-RBA
*Pennsylvania
*Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania
*PAWE08.28.05
SOME NOTABLE SPECIES REPORTED:
SANDHILL CRANE
HYBRID HERON
COMMON MOORHEN
AMERICAN WIGEON
NORTHERN SHOVELER
AMERICAN BLACK DUCK
GREEN-WINGED TEAL
NORTHERN PINTAIL
BLUE-WINGED TEAL
HUDSONIAN GODWIT (Indiana County)
WILSON'S PHALAROPE (Indiana County)
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER
SANDERLING
BAIRD'S SANDPIPER
STILT SANDPIPER
WESTERN SANDPIPER
BLACK TERN
FORSTER'S TERN
LONG-TAILED JAEGER (Somerset County)
BALD EAGLE
NORTHERN HARRIER
COMMON RAVEN
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH
SEDGE WREN
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER
YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER
WARBLING VIREO
BREWSTER'S WARBLER
TENNESSEE WARBLER
CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER
NASHVILLE WARBLER
PURPLE FINCH
contributors: Mike Fialkovich, Ross Gallardy (with Ben Coulter and Dave
Wilton), Christie Gregg, Leonard Hess, Margaret Higbee, Mark McConaughy,
Jerry McWilliams, Steve Manns, Jeff and Retta Payne, Kate St. John, Jerry
Stanley, Randy Stringer, Bob VanNewkirk, Mark Vass, Dan Yagusic.
compiler: Amy Taracido
Sunday, 21 August 2005 through Sunday, 28 August 2005
***This report is distributed by e-mail only. If you would like to receive
western PA RBAs, contact meadowlark4@verizon.net
Transcript-
Allegheny County:
In Etna on 8/24, adult flyover BALD EAGLE, 143 migrating Common
Nighthawks, 100 feeding Chimney Swifts, 5 Great Blue Herons, Green Heron,
Wood Duck, 2 Belted Kingfishers, 3 Spotted Sandpipers, 4 Killdeer, 14
Cedar Waxwings (DY). On 8/25 from 7:20pm until 8:25pm, 843 Common
Nighthawks flying at 75-100 feet or higher, in a S/SE direction; 200+
Chimney Swifts, 2+ Tree Swallow, 60-70 flyover duck species; on the
evening of 8/26, 582 Common Nighthawks, 86 Chimney Swifts; on 8/27, 6
Great Blue Heron, Wood Duck, juvenile Sharp-shinned Hawk, 3 Spotted
Sandpiper, 2 Least Sandpiper, 6 Killdeer, 4 Northern Mockingbird (DY).
At Bald Knob pond on 8/24, 2 Greater Yellowlegs, 2 Lesser Yellowlegs, 3
Pectoral Sandpiper, 3 Semi-palmated Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper, Semi-
palmated Plover; on 8/26, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Purple Finch, Solitary
Sandpiper, 2 Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, 4 Pectoral Sandpiper,
3 Semi-palmated Sandpiper, Semi-palmated Plover, 2 Spotted Sandpiper, Ring-
necked Duck, Northern Harrier (MV).
In Greenfield on the morning of 8/25, Common Nighthawk flying north toward
Schenley Park (KSJ).
On 8/25 in East Liberty, Eastern Phoebe, WILLOW FLYCATCHER, American
Redstart (DY).
Armstrong County:
On 8/27 near Elderton, sightings included 14 species of warblers plus a
BREWSTER'S WARBLER, Black-billed Cuckoo, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, and YELLOW-
BELLIED FLYCATCHER (MH).
Beaver County:
On the evening of 8/25 at Little Blue, Blue-winged Teal, 4 Lesser
Yellowlegs, 4 BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, Pectoral Sandpiper, 3 Solitary Sandpiper,
4 Semi-palmated Sandpiper, 3 Least Sandpiper, 2 Spotted Sandpiper; on the
evening of 8/26, 2 NORTHERN PINTAIL, Semi-palmated Plover, flock of ~17
Semi-palmated Sandpipers; on 8/28, SANDERLING, Pectoral Sandpiper,
Solitary Sandpiper, 2 Spotted Sandpiper, 2 Osprey, Double-crested
Cormorant, Green-winged Teal (MV).
In Darlington on 8/26 just before a game at Northwestern Stadium, 2 flocks
totaling 70+ nighthawks circled over the stadium area (CG).
At the Industry nest site on 8/28, 2 adult and 2 juvenile Osprey (MV).
Crawford County:
On 8/27 at Miller's Ponds, American Wigeon, Northern Shoveler, Northern
Pintail, Blue-winged Teal, Green-winged Teal, American Black Duck, 5
Greater Yellowlegs, 2 Short-billed Dowitcher, 4 Wilson's Snipe, Green
Heron, Belted Kingfisher (MV).
On 8/27 at the Spillway, Caspian Tern (MV).
On 8/27 at the Fish Hatchery, 2 Short-billed Dowitcher, Semi-palmated
Plover, 2 Belted Kingfisher (MV).
At the Wildlife Management Area on 8/27, NORTHERN HARRIER, 2 Greater
Yellowlegs (MV).
At Hartstown Marsh on 8/27, Pied-billed Grebe, 2 Common Moorhen, BALD
EAGLE (MV).
Erie County:
On 8/23 at Presque Isle State Park, White-eyed Vireo (JM). Other sightings
this week included BAIRD'S SANDPIPER and YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER, and on
8/27, Killdeer and 5 juvenile Least Sandpiper (JM).
Indiana County:
At Yellow Creek State Park on 8/26, a singing SEDGE WREN (MH with Carol
Guba); on the morning of 8/27, the SEDGE WREN was seen again by Lee
Carnahan and briefly by others (MH). Two BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS that have been
present in Little Yellow Cove for about a week were also still there on
8/27; also that day, 50 flyover HUDSONIAN GODWITS, 4 of which landed on
the point west of the swimming area, WILSON'S PHALAROPE, BLACK-BELLIED
PLOVER (report received by MH); and 4 BLACK TERNS, FORSTER'S TERN (MF).
Four Hudsonian Godwits, one Western Sandpiper, and one Wilson’s Phalarope
(among a multitude of other shorebirds) remained at Yellow Creek State
Park the evening of 8/27 (MH). On 8/28, the WILSON'S PHALAROPE was still
present at Yellow Creek S.P., along with 3 Semi-palmated Plover, 27
Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs, Solitary Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper,
Semi-palmated Sandpiper, 8 Least Sandpiper, 2 BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, 3
Pectoral Sandpiper, STILT SANDPIPER, 2 Wilson’s Snipe, Northern Shoveler,
Blue-winged Teal, Mallard, Wood Duck, 4 Green-winged Teal, and SEDGE WREN
(MH and MF).
Lawrence County:
On 8/27 at Plain Grove, two adult SANDHILL CRANES feeding in a field along
Old Ash Road, and 2 NORTHERN HARRIERS (MV).
Mercer County:
At Shenango River Reservoir on 8/22, it was beginning to attract some
shorebirds due to reduction in water levels. Sightings were 8 Killdeer, 7
Solitary Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs (RS).
At Pennsy Swamp, State Gamelands #284 on 8/25, sightings included Chestnut-
sided Warbler, American Redstart, Common Yellowthroat, Scarlet Tanager
(molting), 6 Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Great-crested Flycatcher, Eastern
Wood Pewee, Rose-breasted Grosbeak (juvenile), 100+ Red-winged Blackbirds,
4 Great Blue Heron, 5 flyover Killdeer, 2 adult and 3 juvenile Common
Moorhen, 5 Green Heron (2 were juvenile), Wood Duck, 10 Cedar Waxwing,
Barn Swallow, Bank Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow (BV).
Somerset County:
At Somerset Lake on 8/27, adult LONG-TAILED JAEGER; also seen were 3 BLACK
TERN, 3 Double-crested Cormorant, Great Egret, 400+ Barn, Tree, Bank,
Rough-winged, and Cliff Swallows, 4 Semi-palmated Sandpiper, Semi-palmated
Plover, Solitary Sandpiper, 3 Least Sandpiper, WESTERN SANDPIPER, 2 Lesser
Yellowlegs, 2 Pectoral Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper, 4 Killdeer (JP, RP).
At the wetlands at the Flight 93 Crash Site on 8/27, 2 juvenile Least
Sandpiper, 5 juvenile WESTERN SANDPIPER, juvenile BAIRD'S SANDPIPER (JP,
RP).
Somerset/Bedford Counties:
At the Allegheny Front Hawkwatch on 8/28, sightings included Osprey, adult
BALD EAGLE, NORTHERN HARRIER, 6 Sharp-shinned Hawk, 6 Broad-winged Hawk, 2
Red-tailed Hawk, 4 Ruby-throated Hummingbird, OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, 33
Cedar Waxwings, Black-throated Green Warbler (MM).
Washington County:
At Canonsburg Lake on 8/21, Killdeer, Pectoral Sandpiper, 2 Solitary
Sandpiper, Hybrid Heron, Great Egret, 4 Blue-winged Teal (RG); on 8/24, 2
Great Egret, HYBRID Great Blue Heron X Great Egret, 4 Solitary Sandpiper,
2 Pectoral Sandpiper, 2 Semi-palmated Sandpiper, 2 Least Sandpiper, Belted
Kingfisher (MV).
At Boone Reservoir on 8/21, 3 Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, 6 Solitary
Sandpiper, 3 Pectoral Sandpiper, 8 Least Sandpiper, juvenile WESTERN
SANDPIPER, Wood Duck, Great Egret (RG).
Westmoreland County:
In Stahlstown on 8/27, Warbling Vireo, Blue-winged Warbler, Black-throated
Green Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Nashville Warbler, and Black-throated
Blue Warbler (LH).
Over Greensburg on 8/27, 23+ Common Nighthawk (SM).
At the Yough River Trail near Cedar Creek Park on 8/28, Yellow-throated
Warbler, Eastern Wood Pewee with fledgling (KSJ).
Venango County:
At Buttermilk Hill on 8/24 and 8/25, OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER (these are the
3rd and 4th sightings since mid August, all about 60 feet from house.
Today's bird had a prominent yellow gape, suggesting it is a bird of the
year.) (JS). A TENNESSEE WARBLER was also seen (JS).
At Two Mile Run Park on 8/25, 2 COMMON RAVEN, 2 Least Sandpiper (JS).
End transcript-
*Pennsylvania
*Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania
*PAWE08.28.05
SOME NOTABLE SPECIES REPORTED:
SANDHILL CRANE
HYBRID HERON
COMMON MOORHEN
AMERICAN WIGEON
NORTHERN SHOVELER
AMERICAN BLACK DUCK
GREEN-WINGED TEAL
NORTHERN PINTAIL
BLUE-WINGED TEAL
HUDSONIAN GODWIT (Indiana County)
WILSON'S PHALAROPE (Indiana County)
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER
SANDERLING
BAIRD'S SANDPIPER
STILT SANDPIPER
WESTERN SANDPIPER
BLACK TERN
FORSTER'S TERN
LONG-TAILED JAEGER (Somerset County)
BALD EAGLE
NORTHERN HARRIER
COMMON RAVEN
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH
SEDGE WREN
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER
YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER
WARBLING VIREO
BREWSTER'S WARBLER
TENNESSEE WARBLER
CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER
NASHVILLE WARBLER
PURPLE FINCH
contributors: Mike Fialkovich, Ross Gallardy (with Ben Coulter and Dave
Wilton), Christie Gregg, Leonard Hess, Margaret Higbee, Mark McConaughy,
Jerry McWilliams, Steve Manns, Jeff and Retta Payne, Kate St. John, Jerry
Stanley, Randy Stringer, Bob VanNewkirk, Mark Vass, Dan Yagusic.
compiler: Amy Taracido
Sunday, 21 August 2005 through Sunday, 28 August 2005
***This report is distributed by e-mail only. If you would like to receive
western PA RBAs, contact meadowlark4@verizon.net
Transcript-
Allegheny County:
In Etna on 8/24, adult flyover BALD EAGLE, 143 migrating Common
Nighthawks, 100 feeding Chimney Swifts, 5 Great Blue Herons, Green Heron,
Wood Duck, 2 Belted Kingfishers, 3 Spotted Sandpipers, 4 Killdeer, 14
Cedar Waxwings (DY). On 8/25 from 7:20pm until 8:25pm, 843 Common
Nighthawks flying at 75-100 feet or higher, in a S/SE direction; 200+
Chimney Swifts, 2+ Tree Swallow, 60-70 flyover duck species; on the
evening of 8/26, 582 Common Nighthawks, 86 Chimney Swifts; on 8/27, 6
Great Blue Heron, Wood Duck, juvenile Sharp-shinned Hawk, 3 Spotted
Sandpiper, 2 Least Sandpiper, 6 Killdeer, 4 Northern Mockingbird (DY).
At Bald Knob pond on 8/24, 2 Greater Yellowlegs, 2 Lesser Yellowlegs, 3
Pectoral Sandpiper, 3 Semi-palmated Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper, Semi-
palmated Plover; on 8/26, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Purple Finch, Solitary
Sandpiper, 2 Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, 4 Pectoral Sandpiper,
3 Semi-palmated Sandpiper, Semi-palmated Plover, 2 Spotted Sandpiper, Ring-
necked Duck, Northern Harrier (MV).
In Greenfield on the morning of 8/25, Common Nighthawk flying north toward
Schenley Park (KSJ).
On 8/25 in East Liberty, Eastern Phoebe, WILLOW FLYCATCHER, American
Redstart (DY).
Armstrong County:
On 8/27 near Elderton, sightings included 14 species of warblers plus a
BREWSTER'S WARBLER, Black-billed Cuckoo, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, and YELLOW-
BELLIED FLYCATCHER (MH).
Beaver County:
On the evening of 8/25 at Little Blue, Blue-winged Teal, 4 Lesser
Yellowlegs, 4 BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, Pectoral Sandpiper, 3 Solitary Sandpiper,
4 Semi-palmated Sandpiper, 3 Least Sandpiper, 2 Spotted Sandpiper; on the
evening of 8/26, 2 NORTHERN PINTAIL, Semi-palmated Plover, flock of ~17
Semi-palmated Sandpipers; on 8/28, SANDERLING, Pectoral Sandpiper,
Solitary Sandpiper, 2 Spotted Sandpiper, 2 Osprey, Double-crested
Cormorant, Green-winged Teal (MV).
In Darlington on 8/26 just before a game at Northwestern Stadium, 2 flocks
totaling 70+ nighthawks circled over the stadium area (CG).
At the Industry nest site on 8/28, 2 adult and 2 juvenile Osprey (MV).
Crawford County:
On 8/27 at Miller's Ponds, American Wigeon, Northern Shoveler, Northern
Pintail, Blue-winged Teal, Green-winged Teal, American Black Duck, 5
Greater Yellowlegs, 2 Short-billed Dowitcher, 4 Wilson's Snipe, Green
Heron, Belted Kingfisher (MV).
On 8/27 at the Spillway, Caspian Tern (MV).
On 8/27 at the Fish Hatchery, 2 Short-billed Dowitcher, Semi-palmated
Plover, 2 Belted Kingfisher (MV).
At the Wildlife Management Area on 8/27, NORTHERN HARRIER, 2 Greater
Yellowlegs (MV).
At Hartstown Marsh on 8/27, Pied-billed Grebe, 2 Common Moorhen, BALD
EAGLE (MV).
Erie County:
On 8/23 at Presque Isle State Park, White-eyed Vireo (JM). Other sightings
this week included BAIRD'S SANDPIPER and YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER, and on
8/27, Killdeer and 5 juvenile Least Sandpiper (JM).
Indiana County:
At Yellow Creek State Park on 8/26, a singing SEDGE WREN (MH with Carol
Guba); on the morning of 8/27, the SEDGE WREN was seen again by Lee
Carnahan and briefly by others (MH). Two BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS that have been
present in Little Yellow Cove for about a week were also still there on
8/27; also that day, 50 flyover HUDSONIAN GODWITS, 4 of which landed on
the point west of the swimming area, WILSON'S PHALAROPE, BLACK-BELLIED
PLOVER (report received by MH); and 4 BLACK TERNS, FORSTER'S TERN (MF).
Four Hudsonian Godwits, one Western Sandpiper, and one Wilson’s Phalarope
(among a multitude of other shorebirds) remained at Yellow Creek State
Park the evening of 8/27 (MH). On 8/28, the WILSON'S PHALAROPE was still
present at Yellow Creek S.P., along with 3 Semi-palmated Plover, 27
Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs, Solitary Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper,
Semi-palmated Sandpiper, 8 Least Sandpiper, 2 BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, 3
Pectoral Sandpiper, STILT SANDPIPER, 2 Wilson’s Snipe, Northern Shoveler,
Blue-winged Teal, Mallard, Wood Duck, 4 Green-winged Teal, and SEDGE WREN
(MH and MF).
Lawrence County:
On 8/27 at Plain Grove, two adult SANDHILL CRANES feeding in a field along
Old Ash Road, and 2 NORTHERN HARRIERS (MV).
Mercer County:
At Shenango River Reservoir on 8/22, it was beginning to attract some
shorebirds due to reduction in water levels. Sightings were 8 Killdeer, 7
Solitary Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs (RS).
At Pennsy Swamp, State Gamelands #284 on 8/25, sightings included Chestnut-
sided Warbler, American Redstart, Common Yellowthroat, Scarlet Tanager
(molting), 6 Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Great-crested Flycatcher, Eastern
Wood Pewee, Rose-breasted Grosbeak (juvenile), 100+ Red-winged Blackbirds,
4 Great Blue Heron, 5 flyover Killdeer, 2 adult and 3 juvenile Common
Moorhen, 5 Green Heron (2 were juvenile), Wood Duck, 10 Cedar Waxwing,
Barn Swallow, Bank Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow (BV).
Somerset County:
At Somerset Lake on 8/27, adult LONG-TAILED JAEGER; also seen were 3 BLACK
TERN, 3 Double-crested Cormorant, Great Egret, 400+ Barn, Tree, Bank,
Rough-winged, and Cliff Swallows, 4 Semi-palmated Sandpiper, Semi-palmated
Plover, Solitary Sandpiper, 3 Least Sandpiper, WESTERN SANDPIPER, 2 Lesser
Yellowlegs, 2 Pectoral Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper, 4 Killdeer (JP, RP).
At the wetlands at the Flight 93 Crash Site on 8/27, 2 juvenile Least
Sandpiper, 5 juvenile WESTERN SANDPIPER, juvenile BAIRD'S SANDPIPER (JP,
RP).
Somerset/Bedford Counties:
At the Allegheny Front Hawkwatch on 8/28, sightings included Osprey, adult
BALD EAGLE, NORTHERN HARRIER, 6 Sharp-shinned Hawk, 6 Broad-winged Hawk, 2
Red-tailed Hawk, 4 Ruby-throated Hummingbird, OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, 33
Cedar Waxwings, Black-throated Green Warbler (MM).
Washington County:
At Canonsburg Lake on 8/21, Killdeer, Pectoral Sandpiper, 2 Solitary
Sandpiper, Hybrid Heron, Great Egret, 4 Blue-winged Teal (RG); on 8/24, 2
Great Egret, HYBRID Great Blue Heron X Great Egret, 4 Solitary Sandpiper,
2 Pectoral Sandpiper, 2 Semi-palmated Sandpiper, 2 Least Sandpiper, Belted
Kingfisher (MV).
At Boone Reservoir on 8/21, 3 Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, 6 Solitary
Sandpiper, 3 Pectoral Sandpiper, 8 Least Sandpiper, juvenile WESTERN
SANDPIPER, Wood Duck, Great Egret (RG).
Westmoreland County:
In Stahlstown on 8/27, Warbling Vireo, Blue-winged Warbler, Black-throated
Green Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Nashville Warbler, and Black-throated
Blue Warbler (LH).
Over Greensburg on 8/27, 23+ Common Nighthawk (SM).
At the Yough River Trail near Cedar Creek Park on 8/28, Yellow-throated
Warbler, Eastern Wood Pewee with fledgling (KSJ).
Venango County:
At Buttermilk Hill on 8/24 and 8/25, OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER (these are the
3rd and 4th sightings since mid August, all about 60 feet from house.
Today's bird had a prominent yellow gape, suggesting it is a bird of the
year.) (JS). A TENNESSEE WARBLER was also seen (JS).
At Two Mile Run Park on 8/25, 2 COMMON RAVEN, 2 Least Sandpiper (JS).
End transcript-