2009 - Bird sightings in Westmoreland County, southwestern Pennsylvania

Screaminghawk's

Bird sightings, & more, in Westmoreland County, southwestern Pennsylvania

~ Year 2009 ~

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 on a wire along Donohoe Rd by the Army National Guard near George's Station Rd. Belted Kingfisher 1f, Cedar Waxwing 3+, Mallard, Black Duck 3, Twin Lakes County Park, 12/12.
Raven 1 along Ghost Town Trail outside Saylor Park, along Blacklick Creek outside town of Blacklick, 11/22.
Fox Sparrow 3, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Laurel Summit, 11/2.
Green-winged Teal 6, American Coot 2, Swamp Sparrow 1, Rail 1, Raven 2, Mockingbird at St Vincent Lake & Wetlands, 10/23.
Canada Goose 100s, Mallard 12~, Black Duck 6, Wood Duck 10, Great Blue Heron 1, Pileated Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe, Gray Catbird, Carolina Wren, Latrobe Res., 10/9.
Osprey, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Chipping Sparrow 12s, Yellow-rumped Warbler, White-breasted Nuthatch, Pileated Woodepecker harrassing a perched Red-tailed Hawk, Keystone State Park, 10/5.
Great Egret Wednesday morning in Loyalhanna Creek in Latrobe at the stone arch railroad bridge and Lloyd Ave bridge, 9/30. A Great Egret was reported seen 10/3 on the Loyalhanna Creek below Kingston Dam.
Turkey Vulture 16-20, Spotted Sandpiper 2, Great Blue Heron 1, Belted Kingfisher 1 at Keystone State Park. The vultures, mostly adult, and 3 to 4 young, feeding on a dead groundhog in an adjacent farm field, 9/25.
Great Egret 1 continues to be present along the Loyalhanna Creek in Latrobe. The Egret was seen working the creek from the stone arch railroad bridge to Legion Keener Park, in view of the Rt981 bridge (Lloyd Ave), the Municipal Building, Chestnut Ridge Beverage Co., Manor highrise and Loyalhanna highrise, and the exercise path, 9/22.
Warbling Vireo, Osprey 1~2, Cedar Waxwing, Killdeer, Belted Kingfisher, Green Heron, Spotted Sandpiper, Solitary Sandpiper, Bald Eagle 1imm, Red-tailed Hawk, Wood Duck 12~ along the Youghiogheny River from West Newton to Buena Vista. The immature Bald Eagle was gliding high on fixed wings slightly tucked, heading east, between Sutersville and Buena Vista. The Warbling Vireo was heard in trees at the West Newton Sportsmen's river access, 9/19.
Great Egret 1 (around 11 AM) in the Loyalhanna Creek in Latrobe. Same place as previous day (below).
Osprey 1 at 3:30 PM circled over that area of the creek, 9/17.
Great Egret 1 in the Loyalhanna Creek in Latrobe, down stream of the stone arch railroad bridge, visible from the Chestnut Ridge Beverage plant (formerly LeNature's) end of the Rt981 (Lloyd Ave) bridge, looking from the Rt981 bridge, through the arches of the railroad bridge, towards the hospital. 9/16.
Osprey 1, Great Blue Heron 1, Broad-winged Hawk 1 at Keystone State Park, 9/15.
Screech Owl h, Barred Owl h at Loyalhanna Lake, 9/13.
Mallard, White Pekin, Wood Duck 7, Spotted Sandpiper 1 at Twin Lakes County Park, 9/7.
Monkshood along the Youghiogheny River, 8/16.

Lizard's Tail along the Youghiogheny River, 8/16.
American Ruby Spot Damselfly on the Conemaugh River in Packsaddle Gap, 8/30.
Osprey, Warbling Vireo 2 singing at Keystone State Park. Common Nighthawk 2 over the Davis Shopping Center on East Pittsburgh St in Greensburg, 9/4.
Warbling Vireo, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Carolina Wren, Blue Jay, Eastern Wood Pewee, Acadian Flycatcher, Rough-winged Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Red-tailed Hawk, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Spotted Sandpiper, Wood Duck, Mallard, Killdeer along the Youghiogheny River from Smithton beach to West Newton. Monkshood, Lizard's Tail wildflowers blooming on the riverbank, 8/16.
Eastern Kingbird, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Scarlet Tanager, Osprey, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher 2, Yellow-shafted Flicker 4+, Eastern Wood Pewee, Carolina Wren, Barn Swallow, Blue Jay, Robin at Loyalhanna Lake, 8/12.
American Kestrel 1 south Greensburg, flying over Wellington Square and Rt119, 8/11.
Bald Eagle at Conemaugh Dam Tailwater, 8/9.
Bald Eagle 1a perched on a Sycamore tree branch over the Conemaugh River just down river of the dam tailwater access, river right. The Eagle remained perched for several minutes as kayakers drifted by at fairly close range. Then the eagle took to the air, circling low over the river and kayakers, and disappearring into the railroad cut in Bow Ridge, before noon.
Caspian Tern 2a at Keystone state Park, 5 pm to 7+ pm, actively working the lake diving for fish. Some really good views of the Caspians as they sometimes worked close to the shore.
Broad-winged Hawk 1 at Keystone State Park, 8/9.
Wood Duck 5, Spotted Sandpiper 2, Solitary Sandpiper 1, Barn Swallow 1, Swamp Sparrow 2, Song Sparrow, Red-tailed Hawk 2, Canada Goose, Mourning Dove 100s, Eastern Kingbird, Common Yellowthroat, Cedar Waxwing, American Goldfinch, Indigo Bunting at St Vincent Wetlands #2 and wetlands #1, 8/5.
American Woodcock, Osprey, Great Blue Heron at Loyalhanna Lake. Broad-winged Hawk 1, Great Blue Heron 1 at Keystone State Park, 8/4.
Cedar Waxwing, Common Merganser 2, Spotted Sandpiper, Green Heron, Cliff Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Yellow-throated Warbler, Eastern Kingbird, Acadian Flycatcher, Eastern Wood Pewee, Rock Pigeon, Red-tailed Hawk, Turkey Vulture, Mallard, Canada Goose, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, along the Youghiogheny River from Connellsville to Layton, 8/1.
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1a at close range in pines, Black-throated Green Warbler singing, Keystone State Park, Davis Run Trails. Pine Sap, Rattlesnake Plantain (orchid) blooming, 7/26.
Common Merganser adults and young, Yellow-throated Warbler h, Cedar Waxwing, Cliff Swallow, Yellow-billed Cuckoo h along the Middle Youghiogheny River, between Confluence and Ohiopyle. Cliff Swallow nests were underneath the Rt281 bridge in Confluence, 7/25.
Red-shouldered Hawk 1 at intersection of Rt130 and Four Mile Run Rd, American Woodcock 1 at Rendell Reserve in Ligonier Valley near Donegal Lake, 7/18.
Common Nighthawk h at night downtown Greensburg, 7/17.
Hooded Warbler, Wood Thrush, Wild Turkey, young Red-tailed Hawk, Latrobe, 7/15.
Bald Eagle 1 im at Loyalhanna Lake, near Bush Recreation Area. Two young and noisy Red-tailed Hawks, 7/14.
Northern Watersnake, 7/7
Eastern Kingbird, Brown Thrasher 2, White-eyed Vireo 1, 3rd bridge wetlands, 7/9.
young Turkey Vulture, 7/6
Timber Rattlesnake, 7/6
Great Horned Owl hooting in our nieghborhood in the dawn hours, Latrobe, 6/28.
Great Blue Heron, 6/28
Common Nighthawk h downtown Latrobe, 6/23.
Scarlet Tanager 1m, Yellow-throated Warbler h, American Redstart h, Black and White Warbler h, Parula Warbler h, Hooded Warbler h, Carolina Wren h, White-breasted Nuthatch h, Acadian Flycatcher h, Eastern Wood Pewee h, Red-tailed Hawk young h along the Conemaugh River from the Conemaugh Dam tailwater access to Saltsburg. The tanager, seen at close range along Boatyard Run, was in low branches overhanging the stream and on a sandbar taking a bath at streamside, 6/21.
Yellow-billed Cuckoo h, Latrobe, 6/20.
Stony-Kiski-Conemaugh River Sojourn 2009, day 3. On the Kiskiminetas River out of Saltsburg, 6/6.
Great Blue Heronry 12 nests in a Sycamore tree, 6/5.
Belted Kingfisher burrows, 6/5. The burrow openings are about the size of a human fist, and are usually located on a vertical, undercut bank near water, or away from water.
During the Stony Creek - Conemaugh River - Kiskiminetas River Sojourn 2009, 6/4 thru 6/6, from Greenhouse Park above Johnstown on the Stony Creek to Avonmore on the Kiskiminetas River:
Cliff Swallow & nests under bridge over the Stony Creek, Spotted Sandpiper, in downtown Johnstown. A Sycamore tree with 12 Great Blue Heron nests, adult and young heron present. Last year there were 9 nests at this location. Belted Kingfisher burrows. Two adult Bald Eagle in Packsaddle Gap. The eagles took off from a dead tree river left and flew upriver pass all (98~) the boaters. Two female Common Merganser in the Conemaugh River at the Bairdstown Bridge take-out in Blairsville. Last year female and male Common Merganser were seen in the Conemaugh River in June. Red-tailed Hawk adult and young, at a few places along the rivers during the float. Eastern Phoebe nest under rock ledge on the river bank, river left on approach to Blairsville. Turkey Vultures at the Saltsburg bluffs. Other birds seen and or heard heard: Wood Duck, Mallard, Common Merganser, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Chimney Swift, Belted Kingfisher, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Acadian Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Yellow-throated Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, American Crow, Tree Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Barn Swallow, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, House Wren, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Veery, Wood Thrush, American Robin, Gray Catbird, European Starling, Northern Parula, Yellow Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Cerulean Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, American Redstart, Louisiana Waterthrush, Common Yellowthroat, Hooded Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, Eastern Towhee, Chipping Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Rose-breasted Grosbeak,Indigo Bunting, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Northern Oriole, House Finch, American Goldfinch, House Sparrow.
Copperhead - 1 of 3 different copperheads, undisclosed location, 6/2. Love those eyes! Notice the pit viper pit between the eye and the nostril.
Copperhead - 2 of 3, undisclosed location, 6/2
Copperhead - 3 of 3, undisclosed location, 6/2
Raven 5, Crow, Red-tailed Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk 1 at Keystone State Park. Yellow-throated Warbler at West Penn Trail Saltsburg Section, 5/31.
Green Heron, Great Blue Heron, Canada Goose, Mallard, Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk, Mourning Dove, Chimney Swift, Belted Kingfisher, Eastern Kingbird, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Eastern Phoebe, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow , Blue Jay, American Crow, White-breasted Nuthatch, Eastern Bluebird, Wood Thrush, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher (rt981), Cedar Waxwing, Red-eyed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Blue-winged Warbler (rt981), Yellow-throated Warbler (in Sycamore trees at the former boat rental building), Yellow Warbler (eggs in nest in multifloral rose), Kentucky Warbler (behind stone lodge visitor center), Hooded Warbler (behind stone lodge visitor center), Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-breasted Chat (rt981), Ovenbird, American Redstart (at stone lodge visitor center), Cardinal (young in nest in rhododendron), Indigo Bunting, Eastern Towhee, Grasshopper Sparrow (rt981), Song Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow (in cattail marsh), Eastern Meadowlark (off rt981), Red-winged Blackbird (eggs in nest in field rt981), Common Grackle, Orchard Oriole, Northern Oriole, Scarlet Tanager, American Goldfinch at Keystone State Park & nearby Rt981, 5/24.
Common Nighthawk in Latrobe. Cedar Waxwing at Twin Lakes County Park, 5/22.
Kentucky Warbler, Yellow Warbler, American Redstart, Parula Warbler, Cerulean Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Black and White Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Common Nighthawk, Cliff Swallow, Eastern Wood Pewee, Acadian Flycatcher, Common Merganser 2f along the Yough Trail from Connellsville to Whitsett, 5/19.
Wilson's Warbler 1m, Hooded Warbler 1m, Ann Rudd Saxman Nature Park, 5/18.
Double-crested Cormorant 8, Yellow-throated Warbler, Common Meragnser 6f, Conemaugh River Lake West Penn Trail, 5/18.
Swainson's Thrush, Loyalhanna Gorge near Sleepy Hollow Causeway, 5/16.
Common Nighthawk 1h, Latrobe, 5/14.
Acadian Flycatcher h. The White Trillium flowers are turning pink and beginning to wilt. Black Snakeroot blooming. Twin Lakes County Park, 5/12.
Timber Rattlesnake - yellow phase, undisclosed location, 5/12
Mockingbird, Wood Duck 2+ pr, Osprey nest sitting, Hooded Warbler h, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow Warbler, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Yellow-throated Warbler, White-eyed Vireo h, Yellow-breasted Chat, House Wren, Orchard Oriole 1st yr m, Mockingbird, Eastern Bluebird, Scarlet Tanager 1 pr, Wild Turkey, Turkey Vulture at Loyalhanna Lake. The Yellow-throated Warbler were in Sycamore trees along Whitethorn Creek.
Yellow-throated Vireo, Wood Thrush, Blue-winged Warbler in/near New Alexandria. Also Virginia Bluebell, Spring Beauty, White Trillium, Wood Anemone, Marsh Marigold, Golden Ragwort, and others. Golden Alexandria w/flower buds.
Spring Beauty (below)
Black & White Warbler 1m, Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1f along Creekside Trail in Latrobe.
Yellow-throated Vireo, Eastern Kingbird, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Ovenbird, Yellow Warbler at Keystone State Park, 4/27.
Savannah Sparrow in fields along Derry Lane, west of Blairsville.
Yellow Warbler, White-eyed Vireo, Gray Catbird, Blue-winged Warbler along Rt22 in vicinity of Jonnets, Blairsville.
Northern Oriole, Ovenbird, Wood Thrush, Swamp Sparrow at Keystone State Park, 4/26.
Northern Oriole 2m, Orchard Oriole 1m, Warbling Vireo 1 at Saint Vincent Lake. The Orioles were all in the same small Pin Cherry tree, probing the flowers.
Broad-winged Hawk 1 flying over Donohoe Road, carrying a snake, the size of a Garter Snake.
Chimney Swifts in Latrobe. Toads were trilling and breeding near St. V. Lake, 4/25.
Broad-winged Hawk 1, Red-breasted Nuthatch 2, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Pine Siskin 4, Great Blue Heron 1, Green Heron h, Pine Warbler 2, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Osprey 2, Chipping Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Eastern Bluebird 2, Tree Swallow 12+, Yellow-shfted Flicker, Spotted Sandpiper 2, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1, Eastern Towhee, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle at Keystone State Park, 4/23.
Louisiana Waterthrush, Wood Thrush h at Cedar Creek Gorge, 4/21. The early spring ephemerals are done blooming; Bloodroot, Hepatica, Twinleaf, Harbinger-of-Spring. Virginia Bluebell flowers are reaching peak bloom. White & Red Trilliums starting to flower, along with other mid-spring flowers; Violets, Chickweeds, Geranium, Buttercup, Early Meadow-rue, Rue Anemone, Blue Cohosh.
Brown Thrasher 1 near Blairsville, 4/19.
Canada Goose eggs, and hatchling at Saint Vincent wetlands #1. Other geese sitting on nests on the narrow strips of land that baffle the water flow in the mine drainage settlement ponds. Purple Cress blooming along the wooded path between wetlands #1 & #2, 4/18.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1m, Louisiana Waterthrush 2+ at the gorge in Cedar Creek Park, 4/14.
Osprey 1 over Loyalhanna Creek at the stone arch railroad bridge in Latrobe, 4/13. At the gorge, early spring wildflowers were at peak bloom; Twin Leaf, Bloodroot, Hepatica, Harbinger-of-spring. Mid spring wildflowers were beginning to bloom; Dutchman's Breeches, Squirrel-corn, Rue Anemone, Cut-leaved Toothwort, Early Meadow-rue, Trout Lily, Spring Beauty, Carolina Spring Beauty, Wild Ginger, Wild Geranium, Virginia Bluebell, Kidney-leaf Buttercup, Common Buttercup, Phlox. Redbud trees beginning to flower. Walking Fern.
A Crow harrassing a Tureky Vulture over Monastery Drive near high bridge. Two Accipiter and Crow over the Rt 981 & Monastery Drive intersection, 4/12.
Common Loon 2 at Latrobe Reservoir (Trout Run Dam). Two Common Raven nests on Laurel Ridge. One hundred four wind turbines were counted, looking east from Laurel Summit, 4/11.
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 4 over Loyalhanna Creek at the Lloyd Ave (Rt981) bridge and the stone arch railroad bridge. The swallows have returned for the summer, 4/10.
Osprey 3, Double-crested Cormorant 1, Pileated Woodpecker 1, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Rough-winged Swallow, Spotted Sandpiper 1, Belted Kingfisher 1f, Turkey Vulture 7, Red-tailed Hawk 1, Accipiter 1a, Great Blue Heron 1, Crow 4+ at Keystone State Park, on a cold, windy, snowy afternoon. Great Lakes affect snow. The Kinglets were in Hemlock trees by the campground log cabins by the lake. One Osprey had a sizable Palomino trout (bright orange color), 15"~ length would be a good quess. Swallows numbered around 50, mostly Tree Swallows. The four Rough-winged Swallows favored flying over the outflow stream, 4/7.
Brown-headed Cowbird 1m singing from a roadside wire in Latrobe, 4/4.
Chipping Sparrow 1 singing in Legion Keener Park, Latrobe, 4/2.
Double-crested Cormorant 1a, Bufflehead 1m, Hooded Merganser 1pr, Mallard 1pr, Canada Goose 6, Wood Duck 1pr, Osprey 1, Belted Kingfisher 1, Red-breasted Nuthatch 2, Easterm Bluebird 1m, Killdeer 1, Tufted Titmouse 2+, Red-tailed Hawk 1 1st yr, Crow, Golden-crowned Kinglet, American Woodcock 2, at Keystone State Park and Slag Road. A Woodcock performed display flights between 8:00 P and 8:30 P near the Slag Road Access parking lot. Coincidentally the first flight of the woodcock occurred at the same time the ISS (International Space Station) made a 72 degree altitude pass overhead in a clear, twilit sky, 4/1.
Eastern Phoebe, Carolina Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Chickadee, Pine Siskin 2, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Tufted Titmouse, Cardinal, Wild Turkey, Canada Goose on nest incubating eggs, Hempfield Township, 3/31.
Eastern Phoebe heard at two locations, in Hempfield Township & at Herminie, 3/22.

Snow Trillium, Herminie

Snow Trillium is listed by the DCNR as rare in Pennsylvania
Eastern Towhee heard singing the "Drink your tea", Latrobe, 3/21.
American Kestrel 1m perched on an antenna on a building, Steve's Auto & Truck Repair & Detail, Josephine St, behind the McDonald's on Lincoln Avenue, Latrobe, 3/20.
Osprey 2, Belted Kingfisher 1 at Keystone State Park. Ringneck Duck 3m 2f at Mannitto Lake. It's possibly the first day arrival for the locally breeding Osprey, 3/20.
Pied-billed Grebe 1, Horned Grebe 1, Common Goldeneye 1f on the upper lake at Twin Lakes County Park, 3/19.
Pied-billed Grebe 2, Horned Grebe 2, Bufflehead 1m 1f, Wilson's Snipe 1 in flight, Tree Swallow 4, Tree Sparrow 1, Red-tailed Hawk 1 im 2a, Killdeer, Wood Duck 1m at Saint Vincent Lake & wetland #3, 3/19.
Red-breasted Merganser 1m on the upper lake at Twin Lakes County Park, 3/18.
Turkey Vulture 2 copulating, perched in a dead tree, Livermore Access Road to West Penn Trail at Conemaugh River Lake. Wood Frogs croaking and some egg masses. Spotted Salamander sperm packets - spermatophore - and some egg masses. Red-tailed Hawk 1 in field eating a rabbit, Livermore Road. A Kestrel flying over downtown Latrobe. Mockingbird 1 in the parking lot of Roomful Express, Rt30 east Greensburg, 3/15.

White Oak with mossy roots, switchback trail on east side of Bow Ridge, Conemaugh River Lake
Red-tailed Hawk 1, Raven 2 at/near Twin Lakes County Park. The hawk was on the ground eating a Black Rat Snake, 3/14.

Above: Black Rat Snake eaten by Red-tailed Hawk, March 14 2009. Black Rat Snakes are strong constrictors & climbers. The snake would have put up a heck of a fight for its life against the Red-tailed Hawk.
Canvasback 1m, Northern Shoveler 1m, Hooded Merganser 1pr at Saint Vincent Lake & wetlands, 3/10.
Cooper's Hawk 1a in Ann Rudd Saxman Nature Park, Turkey Vulture 2 perched on a nearby communications tower. Screech Owl 1 red phase at Twin Lakes County Park, trilling song from a cavity in the trunk of a Northern Catalpa, 3/9.
Ring-billed Gull 12 over Barnes & Noble Bookstore Rt30 east Greensburg, 3/8.
White-winged Crossbill 4 (1m 3f) in Norway Spruce beside the Latrobe-Derry Road just south of the Pace Industries plant, 3/7.
Killdeer 1, Gull (Ring-billed) 40 fly-by South Greensburg, 3/6.
Hermit Thrush 1 at Ann Rudd Saxman Nature Park, east Greensburg, 3/4.

Ann Rudd Saxman Nature Park, Donohoe Road and Rt30 east Greensburg, PA
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 working a pine in Unity Cemetery near Saint Vincent College, 3/3.
White-winged Crossbill 8 or 9 in number, at 8:30 AM, feeding on spruce cone seed in Unity Cemetery, just northwest of Saint Vincent College. First in a Blue Spruce, then in a Norway Spruce after being flushed by a Blue Jay, in the old section of the cemetery. At least 3 crossbill were male, 3/1.
Common Merganser, Hooded Merganser, Black Duck, Wood Duck 1m, Pied-billed Grebe 1, Canada Goose, Mallard, Great Blue Heron 1, Tree Sparrow, Yellow-shafted Flicker 2, Loyalhanna Lake, Whitethorn Creek backwater. Less than 6 in number of any species, 2/28.
Kestrel 1m along Salem Road (Rt22-Rt119 intersection New Alex.)
Common Merganser 25+, Hooded Merganser 3, Ring-billed Gull 4, Belted Kingfisher 1, Great Blue Heron 10 (a group of 9 standing on shoreline), Bush Recreation Area.
Red-shouldered Hawk 1 fly-by (vocal) over Bush Road at Mannitto Golf Course.
Turkey Vulture 1 along Derry Lane, 2/28.

Heronry

Heronry
Bald Eagle 1im, Red-breasted Merganser 1m, Eastern Bluebird 2, Golden-crowned Kinglet 1, Yellow-rumped Warbler 1. The season is turning, ice-out is occurring, birds are on the move. Keystone State Park, 2/27 The eagle was seen at 4:20 PM.
Bald Eagle 1im, Ring-billed Gull 300+, Herring Gull 5, Common Merganser 50+, Hooded Merganser 10+, Red-tailed Hawk, Canada Goose, Crow 100~ migrant flight line. A couple birders leaving Bush Rec as i arrived said they saw three large birds in flight, maybe 3 immature eagle. The access gate to Bush Rec is still closed and locked, which is a good thing, allowing the eagles and waterfowl to remain undisturbed by boaters. Loyalhanna Lake Bush Recreation Area, 5 PM to 6 PM, 2/27.

Photo below: Ring-billed Gull at Loyalhanna Lake Bush Recreation Area 2/27.

Below: Skunk Cabbage emerging from the muck after a long cold winter
Screech Owl heard cooing at Ann Rudd Saxman Nature Park, 2/24.
Bald Eagle 5 (3im 2a), Canada Goose, Mallard, Black Duck, Common Merganser, Hooded Merganser 3+, Ring-billed Gull 1 at Loyalhanna Lake Bush Recreation Area. Wild Turkey 50+, Northern Harrier 1 (f/i), Red-tailed Hawk 12~, American Kestrel, Accipiter 1, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle during an outing to Elder's Ridge and West Lebanon in Indiana County, 2/21.

Photo below: one of three immature Bald Eagle at Bush Recreation Area at Loyalhanna Lake 2/21. Two adult Bald Eagle were also present. Photo taken at distance w/4x optical + 4x digital zoom, the camera's maximum zoom.
Kestrel 1f, Rough-legged Hawk 1, Red-tailed Hawk, Eastern Bluebird h at/near Westmoreland Airport, Latrobe. Robins 24+ along Sessi Rd. Tree Sparrow at feeder in Westpoint, near Greensburg, 2/6.
Belted Kingfisher 1f at Latrobe Creekside Trail. Winter Stonefly, 2 small spiders, crawling on the snow in 24 degree temperature high for the day. 2/3.
Mockingbird at Ann Rudd Saxman Nature Park. Common Merganser 19 (more m than f), Hooded Merganser 3 (1m 2f), Ring-billed Gull 1 at Loyalhanna Lake Bush Recreation Area where there is some open water. Cooper's Hawk seen along Bush Rd.
Snow Buntings 12+ flushed from ground by a low flying hawk. A large flock (100s) of larks &/or buntings seen in distance. Along Helen Road, near Crabtree, 2/2.
Rough-legged Hawk 1 overhead along Rt217 between Hillside Rd & Grey Station Rd, north of Derry. Rough-legged Hawk 1, Kestrel 2 (1m 1f), Red-tailed Hawk 5+, Sharp-shinned Hawk 1a, White-crowned Sparrow 4+ (a, im), Red-winged Blackbird 25+, Cardinal, Mourning Dove, Raven heard near Westmoreland Airport at Latrobe along Earhart Rd. All the raptors were seen at close range. The Rough-legged Hawk at the airport was hovering & kiting low over the south end of the runway. The Kestrels were perched on chain link fence and wire alongside the road, one of the Kestrel (f) eating a small rodent. The stream and associated brush on Earhart Rd is used consistently year after year as a wintering ground by White-crowned Sparrow. Pine Siskin 6~ at feeder in Latrobe, 6th ward. 2/1.
Robins 24+ along Pellis Rd in Greensburg, 1/26.
Pine Siskin 20+ at feeder in Latrobe, 6th ward. There is an irruption of Pine Siskin this winter statewide. 1/23.
Song Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Red-breasted Nuthatch h, Brown Creeper, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Raven h, Pileated Woodpecker h, Flicker h, Tufted Titmouse at Keystone State Park, 1/23.
Pine Siskin at feeder in the 6th ward of Latrobe 1/21.

American Coot 10, Mallard, Canada Goose, White Pekin, Common Merganser 1f at Ethel Lake in Derry, 1/21. The merganser flew in at 5:27 PM.