2003 - Bird sightings in Westmoreland County, southwestern Pennsylvania
Screaminghawk's
Birding in Westmoreland County, southwestern Pennsylvania
~~~ Year 2003 ~~~
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).
Brown Creeper, Raven (heard), Tufted Titmouse, Downy Woodpecker, Slate-colored Junco, Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch on Chestnut Ridge. Red-tailed Hawk, Kestrel 2 in farmland along backroads south of Rt30, west of Rt982, 12/27.
Golden-crowned Kinglets at Conemaugh River Lake. A Great Horned Owl in a nest (Red-tailed Hawk) between New Alexandria & Latrobe, 11/30.
Tree Sparrows at Conemaugh River Lake, 11/23.
Swamp Sparrow 1, Song Sparrow, Cardinal, Goldfinch, Red-winged Blackbird 5, Bufflehead 1f, Mallard, Hairy Woodpecker 2 at Saint Vincent wetlands & lake, 11/20. The Bufflehead was in wetlands #1.
Tundra Swans a formation of 75~ heading east over Latrobe, 11/7.
A weather induced fallout of migrating waterfowl produced Ringneck Duck 5, Ruddy Duck 4, Bufflehead 56 (50%m/f), Tundra Swan 25 at Keystone State Park. Green-winged Teal 1pr, Scaup 2, Bufflehead 44 (50%m/f) at Saint Vincent Lake. Tundra Swan 200~, Bufflehead 300~, Ruddy Duck 200~, Green-winged Teal several pair, Gadwall 2 pr+, American Widgeon several pair, Common Goldeneye 2f 1m, Ring-necked Duck, 10-, Pied billed Grebe 3, Long-tailed (Oldsquaw) Duck 1 adult winter male, Scaup 10-, Coot, Mallard, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Ring-billed Gull 100~, Bonaparte's Gull 1, Herring Gull 1 first winter (circling fly-over w/o landing), Greater Yellowlegs 4 vocal (circling fly-over w/o landing) at Derry Lake, between 10am to noon, 11/6.
Raven 1, Winter Wren 1 on Chestnut Ridge, 11/3.
Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs 1, Great Blue Heron 2, Belted Kingfisher, Pileated Woodpecker, Yellow-shafter Flicker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Carolina Wren, Tufted Titmouse, Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Wild Turkey 6~, Screech Owl heard, Great Horned Owl heard at Loyalhanna Lake, 11/2.
Raven 1-2 at Linn Run Hollow, 11/1.
Turkey Vulture a kettle of 50+ at Loyalhanna Lake, 10/28.
Turkey Vulture 14, Red-tailed Hawk 1, Kestrel 2, Sharp-shinned Hawk 1, Eastern Bluebird 4, Yellow-rumped Warbler 12~, Blue Jay 2+ along West Penn Trail - Saltsburg Section & state gamelands off Coaltown Rd, Indiana County, 10/18. A Kestrel & Sharp-shinned Hawk fought high in the air.
Two Osprey at Keystone State Park, 10/12.
Black Vulture 3, Turkey Vultures, Osprey 3, Northern Harriers, Sharp-shinned Hawks, Cooper's Hawks, Red-tailed Hawks, American Kestrels, Raven 5, Winter Wren, Pileated Woodpecker 2, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Hairy Woodpecker, Song Sparrow, Blue Jay, Towhee (heard) at the Allegheny Front Hawk Watch 10/11. A Raven and Red-tailed Hawk harrassed one another. The day's totals accumulated by all observers present; Black Vulture 4, Turkey Vulture 16, Osprey 6, Norhtern Harrier 6, Sharp-shinned Hawk 110, Cooper's Hawk 16, Red-tailed Hawk 23, American Kestrel 5, Merlin 2, total 195.
An Osprey flying with a fish in its talons, Eastern Bluebird 4+ at Keystone State Park, 9/24. Also a Nodding Ladies' Tresses orchid blooming.
A Double-crested Cormorant fishing at Saint Vincent Lake near Latrobe, 9/17.
Osprey 1, Great Egret 1, Great Blue Heron 1, Belted Kingfisher, Eastern Bluebird 4 at Keystone State Park, 9/16.
Great Blue Heron, Great Egret at Donegal Lake. Screech Owl heard on Chestnut Ridge, 9/13.
Osprey 1im, Great Blue Heron, Spotted Sandpiper at Loyalhanna Lake. Great Egret at Keystone State Park, 9/12.
Great Egret, Osprey, Belted Kingfisher, Green-backed Heron 1im at Keystone State Park 9/11. The Osprey did an impressive dive for a fish. The splash could be heard 100 yards away. The Osprey was in the water for several seconds before taking to flight with its catch. The Egret is tolerant of people & allows a close approach.
A small Tern (species?) at Loyalhanna Lake, 9/7.
A Great Egret at Keystone State Park 9/5 & 9/6.
A Great Egret at Donegal Lake 9/6.
Great Blue Heron 2, Belted Kingfisher, Green-backed Heron, Spotted Sandpiper 1 along Loyalhanna Creek between Kingston Dam & Latrobe, 9/5. Also American Rubyspot Damselfly.
One Raven low overhead along a back road in West Wheatfield township in Indiana County, between Buttermilk Falls & Robinson. Great Blue Heron 2, Spotted Sandpiper 1, Turkey Vultures, Red-tailed Hawk along the Conemaugh River in Packsaddle Gap between Bolivar/Robinson & Blairsville, 8/31.
Bald Eagle 1a, Osprey, Turkey Vulture 36+, Red-tailed Hawk 2 at Loyalhanna Lake Bush Recreation Area, 8/30. The Eagle was seen repeatedly patrolling the lake from 4:30 to 8 PM. The Osprey & Eagle both perched on dead tree branches across the lake from the beach & boat launch area. The Osprey harrased the Eagle after the Eagle commandeered a tree from the Osprey. The Eagle caught a fish on the second of two glides.
An Osprey at Keystone State Park, 8/29.
Wood Thrush 1, Red-eyed Vireo 2, Tufted Titmouse 1, Osprey 2 (1im 1a), Green-backed Heron 1 at Loyalhanna Lake 8/27. The Osprey were seen catching fish at the Bush Recreation Area.
Common Nighthawk a migrating flock of 50+ pass low over Latrobe round 8pm, 8/26. Another birder reported seeing over 400 Nighthawks migrating over Dry Ridge just south of Rt130 in Westmoreland County, between 6 to 7pm.
Red-headed Woodpecker 2a, Osprey 1, Eastern Kingbird, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Crow, Barn Swallow, Belted Kingfisher 2 at Conemaugh River Lake. One Lesser Yellowlegs fly-by (vocal) at Keystone State Park, 8/25.
Osprey at Keystone State Park and Conemaugh River Lake, one at each location, 8/24.
Great Egret 1, Osprey 2 young in nest, Donegal Lake 8/23.
Killdeer, Least Sandpiper, Semipalmated Plover, Spotted Sandpiper, Red-headed Woodpecker 1a, Green-backed Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Bald Eagle, Osprey at Conemaugh River Lake 8/19. The Osprey flew in just after sunset, carrying a fish, and landed atop a dead tree trunk in the mud flats, not far away from the eagle. Before darkness set in the eagle flew from its perch in a dead tree at the water's edge to a live tree at the edge of the woods away from the water.
Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs, Semipalmated Plover, Least Sandpiper, White-rumped Sandpiper, Great Blue Heron, Double-crested Cormorant, Osprey at Conemaugh River Lake 8/17.
Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk, Osprey, Spotted Sandpiper, Louisiana Waterthrush (heard), Great Blue Heron (overhead) along the Kiskiminetas River. The Osprey was patrolling the river in Saltsburg, the other species were along the river at the Thunder Mountain Lenape Nation Powwow. Green-backed Heron, Barn Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Eastern Kingbird at Beaver Run Reservoir Rt380 damsite overlook, 8/16.
An immature Bald Eagle at Conemaugh River Lake. A Cormorant at Keystone State Park, 8/15.
A Forster's Tern at Mammoth County Park, 8/1.
Ring-billed Gull 3, Osprey 1 at Keystone State Park. Wood Thrush, Hooded Warbler, Indigo Bunting, Catbird, Robin just east of Latrobe, 7/26.
Common Nighthawk 3, Chimney Swifts, House Wren, Latrobe, 7/25.
Prairie Warbler singing at the Rt981 reclaimed strip mine between Latrobe & New Alexandria, 7/16.
A young Osprey has fledged at one of the Westmoreland County nests. It takes practice flights around the nest & perches in trees, but still feeds at the nest. The adult male Osprey attacked a Great Blue Heron that was approaching the nest area. The Osprey forced the heron down into deep water, where the heron had to float & fend off the Osprey's aerial dive bombing. The heron squawked loudly & thrust its bill each time the Osprey dove close. The Osprey certainly let the heron know to stay away from the nest! Other birds - Indigo Bunting, Field Sparrow, Great Crested Flycatcher, Common Yellowthroat, Eastern Kingbird, Wood Duck female w/2 chicks, Belted Kingfisher 2, Spotted Sandpiper, Catbird; Barn, Tree, & Rough-winged Swallows. One basking female spiny softshell turtle. Later in the day, at Keystone State Park, an Osprey caught a fish in shallow water very close to the shoreline beside the swimming area, at the bottom of a twisting, braking descent deftly plucking the fish from the water. 7/15.
An Osprey takes a fish from Keystone State Park, 7/13.
Hooded Warbler, Turkey Vulture, Crow, Black & White Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, Veery, Hermit Thrush, American Redstart, Canada Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Linn Run State Park & Forbes State Forest, 7/11. Also Timber Rattlesnake & Eastern Milk Snake, Raccoon, White-tailed Deer, Pitcher Plant, Sundew. Mountain Laurel & Rhododendron blooming. Cow-wheat blooming at a rock outcrop. A duck (appeared to be a female Mallard) flew into the Spruce Flats Bog.
Bald Eagle 1im, Red-headed Woodpecker 1a, Double-crested Cormorant, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Red-tailed Hawk, Eastern Bluebird, Spotted Sandpiper, Great Crested Flycatcher h, Eastern Phoebe at Conemaugh River Lake, 7/8.
Caspian Tern 2 at Beaver Run Reservoir, Rt286 causeway, 7/7.
An Opsrey takes a fish from the lake at Keystone State Park, 7/6.
An Osprey hunting at Keystone State Park, 7/2.
Osprey (takes fish near beach at ks), Cooper's Hawk nest raided at Frank & Kathy's, two young hawk heads on ground, an adult dead on ground (feathers & wings on ground. one wing whole, one wing torn apart). all were eaten. only feathers left, & heads of two young. no feet. no bones except for wings. nest intact. at least one dead hawk appears to be nest nest 30ft high. 6/29.
Great Blue Heron 7, Acadian Flycatcher, Eastern Wood Pewee, Red-tailed Hawk perched & being harrassed relentlously by a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Belted Kingfisher, Red-eyed Vireo, Warblering Vireo h, Yellow-throated Warbler h, Pileated Woodpecker, Wood Thrush, Indigo Bunting h, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Cooper's Hawk working a flock of Rock Doves, Sewickley Township, 6/28.
American Redstart, Hooded Warbler, Wood Thrush, Acadian Flycatcher, Great-crested Flycatcher, Red-eyed Vireo, Wood Duck (female w/young), Rough-winged Swallow, Red-tailed Hawk along West Penn Trail, Conemaugh River Lake, 6/27.
Louisiana Waterthrush 2-3, Gray Catbird 2, Eastern Wood Pewee, Acadian Flycatcher along Loyalhanna Creek, New Alexandria, 6/26.
Osprey overhead in Saltsburg. Red-tailed Hawk 2 young (begging for attention) & adult(s), Great Blue Heron, Eastern Wood Pewee, Acadian Flycatcher, Yellow-throated Warbler, along the Conemaugh River, Tunnelton. Purple Finch 1 singing male on Chestnut Ridge, Camelback Rd, 6/22.
Green-backed Heron 1, Cormorant 1 in flight, Jacobs Creek Lake. Two Cormorant at Bridgeport Dam, perched on dead trees, 6/21.
A Prothonotary Warbler at Mammoth wetlands. The bird was singing in the heat of the day (between 3 & 3:30pm) from willow trees in a flooded section of field beside the road.Four Bank Swallows perched on wires over the wetlands. At Mammoth Park I counted 29 Cliff Swallow mud nests in four places underneath the concrete footbridge. An Osprey patrolled the length of the lake w/o making a dive. A pair of Brown Thrashers on the lawn at the edge of woods. Cliff Swallows & a Barn Swallow were landing in the parking lot when I got back to my vehicle. 6/18.
Osprey, Great Blue Heron, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Eastern Wood Pewee, Acadian Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Rough-winged Swallow, Tree Swallow, Wood Duck (female feigning injury in water), Yellow-breasted Chat (heard)Great Horned Owl (heard), Screech Owl (heard), and a Beaver at Loyalhanna Lake during a canoe trek, 6/14.
Warbling Vireo (nest), Eastern Kingbird, Red-eyed Vireo, Orchard Oriole (nest), Tree Swallow, Cliff Swallow (nests), Cedar Waxwing, Willow Flycatcher, Acadian Flycatcher (nest), Eastern Wood Pewee, Eastern Phoebe, Rough-winged Swallow, Baltimore Oriole, Grasshopper Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Great Blue Heron, Green-backed Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Chimney Swift, American Redstart, Hooded Warbler (heard), Yellow-shafted Flicker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, House Wren, Great Crested Flycatcher, Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, Red-winged Blackbird, Robin, Mallard, Canada Goose, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Mourning Dove, Gray Catbird, American Goldfinch, Rufous-sided Towhee, Turkey Vulture, Cardinal at Mammoth County Park during a club outing, 6/14.
Black & White Warbler, Rose-breasted Grosbeak (heard), American Redstart, Acadian Flycatcher (heard), Wood Thrush, Cardinal, Robin Loyalhanna Gorge, 6/13.
Great Horned Owl hooting in nearby woods. Hooded Warbler, Rufous-sided Towhee, Wood Thrush, Tufted Titmouse, Cardinal, 6/12.
Osprey, Yellow-breasted Chat, Common Yellowthroat, Eastern Kingbird, Eastern Phoebe, Belted Kingbird, Gray Catbird, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Field Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow at Loyalhanna Lake, 6/11.
A Black Tern at the beach at Keystone State Park, 6/10. The tern was hawking nighthawk-like for insects over the water, & perching on a bouy at the swimming area. Two Osprey flew overhead, one carrying a fish. A Green-backed Heron flew by & toward an area of trees where they might have a nest. Eastern Phoebe, Rough-winged Swallow have nests underneath the bridge in the causeway. Three family of Canada Goose swam together in a procession down the lake, each set of young weeks apart in age & development. The oldest set of young were acquiring adult size & characteristics, the youngest set were small yellow chicks, the third set was midway between in age & development.
An Eastern Kingbird viciously attacking an American Crow. The Kingbird landed on the flying Crow's back, & rode the Crow (literally, the Kingbird perched on the Crow's back) thru the parking lot at Keystone Beach, 6/9. Without my having mentioned it, another person told me he had seen on Sunday (6/8) a bird riding atop a Crow at Keystone Beach. I told him I had seen a similar thing, & that the bird doing the riding was a Kingbird.
Red-tailed Hawk 1 young & 1 adult at nest, Cormorant 1 fly-by at Loyalhanna Lake, 6/7.
Pileated Woodpecker, Cedar Waxwing, Eastern Kingbird, Red-eyed Vireo, American Redstart, Parula Warbler, Kentucky Warbler at Round Bottom Campground at Slush Run (between Smithton & Dawson) on the Youghiogheny River Trail, 6/6.
Osprey (2 adult, 2 young), Brown Thrasher at Donegal Lake, 6/1.
Purple Martin 5+ along Springertown Rd between Mammoth Village & Kecksburg Rd, 5/27.
Yellow-throated Warbler, American Redstart, Cerulean Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo, Yellow-throated Vireo, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Louisiana Waterthrush, Acadian Flycatcher, Eastern Wood Pewee, Eastern Phoebe, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, White-breasted Nuthatch (family), Wood Thrush (on nest), Pileated Woodpecker (male poking head out of a sycamore tree cavity) along Little Sewickley Creek Trail, Warblering Vireo, Virginia Rail 2, Sora Rail 2, Great Blue Heron at the wetlands during a club outing 5/25. Also a Slimy Salamander, Garter Snake, Northern Water Snake. Flowers blooming included Miami Mist, Appendaged Waterleaf, Fire Pink, Ovate-leaved Ragwort, Alumroot, Few-flowered Valerian, Clustered Snakeroot, False Solomon's Seal, Solomon's Seal, Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Dame's Rocket.
Blue-winged Warbler, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Yellow-breasted Chat (heard), Downy Woodpecker, Yellow-shafted Flicker, Gray Catbird, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow Warbler, Song Sparrow, Yellow-billed Cuckoo 2, Osprey 2, Cormorant 3. Two Turkey Vulture feeding on a roadkill Groundhog, a 3rd vulture in a tree nearby. A Black Rat Snake was being scolded by two Downy Woodpecker. The snake was up a dead tree at woodpecker holes. Other birds were attracted to the commotion. Loyalhanna Lake, 5/24.
Virginia Rail 2, Sora 1, a Painted Turtle at a shallow hole it had dug at the edge of the trail. Youngwood Wetlands, 5/23. Belted Kingfisher, Softshell Turtle at Jacks Run at the bridge.
Common Loon, Spotted Sandpiper, Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Tree Swallow, Eastern Bluebird, Red-tailed Hawk (nest w/one young & adult) at Bush Recreation Area Loyalhanna Lake, 5/21.
Acadian Flycatcher, Eastern Wood Pewee, Great Crested Flycatcher 1pr, Eastern Phoebe, American Redstart, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Warbling Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Double-crested Cormorant 9, Louisiana Waterthrush, Red-tailed Hawk, Turkey Vulture, Spotted Sandpiper, Eastern Bluebird, Rough-winged Swallow, Tree Swallow, Great Blue Heron, Northern Oriole, Scarlet Tanager 1pr along West Penn Trail at Conemoaugh River Lake, 5/19.
Yellow Warbler, American Redstart, Kentucky Warbler, Parula Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Willow Flycatcher, Eastern Wood Pewee, Acadian Flycatcher, Red-eyed Vireo, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Scarlet Tanager, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Wood Thrush, Chickadee, Red-tailed Hawk, Accipiter, Gray Catbird 6+, House Wren at Ann Saxman Nature Park during a club outing, 5/17.
Blackburnian Warbler 3m, Red-eyed Vireo, Slate-colored Junco, Turkey Vulture, Broad-winged Hawk 4, Red-tailed Hawk 1, Pileated Woodpecker 1pr, Black-throated Blue Warbler 1m at Linn Run State Park. The Broad-winged Hawks were circling together overhead, the Red-tailed Hawk was being harrassed by three Crows. Also one Porcupine. A brown Screech Owl being scolded by Gray Catbirds in woods along the Loyalhanna Creek in 5th ward in Latrobe, 5/14.
Magnolia Warbler 1m, Spotted Sandpiper 3, Cuckoo 1 at Twin Lakes County Park, 5/10.
Solitary Sandpiper 1, Bank Swallow 2, Upland Sandpiper flight song heard, Horned Lark singing/display flight overhead, Grasshopper Sparrow (heard), Cliff Swallows in mud nests, at Mammoth County Park & surrounding farmland, 5/8.
Two Common Nighthawk in downtown Latrobe at dusk, one diving. Chimney Swift, Rough-winged Swallow, Spotted Sandpiper, Green-backed Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Kestrel in town along the creekside trail. Vesper Sparrow 3, Song Sparrow, Warblering Vireo 2+, Yellow Warbler, Eastern Phoebe, Red-tailed Hawk, Crow around Saint Vincent Lake, 5/7.
Northern Oriole, Orchard Oriole, Yellow Warbler, Mockingbird, Gray Catbird, Rufous-sided Towhee, Tree Swallow, Common Yellowthroat, White-eyed Vireo, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, House Wren along Walton Tea Room Rd in Hempfield Township, Hooded Warber, Kentucky Warbler, Blue-winged Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush at Braddock's Trail Park, 5/6.
American Redstart, Red-eyed Vireo, Black-throated Green Warbler 2, Tufted Titmouse 4, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Wood Thrush in Ann Saxman Nature Park. Barn Swallow, Bobolink 2, Orchard Oriole 1pr, Yellow Warbler 1, Red-tailed Hawk on nest along McCallough Rd outside Latrobe, 5/5.
Spotted Sandpiper 2, Green-backed Heron 1, Belted Kingfisher 1 along Loyalhanna Creek in downtown (train trestle at Legion Keener Park) Latrobe, 5/4.
Green-backed Heron, Warbling Vireo, Osprey, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Rough-winged Swallow, Eastern Phoebe (w/nest under causeway bridge) at Keystone State Park, 5/3.
Forster's Tern 3, Gray Catbird 2, Osprey 1 at Keystone State Park. The terns were perching on the swimming area bouys & the floating depth marker (6 FT.) blocks, & hunting small fish that school at the beach shoreline, 5/2.
Osprey 2, Spotted Sandpiper 2, Turkey Vulture at Keystone State Park. Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Scarlet Tanager, Wood Thrush, Louisiana Waterthrush, Eastern Phoebe (nest w/young near waterfalls) at Braddock's Trail Park, 5/1.
Osprey 1, Ovenbird 2, Common Yellowthroat, Blue-winged Warbler, Northern Oriole, Least Flycatcher, House Wren, Nashville Warbler, Eastern Kingbird, Barn Swallow at Keystone State Park, 4/30.
Osprey 3, Great Egret 1, Ovenbird 1 (heard), Cooper's Hawk (making harrassing dives at an in-flight Osprey) at Keystone State Park, 4/29.
A young Great Horned Owl in nest with adult nearby, Canada Goose 6 chicks & 2 adults at nest on a large boulder along the Loyalhanna Creek. Three Osprey at Keystone State Park, 4/28.
Osprey 2, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2, Brown Thrasher 1, Spotted Sandpiper 1, Tree Swallows, two large Snapping Turtles mating at Loyalhanna Lake, 4/27.
Yellow Warbler 2, Blue-winged Warbler 1, Rusty Blackbird 2, Red-winged Blackbirds, Wood Thrush (heard), Rufous-sided Towhee, Chimney Swifts, Tree Swallows, American Goldfinch, Hairy Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Cardinal, two Kingfisher burrows in the streambank of Jack's Run, two Raccoons snoozing together high in an Oak tree at Youngwood Wetlands during a club outing, 4/26.
Osprey, Bonaparte's Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Blue-winged Teal 2m 1f, Broad-winged Hawk 1, Turkey Vulture, Accipiter, Eastern Bluebird 1m. The Osprey caught a fish (looked like a Gizzard Shad) close to the shoreline at the beach. A large Snapping Turtle floating in the water had a smaller Painted Turtle basking on the Snapping Turtle's back, at Keystone State Park. Eastern Kingbird 1, Yellow-throated Warbler, a Red-tailed Hawk on nest with at least one chick at Loyalhanna Lake, 4/25. A Blue-winged Warbler along the road to the village of White on the Indiana County side of the Conemaugh River.
Yellow-throated Warbler, Osprey, Spotted Sandpiper, Eastern Bluebird, Eastern Phoebe, Belted Kingfisher, Great Blue Heron, Cormorant, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Rough-winged Swallow, Wood Duck 1pr, Common Merganser 1f, Mallard, Canada Goose, and a screaming Red-tailed Hawk at Loyalhanna Lake 4/24.
Grasshopper Sparrow 2, Whip-poor-will 1 heard at twilight near Latrobe, 4/23.
Double-crested Cormorant 8, Yellow-throated Warbler 4, Osprey 1, Greater Yellowlegs 1 heard, Wood Duck 2m 1f, Rough-winged Swallow, Tree Swallow, Red-tailed Hawk at Conemaugh River Lake. Snakes: Black Racer 2, Garter Snake 1. Purple Finch singing, Red-tailed hawk 1, Broad-winged Hawk 1 soaring & vocal on Chestnut Ridge, 4/20.
A brown phase Screech Owl perched at a hole in a streamside Sycamore tree, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Louisianna Waterthrush, Eastern Phoebe, Red-tailed Hawks (in nest), Turkey Vulrure 2 at Cedar Creek county park during a club field trip. Flowers seen: Bloodroot, Twinleaf, Virginia Bluebell, Trout Lily, White Trillium, Sharp-lobed Hepatica, Spring Beuaty, Carolina Spring Beauty, Blue Cohosh, Early Meadow Rue, Rue Anemone, Wild Geranium, Periwinkle, Blue-eyed Mary, Snow Trillium (done blooming), Wood Anemone. Three Garter Snakes.
Pileated Woodpecker 3, Osprey 2, Brown Thrasher along Four Mile Run Rd from Longbridge to School Rd. Flowers: Marsh Marigold. 4/18.
A gray phase Screech Owl at a hole in a Beech tree stump in Ann Saxman Nature Park, 4/17.
A young Great Horned Owl in a nest (old Red-tailed Hawk nest) along the Loyalhanna Creek in Latrobe, opposite 5th ward, 4/16. Flowers: Spring Beauty, Trout Lily, Dutchman's Breeches, Hepatica, Early Meadow-rue, White Trillium, Bloodroot.
A young Great Horned Owl in a nest (old Red-tailed Hawk nest) along the Loyalhanna Creek between Latrobe & New Alexandria, 4/15.
Double-crested Cormorants, Buffleheads, Eastern Bluebird (heard), Rough-winged Swallows, Ringneck Duck 3pr, Green-winged Teal 1pr, Canada Geese, Red-bellied Woodpecker at Conemaugh River Lake, 4/14.
Savannah Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbirds, Kestrel 2, Mockingbird, Field Sparrow along Airport Rd & Earhart Rd by Latrobe Airport, 4/12.
Vesper Sparrow 2-3 in fields by St. Vincent Lake in Latrobe. One sparrow was singing from atop corn stubble. 4/1.
Louisiana Waterthrush 2 singing & chasing one another, Belted Kingfisher 3 flying together, at the Little Sewickley Creek at Herminie. Green-winged Teal 1pr, Blue-winged Teal 1pr, Gadwall 1pr, American Coot 1, Scaup 1f, Wood Duck 2 overhead, Mallards, Canada Geese (one goose standing vigil at a dead goose), Red-tailed Hawk, Turkey Vulture, Greater Yellowlegs heard overhead. Snow Trilliums, Hepaticas, Coltsfoot blooming. 3/28.
Pied-billed Grebes 4, Horned Grebes 2, Hooded Merganser 3pr, Blue-winged Teal 2pr, Gadwall 1pr, American Coot 2, Mallards, Canada Geese, domestic ducks & geese at Saint Vincent Lake & wetlands, 3/26.
Ring-necked Duck, Scaup 1, Common Merganser 1m, Red-tailed Hawk (in nest), Red-shouldered Hawk 1 heard, Turkey Vulture 19, Eastern Phoebe 1 heard, at Loyalhanna Lake, 3/25.
During a float trip down the Loyalhanna Creek, from Legion Keener Park in Latrobe to New Alexandria (8 miles in 3.5 hours): Red-tailed Hawk (sitting in nest in an oak beside the creek, its mate nearby ) Wood Ducks, Hooded Mergansers, Great Blue Heron, Mallards, Canada Geese, Belted Kingfisher, Great Horned Owl (sitting in nest at the top of a broken off tree trunk, its mate nearby), Field Sparrow (heard singing), Turkey Vulture 2. A few spring peepers heard. Fresh beaver chewings on tree trunks. 3/16.
Ring-necked Duck 100~, Canvasback 8m & fewer f, Greater Scaup, Hooded Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Redhead Duck 1m, Common Merganser 1m, Mallard, Canada Goose, Belted Kingfisher, Killdeer, Great Blue Heron, Barred Owl (heard 2-3 times as it got dark), American Woodcock (peenting & mating flight in vicinity of Bush Rec campgrounds), Red-tailed Hawks tending a nest. Mannitto Lake is still too ice covered for waterfowl. There was a Gizzard Shad die-off this winter at Loyalhanna Lake but not nearly as massive a die-off as two years ago. The water current passing Bush Recreation Area has carried dead, putrefying fish around the bend where they have accumulated along the slushy edge of a melting ice sheet. The more rancid dead fish float just beneath the surface, covered in a brownish, thick, fuzzy slime. One dead fish was a crappy.
Loyalhanna Lake Bush Recreation Area. Spring Peepers, some heard in wet fields outside Latrobe, 3/15.
Red-breasted Merganser 27+, Greater Scaup, Ring-necked Duck, Canvasback 7m 2f +, Bufflehead 2m, Common Merganser 16m 3f, Green-winged Teal 2m, Ring-billed Gull 1im, Eastern Bluebird 1pr at Loyalhanna Lake Bush Recreation Area. A pair of Red-tailed Hawks tending a nest. The lake is ice free except for some shaded coves. 3/14.
Ring-necked Duck 14m 2f, Shoveler 1pr, Red-breasted Merganser 13m, Common Merganser 2m 1f, Hooded Merganser 2m, American Widgeon 3m 2f, Wood Duck 1 heard, Gulls 15 overhead, at Saint Vincent Lake.
Greater Scaup 23m 4f, Ring-necked Duck 3m 1f, Ring-billed Gull 23 on the ice, Pintail 1m, Horned Grebe 2, Trumpeter Swan 1im at Derry Lake.
Gadwall 1pr, Hooded Merganser 1pr at Keystone State Park.
Ring-billed Gulls 1000~, Herring Gull 1a, Red-breasted Merganser 75+ mostly males, Common Merganser 4m+, Pintail 4pr, Common Goldeneye 3m, Ring-necked Duck 100~ mostly males, American Coot 1, Redhead Duck 2pr+, Canvasback 5m 2f, Hooded Merganser 3pr+, Shoveler 1pr, Greater Scaup 40+ mostly males, Great Blue Heron 6+, Barred Owl 1 heard at Loyalhanna Lake Bush Recreation Area.
Mallards & Canada Geese were at each lake. Saint Vincent & Loyalhanna Lakes mostly ice free. Derry & Keystone Lakes mostly ice covered. Mannitto Lake completely ice covered, 3/13.
Ring-necked Duck 10 (7m 3f), American Coot 1 at St Vincent wetlands, 3/12. A male Ring-necked Duck was performing a courtship display - snapping his head back to the rump, opening his bill & letting out a squeaking call, snapping his head back forward - and mating with a female.
Ring-billed Gull 300-400, Herring Gull 1, Canvasback 2pr, Hooded Merganser 14, Scaup 1pr, Common Merganser 4m at Loyalhanna Lake Bush Recreation Area. Tundra Swan 3, Ring-necked Duck 3m, Hooded Merganser 1m, Coots 5, Mallards, Canada Geese, Mute Swans at Derry Lake, 3/10.
Note: This winter has been consistently cold over much of the northern U.S., with wintery weather that is extending well into the month of March, slowing the spring thaw. Of the Great Lakes Superior, Huron, & Erie are frozen over 90 percent. Lakes Michigan & Ontario still have open water. The high percentage of freezing of lakes in the northern states forces wintering waterfowl southward, and slows the northward migration of waterfowl coming from the south, causing more waterfowl to land in open rivers in PA than normally would. See these links from the National Ice Center; East | West
Ring-billed Gull 500-1000 (flying around, in the water, on the ice, pecking at & clamoring over numerous dead fish that lay on the ice), Canvasback 15 (mostly males, 2-3f), Common Goldeneye 1m, Ring-necked Duck, Scaup 12~, Wood Duck 1pr, Red-breasted Merganser 5m, Hooded Merganser 2m, Red-necked Grebe 1, Great Blue Heron 3, Osprey 1 (early arrival) at Loyalhanna Lake Bush Recreation Area.
Common Goldeneye 1pr at Conemaugh River just downriver from the dam, between the stilling basin & the hydroelectric plant. Meadowlark 1 along Stevenson Rd (on way to Falls Rd from Rt981). Raven 2 in vicinity of a new nest. Red-tailed hawks 8 at various locations, 3/9.
Common Merganser 14 (10m 4f), Ring-billed Gull 1, Killdeer 1, Great Blue Heron 4, Mallard 2, Canada Geese at Loyalhanna Lake Bush Recreation Area. Red-necked Grebe 1, Raven 1, Red-tailed Hawk 2, Wild Turkey 6+, Gulls (probably Ring-billed) 25+ (fly-by of a flock) at Conemaugh River between the dam & the hydroelectric plant. Red-necked Grebes are being seen in rivers across PA, a fallout that is probably related to the long cold winter that has stillwater lakes & ponds froze over with a thick layer of ice. Common Grackle at a feeder in Latrobe, 3/5.
Ring-billed Gulls 200+, Herring Gull 1 sub-adult, Common Merganser 22 (19m 3f), Red-breasted Merganser 1m, Great Blue Heron 1 at Loyalhanna Lake Bush Recreation Area 3/4.
A Hermit Thrush at Keystone State Park on the Davis Run trails, 2/3. A Great Horned Owl sitting in nest (probably incubating eggs) at an undisclosed location.
Barred Owl heard at Keystone State Park on the Davis Run trails, 2/28.
Canada Geese 50~, American Widgeon 1m at Keystone State Park, 2/24. The geese were resting on the snow-covered, 10-11 inch thick ice covering the lake. The widgeon was with Mallards in some open water at the mouth of McCune Run. A Kestrel on wires along Rt981.
A Kestrel along Pandora Rd. Trumpeter Swan 1im, Black Ducks 6~, Gadwall 1f, Mallards, Coots, Mute Swan 6 at Derry Lake, 2/22.
Cooper's Hawk, Black Duck 2 at St. Vincent wetlands #2. At feeders in a yard in Latrobe (in town); Downy Woodpeckers 2m 1f, Carolina Wren 1, Hairy Woodpecker 1m, Red-bellied Woodpecker 1f, Tufted Titmice, Black-capped Chickadees, Cardinals, White-breasted Nuthatch 1m 1f, Slate-colored Juncoes, Song Sparrow, House Sparrows, House Finches, Mourning Doves, Blue Jays, Yellow-rumped Warbler 1, American Goldfinches, Starlings, 2/18.
Northern Harrier 1im coursing fields along Shotgun Rd between Whitney & Rt982. Kestrel 1f at farm south of Westmoreland airport, 2/15.
Belted Kingfisher, Great Blue Heron on Loyalhanna Creek at 3rd bridge in Latrobe. Bufflehead 1 1st winter male at St. Vincent wetlands #2. 2/3.
Tree Sparrows, Cedar Waxwings, Eastern Bluebirds, Yellow-shafted Flickers, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Blue Jay on West Penn Trail at Livermore, Conemaugh River Lake, including a pile of Flicker feathers where an accipiter had made a kill. Red-tailed Hawks 2, Pileated Woodpecker 2 on Falls Rd at Boatyard Run. Field Sparrow, Tree Sparrows, Song Sparrows, White-throated Sparrows, Mockingbird, Robins at Loyalhanna Creek Lake, Andrico Access. 2/2.
Tree Sparrows 12~ in fields near 3rd bridge in Latrobe, Trumpeter Swan 1 immature at St. Vincent wetland #2, 2/1.
Four male Cardinals and one Yellow-rumped Warbler at feeder, 1/26.
Coopers Hawk in yard perched beside feeders, Screech Owl cooing in the evening twilight at St. Vincent Lake in Latrobe, 1/25.
Trumpeter Swans 3, Raven 1 at St. Vincent wetlands in Latrobe, 1/24.
Red-winged Blackbirds at our feeders in Latrobe, 1/21. A winter cold spell has had the region in an icy grip with subfreezing temperatures since Jan. 10. Lakes & ponds are completely froze over. Sections of streams are freezing over.
White-crowned Sparrows 5 (4a 1im) (some singing) along St Xavier Rd; Great Horned Owls 3 hooting in woods adjacent to Latrobe; Kestrel, Red-tailed Hawk along Rt981 in Latrobe & south, 1/20.
Yellow-rumped Warbler at a suet feeder in Latrobe, 1/18.
Golden-crowned Kinglet 1, Carolina Wren, Song Sparrows, Swamp Sparrow 1, Trumpeter Swan 3 at St Vincent wetlands, 1/17.
Red-winged Blackbirds 100-200 at St. Vincent wetlands. The blackbirds perch in treetops after sunset prior to roosting in the cattails for the night. The Trumpeter Swans are still present, 1/16.
Downy Woodpecker 1m, Hairy Woodpecker 1m, Red-bellied Woodpecker 1f at our suet feeder, Goldfinches 4 at niger seed; Sharp-shinned Hawk 1, Carlina Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1, Great Horned Owl 1 hooting in woods adjacent to Latrobe. Robins 8 overhead. At St. Vincent Lake the 3 Trumpeter Swans are still present despite the current winter freeze the region is in. The swans were resting on ice in the center of the lake. 1/13.
Trumpeter Swans 3, Robins 6, Eastern Bluebird 1pr, American Goldfinch 1, Cardinals, Song Sparrow at St. Vincent wetlands (#2), 1/7.
Two Great Horned Owl hooting in woods at Latrobe. Common Golden-eye 3m, Bufflehead 3m 1f, Horned Grebe 2n, Coot 12~ at Derry Lake (the lake is completely free of ice), 1/4.
House Sparrows, House Finches, White-breasted Nuthatch 1m 1f, Downy Woodpecker 1m, American Goldfinch 6, Cardinal, Tufted Titmouse, Starling at feeders in Latrobe. Common Goldeneye 2m 1f, Bufflehead 1pr, Horned Grebe 1, Scaup 11, Coot 8, Mute Swan 6, Canada Goose 100+, Mallards at Derry Lake. Trumpeter Swan 3 (2a w/green neck bands 8M0 & 7M5, 1im), Cooper's Hawk at Saint Vincent wetlands #2, 1/2. The Trumpeter Swans have been present since mid-December (17-18).
