center of the stump, no rot. Enough to make any logger salivate. I wonder how many Westmoreland County woodlots will be felled this year. The things people do for money! Saw a flock of Common Grackle, a Robin in the woods, House Finch & Song Sparrow singing. 2/25.
Two Red-tailed Hawks circling low over our place within the city limits of Latrobe, 2/24.
Old man winter ain't dead yet. And I'm glad for it. Went downhill skiing at Laurel Mountain Ski Resort (el. 2800 feet) today (Friday 2/23/01). Quite
wintery on top the mountain. Trees covered with snow. The road from rt30 to
the slopes snow covered & icy in spots. A layer of fresh snow covered the
ground, the ski slopes with added man-made snow. Blustery most of the day,
with some wind-driven snow. At the slopes the snow making machines were
running which exaggerated the effects, face-stinging effects to boot. When I arrived in the morning I saw Crows overhead. Beyond that most of the day was rather birdless, as usual this time of year there. In the afternoon I saw a Red-tailed Hawk over the slopes, the first one I've seen this
winter while dh-skiing. Red-tails are beginning to venture farther from the
valley lowlands/farmlands. In the evening a Raven made an appearance, being harrassed by 4 Crows. My skiing ticket was good till 4:30, though I squeezed in a few extra runs till the lift operators got wise. Not wanting to leave the mountaintop yet I decided to change into hiking boots & explore an interesting looking rock outcrop. At the outcrop I saw rodent tracks, squirrel tracks, & what looked like crow tracks at an old fire remains beneath a rock overhang, beer cans & broken beer bottles scattered around the blackened wood ashes. When I came out the other side of the rocks I stopped to look around, taking in the wild winter landscape. Something caught my attention. An animal was moving thru the trees up ahead. At first I thought it be a fox, a gray fox. Nope, this animal is too large for a fox. A coyote? Maybe. So I brought up my binocs for a closer look. It was a Bobcat! And a large one for sure!! I never imagined a Bobcat to be that large. I watched as the cat moved very business-like, determined, thru the trees. He/she never saw me, as I instinctively remained quiet & still so not to attract attention. In retropsect I wish I had purposely attracted the wildcat's attention, to make him/her pause & look. Maybe next time. The cat disappeared into the steep & deep Rolling Rock Hollow. I walked over to the tracks, followed them back to where the cat had crossed the road, at a place where on both sides of the road spruce trees & mountain laurel thickets provided cover. In the thickets the stride of the cat's tracks were anywhere from 3 to 15 inches. In the flats of the open woods the cat's loping stride varied over the irregular terrain from 12 to 18 inches. The paw prints, well defined in the fresh 1.5" powder snow, measured 2 inches across & 2.25~ inches long, with some paw scrapes between strides in some places. (I had gone back to my car to fetch a tape measure, notepad & pencil. I measured numerous paw prints.) This was an above average size Bobcat, methinks. From its appearance, 1/3 to 1/2 the size of a deer, I'd say that cat would have no or little problem bringing down any deer! It was a long-legged Bobcat with a greyish winter coat, similar to how deer get a greyish winter coat. In the summer the bobcat, like deer, would have a more tawny colored coat. I would venture to say that the wild cat I saw was a large male. It would not be an exaggeration to quess its weight at 45+ pounds (I am familiar with dog sizes & weights). Male boncats are larger than females. I do not recall seeing a soft hanging underside a female might have. When I did finally leave the mountaintop, after twilight, I drove to a friends place. While driving up the private road a Red Fox ran out in front of me & doubled-back in the car lights. Leaving my friends place a Raccoon crossed the road in front of me. My friends told me that bear are on the move.
I thought I'd never see a bobcat in the wild, though I do spend plenty of time in bobcat country on Chestnut Ridge & Laurel Mountain. And if I did see a bobcat, I expected to be looking at its rear-end in flight away from me. I never dreamt to see one walking pass, perpendicular to my line-of-sight, without the cat seeing me. I've cross-country & downhill skied Laurel Mtn for years, & never thought much about the downhill slope names at Laurel Mtn Ski Resort that are called "Bobcat", "Upper Wildcat", & "Lower Wildcat". Now I know why those names are used!
I wrote the following to an email list two days after the bobcat sighting.
From the email I read saturday nite I saw it was a good day to be out birding in Westmoreland County. Pockets of waterfowl were seen on some lakes & ponds. Two Bald Eagles were seen at Bush Recreation Area of Loyalhanna Lake, a place I frequent & kayak, but I haven't seen eagle there (yet). I chose not to go birding, being content to withdraw for the day & recall friday's experience atop Laurel Mountain. Had I gone birding saturday it would have been sensory overload. My system can handle only so much excitement. It takes a while to fully digest certain experiences, for the minute details to really sink in & alter my brain cells. Call it the psychology & neurophysiology of encounters with wildlife. Mind altering wildlife. Birders are addicted to birding in part because of the effects birds, & wildlife in general, have upon us. We don't use drugs. We use birds. Nature is my addiction. Nature is my drug. Nature is my high. I'm not a drug user, I'm a nature user. Nature is my fix.
The bobcat I saw looked similar to the second pic at this web page, the pic seen if you scroll down the page.
This past Tuesday (2/20) I heard a Robin singing in the morning, its song mixing with the sounds of a garbage truck collecting garbage in the nieghborhood. That morning was a tad bit warm, comparatively speaking. Haven't heard singing since. 2/23.
One Ring-billed Gull at Loyalhanna Lake, Bush Recreation Area. Two flocks of Robins, each numbering about 50, overhead on Rt981 at 3/4 mile hill, 2/19.
Great Blue Heron, 1 hunched atop a muskrat mound in a wetspot on the Loyalhanna village side of the Latrobe-Derry road, near 84 lumber. Common Goldeneye, 1 female at Derry Lake, hugging the corner shoreline near Lakeside Lounge/bar (close look with just binocs). Only other ducks on the lake were a few mallards, including the one with the funky "hair-do". One of these days I'll look up the name of that hybrid/breed. Kestrel, 1 female along Rt981 in New Alexandria, at top of hill where roadway mine subsidence was repaired last year. Belted Kingfisher, 1 female at marsh (now that ice is gone) at Keystone State Park.Raven, 2 in crop field on Bush Rd near Mannitto. I pulled off the road near the Brother's Farm Warehouse Storage. The Raven, which at first I thought were large crows until I saw the shaggy throat, were on the ground in the field not far off the road, about 50 yards or so. (my memory is so conditioned to the sight of crows in that kind of situation that I did a double take before realizing they were Raven, thank god for birding experience) The Raven took to flight & began soaring like buteos. I drove toward the golf course & again pulled off the road this time at the Loyalhanna Township sign, looking out over Mannitto Lake as the Raven circled higher & higher. They did some acrobatics, but nothing major. Their soaring ended with headlong twisting dives, disappearing behind a distant hill, probably into another farm field. At Loyalhanna Lake the 3 Ring-billed Gulls were gone from where I had been seeing them at Bush Recreation Area boat launch. I picked up a 12" Gizzard Shad that was still alive but in the process of dying. It was in the water along the shoreline, floating on its side or belly-up, gulping for oxygen, moving weakly, eyes not yet glazing over, its sides spotted with the red of blood hemorrhaging from between the scales & from the gill slit. I've seen Gizzard Shad winter die-offs before but never found a shad still alive. Supposedly the shad die enmasse because of fluctuation in water temperature &/or reduction of available oxygen in the water which the species cannot tolerate. If that be the case would a shad be hemorrhaging blood from between scales along the side of its body & from out the gill slit? & what about this one dying by itself long after the others have died? Is it dying of the same cause?
The ice that remains on some area lakes has turned into iceflows that are moved by the wind. At keystone the ice has moved from where it was yesterday. Loud splitting & creaking sounds come from the iceflow as it flexes & cracks. At the downwind end of the lake small pieces of broken ice, like pieces of broken window pane, has accumulated at the shoreline. In the wind-driven waves they clang together making a slushing sound, like watery ice chimes. 2/18.
It has been a raw, cold day in the low to mid 20s & windy. At Loyalhanna Lake the 3 Ring-billed Gulls I saw three days ago (wed) are still there, feeding on dead gizzard shad. The loyalhanna dam is holding back rainwater from the past two days, creating a new high water line of debri & dead fish. Being in westmoreland county I do not get much chance to observe gull behavior. Bits of gull feeding behavior I watched today include: trying to swallow fish or parts of fish too large to swallow. The gulls would pick up gravel grit (for their gizzard to help breakdown the gizzard shad) while feeding at the shoreline of the boat launch parking lot. A pecking order where a dominant gull would occassionally chase a subordinate from a fish & takeover that fish. Bill washing in the water with vigorous side-to-side headshaking. Carrying dead fish to the water, shaking the fish in the water &/or dropping the fish into the water to let the wave action tumble the fish around, then carrying the fish back to land to continue feeding. Using their bill as a spear to impel the fish then tearing out flesh with brute force or using more technique with a bill-twisting action. One gull picked up an old crabapple, inspected the apple with its bill, carried the apple to the water where the apple was washed & inspected some more, carried the apple back to land, then decided not to eat any of the apple. All three gulls have slight brown speckling on the head, otherwise their coloration is adult. Loyalhanna is a narrow, riverine lake that snakes between steep high hills. It is neat to see the gulls flying against the backdrop of the dark hillsides, & to hear their calls, which reminds me of times I lived at the outer banks of NC. Three Common Merganser flew pass, heading downstream, turned around, & flew pass again heading upstream. One Kestrel seen while enroute to the dam, along rt981 on 3/4 mile hill, at the reclaimed strip mine. Four Robins along an little-used access road to the lake, also 2 red squirrel. Three Killdeer on the beach at Keystone State Park. The late winter ice-out is progressing. Loyalhanna Lake is ice-free, because of high water. Keystone is mostly ice-free except for a part of the mid-section. 2/17.
At Loyalhanna Lake there was 3 Ring-billed Gulls at the parking lot & beach of Bush Recreation Area. The gulls were feasting on the remains of numerous dead Gizzard Shad littering a high water mark. A winter die-off of Gizzard Shad has left hundreds of dead fish along sections of shoreline. I've seen winter die-offs of Gizzard Shad before at Loyalhanna Lake. I walked the shoreline upstream from Bush Rec., around the next cove. The shad ranged in length from 7 to 17 inches, with most being around 10-12 inches. I also saw on the shoreline one dead 18" Carp, a dead Canada Goose, & a dead Bullfrog. Two flatwater kayakers were taking out when I arrived. A Greater Scaup flew in, landing on the lake. Also; Flicker 1m, Red-bellied Woodpeckers 1pr (male chasing female), Pileated Woodpeckers 2 heard (their calls echoing over the lake between steep hills), Wood Duck 2m overhead, Kingfisher 1 heard, Eastern Bluebirds 5 (eating poison ivy berries), Yellow-rumped Warblers (eating poison ivy berries), Downy Woodpecker (eating poison ivy berries). At Derry Lake the number of waterfowl is down, the winter refugees are leaving. Most of Keystone Lake is still covered with ice. 2/14.
One Brown Creeper & Ruffed Grouse on Davis Run Trail; also a male Hairy Woodpecker drumming loudly from a post high in a dead oak tree. Heard Red-breasted Nuthatch in pines on a hilltop. Heard a Pileated Woodpecker & saw numerous fresh workings, Keystone State Park. A Kestrel along Derby Town Rd between Latrobe & Rt981, 2/13.
Ruffed Grouse & Golden-crowned Kinglets along the start of Davis Run Trail system, Keystone State Park, 2/11.
On Sat. 2/10, just before sunset, I saw 8 Turkey Vulture in Ligonier Valley, along Rt381 between Rector & Rt30. This is an early sighting in the year for vulture in Westmoreland County. Turkey Vulture do not winter here. They leave late (late Nov.-early Dec.) & arrive early (mid Feb.-early Mar.). Vultures winter in southeastern PA, east of the Allegheny Front. At Latrobe Reservoir the lake is still froze over thick with ice except for a narrow strip of open water along the shoreline where I saw Canada Geese, Mallards, & Black Ducks. It will be interesting to see what happens with the newly erected Osprey wire basket. Young Opsrey fledged from another nest in the county should be arriving & looking to establish their own territories & families, 2/10.
Two Raven at Laurel Mtn ski slopes, seen & heard. The vocal one called out a Mesozoic sounding QUOMNCK! QUOMNCK! QUOMNCK! & did some acrobatic corkscrews. It appears Raven are ready(ing) to nest, a nest has been rebuilt. 2/9.
While downhill skiing at the Laurel Mtn slopes a flock of
25~ large gulls flew over, in a northwesterly direction. My binocs were in the car, not around my neck, but I could see alot of black upper wing surface on some of the gulls, contrasting sharply with the white underwings as the birds flapped their way along in the bright sunlight. They were not Ring-billed Gulls, the gull species I usually see passing thru westmoreland county. A Raven did the usual north to south evening (4:30-5PM) fly-by, 2/7.
At Keystone State Park a murder of Crows & Blue Jays mobbing a Great Horned Owl. The ice on the lake is a good 9-10 inches thick. At the Quick & Hill roads intersection in Conemaugh Township, Indiana County, only a few (6-10) Horned Lark, more than enough Starlings, Rock Doves, & a Kestrel. At Derry Lake the ducks & geese were frisky in the warmish, thawing weather (45-50 F). Some Canada Geese were diving & swimming under water, resurfacing a few yards away. Other geese were biting at the edge of the ice still covering most of the lake. The Coots were chasing one another around, making that comical, rubberduck-like quacking note. Mute Swans had their wings arched in display. Some hanky-panky among the White Pekins. I'm beginning to see Red-tailed Hawks perching as pairs close together in trees. I saw a pair perched together today along McBroom's Road between New Derry & Millwood. A lone Red-tail along New Derry-New Alexandria Road, near Superior, 2/4.
Gadwall (1m, 2f), Redhead 1 at Derry Lake; two Red-tailed Hawks perched together along Reeds Road in New Derry, 2/3.
While downhill skiing at Laurel Mountain Ski Resort the only sign of
birdlife all day long, in whiteout & near whiteout conditions as numerous
wind-whipped snow squalls moved thru, were a pair of Ravens that flew pass overhead as my ski partner & I rode the chair lift. The Ravens appeared
silently in the thick gray sky, like black ghosts adrift when all other
wildlife were hunkered down. Not only were the Raven flying in the whiteout
conditions, they were doing tricks & dives, 2/2.
Red-tailed Hawks, a pair, both with bulging crops & one carrying a rodent, at the Pollin Farm wetlands; Kestrel, 4 along backroads around Mammoth Park; 1/30.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet, one seen alongside a trail at ground level, flashing his/her ruby crown in the excitement of some sunshine on an otherwise cloudy day. The kinglet was associating with a band of chickadees, titmice & yellow-rumped warblers. Two Red-breasted Nuthatches together in pines along the trail loop with the highest elevation in the Davis Run Trail system, one Ruffed Grouse, Keystone State Park, 1/29.
At Derry Lake the usual mix (I was too early for the nightly fly-ins) of
Canada Geese, Mallards, Black Ducks, Coots, Mute Swans, White Pekin, & the motley crew of mallard hybrids. One of the hybrids/breeds has curly big hair, the sort of duck seen in a poultry cage at a farm show. The Redhead Duck is still present, & may not leave until the ice breaks up elsewhere in the region. The open water of the lake was calm, I could see air bubbles breaking surface that rise from the length of aerating pipe at the bottom of the lake which keeps that portion of the lake ice-free.
Eastern Bluebird 3 (m,f,i), Golden-crowned Kinglet, White-throated Sparrow, Sharp-shinned Hawk, American Goldfinch 1, Dark-eyed Juncoe, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black-capped Chickadee, Cardinal seen at Keystone State Park on a WCBC outing, the Winter Ecology Walk. Animal tracks identified on the outing; Gray Fox, Red Fox, Muskrat, Gray Squirrel, Red Squirrel, Mouse (White-footed?), Shrew, Vole, Long-tailed Weasel, Skunk, Rabbit, Deer. Horned Lark 300~, Snow Bunting 3, Kestrel 1f at Quick Road, Hill Road, & Marshall Road (TR452) in Conemaugh Township, Indiana County. A Carolina Wren & Red-tailed Hawk at Conemaugh Dam. Another Red-tail along Rt981 south of New Alexandria, 1/28.
A Raven fly-by at Laurel Mountain Ski Resort, 1/26.
Swamp Sparrow 1, Red-winged Blackbirds 2 at St Vincent Lake, Latrobe, 1/25.
Hermit Thrush 1, Red-breasted Nuthatch 1, Downy W.P., Hairy W.P., Pileated W.P., Yellow-shafted Flickers (pr), Yellow-rumped Warblers at Keystone State Park along Davis Run Trails. Horned Larks along backroad northwest of Crabtree, 1/24.
Hermit Thrush, one off Pine Trail at Keystone State Park. A Mockingbird & Kestrel seen from Livermore Road, the former between the RR tracks & cemetery, the latter at a farm. In Latrobe a Red-tailed Hawk perched atop a large Sycamore Tree on Grant Avenue (parallel to Lincoln Ave) near Walnut St., 1/23.
Red-winged Blackbirds (50~ adult males, females, & imm.) & Rusty Blackbirds (at least 2 but not many more) returned to roost in the marsh cattails at Saint Vincent Lake. I have not been birding at St. V. this winter until yesterday (1/21), the blackbirds may have been hanging around for some time w/o me knowing. Also at St. V. this eve;
Great Blue Heron, 1 flying from farm fields to cover along four mile run;
Belted Kingfisher, 1 male along four mile run; Red-tailed Hawk, Tree Sparrow, Song Sparrows, Swamp Sparrows, 2-3 in cattails/brush,
Carolina Wren, 1 heard (this cold/freezing winter hasn't done them in). At Derry Lake the male Redhead is present. 1/22.
Red-winged Blackbirds, a flock of 50-60 settling in to roost for the night in marsh cattails at St. Vincent Lake. I also heard some Rusty Blackbirds but it was getting too dark to see detail. There is no open water at the lake, the ducks (8 white pekin, 1 pair of mallard, 3 domestic goose) are sleeping on the ice. A hooting Great Horned Owl. Earlier in the day at Keystone State Park; Pileated Woodpecker 2, Flicker 1m, Hairy Woodpecker 1m, Downy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Golden-crowned Kinglets. At accipiter flew over the Lincoln Road shopping center in Latrobe, 1/21.
Pintail 2m, Redhead 1m, American Widgeon 2m, Coots 4 and the usual at Derry Lake. A Kestrel perched on wire along New Derry-New Alexandria Road near village of Superior, 1/20.
Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Cardinal at Westmoreland County Nature Park off Rt30, east Greensburg. A pile of Cardinal feathers on the ground at an apparent accipiter kill. An accipiter seen flying across Rt30, 1/17.
American Kestrel perched on wire along Rt30 at Laurel Mountain Plaza. Belted Kingfisher perched on a wire over Loyalhanna Creek at Legion Keener Park in Latrobe, 1/16.
(Note: A Merlin (f/i) that was being seen in November & December of 2000 in downtown Latrobe hasn't been seen since the new year.)
Eastern Bluebird 4 along Bush Road between Mannitto Golf Course & Loyalhanna Lake Bush Recreation Area. Redhead 1m, Northern Pintail 1m, Gadwall 1pr, American Coot 2, Black Ducks, Mute Swan 6, Canada Geese, Mallards, White Pekin (domestic) Duck at Derry Lake. American Kestrel along Rt981 on 3/4 mile hill between Latrobe & New Alexandria, and at farm adjacent to the village of Superior along New Derry-New Alexandria Road, 1/15.
Mockingbird 1 along Livermore Rd between Livermore Cemetery & the Blairsville Westinghouse Plant, flock of Wild Turkey 15~, Red-tailed Hawk 4, Horned Larks 75-100 (at intersection of Hill Rd & Quick Rd in Conemaugh Township, southwestern Indiana County), Great Blue Heron 1 along Loyalhanna Creek in Latrobe (seen upcreek from 2nd ward bridge) & at Loyalhanna Lake (completely froze over), Robin 1 on Bush Rd near Rt981 at New Alexandria, 1/14.
Raven 1-2 in flight over Laurel Mountain Ski Resort, 1/12.
Red-tailed Hawks 4, Kestrel 2 (m&f), Horned Larks 5 (overhead), Snow Bunting 1 (overhead & call note) along backroads north of Crabtree & west of Rt119, 1/10.
A Hermit Thrush call note heard, & a glimpse of the bird in flight, at Keystone State Park. An American Goldfinch at niger seed feeder in sixth ward of Latrobe. 1/9.
Birds seen while cross-country skiing the old railroad grade at Conemaugh River Lake, starting at the Livermore Cemetery access; Song Sparrows, White-throated Sparrows, Tree Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncoes, Rufous-sided Towhee (1m), Eastern Bluebird 5 (drinking water at openings in the ice on the river), Raven 2, Mockingbird (along Livermore Road between Livermore Cemetery & the Blairsville Westinghouse Plant), Red-tailed Hawk 3, Pileated Woodpecker 2, Yellow-shafted Flicker 2, Red-bellied Woodpecker 1, Carolina Wren (heard), Golden-crowned Kinglets.
Later on drive home, at Derry Lake; Canada Geese, Mallards, Black Ducks, Redhead Duck 1, Mute Swans. Canada Geese congregate for the night by the hundreds at the circle of open water on the mostly frozen lake. The geese disperse during the day to feed in farm fields. Other lakes in the area are completely froze over as a result of 18 consecutive days below freezing.
1/7.
Golden-crowned Kinglets, American Goldfinch 2, Yellow-shafted Flicker, Hairy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Keystone State Park, 1/6.
Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-shafted Flicker, Pileated Woodepecker (heard), White-breasted Nuthatch, Dark-eyed Juncoe, Cardinal at Keystone State Park, 1/4. Also, at a stand of pine trees, Red Squirrel tracks in the snow straddled by imprints of Screech Owl wings. Reading the tracks left in the snow it looked like the squirrel got away from an attack by the owl - squirrel tracks before the wing prints, one long squirrel hop, squirrel tracks after the wing prints, no fur or blood.
Golden-crowned Kinglets at Keystone State Park. Hundreds of Canada Geese (guesstimate of 500~) fly into Derry Lake to spend the night at the remaining open water on the frozen lake, along with Mallards, Mute Swan 6, & Pekin Duck, 1/2. The Trumpeter Swan (collar M84) that was present back in December 2000 is gone. A portion of Derry Lake remains ice-free in the winters. The Derry Municipal Authority (DMA) aerates that portion of the lake with air pumped thru a length of drilled pipe submerged in the lake bottom. The DMA also maintains a feeding station for the resident Mute Swans & other waterfowl. Of the six Mute Swans, one is free-flying (the "wild swan") & the others have pinioned wings.