2005 - Bird sightings in Westmoreland County, southwestern Pennsylvania
Screaminghawk's
Birding in Westmoreland County, southwestern Pennsylvania
~~~ Year 2005 ~~~
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).
American Kestrel 1m at field beside the K-Mart store parking lot at Rt30 Mountain Laurel Plaza Latrobe, 2 (m/f) along Earhart Rd. Red-tailed Hawk 1 overhead along Rt981 at Westmoreland Airpark, 12/30.
Rock Pigeon, Eastern Bluebird 6~, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Junco, White-breasted Nuthatch, Yellow-shafted Flicker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Cardinal, Starling, Blackbird 1 in Union Cemetery, Union Cemetery Rd, Greensburg, 12/28.
White Pekan Duck, Pileated Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-shafted Flicker, Brown Creeper 2, Carolina Wren, White-breasted Nuthatch, 1h, Tufted Titmouse, Song Sparrow, Crow 3, Mourning Dove at Twin Lakes County Park, 12/27. Lake ice walkable but softening in above freezing temps.
Belted Kingfisher, Great Blue Heron, Dark-eyed Junco, Hairy Woodpecker, frog on ice, two whirlygigs, creek. Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Yellow-shafted Flicker, Black-capped Chickadee, Cardinal, Golden-crowned Kinglet at Keystone State Park 12/23. Lake ice 4.5" thick, walkable.
Song Sparrow 2+, Swamp Sparrow 1+, Mockingbird 1, Downy Woodpecker 1, Red-bellied Woodpecker 1m, Yellow-shafted Flicker 1m, Canada Goose several dozen, Mallard 1pr, Cardinal, White-breasted Nuthatch 1h, Red-winged Blackbird 2f at St Vincent Wetlands #3, 12/19. Day's high temperature 20 degrees F, night lows in the teens. Lakes froze over with several inches of ice thick enough to walk on.
Carolina Wren, White-throated Sparrow, Brown Creeper, Cardinal, Chickadee, Red-bellied Woodpeckerin woods near Latrobe, 12/15.
Common Raven 1, Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Woodpecker (Downy or Hairy) on Laurel Summit along Edie-Rector Rd & Bobcat Trail during a cross-country ski trek to Wolf Rocks. The Raven called with very low, gutteral caws. A Raven was also seen along Rt30 half way down the mountain toward Laughlintown. Winter has set in on the summit with cold temps and 8 inches of snow on the ground. Snowmobiles and dog sled teams were using Summit Rd, 12/11.
Carolina Wren 4, Dark-eyed Junco, Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Downy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, Belted Kingfisher along Creekside Trail in Latrobe, 12/6.
Tundra Swan formation of 40 passing over Latrobe, heading toward Derry, 12/5.
Winter Wren 1, Eastern Bluebird 6~ along West Penn Trail between Saltsburg & Blackleggs Creek, 11/13.
Bufflehead 3m 3f, Ruddy Duck 2 at Conemaugh River Lake, 11/12.
White-crowned Sparrows singing along Earhart Rd just west of Westmoreland Airport, 11/5.
Common (Wilson's) Snipe 1 low overhead at the beach at Keystone State Park, 10/30.
White-throated Sparrow, Carolina Wren, Dark-eyed Junco, Red-breasted Nuthatch, White-breasted Nuthatch, Hairy Woodpecker, Yellow-shafted Flicker at Keystone State Park, Davis Run Trails. The Red-breasted Nuthatch was foraging at pine cones in the tops of White Pines, 10/29.
Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow 1im, Swamp Sparrow, Ruby-crowned Kinglet at Keystone State Park wetlands observation deck, 10/27.
Raven 2 flying above the Biglots store at Unity Plaza Rt30-Rt981, then on the ground across Rt981, at the edge of runway in the airport behind gate 7, 10/13.
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 at Keystone State Park, 10/5.
Osprey 1 im fishing at Keystone State Park, 10/1.
Yellow-rumped Warbler 6+, Eastern Bluebird 4+, Killdeer 30~, Eastern Phoebe 2, Belted Kingfisher 1, Great Blue Heron 1, Chipping Sparrow, Song Sparrow, House Finch (1 singing), Downy Woodpecker h, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Flicker, Pied-billed Grebe 2, Crow, Raven 1 (heard & seen), Mallard, White-breasted Nuthatch h at Keystone, Carolina Wren h State Park, 9/30.
Greater Yellowlegs 1 overhead, vocal at Conemaugh River Lake, 9/26.
Osprey caught a fish close to the beach shoreline, Green-backed Heron 4 (one catching small 3"-4" Catfish), Killdeer, Yellow-rumped Warbler 2+, Eastern Bluebird, Eastern Phoebe, Gray Catbird 2h at Keystone State Park, 9/18.
Green-backed Heron 4, Solitary Sandpiper 2, Killdeer, American Pipit 1, Eastern Bluebird at Keystone State Park, 8/13.
Osprey 1im fishing, Double-crested Cormorant 1, Green-backed Heron 1, Eastern Kingbird, Eastern Bluebird 1h at Keystone State Park, 9/4.
Great Blue Heron 1-2, Osprey 1, Belted Kingfisher 2-4, American Kestrel 1 along Loyalhanna Creek and Creekside Trail to Mission Road in Latrobe, 8/30.
An Osprey (perched) & nest atop a cell phone tower in Muddy Creek Township, north side of Rt488, between the village of Prospect & Rt79, east of Portersville Christian School & Pleasant Valley Road, south of Moraine State Park / Lake Author in Butler County. Ring-billed Gulls at South Shore access of Lake Author, 8/28.
Osprey 1 young in nest, Barn Swallow, Great Blue Heron 1, Green-backed Heron 1, Broad-winged Hawk 1 circling low overhead at Donegal Lake. Osprey 1, Great Blue Heron 1, Belted Kingfisher 1, Green-backed Heron 1, Eastern Wood Pewee h, Carolina Wren h, Eastern Screech Owl h at Loyalhanna Lake, 8/18.
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 3, Broad-winged Hawk 1im circling overhead, Belted Kingfisher 6+<10, Great Blue Heron 2, Rough-winged Swallow 75+~, Yellow-throated Warbler 1m, Eastern Wood Pewee 4+h, Acadian Flycatcher 1h, Mourning Dove, Crow, Spotted Sandpiper 1, Red-eyed Vireo h, Cedar Waxwing, Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk h, Gray Catbird, Chimney Swift, Carolina Wren 2+h, Song Sparrow h, American Goldfinch, Hooded Warbler 1h, Warbling Vireo 1h, Eastern Kingbird 4+, Cardinal, Chickadee h, Barn Swallow 2, Cliff Swallow nests under the Rt981 bridge in Smithton, during a float trip on the Youghiogheny River from Dawson to Smithton . The Yellow-throated Warbler was feeding in the lower branches, overhanging the water, of a Sycamore tree. A cuckoo flew across the river and foraged in the branches of Ash trees at the river's edge. Rough-winged Swallows were the most numerous species, 8/6.
Great-crested Flycatcher 2a at nest (in the end of a broken horizontal branch of a Sycamore tree), Eastern Wood Pewee h, Wood Thrush h, Carolina Wren h, Gray Catbird, American Goldfinch, Yellow-billed Cuckoo s/h, Spotted Sandpiper 2, Flicker h, Robin, Blue Jay, Song Sparrow h, Eastern Phoebe nest at rock ledges, Red-tailed Hawk, White-breasted Nuthatch 2+, Indigo Bunting h, Hooded Warbler h, Eastern Bluebird 1f, Red-eyed Vireo h, Scarlet Tanager h along Blacklick Creek from Conemaugh River and upstream. Also one Softshell Turtle (probably a male Spiny), 7/29.
Scarlet Tanager 1m, Black-throated Green Warbler h, Hairy Woodpecker, Turkey Vulture 2 young unfledged in the Loyalhanna Gorge. First Katydids this season heard at night, 7/26.
Bald Eagle 1 subadult (all dark), Belted Kingfisher 2f 1m, Great Blue Heron 1, Osprey 4 (1a 3im) at Donegal Lake. The three young Osprey have fledged and take flights in the vicinity of the nest, 7/24.
Hooded Warbler, Acadian Flycatcher 3+, Gray Catbird, Eastern Bluebird, Carolina Wren, Downy Woodpecker, Flicker h, White-breasted Nuthatch, Cardinal, Eastern Towhee, Scarlet Tanager, Yellow-billed Cuckoo h, Red-eyed Vireo h, Yellow-throated Vireo h, Warbling Vireo h, Swan (Mute?) at Conemaugh River Lake from Westinghouse Access to Livermore.
White-eyed Vireo 2, Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1f, Osprey 2a at Loyalhanna Lake. The adult Osprey are still at the nest without young, 7/23.
Northern Harrier 1m, Turkey Vulture, Belted Kingfisher 2, Yellow-throated Warbler h, Common Yellowthroat h, Black-throated Green Warbler h/s, Hooded Warbler h/s, Indigo Bunting h at Ohiopyle. Ostrich Fern in a wet spot close to the river between Ohiopyle & Confluence, 7/20.
Henslow's Sparrow singing at night (11:15pm) at a reclaimed stripmine field atop Chestnut Ridge on Solomon Temple Road. The night was very quiet, no other birds, or insects, were vocal. Thus the Henslow's Sparrow singing carried surprisingly well in the calm summer night. I heard the Henslow's singing while driving by with the car window down. I stopped the car and shut the engine off. We (friend & I) listened to the Henslow's for several minutes. The Henslow's was into a singing groove, non-stop. Quiet nights in June and July are the best times to hear the Henslow's nocturnal singing. Once the crickets and kaydids start singing during the latter part of summer it becomes difficult to hear the Henslow's. Great Horned Owl carrying a young Opossum, seen in the beam of car headlights along a dirt road on Chestnut Ridge, between Bethel Church Rd & Solomon Temple Rd. The owl repeatedly flew ahead of the car and landing on the road. After three such flights & landings the owl left the dead Opossum on the road and flew upward into a tree. Much of the Opossum's neck was chewed thru. Swamp Sparrow singing at the shoreline of Donegal Lake, near the boat ramp near the osprey nest. The swamp sparrow perched in cattail, dogwood, and bramble. Osprey 4, (3 young 1 adult) at nest at Donegal Lake. The young are close to fledging. Barn Swallows, an Eastern Kingbird harrassing a Crow at Donegal Lake, 6/17.
Wood Thrush h, Red-tailed Hawk family of 4 (2a 2im) perched atop a transmission tower , Pileated Woodpecker h, Great Horned Owl h, Grasshopper Sparrow h (both types of songs), Chimney Swift near Latrobe, 7/13.
Osprey 3 adult & 3 nestlings, Gray Catbird, Belted Kingfisher, Purple Finch 1f at Donegal Lake. The third adult Osprey was an unwelcome intruder into the home territory of a nest already occupied by the family of two adults and three young. The intruder attempted to land in the nest several times. On the last attempt the intruder came to within inches of landing in the nest from directly above. One of the adults guarding the nest leapt upward, turned upside-down and locked talons with the intruder. They both tumbled straight downward from the nest and out of sight behind vegetation blocking part of our view from the road. It was an intense episode. Neither of the two osprey in battle were seen again during the rest of our stay at the lake, between 6 & 8 PM.
Broad-winged Hawk 1 along Donegal Lake Rd between the lake & Rt130. Louisiana Waterthrush, Dark-eyed Junco, Acadian Flycatcher, Eastern Wood Pewee, Scarlet Tanager, Hooded Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo, Turkey Vulture adult in flight and one large downy white young at Linn Run Hollow. Earlier in the day a Mockingbird singing at Unity Cemetery, 7/9.
Field Sparrow 2+ singing, House Wren, Carolina Wren, Indigo Bunting, Cardinal, Eastern Towhee, Gray Catbird, Cedar Waxwing, Brown Thrasher 2, Common Yellowthroat, Red-tailed Hawk 1 at the old orchard off Monastery Rd near the high bridge, 7/8.
Louisiana Waterthrush fledged young & adult along Loyalhanna Creek in the Gorge, 6/27.
Red-eyed Vireo, Hairy Woodpecker h, Black-throated Green warbler h, American Redstart h, Cerulean Warbler h, Black & White Warbler h, Hooded Warbler h, Kentucky Warbler h, Indigo Bunting, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse h, White-breasted Nuthatch h, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Blue-headed (Solitary) Vireo. Plants; Poke Milkweed, Alum-root, Stinging Nettle, Whorled Loosestrife, Spreading Dogbane, Dwarf/Upland Hackberry, Rattlesnake Weed, Purple-stemmed Cliffbrake, Bracken Fern. Insects; Silvery Checkerspot, Red Admiral, Robber Fly, Eyed Click Beetle, White-tailed Dragonfly, Twelve-spot Dragonfly, Painted Skimmer 2 at Packsaddle Gap starting from Oaks Point Road access during a Westmoreland Bird and Nature Club outing. Broad-winged Hawk 1 overhead at the river access parking lot at Bairdstown Bridge in Blairsville. Indigo Bunting, Great-crested Flycatcher h, Blue-grey Gnatcatcher h, Red-eyed Vireo h, American Goldfinch, Scarlet Tanager, Cuckoo (species?) at a residence along State Park Rd in Derry Township, 6/25.
Barbara's Button (Marshallia grandiflora) at peak of blooming at Ferncliff Peninsula, Ohiopyle, 6/24.
Black-billed Cuckoo 1s, Osprey 2, Barn Swallow, Tree Swallow, Rough-winged Swallow, Wood Duck, Indigo Bunting, Eastern Wood Pewee, Eastern Phoebe, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-shafted Flicker at Loyalhanna Lake. Yellow Loosestrife (Swamp Candle) blooming. One Raccoon, 6/22.
Screech Owl 1 (low in a small understory tree), Wood Thrush, Hooded Warbler, Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1h, Grasshopper Sparrow h, Flowers; White Avens, Enchanters Nightshade in woods near Latrobe. Louisianna Waterthrush 2a & young in nest, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Wood Thrush, Hairy Woodpecker, Carolina Wren, Acadian Flycatcher, Black and White Warbler, Belted Kingfisher, Great Blue Heron, Cedar Waxwing, Rough-winged Swallow, Turkey Vulture. Flowers: Purple-flowering Raspberry, Broad-leaved Waterleaf; in the Loyalhanna Creek - Chestnut Ridge Gorge, 6/21.
Yellow-breasted Chat, Indigo Bunting, Cedar Waxwing, White-eyed Vireo, Common Yellowthroat, Wood Thrush, Hairy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Yellow-shafted Flicker, Acadian Flycatcher, Eastern Wood Pewee, Red-tailed Hawk along the Westmoreland Heritage Trail Saltsburg to Trafford. Broad-winged Hawk 1 flew over Rt981 north of Latrobe near the Teledyne Vasco plant, 6/20.
Great Blue Heron 4 in wetlands associated with the Loyalhanna Creek just outside Latrobe, 6/15.
Turkey Vulture young in a deep recess at a rock outcrop, Yellow-billed Cuckoo 2, Broad-winged Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk. Plants blooming; Mountain Holly, Star Flower, Mountain Maple; Appalachian Gooseberry done blooming, at Linn Run Hollow & Laurel Summit, 6/13.
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 2, Red-eyed Vireo h, Yellow Warbler h, American Redstart, Osprey 2, Great Blue Heron 1, Northern Oriole, Gray Catbird, Cardinal h, Hooded Warbler h, Chimney Swift, Rough-winged Swallow, Tree Swallow, Great-crested Flycatcher h. Also White-tailed Deer; Doe 3 & Fawn 2, Beaver 1 at Loyalhanna Lake. An Osprey dove repeatedly at a Great Blue Heron standing at the shoreline near the Osprey nest until the Great Blue flew off. Broad-winged Hawk 1 at Keystone State Park, 6/12.
Yellow Warbler, Warbling Vireo 2, Spotted Sandpiper 2, Great Egret 1, Great Blue Heron 1, Mallard family, Cedar Waxwing, Red-winged Blackbird, Mourning Dove, Carolina Wren 2, Willow Flycatcher h, Rough-winged Swallow, Tree Swallow, Wood Duck h. Flowering plants; Northern Arrowwood Viburnum, Ninebark, Moneywort, Yellow Flag, Forget-me-not. One fawn White-tailed Deer. Painted Turtle, at Youngwood Swamp. Two Spiny soft-shelled Turtle in Jacks Run. Common Nighthawk 1, Chimney Swift, Ring-billed Gull 1ad in downtown Latrobe. The gull was on the lawn between the stadium parking & exercise path at Legion Keener Park. Flowering shrubs; Mock Orange, Ninebark, 6/9.
A Ringnecked Snake in the wood siding of an abandoned house on Chestnut Ridge. A swarm of honeybees fills a cavity used by Pileated Woodpeckers in a dead pine in woods outside Latrobe, 6/8.
Orchard Oriole, Prairie Warbler, American Kestrel 2 along Torrance Rd, 6/7.
Ring-billed Gull 1im, Osprey 1, Great Blue Heron 1, Green-backed Heron 1, Eastern Kingbird at Keystone State Park. The gull was on the beach, an afternoon thunderstorm may have brought down the gull. A Box Turtle on McFarland Rd (Ligonier Street North Extension) just north of Latrobe, 6/6.
Black & White Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, Parula Warbler, Cerulean Warbler, American Redstart, Yellow-throated Warbler, Ovenbird, Kentucky Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Blue-winged Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo, Yellow-throated Vireo, Acadian Flycatcher, Eastern Wood Pewee, Scarlet Tanager, Northern Oriole, Belted Kingfisher, Eastern Kingbird, Red-tailed Hawk, Turkey Vulture along the Conemaugh River between Tunnelview Park (Conemaugh Dam) and Saltsburg during a canoe trip & bicycle return trip. Most birds were heard, not seen, 6/5.
An Allspice (Sweet Bush, Calycanthus) blooming in the Loyalhanna Gorge, 6/2.
Turkey Vulture 13 soaring over the Conemaugh River, Red-tailed Hawk 2 young in nest near Torrance, Kentucky Warbler h, Hooded Warbler h, Amercian Redstart h, Louisiana Waterthrush h, Cerulean Warbler h, Black and White Warbler h, Red-eyed Vireo h, Indigo Bunting h, Pileated Woodpecker h, Common Raven h in Packsaddle Gap. Lance-leaved (white) Violets blooming between rocks on the sandy shoreline, 5/31.
Brown-headed Cowbird 21m perched side-by-side on an electrical wire in Latrobe, 5/30.
Turkey Vulture, Sharp-shinned Hawk 1, Hooded Warbler h, Black & White Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler h, Red-eyed Vireo, Scarlet Tanager, Wild Turkey 1 at Oaks Point, Packsaddle Gap. Green-backed Heron 2, Common Loon 1a, Great Blue Heron 1 at Keystone State Park. WHIP-POOR-WILL 2 singing atop Chestnut Ridge at the Rod & Gun Club intersection, 8:30-9:30 PM, 5/29.
Wild Turkey adult with chicks, Packsaddle Gap, 5/27.
Acadian Flycatcher, Eastern Wood Pewee h, Common Raven h, American Redstart, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Canada Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Black and White Warbler, Ovenbird, Louisiana Waterthrush, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue-headed Vireo, Veery, Black-capped Chickadee, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Ruffed Grouse at Linn Run Hollow & Laurel Summit. Flowers blooming; Painted Trillium, Gaywing, Dwarf Ginseng, Foam Flower, Miterwort, Yellow Clintonia, 5/26.
Plants: Plantain-leaved Pussytoes, Robin-plantain, Purple-stemmed Cliffbrake, stunted (Dwarf) Hackberry trees at Oaks Point Overlook, Packsaddle Gap, 5/22.
Hooded Warbler, Ovenbird, Kentucky Warbler, Acadian Flycatcher, Eastern Wood Pewee, Ruffed Grouse, Pileated Woodpecker, American Redstart, Black-throated Green Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo on Chestnut Ridge Baggaley region, 5/21.
Pileated Woodpecker 2a at nest hole, Red-tailed Hawk, Grasshopper Sparrow, Common Nighthawk 4 in woods & fields near Latrobe, 5/20.
Osprey 2, Orchard Oriole, Northern Oriole, Northern Waterthrush, Eastern Kingbird, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Wood Pewee, Brown Thrasher, Wood Thrush, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Tree Swallow, Rough-winged Swallow, Barn Swallow, Spotted Sandpiper, Killdeer, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Yellow Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, Cedar Waxwing, Gray Catbird, Chimney Swift, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Great-crested Flycatcher, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Great Blue Heron, Blue Jay, Crow, Wood Duck, White-eyed Vireo, Yellow-breasted Chat, American Goldfinch, Blue-winged Warbler, Song Sparrow, Common Yellowthroat, Eastern Bluebird, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, House Wren, Canada Goose, American Robin at Loyalhanna Lake. The waterthrush stalked for insects, vireo-like, in branches overhanging the water, 5/19.
Killdeer 2, Lesser Yellowlegs 4, Semi-palmated Plover 4, Least Sandpiper 6, Canada Goose 2 family, Turkey Vulture 4 at Mammoth Wetlands (Klaka Farm). American Kestrel 1m in vicinity of
Mammoth Park , 5/18.
Red-eyed Vireo, American Redstart, Scarlet Tanager, Hairy Woodpecker, Black-throated Green Warbler, Black & White Warbler, Indigo Bunting, Ovenbird, Kentucky Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk, Raven, Crow, Ruffed Grouse, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Swainson's Thrush in the Packsaddle Gap (Conemaugh River gorge thru Chestnut Ridge between Blairsville & Robinson, Indiana County), 5/15.
Spotted Sandpiper 9, Solitary Sandpiper 1, Magnolia Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, American Redstart, Hooded Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black and White Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, Indigo Bunting, Eastern Kingbird, Eastern Phoebe, Acadian Flycatcher, Northern Oriole, Orchard Oriole, Red-eyed Vireo, White-eyed Vireo at Twin Lakes County Park. Rose-breasted grosbeak, House Wren, Carolina Wren, Eastern Peewee at Nature Park behind Barnes & Noble Bookseller. Yellow-breasted Chat, Brown Thrasher, Willow Flycatcher, Field Sparrow, Turkey Vulture, Prairie Warbler, Black-billed Cuckoo at 3rd Bridge outside Latrobe. Bobolink, Savannah Sparrow, Horned Lark, Eastern Meadowlark along Lightcap Road at Lemmon's Farm, 5/14.
LEAST BITTERN 1a, Hooded Merganser 1f w/2 young, Green-backed Heron 1, Wood Duck 2, Yellow Warbler, Warbling Vireo, Tree Swallow, Rough-winged Swallow, White-eyed Vireo h, House Wren, Northern Oriole, Blue-winged Warbler h, Common Nighthawk 2 w/display dives, Mallard, Red-winged Blackbird, Chimney Swift, Red-tailed Hawk, Eastern Phoebe at Saint Vincent Wetlands #3, cells 5 & 4; 5/12.
Osprey 4, Broad-winged Hawk 1, Green-backed Heron 2, Eastern Bluebird at Keystone State Park. Red-tailed Hawk 1, Great Horned Owl h, Scarlet Tanager 2h, Wood Thrush in woods near Latrobe, 5/8.
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2m 1f, Swamp Sparrow 1, Prairie Warbler 1h, Red-tailed Hawk, Crow, White-breasted Nuthatch h, Cardinal, Red-bellied Woodpecker, American Redstart h, Blue Jay at Ann Saxman Nature Park behind Barnes & Noble, east Greensburg. Eastern Kingbird 2 along Donohoe Rd, 5/7.
Cerulean Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Hooded Warbler, American Redstart, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Red-eyed Vireo, Eastern Phoebe, Yellow-shafted Flicker, Rough-winged Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Tree Swallow, Opsrey, Red-tailed Hawk, Greater Yellowlegs 1, Spotted Sandpiper 1, Killdeer 1 & nest w/4 eggs, Mallard, Blue-winged Teal 2m, Wood Duck 5m 1+f at Conemaugh River Lake. Eastern Kingbird 2 along 10 School Rd, 5/6.
Yellow Warbler singing, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Magnolia Warbler, Rough-winged Swallow, Eastern Phoebe, American Robin, American Goldfinch singing, White-throated Sparrow singing, House Wren, Song Sparrow singing, Turkey Vulture, American Kestrel, Red-tailed Hawk, Wood Thrush singing, Flicker h, Cardinal singing, Chimney Swift, Mourning Dove, Common Grackle, Carolina Wren singing, Tufted Titmouse singing, Canada Goose w/5 chicks, Mallard, Gray Catbird along the Loyalhanna Creek bottomland floodzone from Legion Keener Park to Murhpy's bridge (Mission Rd) in Latrobe's 5th ward, 5/4.
Raven 2 (1 non-flying young fledged from nest, 1a), Black & White Warbler 1, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1, Blue-headed Vireo 2h, Turkey Vulture 11, Winter Wren singing at Linn Run State park and Forbes State Forest. Osprey 1 hovering over Loyalhanna Creek at Longbridge. American Kestrel 1 along Monastery-St Vincent Grove Road, 5/1.
Great Horned Owl young have fledged from their nest. A Red-tailed Hawk is nest-sitting. A pair of Osprey has rebuilt a nest that had been removed by high water during winter flooding. Horned Lark, Vesper Sparrow h near Crabtree. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2+, American Woodcock 1, Field Sparrow, Yellow-shafted Flicker, Wild Turkey gobbling at Loyalhanna Lake. Many dozen (100+) Toads breeding at Keystone State Park lake, 4/20.
Broad-winged Hawk 1 over Latrobe. Black & White Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Solitary Vireo, Winter Wren, Turkey Vulture 6+ in Packsaddle Gap. Purple Finch singing along Strongford Road near Blairsville. Also Coyote scat, Porcupine quills stuck to a tree trunk, and a brazen Raccoon wandering about in mid afternoon, 4/19.
Brown Thrasher 2 singing near Latrobe, 4/18.
Turkey Vulture several, Red-tailed Hawk, Louisiana Waterthrush 1, Wild Turkey heard gobbling, Wood Duck 2, Common (Wilson's) Snipe 2 at Packsaddle Gap near Torrance. A Red-tailed Hawk was at a nest made of grapevine & sticks. The Waterthrush and Wood Ducks were at a watery remnant of the Mainline Canal. The Snipe flew from a roadside drainage ditch and into a corn stubble field along Torrance Rd, 4/15.
Bonaparte's Gull 2, Red-tailed Hawk 1, Osprey 1 at Keystone State Park. Great Blue Heron 2, Shoveler 1pr, Blue-winged Teal 1pr, Louisianna Waterthrush, Double-crested Cormorant 1a at Conemaugh River Lake, 4/10.
Blue-grey Gnatcatcher 2, American Kestrel 1m, Belted Kingfisher 1, Eastern Phoebe 2, Rough-winged Swallow along Loyalhanna Creek in Latrobe, 4/9.
Louisianna Waterthrush 2, Yellow-throated Warbler 2, Brown Creeper, Turkey Vulture, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1m, American Kestrel, Common Raven, Tree Swallow, Eastern Phoebe, Rock Dove, Field Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Eastern Meadowlark along West Penn Trail from Conemaugh Dam to Saltsburg, 4/8.
Osprey 1 at nest, Tree Swallow, Double-crested Cormorant 2, Field Sparrow singing, Turkey Vulture, Song Sparrow at Loyalhanna Lake. Savannah Sparrow, Eastern Meadowlark singing, Great Horned Owl 2 young in nest, Red-tailed Hawk adult nest-sitting near Crabtree. Red-tailed Hawk adult nest-sitting between New Alexandria & Latrobe. Chipping Sparrow, Common Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird at feeders, 4/6.
Eastern Towhee 3, Great Horned Owl 1h, Eastern Screech Owl 1h at Latrobe, 4/3.
American Kestrel 2 along (Keystone) State Park Road near Latimer Lane. Red-tailed Hawk 1 on nest, Turkey Vulture 5, Eastern Phoebe h, Tree Swallow several, Northern Rough-winged Swallow 1, Wood Duck 4pr+, Ring-necked Duck 1pr, Shoveler 1pr at Conemaugh River Lake, 4/1.
Tree Swallow 4+, Mallard, Canada Goose, Song Sparrow, Cardinal, Downy Woodpecker, Mockingbird, Tufted Titmouse, Black-capped Chickadee at Saint Vincent wetlands 3/31.
Eastern Phoebe 2 along Ridgeroad, Kingston, 3/30.
American Kestrel 2 on roadside wires along Bush Rd and Salem Rd, Loyalhanna Twp & Derry Twp respectively, 3/27.
American Kestrel 1 perched on wire along Rt981 south of Latrobe , 3/17.
Downy Woodpecker 2f, Hairy Woodpecker 1m 1f, Black-capped Chickadee 4, Common Grackle 6+, White-crowned Sparrow, Song Sparrow 1, House Sparrow 12+ in our yard at suet & seed. Great Horned Owl 1h, Wild Turkey 1, American Woodcock 2, Screech Owl 2 in woods near Latrobe. The GHO was hooting. The Turkey was gobbling then seen flying from a tree. Woodcocks were on the ground in a clearing. The Screech Owl was cooing and seen shillouetted against the dusk sky, 3/25.
Red-breasted Merganser 5m 11f, Hooded Merganser 1pr, Bufflehead 1pr, Common Loon 1ad, Black Duck 6, Ring-necked Duck 28, Tree Swallow, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Black-capped Chickadee, Turkey Vulture, Great Blue Heron 3 at Latrobe (H. A. Stewart) Reservoir, 3/24.
Wood Duck 3pr at St. Vincent lake, 3/23.
Blue-winged Teal 2m 1f, Green-winged Teal 1pr, Hooded Merganser 3m 2f, Ring-necked Duck 2m 7f, Bufflehead 2pr, Tree Swallow 2, Mallard, Canada Goose at Keystone State Park 3/22.
Ring-billed Gull 50~ in farm field along Stevenson Road near Boatyard Run falls. White-breasted Nuthatch, Black-capped Chickadee, Brown Creeper, Downy Woodpecker, Great Blue Heron 2 at Loyalhanna Lake. Great Horned Owl one young and an adult in a nest at an undisclosed location. Red-tailed Hawks have been nest sitting for at least a week now at two locations, 3/20.
Great Blue Heron 7 in 5 of the 6 nests present. Hooded Merganser 2pr, Wood Duck 13, Red-tailed Hawk one in flight with a small rodent dangling from the hawk's bill. 3/19. Flowers blooming; Snow Trillium, Coltsfoot, Spring Beauty.
Turkey Vulture 1, Ring-billed Gull 50~ in Latrobe. Ring-billed Gull 75~, Herring Gull 4 (2im 2ad), Hooded Merganser 9, Pied-bill Grebe 1, Scaup 9, Tundra Swan 40 overhead at Keystone State Park. The gulls were resting on an ice floe. One of the young Herring Gulls spent close to an hour mutilating and eating a gizzard shad that was too large to swallow whole, fending off an occasional marauding Ring-billed Gull.
Ringneck Duck 60, Redhead Duck 1, American Coot at Mannitto Lake, 3/13.
Canada Goose 50+ formation heading west, Raven 2 low overhead, Hairy Woodpecker 1, Screech Owl 1 cooing at Laurel Mountain downhill ski slopes, 3/10. The owl and woodpecker were heard in woods alongside the wildcat chair lift.
A Yellow-rumped Warbler visiting suet feed daily in a yard in Latrobe during the second week of March.
Horned Grebe 6~, Hooded Megranser 1pr, Redhead Duck 7, American Coot 6+ at Derry Lake 3/9.
Canada Goose 12+, Black Duck 3, Common Merganser 19 (10m), Hooded Merganser 9 (6m, 3f) displaying and calling, Red-tailed Hawk 2, Pileated Woodpecker calling and drumming at Loyalhanna Lake Bush Receation Area. Golden-crowned Kinglet 2+, Tufted Titmouse 2, Song Sparrow 2+, White-crowned Sparrow, Cardinal, Hairy Woodpecker at Keystone State Park, 3/5.
Brown Creeper 2, Pileated Woodpecker 1, Yellow-shafted Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Ringneck Duck 5 (2m 3f) at Twin Lakes County Park, 2/17.
Canada Goose, Killdeer 2, Scaup 8m 2f, Belted Kingfisher 1, Ring-billed Gull 12, Common Merganser 40, Red-tailed Hawk 2, Great Blue Heron 4, Great Horned Owl 1, Green-winged Teal 1m, Bufflehead 1m, Black Duck 2, Mallard 1m 2f at Bush Recreation Area Loyalhanna Lake 2/21.
Ring-billed Gull 7 at the parking lot of Reb Lobster Rt30 east Greensburg, Cooper's Hawk 1a in Latrobe, 2/20.
Bald Eagle 3im, Red-tailed Hawk 1, Great Horned Owl 1 in nest, Common Merganser 9m 5f, Black Duck 2, Green-winged Teal 1m, Bufflehead 3f, Ring-billed Gull 1 perched on ice at Bush Recreation Area Loyalhanna Lake, 2/16. The three bald eagles were perched together in trees at the water's edge at the tip of the peninsula across from the boat launch. They remained perched for at least 1/2 hour. They remained still and their mottled brown colors made them blend in very well with the trees and woodland background. Two noisy crows landed above the eagles, but didn't stay for long. When the eagles did take to flight all three rode an updraft over the steep high hillside nearby, diving at one another, acrobatically flashing talons and briefly locking talons. Each eagle was at a different stage of plumage. The Great Horned Owl sat in a nest in a pine tree that was used by Red-tailed Hawks last year.
Red-tailed Hawk 2, Eastern Bluebird 9+, American Robin 12+, American Crow 3, Great Blue Heron 1, Mourning Dove 50+ along Earhart Rd, St Xavier's Rd, Onega Rd, west of Westmoreland Airport, 2/5.
Red-tailed Hawk 1, Dark-eyed Juncoe, White-throated Sparrow, Cardinal, Hairy Woodpecker 2, Yellow-shafted Flicker 1m, Red-bellied Woodpecker 2, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Golden-crowned Kinglet 2, Red-breasted Nuthatch 1h, White-breasted Nuthatch 1h, Ruffed Grouse, Song Sparrrow 6+, Swamp Sparrow 1, Owl (large) in flight in pines, a woodpecker drumming in the distance at Keystone State Park 2/1.
Cardinal 1 singing, Latrobe, 1/30.
Starling 100s, Rock Pigeon, Cooper's Hawk 1im, Red-tailed Hawk 2, American Kestrel 1f eating a bird, Great Horned Owl 1 on nest, Horned Lark 100+, Mourning Dove, White-crowned Sparrow 2, Tree Sparrow 2, Mockingbird 2, Blue Jay 2, Yellow-shafted Flicker 6+ along farmland roads northwest of Crabtree. Also a mangy Red Fox, 1/29.
Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker 2, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Song Sparrow, White-breasted Nuthatch, Tufted Titmouse, Black-capped Chickadee, Cardinal, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk at Twin Lakes County Park 1/27.
Kestrel 1 perched on wire along Shortcut Rd. Rough-legged Hawk 1 dark phase, Red-tailed Hawk 2, American Crow 12+ along Stevenson Rd. Wild Turkey 18 in field along Rushwood Rd. Brown Creeper 1, Eastern Bluebird 4, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse along Falls Rd, 1/25.
Ruffed Grouse 1 flushed, Red-brested Nuthatch 1 heard, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Black-capped Chickadee, Bluejay, American Crow, Red-tailed Hawk 2 at Keystone State Park. Day's high temperature 13 degrees. 1/23.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1, Great Horned Owl 1 in flight, Yellow-rumped Warbler 2 in woods near Latrobe, 1/22.
Eastern Bluebird 4, Brown Creeper 2, Hairy Woodpecker 1, Downy Woodpecker 1, Dark-eyed Juncoe, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Mallard (a pair copulating) at Keystone State Park, 1/15.
Ring-billed Gulls 11 flying west over east Greensburg, 1/13.
Ring-billed Gulls 30 at Latrobe 30 Plaza and Wildcat Commons shopping centers, 1/2.