2006 - Bird sightings in Westmoreland County, southwestern Pennsylvania
Screaminghawk's
Birding in Westmoreland County, southwestern Pennsylvania
~~~ Year 2006 ~~~
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).
Field Sparrow 1 with Dark-eyed Juncoes at Keystone State Park, 12/31.
Eastern Phoebe 1 at St Vincent Wetlands #3 pond 12/21.
Canada Goose 100~, Red-breasted Merganser 6f, Belted Kingfisher 1, Red-tailed Hawk at Conemaugh River Lake, 11/26.
American Coot 500+, Bufflehead, Ruddy Duck, Scaup, Ringneck Duck, Loon (Common), Hooded Merganser, American Widgeon, Canvasback 2, Mallard, Gadwall, Wood Duck, Pied-billed Grebe, Horned Grebe, Yellowlegs 1, Song Sparrow 2+, Swamp Sparrow 2, Fox Sparrow 3, Dark-eyed Junco, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Tufted Titmouse, Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Tundra Swan 30+, Cormorant (Double-crested) 1 at Yellow Creek State Park in Indiana County during an outing of the Westmoreland County Bird & Nature Club. Accipiter 3+ (Coopers & Sharp-shinned) enroute to/from the park, 11/12.
Flocks of Tundra Swan heard migrating at night, heading east over Latrobe. Probably hundreds if not thousands passing over, 11/1 & 11/2 in the early A.M. hours.
White-throated Sparrow & Song Sparrow heard singing in 6th ward neighborhood, Latrobe, 10/30.
Mallard, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, American Coot, Pied-billed Grebe, Horned Grebe, Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk at/over Derry Lake. Winter Wren 2, White-throated Sparrow, Chickadee, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Cardinal, Song Sparrow, White-breasted Nuthatch, Great Horned Owl 2h in woods near Latrobe, 10/29.
Kestrel 1pr, Mockingbird, Great Egret 1, Great Blue Heron 1, Mallard, Wood Duck 2, Blue-winged Teal 2, Canada Goose, Killdeer, Solitary Sandpiper 1, Palm Warbler 2, Common Yellowthroat 1, Eastern Phoebe 2, Goldfinch 2, Osprey 1, Cardinal, Downy Woodpecker, Belted Kingfisher, Meadowlark 6, Pied-bill Grebe 12, Red-bellied Woodpecker h, Pileated Woodpecker h, Song Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird at Kala Farm Wetlands, Mammoth Lake, and Baker Rd, 10/1.
Eastern Phoebe, Ovenbird, Black-throated Green Warbler, Raven h, Crow, Linn Run Hollow & Laurel Summit, 9/20.
Screech Owl h in Latrobe, 9/4.
Osprey 1 over Conemaugh River in Saltsburg. Tufted Titmouse, Blue-winged Warbler, Ovenbird, American Redstart, Pileated Woodpecker 2 along West Penn Trail Saltsburg section. Double-crested Cormorant, Spotted Sandpiper, Belted Kingfisher, Chipping Sparrow, White-breasted Nuthatch at Bush Recreation Area of Loyalhanna Lake, 9/3.
Great Horned Owl h just north of Latrobe, 9/2.
Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk 2-3, Raven 1, Hooded Warbler, Eastern Wood Pewee at Linn Run Hollow, 8/29.
Common Nighthawk 2 in downtown Latrobe, 8/24.
Blue-winged Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, Spotted Sandpiper at Keystone State Park, 8/22.
Yellow-billed Cuckoo h/s, Spotted Sandpiper, Great Blue Heron, Eastern Kingbird along the Conemaugh River near Avonmore. Swamp Sparrow, Northern Waterthrush, Gray Catbird in the Davis Run marsh at Keystone State Park, 8/19.
Common Nighthawk 2 (diving) over the Greensburg Salem Midddle School (former Greensburg High School) on Maple Avenue, 8/18.
Solitary Sandpiper 1 at a rain puddle beside Rt30 in a field beside Mountain Laurel Plaza, Common Nighthawk 2 (diving) in downtown Latrobe, 8/15.
Osprey, Box Turtle at Keystone State Park. Kestrel on State Park Rd near Latimer Lane, 8/7.
Red-tailed Hawk 2 (1a 1i), the immature RTH took to flight in St Vincent Cemetery, a gray squirrel dangling from the hawk's talons, 8/4.
Broad-winged Hawk, Osprey, Hooded Warbler at Keystone State Park. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Screech Owl (vocal), Scarlet Tanager, Common Yellowthroat, Indigo Bunting, Wood Thrush, Eastern Wood Pewee, Acadian Flycatcher, Crows in mobbing something in the woods at Conemaugh River Lake, 8/1.
Broad-winged Hawk, Red-breasted Nuthatch h/s, Hooded Warbler, Osprey, Swamp Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Scarlet Tanager, Green-backed Heron, Eastern Towhee, Blue Jay, Tufted Titmouse, Yellow-shafted Flicker, Eastern Kingbird adult & fledgling at Keystone State Park. The Broad-winged Hawk was being shadowed by a squadron of swallows and swifts as the hawk flew over the lake, the territorial waters of the swallows. Pinesap, Rattlesnake Plantain Orchid blooming, 7/30.
Broad-winged Hawk at Keystone State Park, 7/29.
Osprey 4, Broad-winged Hawk, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher at Loyalhanna Lake, 7/25.
Osprey, Spotted Sandpiper 1, Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1 h/s, Wood Duck at Loyalhanna Lake, 7/24.
Broad-winged Hawk 1, Turkey Vulture over 6th ward in Latrobe. A White-breasted Nuthatch at a birdseed feeder in a yard in Latrobe. Swamp Sparrow 2 singing at Keystone State Park in the Davis Run marsh, 7/23.
Common Nighthawk 3, Chimney Swift in downtown Latrobe, 7/22.
Double-crested Cormorant 1, Rough-winged Swallows 50+, Barn Swallow, Osprey 5 (2a 3i), Great Blue Heron 2, Belted Kingfisher, Gray Catbird, Field Sparrow, Indigo Bunting, Green-backed Heron 2, Wood Duck 15+, Pileated Woodpecker, Eastern Wood Pewee, Red-winged Blackbird, American Robin, Downy Woodpecker, American Crow, Red-eyed Vireo, White-eyed Vireo, Scarlet Tanager, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Black-billed Cuckoo, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow Warbler, Wood Thrush, Cardinal, Blue Jay, Yellow-shafted Flicker, Killdeer, Chimney Swift, Cedar Waxwing, Carolina Wren, Eastern Kingbird, Eastern Towhee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Black-capped Chickadee at Loyalhanna Lake. Also Beaver, 7/20.
Kestrel 1 overhead at Rossi, North Versailles, 7/15.
Swamp Sparrow 2 singing, Green-backed Heron 3, Belted Kingfisher 3 in the marsh at Keystone State Park. Purple-stemmed Cliffbrake fern growing on the rock wall of the railroad tracks in downtown Latrobe, 7/16.
Osprey 2a, Swamp Sparrow 2 singing, Warbling Vireo, Yellow Warbler, Belted Kingfisher 2, Barn Swallow, Red-tailed Hawk at Donegal Lake. There are no young Osprey in the Donegal Lake nest this year. 7/14.
Great-crested Flycatcher (family of at least four, fledged young being fed), American Redstart singing a variety of songs, Field Sparrow several singing, Carolina Wren, Eastern Kingbird, Cardinal, Downy Woodpecker, White-eyed Vireo, Yellow-shafted Flicker, Song Sparrow, Osprey 5 (2 adult, 3 nestlings) at Loyalhanna lake, 7/12.
Killdeer, Eastern Kingbird, Eastern Bluebird, Green-backed Heron, Great Blue Heron, Swamp Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Yellow Warbler (w/o a tail), White-eyed Vireo, Cedar Waxwing, American Goldfinch, Gray Catbird, Common Yellowthroat, Indigo Bunting, Eastern Towhee, American Crow at Keystone State Park. The Yellow Warbler had lost the tail feathers all at once during molt. 7/9.
Broad-winged Hawk, Turkey Vulture, Eastern Kingbird, Green-backed Heron at Ridge Soaring Gliderport, Julian PA (on the west side of Bald Eagle Mountain, west of State College). Raven may have also been present. A Raven soaring over Rt220 north of Rt22, outside Altoona, 7/7.
Cliff Swallow at Beaver Run Reservoir, Rt380 overlook, flying around and landing on the valve house concrete walkway, where they nest underneath, 6/6.
Broad-winged Hawk 1 overhead Rt981 just north of Latrobe, Brown Thrasher, Mockingbird along McCullough Rd (from Barchesky Rd), 7/2.
Spotted Wintergreen plants starting to bloom at Keystone State Park and Twin Lakes County Park, first week of July.
Common Nighthawk 2 (one diving), Chimney Swift, in downtown Latrobe, 6/29.
Belted Kingfisher 4+, Great Blue Heron 4, Green-backed Heron 1 overhead, Acadian Flycatcher, Eastern Wood Pewee, Eastern Phoebe, Louisiana Waterthrush, Spotted Sandpiper, Yellow-throated Warbler, American Redstart, Yellow Warbler, Cerulean Warbler, Black and White Warbler, House Wren, Carolina Wren, Red-tailed Hawk, Northern Oriole, Rough-winged Swallow, Cedar Waxwing, Ovenbird, Scarlet Tanager, Warbling Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Red-tailed Hawk two families adult and young, Turkey Vulture, Pileated Woodpecker, Yellow-shafted Flicker, Red-bellied Woodpecker during a Conemaugh River kayak float from Robinson/Bolivar to Blairsville, 6/25.
Osprey at least one young, Brown Thrasher, Pileated Woodpecker, Belted Kingfisher, Acadian Flycatcher, Yellow-billed Cuckoo h, Common Yellowthroat, Field Sparrow, a Raccoon snoozing on a tree branch in a tree row between fields, Loyalhanna Lake 6/23.
Swamp Sparrow, Bluebird family 4 young, Osprey, a Raccoon family in the shallow hollow of a tree, at Keystone State Park, 6/17.
Swamp Sparrow 2 singing at Keystone State Park. A scrawny Red Fox trying to cross the Donohoe Rd, 6/16.
Hooded Merganser 1f, Swamp Sparrow h/s, Chipping Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Broad-winged Hawk 1, Green-backed Heron, Great Blue Heron 1, Northern Oriole, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Rough-winged Swallow, Killdeer, American Crow, Wood Thrush, Eastern Kingbird, Cedar Waxwing, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Carolina Wren, House Wren, Mute Swan, Canada Goose 2 family (5 goosling, 8 goosling) at Keystone State Park. Painted Turtle laying eggs, 6/8.
Red-eyed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Yellow Warbler, Northern Oriole feeding young in nest, Robin nest sitting, Eastern Bluebird 2, at Keystone State Park, 6/5.
Common Nighthawk in Latrobe, 5/27
White-eyed Vireo h, Red-eyed Vireo h, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Turkey Vulture, Northern Oriole, Orchard Oriole 2 1st yr m, 1 am, Blue-winged Warbler 3+ h/s, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2 (1 in nest), Hooded Warbler h, Kentucky Warbler h, American Redstart h, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Wood Pewee, Acadian Flycatcher, Hairy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Song Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Louisianna Waterthrush 2a making food trips to nest, Cedar Waxwing at Coaltown Road gamelands, near Tunnelton, Indiana County, 5/21.
Raven heard in Latrobe , 5/21.
Swainson's Thrush 2 at Ann Saxman Nature Park, 5/20.
Broad-winged Hawk over Latrobe, 5/18.
Common Nighthawk over Latrobe, 5/17.
Solitary Sandpiper 2 in the Nature Park behind Barnes & Noble bookstore Rt30 east Greensburg, in a runoff retention pond, 5/12.
Pileated Woodpecker drumming, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Scarlet Tanager, Field Sparrow h, White-eyed Vireo, Hooded Warbler, Carolina Wren, House Wren, Tufted Titmouse in woods at Latrobe. Rose-breasted Gorsbeak, Warbling Vireo, American Redstart, Yellow Warbler, Barn Swallow along Loyalhanna Creek at Oasis Rd, 5/11.
Grasshopper Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Eastern Meadowlark, Bobolink 2m along Lightcap Rd off Latrobe -Crabtree Rd, 5/9.
Common Yellowthroat, Yellow Warbler, Warbling Vireo, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Green-backed Heron, Spotted Sandpiper at Saint Vincent Wetlands. Flowers blooming at the wetlands Wild Chervil / Cow Parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris), Doublefile Viburnum (at old concrete bridge over stream on approach to wetlands #1), Blackhaw Viburnum, & a type of Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus), 5/8.
White-crowned Sparrow in our yard. Orchard Oriole 1m flyby at Jonnet Flea Market, Rt22 Blairsville, 5/7.
A Cuckoo flyby (species?) at Keystone State Park, 5/5.
Pileated Woodpecker flyby directly overhead (eastward) at Borders bookstore in Monroeville, 5/4.
Black-throated Green Warbler h on Laurel Mountain, Laughlintown area, 5/2.
Yellow Warbler h along George's Station Rd, between Donohoe Rd & Rt30, 5/1.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet singing in our backyard, from a Spruce tree and a Maple tree in Latrobe. Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1m, House Wren h, Blue Gray Gnatcatcher at Ann Saxman Nature Park, 4/30.
Yellow-throated Vireo h, Yellow-throated Warbler h, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher h/s, Blue-winged Warbler h, Parula Warbler h, American Redstart h/s, Cerulean Warbler h, Mockingbird, Tree Swallow, Rough-winged Swallow, Tree Swallow, Eastern Bluebird, Field Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Song Sparrow West Penn Trail from Saltsburg to Westinghouse Access (12 mile). An Osprey, carrying a fish, seen flying northwestward over Rt981 in New Alexandria, 4/29.
Brown Thrasher 2 at Ann Saxman Nature Park, 4/28
Spotted Sandpiper, Swamp Sparrow singing, Song Sparrow singing, Osprey, Red-tailed Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Canada Goose, Easter Bluebird, Barn Swallow, Rough-winged Swallow, Tree Swallow, Chipping Sparrow singing, Turkey Vulture in the distance at Keystone State Park. The Broad-winged Hawk was hunting the edges of the marsh and remnants of a beaver pond. Eastern Meadowlark singing along Pandora Road, 4/26.
Chimney Swifts, American Kestrel at Saint Vincent College, 4/22 (Earth Day Celebration).
Warbling Vireo 1 h/s, Woodduck 1 at Saint Vincent Wetlands #3. Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Belted Kingfisher, Rough-winged Swallow along the Loyalhanna Creek in Latrobe, 4/19.
Virginia Rail 1 heard & seen at close range at Saint Vincent Wetlands #3, 4/18.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker at Keystone State Park, 4/8
Chipping Sparrow h, Rough-winged Swallow 1, Canada Goose on nest, in Legion Keener Park and along Loyalhanna Creek, Eastern Towhee in suburban yard, Latrobe, 4/7.
Chipping Sparrow h in suburban Latrobe, 4/6.
Wood Duck 1m seen in wet woods alongside Beatty Flats Rd, 4/5.
Great Blue Heron 1, Common Merganser 1pr, Double-crested Cormorant 5, Osprey 1, Belted Kingfisher 1f, Red-tailed Hawk 1, Turkey Vulture, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Towhee, Killdeer, Tree Swallow, Canada Goose, American Crow, Rock Dove 5+, Blue Jay (imitating the call of Red-tailed Hawk); Conemaugh River Lake, 4/2.
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1h on a wooded hillside along Rt30 east Greensburg, 4/1.
Yellow-shafted Flicker 3, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Brown Creeper, Hempfield Township. Snow Trillium at the peak of blooming, 3/31.
Mockingbird 1 singing, Tree Sparrow 4, Tree Swallow 5, Eastern Phoebe h, Fox Sparrow 2, Eastern Bluebird 1pr, Yellow-rumped Warbler 2+, Field Sparrow 1 singing, Song Sparrow, Great Blue Heron 1, Cardinal, Ring-necked Pheasant h, Wild Turkey 3, White-breasted Nuthatch, Downy Woodpecker, Carolina Wren at Loyalhanna Lake Christopher Access. Elsewhere a Red-tailed Hawk nest sitting. Spring Beauties beginning to bloom, 3/29.
Wilson's (Common) Snipe 11 at 3rd bridge wetlands north of Latrobe, 3/28.
Ring-billed Gull 1, Bufflehead 1m at Keystone State Park, 3/25.
Eastern Phoebe 2, Ringneck Duck, Wood Duck 5, Black Duck 2, Great Blue Heron 2, Chickadee, Great Horned Owl 2 (one on nest, one in flight from roost), Conemaugh River Lake, 3/19.
Bufflehead 1m at Twin Lakes County Park, upper lake. Raven, 3/18.
Hairy Woodpecker, Brown Creeper, Horned Grebe 2, Ruddy Duck 1f, Pied-billed Grebe 1, Eastern Phoebe 1, American Crow 30~ at Twin Lakes County Park, 3/12.
Yellow-rumped Warbler, Field Sparrow singing, Red-tailed Hawk 2, Red-shouldered Hawk 1h, Red-bellied Woodpecker 1pr, Great Blue Heron 8, Wood Duck 2, Ring-necked Pheasant h, Loyalhanna Lake. Brown Creeper, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse at Keystone State Park, 3/11.
Wilson's (Common) Snipe 2, American Woodcock 3, Red-winged Blackbirds at 3rd bridge wetlands & fields along the Loyalhanna Creek, just north of Latrobe. Woodcock were performing display flights between 6:30 & 7:00 PM, and peenting on the ground at close range. Spring Peepers, and other tree frogs, vocal, 3/10.
Common Merganser 15 (10m 5f), Shoveler 2 pr, Killdeer 2, Robin, Great Blue Heron 1, Common Grackle, Canada Goose, Black-capped Chickadee. A pair of Red-tailed Hawk have reclaimed a nest that had been used by Great Horned Owl last year. Loyalhanna Lake, 3/9.
Robin singing early in the morning, first Robin heard singing this year, Screech Owl cooing, Latrobe 3/4.
Ringneck Duck 6m 3f, Hooded Merganser 4m 2f at Donegal Lake, 2/28.
Red-tailed Hawk 4, American Kestrel 4, Wilson's (Common) Snipe 1, Ringneck Duck 2m, American Widgeon 1pr, Mallard, Canada Goose, Crow 75~, Great Horned Owl on nest along farmland roads in the Crabtree area. The ducks were seen in two farm ponds. Common Merganser 2pr at Loyalhanna Lake, 2/16.
Screech Owl one cooing at dusk in woods near Latrobe. Fresh Yellow-bellied Sapsucker holes on a spruce tree trunk in our yard. The holes were being visited by Chickadees. American Kestrel 1m perched on a wire along St. Vincent fields on Rt981 between Latrobe and Rt30, 2/23.
A Raven nest used the past several years appears to have been repaired for use this year, Laurel Summit. Not enough snow for cross-country skiing, but a good tracking snow; Coyote, Fox, Squirrel, Mouse, Vole tracks were seen, 2/19.
A Raven was seen flying to roost for the night (5:44 PM) along the Donohoe Rd between Latrobe & Greensburg, 2/18.
Red-winged Blackbirds 50-60 in treetops beside St Vincent Wetlands, to roost in cattail thickets for the night, 2/18.
Yellow-rumped Warbler 6, Brown Creeper in woods near Latrobe, 2/12.
Raven 2, Eastern Bluebird h at Keystone State Park. Kestrel 1m in tree beside the old school house No. 7 (1911). Great Horned Owl 1 on nest outside Crabtree, 2/11.
Winter Wren 1, Brown Creeper 2, Red-tailed Hawk 2, Screech Owl 1h at Twin Lakes County Park. The Winter Wren has been wintering among the large rocks at the base of the hill below the railroad tracks at the head of the upper lake, 2/1.
Turkey Vulture 1, Red-tailed Hawk 1 along Rt981 just north of Latrobe. Red-tailed Hawk 3+, Raven 1 s&h at Conemaugh Lake West Penn Trail. The three Red-tailed Hawks were chasing one another around, and vocalizing. Two of the hawks locked talons in the air and began spiraling downward, into the trees, twisting whirling round and round, parting before hitting the ground. 1/28.
Red-tailed Hawk 2 perched atop the same electrical transmission tower off Center Drive in Latrobe, 1/27.
Yellow-breasted Sapsucker 1, Red-breasted Nuthatch 2, Brown Creeper, Raven 1 at Twin Lakes County Park, 1/16.
Red-tailed Hawk, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Flicker h, Great Blue Heron, Dark-eyed Junco, Tufted Titmouse, Chickadee, Golden-crowned Kinglet 2 at Loyalhanna Lake. Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 fly-by along Bush Rd., 1/13.
Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Red-tailed Hawk, Red-breasted Nuthatch, White-breasted Nuthatch, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Brown Creeper, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 at Keystone State Park. The Sapsucker was visiting trees in the beach parking lot, 1/10.
American Kestrel 3m along Airport Rd near Westmoreland Airpark, Saint Xavier's Rd, and Onega Rd. Red-winged Blackbird, Starling, Mourning Dove along Saint Xavier's Rd. Red-tailed Hawk 1 along Onega Rd near Rt30 (Beatty Crossroads), 1/9.
American Kestrel 1m perched atop a pole at the intersection of Rt30 & Rt981 by the PNC Bank. Red-tailed Hawk 2 perched side-by-side atop an electrical transmission tower off Donohoe Rd near Twin Lakes County Park, 1/8.
Red-tailed Hawk 4+ (1 vocal), Cooper's Hawk 1, Pileated Woodpecker h, Hairy Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Flicker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, White-throated Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Rock Pigeon 250+, Starling 2000+, Mockingbird, White-breasted Nuthatch, Red-breasted Nuthatch 2, Carolina Wren 4, Winter Wren 1, Tufted Titmouse, Black-capped Chickadee, Blue Jay, Cardinal, Kinglet, Mourning Dove, House Sparrow, House Finch, White Pekan Duck 5 at Twin Lakes County Park, Cameo Lane, Matt Shield Rd. Great Horned Owl 1 hooting at dusk near Latrobe, 1/1. The Cooper's Hawk was flushed from the ground in thick brush where the hawk was feeding on entrails of a deer that had been gutted by a hunter.