We enjoyed a chilly walk at Millbrook Marsh this morning and Jon and I were pleased to see new faces join us for the program. Highlights included a good diversity of birds and of course an adult Bald Eagle is always appreciated! Tuesday walks at Millbrook continue through May 6th.
Date: 4/1/25 9:14 am From: Jon Kauffman <jvk5019...> Subject: Barn Owl Webcam
Hello all,
If you have not been keeping up with media posts from Shaver's Creek Environmental Center, the American Barn Owl nestcam is still operating and keeping an eye on a female owl currently incubating 7 eggs. You can view the camera via link below.
Currently barn owl breeding activity have been noted throughout many of the sites that we have been monitoring in Centre, Mifflin, and Huntingdon counties. One site first laid their egg on March 3rd and is predicted to have hatchlings sometime next week! We observed an incredible nesting season in 2024, with success in the spring as well as the fall and hope to mirror that success this season.
SE winds for the start of the count at 6-11kph. By 09:00 the winds had
shifted to the NW at 6-11kph for the remainder of the day’s effort.
Visibility was superb in the morning to 32km after the rains late
yesterday. By 14:00 after a few brief periods of drizzle there was enough
moisture in Stone Valley that visibility was limited to Warrior’s Ridge.
Mostly cloudy skies for the entire count with a few brief periods of bright
sunshine breaking through. Low temperature of 16C at 09:00 and a high of
19C by 13:00. The temperature fluctuated quite a bit in the morning as the
cold air mixed in from the N, but occasionally the wind would lull and warm
air mixed in from Stone Valley. For a day that was forecast to have rain
and significant thunderstorm potential it was surprising to only see light
drizzle develop.
Raptor Notes
TV 5 (250) OS 1 (14) BE 1 (66) NH 1 (14) SS 1 (66) RT 3 (186) GE 1 (137) AK
1 (22) UB 1 (14) UR 1 (17) Total 16 (859)
GE Sub 12:07
I knew it would be a slow day once the winds shifted to the NW early in the
count. Most of the flight occurred early in the day as migrants made use of
the favorable winds and warmer temperatures. A grey ghost for the
discerning hawk watcher appeared just N of the cut briefly as it glided
north along Tussey Mountain. The straggler GE’s are always a surprise and
in many ways more exciting than during peak migration in that you never
know when one may appear. The light on this sub adult was really nice as it
was very low on Leading Ridge soaring up to the cut. It was nice tracking
the eagle in a spotting scope and getting good looks at the dark central
tail feathers that bisect the white band. Watching it move N over Stone
Valley made for a rewarding end to the month of March.
The Leading Ridge RTHA was on territory at 10:41. At 11:06 an adult RTHA
flew S along the ridge with an immature in tow. The immature has some
feathers molting in its tail which helps distinguish it from other
migrating immature RT’s. At 13:17 there was a BE skirmish over Stone
Valley. I also noted a OSPR taking repeated swipes at an adult BE low on
Leading Ridge in the afternoon. The OSPR was doing enough damage the BE had
to barrel roll twice to flash its talons upwards at its attacker.
Non-raptor Notes
There are now to FISP singing in the cut. One has moved uphill closer to
the OP and I appreciate its serenade. Woodpeckers and sapsucker were all
active again. AMCR were the corvid again to be hauling bread stuffs over
the ridge from N to S with a partner in tow. The GCKI have been foraging
with the BCCH near the OP. The GCKI are getting a little worked up and have
exploded into their song as well. I turned around to see one foraging low
in the bushes behind me and enjoyed seeing its beautiful golden crown. Such
delicate little creatures.
Mourning Dove 4
Killdeer 1
Black Vulture 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 1
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 5
Common Raven 1
Black-capped Chickadee 4
Tufted Titmouse 1
Tree Swallow 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
Eastern Bluebird 2
American Pipit 1
House Finch 5
Pine Siskin 4
American Goldfinch 20
Field Sparrow 2
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 11
Song Sparrow 1
Red-winged Blackbird 3
Brown-headed Cowbird 6
Common Grackle 4
Visitors
None
Hikers 2
Next Day Forecast
Sunny, with a high near 52. Northwest wind around 11 mph, with gusts as
high as 23 mph.
Light SE winds for most of the count at 6-11kph. By noon they had picked up
to 12-19kph and that also happened to be the busiest hour of the flight.
Visibility was good for most of the count at 12km. The cloud cover came and
went throughout the count and it was quite warm when the sun peaked out.
Low temperature of 17C at 09:00 and a high of 27C at noon. A light drizzle
developed in the 13:00 hour and continued off and on until the close of the
count at 17:00.
Raptor Notes
TV 14 (245) OS 3 (13) BE 4 (65) NH 2 (24) SS 12 (65) CH 4 (24) RS 1 (36) RT
11 (183) AK 3 (21) UR 3 (16) Total 57 (843)
The first RSHA in over a week was spotted early in the count. The flight
then picked up in the 10:00 hour with a total of 13 raptors coming through.
The diversity in the days flight made for an exciting day for the
discerning raptor enthusiast. The 11:00 hour saw a good pulse of SSHA with
a total of 6 moving through. Several seemed to be flying straight down
Tussey Mountain along the ridge then banking out N of the tower. The noon
hour had several RTHA’s and the AK’s started to move through on the flight
line used by the sharpies in the prior hour. By 13:00 when the skies became
mostly cloudy, the temperature dropped and a drizzle started marked a halt
to the days flight.
The resident COHA was again out performing its flight display over Stone
Valley. It was in the vicinity of the powerline cut on the S side of the
ridge.
Non-raptor Notes
The RUGR was behind the rock wall at the old OP. Something may have taken a
swipe at it as I hear it flush first and didn’t see anything. I reconciled
it to rocks tipping over. Then I heard the “poik” call and got on it
briefly up in a tree. It then flew off the N side of the ridge. The
woodpeckers and sapsucker were quite active today. All were rocking out
cueing up for their drum solos. I also thought I saw a RTHU, but checked
eBird and see there has been none spotted this far north yet. It could have
been an insect as I noticed some big moths flying up through the cut on
these S winds. I had been looking at a distant raptor over the tree lines
and noticed something blurred out in the foreground. The flight style
seemed like a hummer taking off from a branch, but it may have been an
insect in the foreground.
Ruffed Grouse 1
Mourning Dove 6
Great Blue Heron 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 3
Common Raven 6
Black-capped Chickadee 5
Tree Swallow 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Eastern Bluebird 2
American Robin 7
House Finch 5
Purple Finch 1
American Goldfinch 3
Field Sparrow 1
Red-winged Blackbird 1
Brown-headed Cowbird 6
Common Grackle 3
Visitors
Coty was out in the afternoon and was kind enough to bring some healthy
snacks to share. She had seen a FOSP on the walk in.
Constanza Ehrenhaus
8 hikers
Next Day Forecast
Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could be severe.
High near 73. Southwest wind 6 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.
Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth
of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Unseasonably warm weather on Tussey Mountain. Fairly strong NW winds to
start the count at 12-19kph. The winds peaked at 20-28kph at 14:00.
Visibility was good for the entire count to Warrior’s Ridge. Mostly cloudy
skies for most of the count, although the sun did peak out a few times
around 14:00. Low temperature of 18C at 09:00 and a high of 25C at 14:00.
There was very light drizzle between 09:00 – 11:00. Never enough to don
raingear.
Raptor Notes
TV (34) OS 1 (10) BE 3 (61) RT 4 (172) GE 2 (136) AK 1 (18) UR 2 (13) Total
50 (786)
GE A 12:55, A 17:07
The flight got underway in the 10:00 hour with 15 TUVU migrating up Stone
Valley or high above Tussey Mountain. The 11:00 hour yielded some nice
diversity including the first GE of the day. The flight continued steadily
with TUVU leading the days flight. The last migrant of the day was another
GE, which I was happy Jacqui got to see.
All of the resident raptors were active today. The adult COHA was the first
detected at 10:12 flying S along Tussey over the cut. Shortly after it was
detected flying S along the powerline cut into Stone Valley. It briefly
performed its display flight before dropping down into the forest. At 12:14
it was again in the cut to the N of the OP performing its flight display
and doing a modified roller coaster display. I have never observed the COHA
doing a roller coaster display before so that was special. There were
several BAEA skirmishes over Stone Valley for good measure.
Non-raptor Notes
The warm winds brought new arrivals to the Tussey Mountain environs. There
were many songbirds moving out over Stone Valley that went unidentified. I
was surprised to see a GBHE and BEKI both fly over the mountain early in
the count. Shortly after I picked up what I thought to be a small falcon.
As they approached more closely, I realized I had two swifts. I also
enjoyed the FOSP visit just below me in the brambles. I was confused by the
call note most of the morning, but was able to finally get eyes on the
bird. No offense to their western counterparts, but the eastern Red variety
is a sharp bird.
duck sp. 10
Chimney Swift 2 y
Double-crested Cormorant 8
Great Blue Heron 1
Black Vulture 1
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1
Eastern Phoebe 1
American Crow 2
Common Raven 2
Black-capped Chickadee 2
Tree Swallow 2
Golden-crowned Kinglet 2
Eastern Bluebird 1
American Robin 2
House Finch 4
American Goldfinch 5
Fox Sparrow (Red) 2
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 5
Brown-headed Cowbird 12
Common Grackle 2
Visitors
Jacqui McKee
34 hikers
Next Day Forecast
Showers likely, mainly after 3pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70. Calm
wind becoming south 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is
60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Date: 3/29/25 2:01 pm From: Constanza Ehrenhaus <cxe1169...> Subject: Re: SCBIRDCL Digest - 27 Mar 2025 to 28 Mar 2025 (#2025-86)
Sorry about that, Barara, I made a mistake. I meant to say Tuesday mornings
the walks are at Millbrook Marsh.
Arboretum would be on Thursday.
On Sat, Mar 29, 2025 at 10:17 AM Constanza Ehrenhaus <cxe1169...>
wrote:
> Hi Barbara,
> Tuesday mornings we have our Arboretum walks at 8AM. The webpage is
> correct.
> You can also reference our Facebook page for upcoming events.
> https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fevents%2F9622956634423042%2F9622956657756373%2F&data=05%7C02%<7CSCBIRDCL...>%7C73477047ff6745d7e4d808dd6f04ddb3%7C7cf48d453ddb4389a9c1c115526eb52e%7C0%7C0%7C638788788867582760%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=AB81nZSZ9UXQQ8K8wIRXgxx%2BMUpSezp6jotffYpBF2I%3D&reserved=0 >
> On Sat, Mar 29, 2025 at 9:32 AM Barbara Knox <
> <0000df92bf258bd5-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>
>> Hi
>> The web page states that bird walk this coming Tuesday is at Millbrook
>> Marsh but this week's Community Calendar at the Gazette says it's at Spring
>> Creek Park. Which is it?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Barbara
>>
>> > On 03/29/2025 12:00 AM EDT SCBIRDCL automatic digest system <
>> <listserv...> wrote:
>> >
>> >
>> > There are 2 messages totaling 3420 lines in this issue.
>> >
>> > Topics of the day:
>> >
>> > 1. another bird walk, Coburn Park, April 5 at 10 am
>> > 2. Tussey Mountain Daily Summary 3/28
>> >
>> > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>> >
>> > Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2025 11:12:07 +0000
>> > From: "Gyekis, Joseph Peter" <jpg186...>
>> > Subject: another bird walk, Coburn Park, April 5 at 10 am
>> >
>> > [cid:e6fb78d8-d033-4f4b-9357-8761ecc211f7]
>> >
>> > ------------------------------
>> >
>> > Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2025 21:26:15 -0400
>> > From: B Richardson <poecile.gambeli...>
>> > Subject: Tussey Mountain Daily Summary 3/28
>> >
>> > Official Counter
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Nick Bolgiano
>> >
>> > AB
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Total observation time
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > 8 hrs (288.75)
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Observers
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Jon Kauffman
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Weather
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > SSW winds for the entire count at 12-19kph at 10:00. Visibility was good
>> > for the entire count. Mostly cloudy skies for the entire survey and a
>> few
>> > brief periods of rain. By the end of the count at 17:00 a rain had
>> > developed over Tussey Mountain. Low temperature of 6C at 09:00 and a
>> high
>> > of 15C by noon.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Raptor Notes
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > TV 7 (197) OS 2 (9) SS 2 (50) RT 2 (168) ML 1 (2) Total 14 (736)
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > I was surprised the flight was as slow as it was considering the first S
>> > winds in several days. I was lucky to pick up the second MERL of the
>> season
>> > way out on Leading Ridge soaring. It then cut out via powered flight
>> > crossing Tussey Mountain in a matter of seconds.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Two adult BE’s were dogfighting over Leading Ridge at 12:46. At 13:05
>> two
>> > adults seemed to appear out of nowhere from the N of the OP to escort
>> > another local adult BE back S along Tussey Mountain. The interloper
>> didn’t
>> > want anything to do with these two and retreated in a hurry S of Leading
>> > Ridge.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Non-raptor Notes
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > 4 COLO migrated through the gap at 11:05. AMCR were the corvid of the
>> day
>> > flying through the cut from N to S with a tasty morsel in their beak. An
>> > accomplice was in tow. The morsel didn’t appear to be baked goods.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > duck sp. 4
>> > Common Loon 4
>> > Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
>> > Hairy Woodpecker 1
>> > Pileated Woodpecker 1
>> > Eastern Phoebe 1
>> > American Crow 4
>> > Black-capped Chickadee 1
>> > Tree Swallow 2
>> > House Finch 2
>> > American Goldfinch 2
>> > Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 5
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Visitors
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Jon Kauffman stopped in during the morning hours and picked us out a
>> OSPR
>> > and the first migrating COLO of the season.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Jon Kauffman
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > 6 hikers
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Next Day Forecast
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. West wind 9 to 15 mph, with gusts as
>> > high as 31 mph.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > *Tussey Mountain Hawk Watch*
>> >
>> > *State College, Pennsylvania, USA*
>> >
>> > *Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 28, 2025*
>> >
>> > *-------------------------------------------------------------------*
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > *Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total*
>> >
>> > *------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------*
>> >
>> > *Black Vulture 0 0 0*
>> >
>> > *Turkey Vulture 7 132 197*
>> >
>> > *Osprey 2 9 9*
>> >
>> > *Bald Eagle 0 42 58*
>> >
>> > *Northern Harrier 0 10 11*
>> >
>> > *Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 47 50*
>> >
>> > *Cooper's Hawk 0 18 20*
>> >
>> > *American Goshawk 0 0 0*
>> >
>> > *Red-shouldered Hawk 0 25 35*
>> >
>> > *Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0*
>> >
>> > *Red-tailed Hawk 2 151 168*
>> >
>> > *Rough-legged Hawk 0 1 1*
>> >
>> > *Golden Eagle 0 93 134*
>> >
>> > *American Kestrel 0 17 17*
>> >
>> > *Merlin 1 1 2*
>> >
>> > *Peregrine Falcon 0 3 4*
>> >
>> > *Unknown Accipitrine 0 3 3*
>> >
>> > *Unknown Buteo 0 11 13*
>> >
>> > *Unknown Falcon 0 0 0*
>> >
>> > *Unknown Eagle 0 1 3*
>> >
>> > *Unknown Raptor 0 9 11*
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > *Total: 14 573 736*
>> >
>> > *----------------------------------------------------------------------*
>> >
>> > ------------------------------
>> >
>> > End of SCBIRDCL Digest - 27 Mar 2025 to 28 Mar 2025 (#2025-86)
>> > **************************************************************
>>
>
>
> --
> Constanza Ehrenhaus.
>
>
Date: 3/29/25 9:14 am From: Gyekis, Joseph Peter <jpg186...> Subject: Re: SCBIRDCL Digest - 27 Mar 2025 to 28 Mar 2025 (#2025-86)
Good question Barbara!
My email from Doug when we were planning said actually at Millbrook, but last year we did the walks at Spring Creek Park (under leadership of Millbrook folks), so I could see it being either way. I can ask Mandy on Monday to be sure.
(Arboretum walks are on Thursday mornings at 8 throughout April.)
________________________________
From: State College (PA) Bird Club <SCBIRDCL...> on behalf of Constanza Ehrenhaus <cxe1169...>
Sent: Saturday, March 29, 2025 10:17:55 AM
To: <SCBIRDCL...> <SCBIRDCL...>
Subject: Re: SCBIRDCL Digest - 27 Mar 2025 to 28 Mar 2025 (#2025-86)
On Sat, Mar 29, 2025 at 9:32 AM Barbara Knox <0000df92bf258bd5-dmarc-request...><mailto:<0000df92bf258bd5-dmarc-request...>> wrote:
Hi
The web page states that bird walk this coming Tuesday is at Millbrook Marsh but this week's Community Calendar at the Gazette says it's at Spring Creek Park. Which is it?
Thanks,
Barbara
> On 03/29/2025 12:00 AM EDT SCBIRDCL automatic digest system <listserv...><mailto:<listserv...>> wrote:
>
>
> There are 2 messages totaling 3420 lines in this issue.
>
> Topics of the day:
>
> 1. another bird walk, Coburn Park, April 5 at 10 am
> 2. Tussey Mountain Daily Summary 3/28
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2025 11:12:07 +0000
> From: "Gyekis, Joseph Peter" <jpg186...><mailto:<jpg186...>> > Subject: another bird walk, Coburn Park, April 5 at 10 am
>
> [cid:e6fb78d8-d033-4f4b-9357-8761ecc211f7]
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2025 21:26:15 -0400
> From: B Richardson <poecile.gambeli...><mailto:<poecile.gambeli...>> > Subject: Tussey Mountain Daily Summary 3/28
>
> Official Counter
>
>
>
> Nick Bolgiano
>
> AB
>
>
>
> Total observation time
>
>
>
> 8 hrs (288.75)
>
>
>
> Observers
>
>
>
> Jon Kauffman
>
>
>
> Weather
>
>
>
> SSW winds for the entire count at 12-19kph at 10:00. Visibility was good
> for the entire count. Mostly cloudy skies for the entire survey and a few
> brief periods of rain. By the end of the count at 17:00 a rain had
> developed over Tussey Mountain. Low temperature of 6C at 09:00 and a high
> of 15C by noon.
>
>
>
> Raptor Notes
>
>
>
> TV 7 (197) OS 2 (9) SS 2 (50) RT 2 (168) ML 1 (2) Total 14 (736)
>
>
>
> I was surprised the flight was as slow as it was considering the first S
> winds in several days. I was lucky to pick up the second MERL of the season
> way out on Leading Ridge soaring. It then cut out via powered flight
> crossing Tussey Mountain in a matter of seconds.
>
>
>
> Two adult BE’s were dogfighting over Leading Ridge at 12:46. At 13:05 two
> adults seemed to appear out of nowhere from the N of the OP to escort
> another local adult BE back S along Tussey Mountain. The interloper didn’t
> want anything to do with these two and retreated in a hurry S of Leading
> Ridge.
>
>
>
> Non-raptor Notes
>
>
>
> 4 COLO migrated through the gap at 11:05. AMCR were the corvid of the day
> flying through the cut from N to S with a tasty morsel in their beak. An
> accomplice was in tow. The morsel didn’t appear to be baked goods.
>
>
>
> duck sp. 4
> Common Loon 4
> Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
> Hairy Woodpecker 1
> Pileated Woodpecker 1
> Eastern Phoebe 1
> American Crow 4
> Black-capped Chickadee 1
> Tree Swallow 2
> House Finch 2
> American Goldfinch 2
> Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 5
>
>
>
> Visitors
>
>
>
> Jon Kauffman stopped in during the morning hours and picked us out a OSPR
> and the first migrating COLO of the season.
>
>
>
> Jon Kauffman
>
>
>
> 6 hikers
>
>
>
> Next Day Forecast
>
>
>
> Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. West wind 9 to 15 mph, with gusts as
> high as 31 mph.
>
>
>
> *Tussey Mountain Hawk Watch*
>
> *State College, Pennsylvania, USA*
>
> *Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 28, 2025*
>
> *-------------------------------------------------------------------*
>
>
>
> *Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total*
>
> *------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------*
>
> *Black Vulture 0 0 0*
>
> *Turkey Vulture 7 132 197*
>
> *Osprey 2 9 9*
>
> *Bald Eagle 0 42 58*
>
> *Northern Harrier 0 10 11*
>
> *Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 47 50*
>
> *Cooper's Hawk 0 18 20*
>
> *American Goshawk 0 0 0*
>
> *Red-shouldered Hawk 0 25 35*
>
> *Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0*
>
> *Red-tailed Hawk 2 151 168*
>
> *Rough-legged Hawk 0 1 1*
>
> *Golden Eagle 0 93 134*
>
> *American Kestrel 0 17 17*
>
> *Merlin 1 1 2*
>
> *Peregrine Falcon 0 3 4*
>
> *Unknown Accipitrine 0 3 3*
>
> *Unknown Buteo 0 11 13*
>
> *Unknown Falcon 0 0 0*
>
> *Unknown Eagle 0 1 3*
>
> *Unknown Raptor 0 9 11*
>
>
>
> *Total: 14 573 736*
>
> *----------------------------------------------------------------------*
>
> ------------------------------
>
> End of SCBIRDCL Digest - 27 Mar 2025 to 28 Mar 2025 (#2025-86)
> **************************************************************
On Sat, Mar 29, 2025 at 9:32 AM Barbara Knox <
<0000df92bf258bd5-dmarc-request...> wrote:
> Hi
> The web page states that bird walk this coming Tuesday is at Millbrook
> Marsh but this week's Community Calendar at the Gazette says it's at Spring
> Creek Park. Which is it?
>
> Thanks,
> Barbara
>
> > On 03/29/2025 12:00 AM EDT SCBIRDCL automatic digest system <
> <listserv...> wrote:
> >
> >
> > There are 2 messages totaling 3420 lines in this issue.
> >
> > Topics of the day:
> >
> > 1. another bird walk, Coburn Park, April 5 at 10 am
> > 2. Tussey Mountain Daily Summary 3/28
> >
> > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2025 11:12:07 +0000
> > From: "Gyekis, Joseph Peter" <jpg186...>
> > Subject: another bird walk, Coburn Park, April 5 at 10 am
> >
> > [cid:e6fb78d8-d033-4f4b-9357-8761ecc211f7]
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2025 21:26:15 -0400
> > From: B Richardson <poecile.gambeli...>
> > Subject: Tussey Mountain Daily Summary 3/28
> >
> > Official Counter
> >
> >
> >
> > Nick Bolgiano
> >
> > AB
> >
> >
> >
> > Total observation time
> >
> >
> >
> > 8 hrs (288.75)
> >
> >
> >
> > Observers
> >
> >
> >
> > Jon Kauffman
> >
> >
> >
> > Weather
> >
> >
> >
> > SSW winds for the entire count at 12-19kph at 10:00. Visibility was good
> > for the entire count. Mostly cloudy skies for the entire survey and a few
> > brief periods of rain. By the end of the count at 17:00 a rain had
> > developed over Tussey Mountain. Low temperature of 6C at 09:00 and a high
> > of 15C by noon.
> >
> >
> >
> > Raptor Notes
> >
> >
> >
> > TV 7 (197) OS 2 (9) SS 2 (50) RT 2 (168) ML 1 (2) Total 14 (736)
> >
> >
> >
> > I was surprised the flight was as slow as it was considering the first S
> > winds in several days. I was lucky to pick up the second MERL of the
> season
> > way out on Leading Ridge soaring. It then cut out via powered flight
> > crossing Tussey Mountain in a matter of seconds.
> >
> >
> >
> > Two adult BE’s were dogfighting over Leading Ridge at 12:46. At 13:05 two
> > adults seemed to appear out of nowhere from the N of the OP to escort
> > another local adult BE back S along Tussey Mountain. The interloper
> didn’t
> > want anything to do with these two and retreated in a hurry S of Leading
> > Ridge.
> >
> >
> >
> > Non-raptor Notes
> >
> >
> >
> > 4 COLO migrated through the gap at 11:05. AMCR were the corvid of the day
> > flying through the cut from N to S with a tasty morsel in their beak. An
> > accomplice was in tow. The morsel didn’t appear to be baked goods.
> >
> >
> >
> > duck sp. 4
> > Common Loon 4
> > Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
> > Hairy Woodpecker 1
> > Pileated Woodpecker 1
> > Eastern Phoebe 1
> > American Crow 4
> > Black-capped Chickadee 1
> > Tree Swallow 2
> > House Finch 2
> > American Goldfinch 2
> > Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 5
> >
> >
> >
> > Visitors
> >
> >
> >
> > Jon Kauffman stopped in during the morning hours and picked us out a OSPR
> > and the first migrating COLO of the season.
> >
> >
> >
> > Jon Kauffman
> >
> >
> >
> > 6 hikers
> >
> >
> >
> > Next Day Forecast
> >
> >
> >
> > Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. West wind 9 to 15 mph, with gusts as
> > high as 31 mph.
> >
> >
> >
> > *Tussey Mountain Hawk Watch*
> >
> > *State College, Pennsylvania, USA*
> >
> > *Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 28, 2025*
> >
> > *-------------------------------------------------------------------*
> >
> >
> >
> > *Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total*
> >
> > *------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------*
> >
> > *Black Vulture 0 0 0*
> >
> > *Turkey Vulture 7 132 197*
> >
> > *Osprey 2 9 9*
> >
> > *Bald Eagle 0 42 58*
> >
> > *Northern Harrier 0 10 11*
> >
> > *Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 47 50*
> >
> > *Cooper's Hawk 0 18 20*
> >
> > *American Goshawk 0 0 0*
> >
> > *Red-shouldered Hawk 0 25 35*
> >
> > *Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0*
> >
> > *Red-tailed Hawk 2 151 168*
> >
> > *Rough-legged Hawk 0 1 1*
> >
> > *Golden Eagle 0 93 134*
> >
> > *American Kestrel 0 17 17*
> >
> > *Merlin 1 1 2*
> >
> > *Peregrine Falcon 0 3 4*
> >
> > *Unknown Accipitrine 0 3 3*
> >
> > *Unknown Buteo 0 11 13*
> >
> > *Unknown Falcon 0 0 0*
> >
> > *Unknown Eagle 0 1 3*
> >
> > *Unknown Raptor 0 9 11*
> >
> >
> >
> > *Total: 14 573 736*
> >
> > *----------------------------------------------------------------------*
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > End of SCBIRDCL Digest - 27 Mar 2025 to 28 Mar 2025 (#2025-86)
> > **************************************************************
>
Date: 3/29/25 6:32 am From: Barbara Knox <0000df92bf258bd5-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: SCBIRDCL Digest - 27 Mar 2025 to 28 Mar 2025 (#2025-86)
Hi The web page states that bird walk this coming Tuesday is at Millbrook Marsh but this week's Community Calendar at the Gazette says it's at Spring Creek Park. Which is it?
Thanks, Barbara
> On 03/29/2025 12:00 AM EDT SCBIRDCL automatic digest system <listserv...> wrote: > > > There are 2 messages totaling 3420 lines in this issue. > > Topics of the day: > > 1. another bird walk, Coburn Park, April 5 at 10 am > 2. Tussey Mountain Daily Summary 3/28 > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2025 11:12:07 +0000 > From: "Gyekis, Joseph Peter" <jpg186...> > Subject: another bird walk, Coburn Park, April 5 at 10 am > > [cid:e6fb78d8-d033-4f4b-9357-8761ecc211f7] > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2025 21:26:15 -0400 > From: B Richardson <poecile.gambeli...> > Subject: Tussey Mountain Daily Summary 3/28 > > Official Counter > > > > Nick Bolgiano > > AB > > > > Total observation time > > > > 8 hrs (288.75) > > > > Observers > > > > Jon Kauffman > > > > Weather > > > > SSW winds for the entire count at 12-19kph at 10:00. Visibility was good > for the entire count. Mostly cloudy skies for the entire survey and a few > brief periods of rain. By the end of the count at 17:00 a rain had > developed over Tussey Mountain. Low temperature of 6C at 09:00 and a high > of 15C by noon. > > > > Raptor Notes > > > > TV 7 (197) OS 2 (9) SS 2 (50) RT 2 (168) ML 1 (2) Total 14 (736) > > > > I was surprised the flight was as slow as it was considering the first S > winds in several days. I was lucky to pick up the second MERL of the season > way out on Leading Ridge soaring. It then cut out via powered flight > crossing Tussey Mountain in a matter of seconds. > > > > Two adult BE’s were dogfighting over Leading Ridge at 12:46. At 13:05 two > adults seemed to appear out of nowhere from the N of the OP to escort > another local adult BE back S along Tussey Mountain. The interloper didn’t > want anything to do with these two and retreated in a hurry S of Leading > Ridge. > > > > Non-raptor Notes > > > > 4 COLO migrated through the gap at 11:05. AMCR were the corvid of the day > flying through the cut from N to S with a tasty morsel in their beak. An > accomplice was in tow. The morsel didn’t appear to be baked goods. > > > > duck sp. 4 > Common Loon 4 > Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 > Hairy Woodpecker 1 > Pileated Woodpecker 1 > Eastern Phoebe 1 > American Crow 4 > Black-capped Chickadee 1 > Tree Swallow 2 > House Finch 2 > American Goldfinch 2 > Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 5 > > > > Visitors > > > > Jon Kauffman stopped in during the morning hours and picked us out a OSPR > and the first migrating COLO of the season. > > > > Jon Kauffman > > > > 6 hikers > > > > Next Day Forecast > > > > Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. West wind 9 to 15 mph, with gusts as > high as 31 mph. > > > > *Tussey Mountain Hawk Watch* > > *State College, Pennsylvania, USA* > > *Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 28, 2025* > > *-------------------------------------------------------------------* > > > > *Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total* > > *------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------* > > *Black Vulture 0 0 0* > > *Turkey Vulture 7 132 197* > > *Osprey 2 9 9* > > *Bald Eagle 0 42 58* > > *Northern Harrier 0 10 11* > > *Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 47 50* > > *Cooper's Hawk 0 18 20* > > *American Goshawk 0 0 0* > > *Red-shouldered Hawk 0 25 35* > > *Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0* > > *Red-tailed Hawk 2 151 168* > > *Rough-legged Hawk 0 1 1* > > *Golden Eagle 0 93 134* > > *American Kestrel 0 17 17* > > *Merlin 1 1 2* > > *Peregrine Falcon 0 3 4* > > *Unknown Accipitrine 0 3 3* > > *Unknown Buteo 0 11 13* > > *Unknown Falcon 0 0 0* > > *Unknown Eagle 0 1 3* > > *Unknown Raptor 0 9 11* > > > > *Total: 14 573 736* > > *----------------------------------------------------------------------* > > ------------------------------ > > End of SCBIRDCL Digest - 27 Mar 2025 to 28 Mar 2025 (#2025-86) > **************************************************************
Date: 3/29/25 6:06 am From: KATHLEEN BECHDEL <0000d165c6a818d5-dmarc-request...> Subject: State College Bird Club Field Trip Tomorrow
Hello, Bird Club,
Our first field trip of the season is this Sunday, March 30. See information below.
In addition to this information. Bob sent out a notice about road construction. I have copied that below as well.
If you are planning to come to Bald Eagle SP on Sunday and coming from the State College area, I recommend going through Bellefonte and Milesburg, then taking Rte 150 north to the park.
I don’t know the current status of the bridge construction at the I-99 and I-80 interchange; they were demolishing and then to rebuild the I-80 bridge (eastbound) on 3/20 and 3/21.) Might be best to just take the 160 Exit off I-99, then 144 thru Bellefonte to Rte 220 T Milesburg and follow Rte 150 north to the park entrance.
Sunday, March 30, 2025 (8:00am-11:00am)
Bald Eagle State Park
Trip Leader: Bob Snyder
Meet at the Swimming Beach parking lot.
We will be looking for migrating waterfowl: possibly various ducks and other waterfowl, Tundra Swans, Bald Eagles and winter hawks that may be in, or passing through the park while heading back north.
Bring binoculars, a spotting scope (handy if you have one) and a camera.
Please dress for the weather and time of year; we can still have snow squalls in late March and wear a pair of sturdy hiking boots, as we might walk down from the war memorial on the dam to Hunter Run Cove and the spillway marsh.
SSW winds for the entire count at 12-19kph at 10:00. Visibility was good
for the entire count. Mostly cloudy skies for the entire survey and a few
brief periods of rain. By the end of the count at 17:00 a rain had
developed over Tussey Mountain. Low temperature of 6C at 09:00 and a high
of 15C by noon.
Raptor Notes
TV 7 (197) OS 2 (9) SS 2 (50) RT 2 (168) ML 1 (2) Total 14 (736)
I was surprised the flight was as slow as it was considering the first S
winds in several days. I was lucky to pick up the second MERL of the season
way out on Leading Ridge soaring. It then cut out via powered flight
crossing Tussey Mountain in a matter of seconds.
Two adult BE’s were dogfighting over Leading Ridge at 12:46. At 13:05 two
adults seemed to appear out of nowhere from the N of the OP to escort
another local adult BE back S along Tussey Mountain. The interloper didn’t
want anything to do with these two and retreated in a hurry S of Leading
Ridge.
Non-raptor Notes
4 COLO migrated through the gap at 11:05. AMCR were the corvid of the day
flying through the cut from N to S with a tasty morsel in their beak. An
accomplice was in tow. The morsel didn’t appear to be baked goods.
duck sp. 4
Common Loon 4
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Eastern Phoebe 1
American Crow 4
Black-capped Chickadee 1
Tree Swallow 2
House Finch 2
American Goldfinch 2
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 5
Visitors
Jon Kauffman stopped in during the morning hours and picked us out a OSPR
and the first migrating COLO of the season.
Jon Kauffman
6 hikers
Next Day Forecast
Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. West wind 9 to 15 mph, with gusts as
high as 31 mph.
Sunny but cold day on Tussey Mountain. NW winds for the entire count peaking at 12-19kph by 11:00. Visibility was good for the entire count. It is helpful that the sun is higher in the sky now late in the day as there is good visibility to Stone Mountain in the late afternoon. Low temperature of -3C at 09:00 and a high of 12C by 15:00.
Raptor Notes
TV 18 (190) OS 1 (7) CH 1 (20) RT 2 (166) UR 1 (11) Total 23 (722)
TV led the flight today with several small groups migrating along Tussey Mountain. Despite it being a beautiful sunny day, cold air remained in place and most likely contributed to a lack of diversity in the flight.
At 11:06 to BE were dogfighting over Stone Valley. At 13:18 the Leading Ridge adult RTHA was dogfighting with a resident juvenile. It appears the juvenile had the upper hand and now I understand why it pretty much trespasses over all the territories on the mountain.
Non-raptor Notes
Mourning Dove 1 Black Vulture 2 Downy Woodpecker 1 Pileated Woodpecker 1 American Crow 2 Common Raven 4 Black-capped Chickadee 9 Eastern Bluebird 1 American Goldfinch 1 Brown-headed Cowbird 1
Visitors
None
Next Day Forecast
Showers, mainly after 3pm. High near 59. Light south wind. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Date: 3/27/25 6:05 am From: Autumn Hanley <110adh...> Subject: PA Bird Town - Howard Area
Good morning, all-
For those unable to attend last night's meeting... I'm Autumn Hanley; SCBC member, PA Master Naturalist trainee, and Howard Borough Councilor. As part of my work for the Howard Borough, I'm trying to have the Howard area (Howard Borough & Howard Township) registered as a PA Bird Town. Howard is the small town tucked into the "elbow" of the Foster Joseph Sayers Reservoir. Howard Township covers a huge tract on the other side. From the maps I have examined, the two municipalities cover the majority of the shoreline of the Reservoir. I feel that it is in the best interest of the birds of Bald Eagle State Park and Bald Eagle Creek that these lands and communities are supported using the PA Bird Town programming.
I have a big stumbling block- the municipalities are hesitant to commit without a dedicated Bird Town Committee. I am seeking 2-3 individuals from the Howard area (zip code 16841) to serve as committee members. Since the municipalities don't have a lot of free funds, this committee would be volunteer-based. I am considering a small time commitment to start. Both municipalities already do many of the activities listed as PA Bird Town goals, and our first year would be focused on documenting what is happening and reporting these activities to PA Bird Town administration.
Howard Borough is including my proposal in the April meeting for further discussion. This meeting will be on Monday, April 14th at 7:30pm in the Howard Borough Building. I've reached out to the Howard Township Supervisors to be added to their agenda for their April meeting. I doubt any decisions will be made until May or June, at the earliest.
If you are interested in serving on the Howard Area Bird Town Committee, please reach out to me at my email (<110adh...>).
Thank you, Autumn Hanley Howard Borough Councilor, 2-Year Interim PA Master Naturalist Trainee, Class of 2024-2025 Author of the *The Keystone Naturalist *Blog
Cold and blustery day on Tussey Mountain with some surprise snow showers. W
winds for the entire count peaking at 39-49kph by noon. Visibility was off
and on at the beginning of the count as the snow squalls passed over the
ridge. By 11:00 the visibility had improved greatly to 16km with occasional
snow squalls continuing. The ceiling lifted at this time as well. Mostly
cloudy skies for the entire count. Low temperature of -3C at 10:00 and a
high of 1C by 11:00 when the sun briefly peaked through the clouds.
Raptor Notes
TV 1 (172) RT (2) 164) GE 1 (134) Total 4 (699)
GE NA 09:43
Slow flight today which was to be expected with the strong W winds and
several snow squalls blowing over Tussey Mountain throughout the count. The
first raptor of the day was a non-adult GE close to the OP on the N side of
the ridge. It kited briefly before moving NE.
Resident raptor activity was virtually non-existent. The first resident
raptors were TUVU at 11:32. At 13:24 the resident COHA was spotted flying S
near the cut on the S side of the ridge. Shortly after the local immature
RTHA was spotted soaring low on the S side of the ridge in the gap.
Non-raptor Notes
The local CORA was flying with a large chunk of bread from N to S near the
cut. It’s partner in crime was in tow. Yesterday it flew through same with
a similar hunk of bread and partner in tow on the same flight line.
Momentarily a BLVU gave chase, but the CORA seemed undeterred. I am curious
what the local source of the bread stuff is?
duck sp. 20
Mourning Dove 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
American Crow 2
Common Raven 2
Black-capped Chickadee 2
House Finch 1
American Goldfinch 4
Visitors
None
1 hiker
Next Day Forecast
Sunny, with a high near 53. Light west wind increasing to 5 to 9 mph in the
morning. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Date: 3/26/25 6:39 am From: KATHLEEN BECHDEL <0000d165c6a818d5-dmarc-request...> Subject: Bird Clun Field Trips
Hello, Bird Club,
Our first field trip of the season is this Sunday, March 30. See information below. Also, there is a bird walk at the Arboretum, tomorrow, March 27 beginning at 8 am. Meet at the Pavillion.
Sunday, March 30, 2025 (8:00am-11:00am) Bald Eagle State Park
Trip Leader: Bob Snyder
Meet at the Swimming Beach parking lot.
We will be looking for migrating waterfowl: possibly various ducks and other waterfowl, Tundra Swans, Bald Eagles and winter hawks that may be in, or passing through the park while heading back north.
Bring binoculars, a spotting scope (handy if you have one) and a camera. Please dress for the weather and time of year; we can still have snow squalls in late March and wear a pair of sturdy hiking boots, as we might walk down from the war memorial on the dam to Hunter Run Cove and the spillway marsh.
Primarily W winds for the entire count peaking at 12-19kph from 11:00 –
14:00. Visibility was good for the entire count. Clouds drifted over Tussey
Mountain for the entire count with bouts of sunshine in between. The clouds
helped with spotting migrating raptors. Low temperature of 2C at 08:00 and
a high of 12C by 13:00.
Raptor Notes
TV 3 (171) BE 3 (58) SS 3 (48) RT 3 (162) AK 1 (17) UR 1 (10) Total 14 (695)
A little pulse of migrating raptors was moving early in the morning when
the winds were light. There was a lull in the 10:00 hour, then in the 11:00
hour the flight picked up again with another 4 raptors moving through.
There was no predominant flight line today. Some were coming through the
gap on a NW route, some were flying up Stone Valley. Later in the day there
was a sky-high BE I was lucky to get on as I picked it up on the edge of
some high clouds.
The Leading Ridge RTHA was on territory later in the afternoon. An immature
RTHA spent some time kiting to the N side of the ridge in the cut. An
immature BE came right through the cut over the OP from S to N. I enjoy
sitting on my rock seat in full camouflage to experience these close
encounters.
Non-raptor Notes
Mourning Dove 2
Black Vulture 4
Northern Flicker 1
American Crow 3
Common Raven 2
Black-capped Chickadee 1
Eastern Bluebird 1
American Robin 1
House Finch 1
American Goldfinch 2
Visitors
None
1 hiker
Next Day Forecast
Partly sunny, with a high near 43. West wind 6 to 11 mph, with gusts as
high as 28 mph.
Date: 3/25/25 9:06 am From: Gyekis, Joseph Peter <jpg186...> Subject: robin update
Hi Everyone,
At the end of the Steven Kress puffin talk at Palmer, I stepped outside for 3 minutes and despite it being quite dark there were a surprising number of robins streaming in (~290), and that inspired to me to finally take Doug's advice to do robin roost counts from that side.
So far as I know, most of the robins sleep in the area between the botanic gardens of the arboretum and the intersection of north burrowes and hillcrest in east college heights.
When counting from the Nittany Deck (my usual habit since February), the robins can be seen flying northbound (coming in from the south) to the roost area each evening at sunset. In early February I was averaging around 5 thousand birds per night, and that's dwindled to mostly under 2 thousand lately.
However, counting from the arboretum side of the new Palmer Art Museum and especially looking northwest toward Hartley wood, I've been getting a lot more birds coming southbound into the roost each night.
My last 3 counts from Nittany Deck averaged 1500 robins per evening, while my last three counts at the arboretum are averaging over 7000. (I wonder if I had counted from there in Feb when I was getting ~5k from Nittany Deck would I have been getting 4x more from the arboretum back then?!?).
SE winds to start the count at 12-19kph. The SE winds continued until noon when the winds slowly shifted to the W. Visibility was good by noon when some of the haze cleared out of Stone Valley. Cloudy skies for most of the morning hours. By noon the clouds lifted off from the W to the E rapidly. Low temperature of 5C at 09:05 and a high of 14C by 14:00.
Raptor Notes
TV 18 (168) OS 3 (6) BE 1 (55) SS 3 (45) CH 2 (19) RT 7 (159) AK 2 (16) Total 36 (681)
The flight got underway when the clouds started to lift quickly in the 11:00 hour. A total of 10 raptors moved through mostly along Stone Valley with some nice diversity. This activity continued until 13:00 when there was a brief lull. The 14:00 hour saw a nice kettle of TUVU along the N side of the ridge that climbed pretty high before the birds streamed N along the ridge.
The Leading Ridge RTHA was on territory throughout the count. An immature RT came in close near the OP before heading S along the ridge. An adult BE also moved S along the ridge at 14:24.
Non-raptor Notes
Mourning Dove 6 Killdeer 1 American Herring Gull 4 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 1 Blue Jay 2 American Crow 1 Common Raven 2 Black-capped Chickadee 1 Tree Swallow 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet 1 European Starling 3 Eastern Bluebird 1 American Robin 1 House Finch 2 Field Sparrow 1 Brown-headed Cowbird 1
Visitors
None
4 hikers.
Next Day Forecast
Mostly sunny, with a high near 52. West wind 6 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
Date: 3/24/25 4:58 pm From: Nick Bolgiano <nickbolgiano...> Subject: photo presenters for Wednesday bird club
Here is the order of photo presenters at Wednesday's 7 p.m. bird club
meeting:
Tina Hay
Deb Rittelmann
Ron Crandall, presented by grandson Noah Hart
Autumn Hanley
Karl Striedieck
Linnéa Smeds
Lou Saporito
Larry Ramsey
Bill Rafton
Joe Gyekis
Susan Braun
Nick Bolgiano
Recording playbacks will be after photos. A good time will be had,, with a
chance to meet new people. Both in person at Millbrook Marsh and via Zoom.
12-19kph NNW winds until noon. At noon the winds began to shift eventually
to the SE at 13:00 at 6-11kph. Visibility was good for the entire count
with views to Stone Mountain. Sunny skies to begin the day, but high
stratus clouds formed increasing to mostly cloudy skies by 11:00. The
thinly clouded skies still let some sunshine through. Low temperature of
-5C at 08:00 and a high of 8C by 14:00.
Raptor Notes
TV 4 (150) BE 1 (54) RT 2 (152) UB 1 (13) Total 8 (645)
Slow flight again today with only a few migrating raptors. Most came
through between the 10:00 – 12:00 window. After that it was pretty dead.
First day since 2/22 without a GE.
Two adult BE’s were dog fighting over Stone Valley at 10:17. Usual area
where the skirmishes occur. The Leading Ridge RTHA was only spotted a few
times during the count.
Non-raptor Notes
A CORA was out over Stone Valley near the end of the count with something
in its beak it was proud of. Maybe some bread, a burger bun or some
pancakes. Another CORA was following it.
Mourning Dove 4
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 1
American Crow 3
Common Raven 8
Black-capped Chickadee 10
Tufted Titmouse 3
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
House Finch 1
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 1
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
Visitors
None
29 hikers
1 runner
Next Day Forecast
A chance of rain before 8am. Cloudy through mid-morning, then gradual
clearing, with a high near 59. South wind 5 to 13 mph becoming west in the
afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is
30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Light SE winds at 6-11kph until 11:00. After 11:00 the winds slowly shifted
to the NW and this is when the flight came to a halt. Visibility was mostly
good except during a few brief rain squalls. Mostly cloudy skies for the
entire survey which made for good spotting conditions. Low temperature of
5C at 08:45 and a high of 11C at 11:00.
Raptor Notes
TV 1 (146) BE 1 (53) SS 1 (42) RS 1 (35) GE 1 (133) UR 2 (9) Total 7 (637)
GE Sub 11:15
A migrating sharpie was the first raptor of the day right in the cut just
below the OP at 10:30. The only GE of the day was spotted very low on
Leading Ridge. I would imagine many of these low GE’s would go undetected
if you stood at the normal OP. This eagle was working hard to gain
altitude, but never came up to the ridge. Instead, it just used a
combination of soaring and powered flight to move north over Stone Valley.
Once the winds started to shift slowly to the NW the flight came to an
abrupt halt.
A resident adult BE was spotted flying S along the ridgetop at 11:10. The
leading ridge RTHA was spotted occasionally on its territory. A possible
second RTHA was briefly detected a couple times late in the afternoon
soaring to the N along the cut.
Non-raptor Notes
First COLO of the season, but not migrating. It was spotted in Stone Valley
between Warrior’s Ridge and Leading Ridge flying south.
Canada Goose 80
Mourning Dove 6
Common Loon 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 3
Black-capped Chickadee 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
American Pipit 1
American Goldfinch 2
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 8
Visitors
Angelina Minardi and Justin Nichol came up in the afternoon to see if any
raptors were migrating. We got to see our local BE’s, RTHA and TUVU’s.
Justin works with Jon Kauffman on checking AK nest boxes. I also had some
nice visits with hikers and a few students from the university.
Justin Nichol
Angelina Minardi
19 hikers
1 runner
Next Day Forecast
Increasing clouds, with a high near 49. Calm wind.
Date: 3/22/25 8:05 am From: Susan Braun <braun3112...> Subject: Fwd: Special Message from your JVAS President
Mark Nale will be presenting a program about the Dreibelbis and Soaring
Eagle Wetlands at the next Juniata Valley Audubon meeting on March 25 at
the Bellwood-Antis Library.
Anyone is welcome to join JVAS for the free Community dinner at 6pm and the
program at 7pm.
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Juniata Valley Audubon Society <jvas771-gmail.com...>
Date: Tue, Mar 18, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Subject: Special Message from your JVAS President
To: <braun3112...>
Please mark your calendar for the March JVAS meeting that will be held a
week later than usual: Tuesday, March 25, at the Bellwood-Antis library.
6 PM: Free Dinner
Tentative Menu: pasta bar, salad, bread, meatballs, chicken, white and red
sauce, Cheese cake and pumpkin pie. Gluten free and vegan options.
7 PM: Evening Program
Exploring Dreibelbis and Soaring Eagle Wetlands
presented by Mark Nale
Join us for an engaging presentation by Mark Nale, a seasoned photographer,
outdoor writer, and retired biology teacher, as he showcases the remarkable
conservation efforts at Dreibelbis and Soaring Eagle Wetlands. Mark will
highlight the vital work to protect these unique ecosystems, complemented
by his award-winning photography of the birds, plants, and wildlife that
inhabit these thriving wetlands. Don’t miss the opportunity to explore
these habitats through the lens of a true expert.
Red-winged Blackbird Photo - Mark Nale
[image: red-winged bb by Mark Nale]
Juniata Valley Audubon Society | P. O. Box 1013 | Altoona, PA 16603 US
Date: 3/22/25 7:16 am From: Constanza Ehrenhaus <cxe1169...> Subject: Re: Owl nest at Lederer Park
Thank you all for your replies. I had passed earlier this week and found
what I thought was the abandoned nest. I was hoping I had not been
observant enough and missed it. Thank you for confirming that the nest is
now inactive.
Have a great weekend!
Coty
On Sat, Mar 22, 2025 at 7:28 AM Wentzel, Doug <djw105...> wrote:
Observation start time: 08:15:00
Observation end time: 16:30:00
Total observation time: 8.25 hours
Official Counter Nick Bolgiano
Observers: Sean McLaughlin
*Raptor Observations:*
GE: 1322 Juv A highlight: an adult BE vigorously flapped in a tight circle
until it reached the top of the updraft very high up and then flew N.
Date: 3/21/25 11:19 am From: Thomas, Brady Scott <bst5117...> Subject: State College Bird Club Photo Show on March 26th, 2025
Happy Friday, Bird Club!
I hope everyone is able to enjoy the nice spring weather and the bird activity that comes with it!
Next week, on Wednesday, March 26th at 7:00 p.m., we will be having our Annual Photo/Audio Show. We will be in Millbrook Marsh's Spring Creek Education building, and we will also have a zoom option available.
Fairly strong SE winds to start the count at 35kph. Despite the sunny skies
it felt cool. By 10:00 when the flight picked up the winds had set down a
bit to 7kph. The flight came to a halt at 14:00 when the winds started to
shift to the WNW. Visibility was good for most of the day at 12km. Mostly
sunny skies to start the count, but clouds built throughout the day. By
11:00 it was mostly cloudy, but the spotting conditions were superb. Low
temperature of 9C at 09:20 and a high of 15C by 11:00. Light rain developed
around 13:00 and continued off and on in 10 minute periods through the end
of the count.
Raptor Notes
TV 8 (144) OS 1 (3) BE 1 (11) NH 1 (11) SS 5 (41) RS 1 (147) RT 13 (147) GE
1 (131) AK 4 (14) PG 1 (4) UB 2 (12) Total 38 (623)
GE A 13:25
Decent flight considering the forecast was looking pretty grim yesterday.
RTHA led the flight with a total of 13 coming through. I appreciated Don
Potes excellent spotting skills picking some of the those up on
non-traditional flight lines. 4 AK’s came through and it is interesting how
many of them fly directly up the powerline cut and over the mountain. I
frequently get on them low over Stone Valley in the scope and track them
coming head on. A nice male fanned out behind the tower. In addition to
watching the TUVU’s for clues as to where migrants may be, I have keyed
into the fact that sometimes looking above the soaring resident RTHA’s
helps. Our NOHA of the day was following the Leading Ridge RTHA by staying
high above it. Our GE of the day was interesting as an adult BE went
flapping past, then suddenly there were two more distant BE’s and possibly
a third. As they neared the cut one of them looked distinctly smaller and
this ended up being our lone GE of the day’s effort. I haven’t seen a GE
that close to BE’s this season and it looked to be keeping its distance
from them. The BE’s seemed curious like they were escorting it.
Resident TUVU were the first raptors of the day detected at 09:30. At 10:08
the Leading Ridge RTHA was taking swipes at some bird perched along the
ridge, but I never could get on what it was going after.
Non-raptor Notes
The TRES from yesterday brought some buddies up the ridge. Our first of the
season EAPH made it up to a prominent snag behind the OP. It even sang
briefly before making its way down the south face of the mountain. New high
score on TUVU kettle as well.
Mourning Dove 3
Turkey Vulture 25
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 3
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 9
Common Raven 5
Black-capped Chickadee 4
Tree Swallow 6
Golden-crowned Kinglet 1
House Finch 3
American Goldfinch 1
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
Common Grackle 1
Visitors
Don Pote arrived early and put in an excellent effort helping spot
migrating raptors. We both got good looks at our 4th PEFA of the season and
our 3rd OSPR. Looking forward to his next visit.
Don Pote
2 hikers.
Next Day Forecast
Sunny, with a high near 51. Northwest wind 13 to 15 mph, with gusts as high
as 33 mph.
SE winds to start the count at 12-19kph. The winds peaked at 15:00 at
40kph. Visibility was good for most of the day at 12km. A few high clouds
to start the count, but the skies became cloudier as the day progressed.
Low temperature of 11C at 09:30 and a high of 20C by noon.
Raptor Notes
TV 10 (136) OS 2 BE 1 (49) NH 2 (10) SS 8 (36) CH 4 (17) RS 2 (33) RT 18
(134) GE 7 (130) AK 3 (10) UA 1 (3) UR 1 (7) Total 59 (585)
GE A 10:55, U 12:41, A 12:45, U 13:07, U 13:46, U 14:14, A 14:56
Steady flight today with good diversity. The flight got underway at the top
of the 09:00 hour with a total of 4 migrants. In the 10:00 hour our first
of the season OSPR flew past the OP along Leading Ridge. Not a few minutes
later a second one was detected following the same flight line. The flight
lulled in the 13:00 hour then picked up again in the 14:00 hour and
remained steady until the close of the count. I stayed an extra hour just
to make sure the flight was over and the 16:00 hour was productive. By
17:00 though the flight had ceased.
The resident SSHA was spotted again flying south along Leading Ridge. The
resident RTHA were quite active. Four adult BE’s were spotted directly over
the cut in the afternoon with 2 going south along the ridge and 2 going
north.
Non-raptor Notes
Canada Goose 12
Mourning Dove 1
Sandhill Crane 4 y
Killdeer 1
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 4
Common Raven 3
Black-capped Chickadee 2
Tree Swallow 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Eastern Bluebird 3
American Robin 2
House Finch 1
Pine Siskin 1
American Goldfinch 4
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
Common Grackle 3
Visitors
Deb Rittelmann arrived early this morning and promptly found our FOS OSPR.
Bob McLaughlin rotated in during the afternoon and was great helping
spotting. Peggy Wagoner found us a few distant GE’s trying to sneak by.
Jacqui McKee helped me finish out the day strong picking out several sky
high buteos and another NOHA.
Deb Rittelmann
Bob McLaughlin
Nick Bolgiano
Peggy Wagoner
Jacqui McKee
5 hikers.
Next Day Forecast
Rain likely before 11am, then showers, mainly after 11am. High near 57.
Southeast wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New
precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Date: 3/19/25 2:28 pm From: Nick Bolgiano <nickbolgiano...> Subject: Tussey Mt Golden Eagle chart update
Attached is an update of the Tussey Mt Golden Eagle cumulative chart.
At the end of February, the GE total (thick red line) was ahead of all other years. In the first 2 weeks of March, the GE total closely tracked the long-term mean (thick blue line). More recently, the GE total has been slightly less than the mean.
We had favorable S or SE wind on March 12-14 and counted 27 Golden Eagles. That wind direction is also favorable for the Allegheny Front hawk watch east of Johnstown and they counted 56 Golden Eagles during March 12-14, or double what we counted. It has happened before that several days of S/SE wind appears to blow GEs toward the Allegheny Front escarpment and away from Tussey Mt. We do well with individual S/SE wind days, but less so with consistent S/SE.
I think that we will end up with a total similar to those of several other recent years.
A crisp, cold and bluebird morning on Tussey Mountain. Winds were light out
of the NW at 6-11kph. By 11:00 the winds had shifted to the SE at 6kph.
Visibility was good and improved later in the day when the sun was to the
south and the light was good to Stone Mountain. Clear skies for the entire
survey. Low temperature of 2C at 08:15 and high of 17C by 15:00.
Raptor Notes
TV 24 (126) BE 2 (48) NH 2 (8) RS 3 (31) RT 5 (116) GE 3 (123) AK 1 (7) UB
2 (10) UR 1 (6) Total 43 (526)
GE A 11:31, A 13:37, A 17:31
The flight got underway as the temperature rose in the 10:00 hour with a
total of 5 raptors coming through and the first GE of the day. Since winds
where light raptors were making use of thermals off the south slope of
Tussey Mountain. Most raptors had to work the thermals coming off the
mountain to hopscotch north along Leading Ridge. From the OP almost all the
migrants appeared to be out over Stone Valley. The flight was pretty
consistent until the 14:00 hour when some large kettles of TV’s were
spotted over Stone Mountain. The TV kettles also helped with locating other
migrating raptors as they honed in on the good thermal activity the TV’s
were working. This approach yielded both of the days NOHA’s. Another kettle
of TV’s formed in the gap between Leading Ridge and Tussey Mountain and all
the birds streamed out high along the ridge top. A few minutes later even
higher yet I lucked onto a sky-high GE just below the late afternoon sun.
This eagle worked the thermals effortlessly and glided N along the ridge
top to close the days effort out.
The first raptor to take to the skies was the Leading Ridge RTHA at 09:47.
At 11:09 3 BAEA were dogfighting over Leading Ridge and a fourth adult
appeared just S of the OP enroute to sort them out. A juvenile RTHA was
spotted at 12:17 dogfighting with a CORA, possibly the one adept at aging
raptors. At 16:23 two BAEA were taking friendly swipes at one another and
at one point it looked like they locked talons briefly. The Leading Ridge
RTHA keeps gliding down into the forest on the slope near the OP. I was
able to scope the bird eventually and I will be curious to see if there is
nest building going on in there.
Non-raptor Notes
Mourning Dove 1
American Herring Gull 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 2
American Crow 5
Common Raven 2
Black-capped Chickadee 4
Horned Lark 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Eastern Bluebird 7
American Robin 1
American Pipit 5
House Finch 7
Pine Siskin 3
American Goldfinch 4
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 6
Red-winged Blackbird 5
Rusty Blackbird 1
Common Grackle 5
Visitors
None
3 hikers.
Next Day Forecast
Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. Light southeast wind becoming south 6 to
11 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 24 mph.
28kph NW winds at 09:30 increasing to 33kph by 10:00. Visibility was superb
after yesterday’s rain. Mostly cloudy for the entire count, clearing to
partly cloudy rapidly by 17:30. 2C at 09:30 and a high of 3C by 11:00.
Light snow briefly at the beginning of the count.
Raptor Notes
TV 1 (102) BE 2 (46) RT 4 (111) GE 1 (120) Total 8 (483)
GE A 13:46
NW winds and cooler temps pretty much killed any chance at a decent flight.
We did have good conditions to spot migrating raptors, but counted much
more reverse birds than northbound migrants. One GE for the day.
Resident birds were quite active, making good use of the NW winds to zip
south along the ridge of Tussey Mountain. TUVU were the first raptor of the
day moving over Stone Valley at 09:52. A couple migrant RTHA moved through
on the N side of the ridge and may have lingered in the gap too long as our
resident arrived quickly to escort them away. It then performed an
impressive roller coaster display in the cut on the N side of the ridge for
good measure. Again at 10:41 two adult RTHA moved south along the ridge
before a third adult arrived with legs down.
Non-raptor Notes
Tundra Swan 2
Mourning Dove 4
Black Vulture 1
American Crow 12
Common Raven 1
Black-capped Chickadee 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Eastern Bluebird 1
American Robin 4
House Finch 1
American Goldfinch 1
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 12
Common Grackle 1
Visitors
Don Pote put in a solid effort helping make sure nothing slipped by on the
N side of the ridge today. It was a cold; blustery day and I admire his
commitment to helping out. We did get one GE and as we proceed later into
March you begin to wonder which one may be the last for the season.
Harriette and Ron Roadman that were on the Golden Eagle Voyage this past
weekend stopped by for another visit. They got to take in some of the views
this time and see some of our resident raptors.
Don Pote
Harriette and Ron Roadman
5 hikers, 3 of which were folks with the Mid-State Trail maintenance crew.
Next Day Forecast
Sunny, with a high near 62. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the
afternoon.
Despite a forecast for rain, a successful count was conducted. In the 08:00
hour there was a little bit of off and on rain as squalls passed over the
ridge from the south. 28kph SE winds at 08:00 increasing to 49kph by 13:00.
Visibility was good to 12km. Low temperature of 14C at 08:00 and a high of
16C by 13:00.
Raptor Notes
TV 12 (101) NH 1 (6) SS 1 (28) CH 2 (11) RS 3 (28) RT 11 (107) GE 3 (119)
Total 33 (475)
GE A 11:59, A 12:25, I 13:36
Solid flight today considering the forecast called for rain. TV led the
flight with a total of 12 coming through, sometimes two to three at a time.
The first GE was spotted at 11:59 gliding across Leading Ridge, then
staying far out from Tussey Mountain over Stone Valley. In the 11:00 hour
the flight really picked up with a total of 12 migrating raptors zipping
across the cut. The flight line today was that birds appeared between the
Curly Q Tree and the Tall Tree, then glided out and around the cut to the
south side of the ridge. The accipiters seemed to be bubbling up the slope
below the gap and then they too would bomb through to the south of the OP
about eye level. RTHA climbed pretty high at times, folding in and zipping
south along the ridge. Another NOHA glided in following the ridgetop, then
peeled out to the N of the tower. Thankfully it banked a few times before
heading off the N side of the ridge. The flight remained consistent before
coming to a halt before some heavy rain and thunder moved in from the
south. The last raptor of the day was a RSHA with full crop. Maybe this
bird had been digesting lunch and decided to peel out before the heavy rain.
First raptors of the day were TUVU spotted low on Leading Ridge. The
resident RTHA was detected multiple times kiting over Stone Valley and in
the gap near the OP. At 11:22 just before the flight got underway a lone
adult BE was detected flying N to S across the gap and down into Stone
Valley.
Non-raptor Notes
A flock of SNGO was spotted far to the south that seemed to come from the
Sideling Hill area. They then passed far south of the OP across Tussey
Mountain.
Snow Goose 15
Canada Goose 265
American Crow 5
Common Raven 3
Black-capped Chickadee 4
European Starling 3
American Robin 1
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 7
Common Grackle 4
Visitors
Deborah and Peter
3 hikers.
Next Day Forecast
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 47. Northwest wind 7 to 11 mph, with gusts
as high as 22 mph.
There are seven downed trees across the trail. They are all small and
shouldn’t present any real challenges. Lots of downed trees and debris on
the highway.
Date: 3/16/25 10:51 am From: Peggy Wagoner Saporito <raven966...> Subject: State College Bird Club Grant money available for bird related projects
Greetings Everyone,
The State College Bird Club is happy to announce our 2025 Request for Proposals for bird-related projects. This year, we have $1,416 from the SCBC Endowment managed by Centre Foundation.
We are looking to support activities and projects related to bird conservation, research and/or education in the Centre region (Centre County and its contiguous counties). These funds will be disbursed as either several small grants or one larger grant.
In 2024 we funded several projects including bird nest boxes in Patton Township Parks, and Millbrook Marsh, off-site education activities by Centre Wildlife Care and binoculars for visitor use at Millbrook Marsh Nature Center.
Anyone interested in applying for funding should complete the attached grant application, submitted as a PDF attachment by April 30, 2025 to Susan Braun (<braun3112...>).
Applications will be reviewed in May by the SCBC selection committee. Applicants will be notified about funding decisions by June 1, 2025. Any questions regarding the funding or application can be directed to selection committee members: Susan (<braun3112...>), Deb Escalet ( <d5me16...>) or Peggy Wagoner (<raven966...>).
Thank you and we look forward to receiving applications to support birds in our area. Please feel free to share this application with others where appropriate.
Strong SE winds, cooler temps and fog covered the ridge along Tussey Mountain. SE winds starting at 40kph in the morning, then peaking at 50kph in the 10:00 hour. No visibility on the south side of the ridge until a shortly after noon when the fog lifted rapidly. From noon until the end of the count visibility was limited to Leading Ridge. Low temperature of 4C at 09:20 and a high of 7C by 13:00.
Raptor Notes
GE 1 (116) Total 1 (442)
GE A 14:04
Only one migrant GE was spotted today at the top of the 14:00 hour. I was lucky to spot this bird as I was taking weather and just noticed it clearing the trees to the north of the cut. It was hugging the ridge top close. It made me curious if today would have been a possible good day to have counted just below the cut at a pull out on the highway. The fog was coming and going all day just about 200ft below the OP and it would have been interesting to know if migrants were moving below the fog along the ridge. Seeing this one kind of appear out of nowhere then disappear into the fog made me curious to know if a few birds were migrating today in the strong favorable winds.
The first raptors moving were a small group of 3 TUVU low on Leading Ridge. I then briefly spotted our resident RTHA down there as well. Other than these brief observations no other local raptors were detected.
Non-raptor Notes
Mourning Dove 4 Pileated Woodpecker 1 American Crow 1 Common Raven 1 Black-capped Chickadee 1 American Goldfinch 1 Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 7
Visitors
We had a large group of visitors today from Bald Eagle State Park who were taking part in the Golden Eagle Voyage. I really appreciated their tenacity and fortitude coming out to the site in the stiff winds, cooler temps and fog. I hope for those that visited we may see them again during more favorable conditions. Later in the afternoon Jacqui and David McKee came out to visit me as they noticed I picked up the one GE. Unfortunately no more materialized in the fog for the remainder of the survey.
33 Golden Eagle Voyage Tour
Deb Rittelmann
Nick Bolgiano
Jon Kauffman
Jacqui & David McKee
3 hikers.
Next Day Forecast
Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 64. South wind 13 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 37 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
The Birds of the World account for this species includes a description
as a "primitive,"
non-parasitic cowbird", but "sometimes is a nest parasite"
and describes the behavior that Coty observed:
A collective agonistic display, Leaf Gathering, occurs throughout year;
display includes singing by most interacting individuals, birds hold bits
of vegetation (leaves, bark or twigs) in bill, assume Bill Tilt (Bill Up or
Head Up) posture; fighting or supplanting may occur, yearlings stay at edge
of group in "submissive postures" (Fraga 1991). Leaf Gathering displays
involve 8 - 26 birds, last 4.3 - 21 min, and occur on ground or in trees; 7
of 22 known contexts involved attendants of 1 nest responding to a
traveling group with fledglings (Fraga 1991).
On Sat, Mar 15, 2025 at 3:05 PM Constanza Ehrenhaus <cxe1169...>
wrote:
> Hi Club,
>
> Last week I had the good fortune to take a trip to visit my family in
> Buenos Aires. The breeding season there is long because of the benign
> weather, and birds are still building nests and feeding chicks. One of the
> species I had the luck to enjoy is the Grayish Baywing, a social icterid
> that raises its own young. One of the days my family and I witnessed an
> interesting behavior, and I cannot find any information about it, so I am
> curious to know if any of you have ever seen anything of the like and if
> you have any insight.
>
> There were about 12-20 Grayish Baywings gathered on the lawn. They were
> calling and singing to each other, and some birds were picking up dry
> leaves from the ground and showing them to each other. Other birds would
> then pick leaves and show them back to the first birds. There were even
> some birds cutting dried leaves from the shrubs above. Some birds
> (juveniles?) were engaging in begging-like behaviors, but no feeding was
> happening. After a while, they took off flying. There are still couples
> feeding chicks in the area, as I've seen them flying with food into the
> cavities where the chicks wait.
>
> I thought it was an interesting interaction, as I had never seen something
> like that before. Maybe other more experienced birders have?
>
> Have a lovely weekend!
>
> Coty
>
>
> --
> Constanza Ehrenhaus.
>
>
Last week I had the good fortune to take a trip to visit my family in Buenos Aires. The breeding season there is long because of the benign weather, and birds are still building nests and feeding chicks. One of the species I had the luck to enjoy is the Grayish Baywing, a social icterid that raises its own young. One of the days my family and I witnessed an interesting behavior, and I cannot find any information about it, so I am curious to know if any of you have ever seen anything of the like and if you have any insight.
There were about 12-20 Grayish Baywings gathered on the lawn. They were calling and singing to each other, and some birds were picking up dry leaves from the ground and showing them to each other. Other birds would then pick leaves and show them back to the first birds. There were even some birds cutting dried leaves from the shrubs above. Some birds (juveniles?) were engaging in begging-like behaviors, but no feeding was happening. After a while, they took off flying. There are still couples feeding chicks in the area, as I've seen them flying with food into the cavities where the chicks wait.
I thought it was an interesting interaction, as I had never seen something like that before. Maybe other more experienced birders have?
100% humidity to start the count and thick fog over Stone Valley. SE winds
for the entire count at 12-19kkph in the morning. By 13:00 the winds had
picked up to 28kph which seemed to help the migrants start moving along
Tussey Mountain. Due to the fog and later the haze over Stone Valley,
visibility was limited to 4km for the entire survey. A few high cirrus
clouds for most of the count. Low temperature of 6C at 09:00 and a high of
18C by 14:00.
Raptor Notes
NH 1 (5) SS 8 (27) CH 2 (11) RS 2 (25) RT 22 (96) GE 6 (115) AK 2 (6) Total
43 (441)
GE A 10:59, A 11:10, A 14:04, A 14:40, A 15:05, A 15:39, A 16:44
The flight didn’t get going until late in the 09:00 hour with our first
adult male AK flaring out superbly to the south of the OP. After that the
flight lulled before picking up again in the 11:00 hour. From then on the
flight was pretty steady with RTHA’s leading the flight. The GE’s were
pretty loyal to the parallel ridge S flight line while many of the buteos
were high overhead along the ridge top. The small accipiters followed the
buteo route as well. Our 5th NOHA of the season followed the exact same
route as the harrier yesterday flying S to N through the cut.
The local RTHA’s were out frequently escorting migrants and checking out
GE’s who lingered in the gap. A resident adult BAEA was spotted several
times as well patrolling the ridge.
Non-raptor Notes
Canada Goose 10
Mourning Dove 6
Killdeer 1
Pileated Woodpecker 1
American Crow 6
Common Raven 7
Black-capped Chickadee 3
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Eastern Bluebird 1
American Robin 8
House Finch 3
Red-winged Blackbird 5
Common Grackle 1
Visitors
Randy Flament from Allegheny Front Hawk Watch was the first visitor to
arrive this morning. I enjoyed seeing his wintering GE photos and he
definitely wowed the other visitors with his incredible pics. Dave Grove
and Drew Wagner from Wagoners Gap Hawk Watch were next to arrive and Dave
did some excellent spotting during the days flight. It was interesting
hearing some of the history of Wagoners Gap and to hear about the other
watches he has visited throughout the years. Gabe Imler from Camp Blue
Diamond was up and got his lifer GE. Don Pote arrived early as well and was
excellent help spotting during the day. He picked up our first of the year
adult male AK. Ken Bowman rotated in late morning and started picking off
high flying accipeters and buteos just when we thought the flight was
lulling. Jacqui and David McKee joined us for most of the afternoon and
were great help spotting migrants as well. I appreciate their growing
interest in the hawk watch and I hope we get David some binoculars soon. As
always Peggy Wagoner was an all-star spotter picking up many distant birds
and our 5th NOHA of the season.
Randy Flament
Dave Grove & Drew Wagner
Gabe Imler
Don Pote
Jacqui & David McKee
Peggy Wagoner
1 Runner. 3 hikers.
Next Day Forecast
Cloudy, with a high near 58. Southeast wind 6 to 10 mph, with gusts as high
as 23 mph.
It was quite cool and humid this morning. Strong SE winds made things even
feel cooler at 19kph. Visibility and the cloud ceiling were quite low at
the start of the count. By 13:00 the clouds burned off rapidly and the
visibility increased to 12km. Low temperature of 3C at 09:00 and a high of
14C by 15:00.
Raptor Notes
TV 4 (89) BE 7 (44) NH 1 (4) SS 6 (19) CH 1 (9) RS 3 (23) RT 22 (74) RL 1
GE 18 (109) AK 3 (4) UB 1 (6) UR 1 (5) Total 68 (398)
GE A 09:02, A 09:26, A 10:24, A 11:50, A 11:54, U 12:12, A 12:12, A 12:34,
A 13:46, A 13:50, A 13:55, A 13:55, A 14:04, A 15:35, A 15:52, A 16:51, A
16:58, A 17:00
First GE was spotted the minute I arrived at the OP. It was on the S side
of the cut. I believe every GE of the day was parallel to the S side of the
ridge at varying distance out from the ridge. Oddly enough, just about
every buteo and accipiter split off the ridge near the gap and shot N of
the OP. The flight lines by and large were very similar for the entire day
which made getting on migrants easy.
It was hard to have time to scan for resident raptors, but of course the
Leading Ridge RTHA was on territory throughout the flight. I also spotted
to adult BE’s way out over Stone Valley throughout the day.
Non-raptor Notes
Mourning Dove 3
Killdeer 3
Turkey Vulture 8
American Crow 2
Common Raven 8
Black-capped Chickadee 7
Tufted Titmouse 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Eastern Bluebird 1
American Robin 1
Red-winged Blackbird 5
Visitors
Phil Kress was out early this morning just shortly after my first GE passed
by. I greatly appreciate his help spotting birds during the early morning
part of the flight. I look forward to his visit later this season with his
friend from WI. George Young from State College joined us as well in the
morning and helped spot migrants as well. I also enjoyed hearing about his
work with bird collision avoidance for the DOD back in the day. Peggy
Wagoner joined me a little before noon and I really appreciate her catching
the white base of the tail on our first of the season RLHA. Margaret
Brittingham and her pup joined us and she was able to view many passing
migrants during a busy hour of the flight. Laurie and Mark McLaughlin, my
gracious hosts while here rotated in later in the afternoon and I
appreciated their fresh eyes. Laurie found our 4th NOHA of the season on a
non-traditional flight line for the day on the cross ridge run through the
gap. She also picked out several migrating buteos and GE’s. Amy Bergstrom
visited during a good peak in the flight and got to witness some of the
diverse flight we had today.
George Young
Phil Kress
Peggy Wagoner
Nick Bolgiano
Margaret Brittingham
Laurie and Mark McLaughlin
Amy Bergstrom
1 hiker.
Next Day Forecast
Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 60. Calm
wind becoming southeast 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon.
Date: 3/13/25 5:48 pm From: Ramsey, Lawrence William <lwr...> Subject: Interesting plumage on goldfinch
The attached photo showed an unusual plumage on one of the goldfinches around our feeders this AM. It is in marked contrast to the duller one on the lower right.
Date: 3/13/25 5:21 am From: Lisa Dziuban <dziubanlisa...> Subject: Re: SCBIRDCL Digest - 11 Mar 2025 to 12 Mar 2025 (#2025-69)
Ok, thank you! That was driving me crazy….figured it had something to do with American Kestral. Thanks for your reports. I enjoy reading them here in S.E. pa. Lisa Dziuban
> On Mar 13, 2025, at 12:00 AM, SCBIRDCL automatic digest system <LISTSERV...> wrote: > > There are 4 messages totaling 1056 lines in this issue. > > Topics of the day: > > 1. Possible Eurasian Wigeon near Loganton, Clinton County > 2. FOY Tree Swallow at Old Crow wetland > 3. It’s ice-out at Bald Eagle SP > 4. Tussey Mountain Daily Summary 3/12 > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2025 10:20:25 -0400 > From: Wayne Laubscher <wnlaubscher...> > Subject: Possible Eurasian Wigeon near Loganton, Clinton County > > This morning Amos Hershberger reported a possible Eurasian Wigeon at the Ohl/McElhatten Reservoir near Loganton. It was with a group of American Wigeon at the dam. It has not been confirmed yet. > > Wayne Laubscher > Lock Haven > <wnlaubscher...> > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2025 17:01:58 +0000 > From: "Grove, Gregory William" <gwg2...> > Subject: FOY Tree Swallow at Old Crow wetland > > today, Mar 12 > > > > > Greg Grove > eBird reviewer: Blair, Cambria, Clearfield, Huntingdon, Juniata, Mifflin > PBA Ridge and Valley Coordinator > Stone Mt. Hawk Watch, Winter Raptor Survey > Huntingdon, PA. > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2025 19:03:35 -0400 > From: Robert Snyder <birdphotoginpa...> > Subject: It’s ice-out at Bald Eagle SP > > Ice is gone from the dam to Bald Eagle Creek at the west end. > > 3/12/25 > > Bob Snyder > > Do the best you can, where you are, with what you have. > Theodore Roosevelt > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2025 21:25:14 -0400 > From: B Richardson <poecile.gambeli...> > Subject: Tussey Mountain Daily Summary 3/12 > > Thanks for catching the MAKE mistake. It was AMKE for our keeners. That > happens routinely with WORD. Definitely not into MAKE anything vibes up > there on Tussey Mountain! I also fat fingered a WODO one day on the > checklist - didn't see one of those either. And someone wandered down the > mountain side not wondered. My proofing is lacking at the end of the day. > > Official Counter > > > > Adam Bradley > > > > Total observation time > > > > 8.23 hrs (159.5) > > > > Observers > > > > Ron Crandall > > John Leskosky > > Jacqui McKee > > Nick Bolgiano > > > > Weather > > > > Light WNW winds from 08:00 – 11:00. At 11:00 the winds shifted to the SW > for the remainder of the count. Mostly cloudy skies from 08:00 – 11:00. By > 11:00 the clouds started lifting rapidly which is when the flight got > underway. The cloud cover in the morning made for excellent visibility to > 32km, but was reduced once the clouds burned off to 16km by noon. Low > temperature of 2C at 08:00 and a high of 15C by 13:00. > > > > Raptor Notes > > > > NH 1 (3) SS 1 (13) CH 3 (8) RT 5 (52) GE 3 (91) Total 13 (330) > > > > GE A 12:36, A 13:51, A 13:51 > > > > Today’s flight didn’t shape up as predicted. With clouds in place and > colder temps we likely missed what would have been the morning flight. By > 11:00 the flight got underway with excellent diversity. The birds were > mostly spotted in one of two mixed kettles over the gap quite high. In > fact, the eagles today were the highest I have seen yet that early in the > day. > > > > Resident raptor activity was greatly reduced other than the local BLVU and > TUVU. Of course, the resident Leading Ridge RTHA was out on territory > throughout the day. Late in the afternoon the resident COHA was heard > calling from the gap. > > > > Non-raptor Notes > > > > The resident PIWO has found a very resonant snag to drum on in the gap. He > was just tuning up today, but I hope to hear more of that. Another nice > flock of TUSW passed through the gap on a W route. That BCCH isn’t fooled > by me anymore. The largest kettle of BLVU thus far during the season was > spotted near closing time. > > > > Canada Goose 3 > Tundra Swan 56 > Mourning Dove 2 > Killdeer 1 > Black Vulture 16 > Turkey Vulture 7 > Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 > Hairy Woodpecker 1 > Pileated Woodpecker 1 > American Crow 5 > Common Raven 6 > Black-capped Chickadee 3 > White-breasted Nuthatch 1 > European Starling 1 > Eastern Bluebird 3 > American Robin 2 > House Finch 4 > Pine Siskin 2 > American Goldfinch 4 > Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 2 > Red-winged Blackbird 2 > Common Grackle 1 > > > > Visitors > > > > Ron Crandall was out early to help me spot migrants. Unfortunately, due to > the cloud cover and colder air we didn’t get our morning flight. John > Leskosky of Bake Oven Knob Hawk Watch was with us early to help spot birds > as well. Louann Wertz was up early as well hoping to see some migrating > raptors. Jacqui McKee joined us for day two hoping to luck into a good > flight. It was Jeff Peters of State College Bird Club that spotted our > first GE of the day. Jacqui got us on a decent kettle that yielded a COHA. > John Leskosky started picking out our other GE of the day and got me on our > 3 NOHA of the season. Mark Reismeier and Alan Rabolo arrived just in time > to see the bulk of the days flight pass by. Sometimes I forget that it > isn’t all about racking up big numbers as I really enjoyed how excited > Louann, Mark and Alan were to see GE’s and the other species migrating > overhead. I also appreciate all the positive feedback I have received over > the last few weeks about the daily summaries. That really means a lot, and > more importantly I hope it encourages folks to keep coming up to help spot > birds. Every hawk watch I have been to is a team effort and it really does > help to have more people scanning. I’ve also enjoyed getting to meet all > the hawk watchers from the different corners of PA. I hope I continue to > meet more of you and learn more about your sites. Jon Kauffman popped in > briefly to see how the days flight was coming along. This coming Saturday > he will be leading a group out from Nature Inn on the Golden Eagle Voyage. > They are in for a stellar weekend kicking off with a presentation by Nick > Bolgiano on Friday night. This event is booked, but of course anyone is > welcome to join us this Saturday at Tussey Mountain. > > > > Ron Crandall > > John Leskosky > > John Donoughe > > Louann Wertz > > Jacqui McKee > > Jeff Peters > > Mark Reismeier > > Alan Rabolo > > Jon Kauffman > > > > Hikers 9 > > > > Next Day Forecast > > > > Partly sunny, with a high near 52. Light southeast wind. > > > > I won’t be making anymore predictions on good flights after todays > lackluster flight. I have learned in the past that making predictions more > than 48 hours out on the weather is a bad idea. It is interesting to note > that clearly the raptors are more in tune with what the actual weather is > going to be. > > > > *Tussey Mountain Hawk Watch* > > *State College, Pennsylvania, USA* > > *Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 12, 2025* > > *-------------------------------------------------------------------* > > > > *Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total* > > *------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------* > > *Black Vulture 0 0 0* > > *Turkey Vulture 0 20 85* > > *Osprey 0 0 0* > > *Bald Eagle 0 21 37* > > *Northern Harrier 1 2 3* > > *Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 10 13* > > *Cooper's Hawk 3 6 8* > > *American Goshawk 0 0 0* > > *Red-shouldered Hawk 0 10 20* > > *Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0* > > *Red-tailed Hawk 5 35 52* > > *Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0* > > *Golden Eagle 3 50 91* > > *American Kestrel 0 1 1* > > *Merlin 0 0 1* > > *Peregrine Falcon 0 2 3* > > *Unknown Accipitrine 0 2 2* > > *Unknown Buteo 0 5 7* > > *Unknown Falcon 0 0 0* > > *Unknown Eagle 0 1 3* > > *Unknown Raptor 0 2 4* > > > > *Total: 13 167 330* > > *----------------------------------------------------------------------* > > ------------------------------ > > End of SCBIRDCL Digest - 11 Mar 2025 to 12 Mar 2025 (#2025-69) > **************************************************************
Thanks for catching the MAKE mistake. It was AMKE for our keeners. That
happens routinely with WORD. Definitely not into MAKE anything vibes up
there on Tussey Mountain! I also fat fingered a WODO one day on the
checklist - didn't see one of those either. And someone wandered down the
mountain side not wondered. My proofing is lacking at the end of the day.
Official Counter
Adam Bradley
Total observation time
8.23 hrs (159.5)
Observers
Ron Crandall
John Leskosky
Jacqui McKee
Nick Bolgiano
Weather
Light WNW winds from 08:00 – 11:00. At 11:00 the winds shifted to the SW
for the remainder of the count. Mostly cloudy skies from 08:00 – 11:00. By
11:00 the clouds started lifting rapidly which is when the flight got
underway. The cloud cover in the morning made for excellent visibility to
32km, but was reduced once the clouds burned off to 16km by noon. Low
temperature of 2C at 08:00 and a high of 15C by 13:00.
Raptor Notes
NH 1 (3) SS 1 (13) CH 3 (8) RT 5 (52) GE 3 (91) Total 13 (330)
GE A 12:36, A 13:51, A 13:51
Today’s flight didn’t shape up as predicted. With clouds in place and
colder temps we likely missed what would have been the morning flight. By
11:00 the flight got underway with excellent diversity. The birds were
mostly spotted in one of two mixed kettles over the gap quite high. In
fact, the eagles today were the highest I have seen yet that early in the
day.
Resident raptor activity was greatly reduced other than the local BLVU and
TUVU. Of course, the resident Leading Ridge RTHA was out on territory
throughout the day. Late in the afternoon the resident COHA was heard
calling from the gap.
Non-raptor Notes
The resident PIWO has found a very resonant snag to drum on in the gap. He
was just tuning up today, but I hope to hear more of that. Another nice
flock of TUSW passed through the gap on a W route. That BCCH isn’t fooled
by me anymore. The largest kettle of BLVU thus far during the season was
spotted near closing time.
Canada Goose 3
Tundra Swan 56
Mourning Dove 2
Killdeer 1
Black Vulture 16
Turkey Vulture 7
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 1
American Crow 5
Common Raven 6
Black-capped Chickadee 3
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
European Starling 1
Eastern Bluebird 3
American Robin 2
House Finch 4
Pine Siskin 2
American Goldfinch 4
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 2
Red-winged Blackbird 2
Common Grackle 1
Visitors
Ron Crandall was out early to help me spot migrants. Unfortunately, due to
the cloud cover and colder air we didn’t get our morning flight. John
Leskosky of Bake Oven Knob Hawk Watch was with us early to help spot birds
as well. Louann Wertz was up early as well hoping to see some migrating
raptors. Jacqui McKee joined us for day two hoping to luck into a good
flight. It was Jeff Peters of State College Bird Club that spotted our
first GE of the day. Jacqui got us on a decent kettle that yielded a COHA.
John Leskosky started picking out our other GE of the day and got me on our
3 NOHA of the season. Mark Reismeier and Alan Rabolo arrived just in time
to see the bulk of the days flight pass by. Sometimes I forget that it
isn’t all about racking up big numbers as I really enjoyed how excited
Louann, Mark and Alan were to see GE’s and the other species migrating
overhead. I also appreciate all the positive feedback I have received over
the last few weeks about the daily summaries. That really means a lot, and
more importantly I hope it encourages folks to keep coming up to help spot
birds. Every hawk watch I have been to is a team effort and it really does
help to have more people scanning. I’ve also enjoyed getting to meet all
the hawk watchers from the different corners of PA. I hope I continue to
meet more of you and learn more about your sites. Jon Kauffman popped in
briefly to see how the days flight was coming along. This coming Saturday
he will be leading a group out from Nature Inn on the Golden Eagle Voyage.
They are in for a stellar weekend kicking off with a presentation by Nick
Bolgiano on Friday night. This event is booked, but of course anyone is
welcome to join us this Saturday at Tussey Mountain.
Ron Crandall
John Leskosky
John Donoughe
Louann Wertz
Jacqui McKee
Jeff Peters
Mark Reismeier
Alan Rabolo
Jon Kauffman
Hikers 9
Next Day Forecast
Partly sunny, with a high near 52. Light southeast wind.
I won’t be making anymore predictions on good flights after todays
lackluster flight. I have learned in the past that making predictions more
than 48 hours out on the weather is a bad idea. It is interesting to note
that clearly the raptors are more in tune with what the actual weather is
going to be.
Date: 3/12/25 7:20 am From: Wayne Laubscher <0000d35f1ba89b38-dmarc-request...> Subject: Possible Eurasian Wigeon near Loganton, Clinton County
This morning Amos Hershberger reported a possible Eurasian Wigeon at the Ohl/McElhatten Reservoir near Loganton. It was with a group of American Wigeon at the dam. It has not been confirmed yet.
S-SW winds for most of the survey at 12kph. By 15:00 the winds shifted to
the west which is when the flight tapered off. Visibility was good for most
of the count to 12km. Very little cloud cover for most of the count,
however in the final 1.5 hours of the survey some high stratus formed over
Tussey Mountain. Low temperature of 9C at 09:00 and a high of 23C by 15:00.
Raptor Notes
TV 1 (85) BE 2 (37) SS 2 (12) RS 2 (20) RT 12 (47) GE 7 (88) AK 1 UB 1 (7)
UR 1 (4) Total 29 (317)
GE A 11:22, A 11:23, A 11:49, I 11:49, I 12:05, A 12:10, A 14:23
The flight was looking pretty grim with not even our resident raptors
spotted anywhere until 11:00 EST. Luckily Larry Coble wondered downhill
below the OP and picked up our first GE trying to sneak by below the ridge
on the S side. No sooner did he holler up at us than a near GE flew in
close just to the S. At this point the flight continued to build and we
were alerted to two GE’s by a CORA. The CORA seemed to take particular
interest in mobbing both of the immature GE’s. I have seen this same
behavior in Montana many times, so I am happy the PA CORA are also capable
of aging GE’s. Larry also picked up our first of the season MAKE bouncing
along the tree tops over the gap and it shot out the N side of the cut. In
the 12:00 hour, Peggy Wagoner started picking up all the high streaming
RTHA’s.
The resident COHA got in a dogfight with a migrating SSHA just S of the OP.
It was close enough you could hear the faint cry of the SSHA. The resident
RTHA was observed throughout the day on Leading Ridge.
Non-raptor Notes
Canada Goose 100
Mourning Dove 3
American Herring Gull 1
Turkey Vulture 5
Pileated Woodpecker 2
American Crow 2
Common Raven 1
Black-capped Chickadee 4
Tufted Titmouse 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
European Starling 3
Eastern Bluebird 4
American Pipit 1
House Finch 1
Purple Finch 1
Red-winged Blackbird 7
Common Grackle 2
Helium Balloons 2 (4)
Visitors
Larry Coble from 2nd Mountain Hawk Watch was up early waiting for me when I
arrived at the cut. He spotted the first GE of the day trying to slip by
low over the highway on the S side of the ridge. He also spotted our first
of the season female MAKE. My buddy Kevin McGrath from White Plains was
back up for day 2 of his visit and it was looking pretty grim early in the
count. Happy we finally got some GE’s and he appreciated the close looks.
Phil Kress joined us as well in the morning and assured us he would be
back. Jacqui and David McKee were superb at helping us spot birds that were
slipping by distant. I hope they join us again as we appreciate their help
spotting migrating raptors. Jeff Peters of the State College Bird Club was
up again this morning and got to experience a busty flight. Deb Rittelmann
and Peggy Wagoner rotated in during the afternoon and did an exceptional
job picking up all the RTHA’s sky high following the ridgetop N. DJ and
Dorris Sledz arrived and got to see a few migrants moving through. Stacie
Bird and Jim Ruth joined me again in the late afternoon and I greatly
appreciated their company.
Larry Coble
Kevin McGrath
Phil Kress
Jacqui and David McKee
Deb Rittelmann
Peggy Wagoner
DJ and Dorris Sledz
Jim Ruth and Stacie Bird
14 hikers
Next Day Forecast
Partly sunny, with a high near 55. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5
mph in the afternoon.
With a steady ramping up in numbers over the last few days, tomorrow is
shaping up to possibly be our biggest flight of the season.
Date: 3/11/25 2:20 pm From: Grove, Deborah Shuey <dsg4...> Subject: Huntingdon county
Stopped at Lake Perez and it is still frozen over. Wanted to find a Pine Warbler but none there yet. However, it was a nice time to be out. I did find an Eastern Phoebe at the boardwalk. And welcomed the sweet song of a Brown Creeper!
Stone Valley Recreation Area--Lake Perez, Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, US
Mar 11, 2025 11:14 AM - 11:51 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.89 mile(s)
16 species
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 2
Black-capped Chickadee 1
Tufted Titmouse 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
Brown Creeper 1
Eastern Bluebird 4
American Robin 5
American Goldfinch 1
Dark-eyed Junco 8
Song Sparrow 3
Northern Cardinal 1
Shaver's Creek Env. Center--Boardwalk, Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, US
Mar 11, 2025 11:52 AM - 12:14 PM
Protocol: Traveling
0.25 mile(s)
6 species
Mourning Dove 1
Eastern Phoebe 1
Common Raven 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Brown Creeper 2
Dark-eyed Junco 6
Stone Valley Forest--Red Rose Rd., Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, US
Mar 11, 2025 12:25 PM - 12:34 PM
Protocol: Traveling
0.8 mile(s)
9 species
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 1
American Crow 1
Black-capped Chickadee 7
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
American Robin 1
White-throated Sparrow 2
Song Sparrow 2
Below is a description of the Sound Recording Workshop presented by Julia Plummer on April 12. If you are planning to attend, you will need to pre-register. Anyone is welcome to attend, but space is limited. Please click on the link in Julia's description to secure your place at the workshop.
Saturday, April 12, 2025 (8-10AM) Shaver's Creek Environmental Center, Aerie Classroom Sound Recording Workshop
Warm day on Tussey Mountain. Light SW winds to begin the count at 11kph. By
13:00 they had shifted to the WNW at 19kph. Visibility was good to 12km.
Very little cloud cover over the horizon. Low temperature of 6C at 08:30
and a high of 19C by 14:00.
Raptor Notes
TV 4 (84) SS 3 (10) RT 1 (18) GE 5 (81) UB 1 (6) UR 1 (3) Total 15 (288)
GE A 09:50, A 10:11, A 10:54, A 11:02, A 12:37
GE led the flight again today with the first one detected low on Leading
Ridge. There was light winds and good thermal activity, but the eagle
remained low soaring down Stone Valley. The next three came through on very
similar flight lines on top of the ridge. Fortunately, with light winds and
good thermals the eagles didn’t come through fast. They had to work
thermals rising off the different rock outcrops along the ridge. Scanning
around the eagles also helped with locating a few SSHA’s. The flight lulled
briefly around noon, then picked back up again in the 13:00 hour. About the
midway through the 13:00 hour the flight came to an abrupt halt.
The Leading Ridge resident RTHA was detected several times soaring high
over its territory. It also performed its roller coaster display along the
ridge. At least 2 adult BAEA were in a skirmish with another BAEA out over
Warrior’s Ridge a little before noon. At 14:43 the resident COHA was seen
soaring in a kettle of TUVU on the N side of the ridge. It later was
spotted escorting a juvenile RTHA away from the gap. The juvenile RTHA has
been trespassing across multiple occupied territories, but appears to be
tolerated by the local RTHA.
Non-raptor Notes
There is a BCCH that has a territory adjacent to where I conduct the count
from. It was quite vocal and didn’t appreciate my singing back to it in its
territory. The resident CORA showed up around closing time, but didn’t get
the official Tussey Mountain protocol memo on DST. They wanted to perch on
the powerline tower and were caught off guard by my presence.
Canada Goose 453
Tundra Swan 30
Mourning Dove 3
Killdeer 1
Pileated Woodpecker 1
American Crow 10
Common Raven 16
Black-capped Chickadee 3
Horned Lark 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
Eastern Bluebird 4
American Robin 2
American Pipit 1
House Finch 1
Pine Siskin 2
American Goldfinch 1
Visitors
Margaret Brittingham was up for her first visit this spring. Bob McLaughlin
stopped by in the afternoon to help scan. My good friend and legendary
Westchester County birder Kevin McGrath made the trip out from White
Plains. Looking forward to getting him on some GE’s tomorrow. We hope the
rest of the Chestnut Ridge crew can join us next year or later this season.
Gary Miller and Mary Knipe got to see many of the resident raptors during
their visit. Jim Ruth and Stacie Bird were up to celebrate her father’s
birthday.
John Donoughe
Margaret Brittingham
Bob McLaughlin
Kevin McGrath
Gary Miller and Mary Knipe
Jim Ruth and Stacie Bird
2 hikers.
Next Day Forecast
Sunny, with a high near 68. Calm wind becoming southwest 5 to 9 mph in the
morning. Winds could gust as high as 22 mph.
Due to DST we are now counting 09:30-05:30 for the rest of the season. For
those folks who follow along at Hawkcount.org don't get fooled by the
incorrect times of the count shown there.
Official Counter
Adam Bradley
Total observation time
9.53 hrs (134.78)
Observers
Don Pote
Nick Bolgiano
Peggy Wagoner
Weather
SW winds to start the morning at 19kph. By 10:00 they had shifted to the
west and eventually WNW peaking at 38kph at 14:00. Visibility was good for
most of the count at 12km. Almost no clouds at the beginning of the count,
but by 10:00 they started drifting in from the W. This provided good
conditions for scanning. By noon though they had all drifted over Tussey
Mountain and evaporated over Stone Valley. Low temperature of -3C at 07:30
and a high of 10C by 16:00.
Raptor Notes
TV 1 (80) BE 2 (35) SS 1 (7) RS 1 (18) RT 1 (34) GE 3 (76) Total 9 (273)
GE A 09:55, J 09:55, A 12:53
Another slow flight falling just short of reaching double digits. With DST
kicking in I arrived a hour too early. I was treated by locating a roosting
adult GE down on Leading Ridge. I got to watch it for 1.5 hours walking
along a thick branch in a snag. It was taking turns warming its back in the
rising sun, then switching to warm its breast feathers. Occasionally it
preened its feathers and seemed to take an interest in what was going on in
the forest below its perch. Two CORA were perched a safe distance away and
seemed interested in what the GE was up to. Eventually out of the corner of
my eye I spotted a nice-looking juvenile GE flapping S before losing it
behind Leading Ridge. At the end of the 09:00 hour the resident RTHA was
taking swipes at something and it ended up being the juvenile which was
trying to get a little lift off Leading Ridge. It worked hard, flapping
more than soaring. It eventually did gain altitude climbing slowly up the
ridge. Eventually when it gained enough altitude to be above the adult GE,
it too took off following the juvenile up the ridge. It eventually broke
off and used powered flight to fly NE down Stone Valley. The juvenile
flapped up the gap and I lost it behind the trees. This made me realize
what the migrating raptors have been up against with cold air in place
since 6 March and strong NW winds.
Don Pote located our resident SSHA flying south over the gap a little
before noon. He later located our resident COHA soaring out to the north
side of the ridge heading south as well.
Non-raptor Notes
Canada Goose 255
Mourning Dove 3
Killdeer 3
Ring-billed Gull 117
American Herring Gull 2
Black Vulture 4
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 8
Common Raven 2
Black-capped Chickadee 10
Tufted Titmouse 1
Eastern Bluebird 3
American Robin 10
American Pipit 2
House Finch 2
American Goldfinch 4
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 1
Red-winged Blackbird 35
Rusty Blackbird 17
Visitors
Thanks to Don Pote for coming out for the day and helping scan for
migrants. Jeff Peters a member of the State College Birding Club joined us
in the morning as well. Jim Ruth and Stacie Bird were up in the afternoon
when the winds were getting pretty strong. Later in the afternoon Peggy
Wagoner came out to help scan. Unfortunately, she didn’t locate any
migrating raptors. That speaks to how slow the flight has been these last
few days. If anyone can find a sky-high bird trying to sneak by on a
non-traditional flight line it is her.
Don Pote
Nick Bolgiano
Jeff Peters
Peggy Wagoner
Jim Ruth & Stacie Bird
13 hikers
Next Day Forecast
Sunny, with a high near 60. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the
afternoon.
Nick mentioned that most likely the biggest days of the season for GE’s
will be this coming Wednesday and Thursday. Also, due to DST we are now
counting 09:30-05:30 for the rest of the season.
Date: 3/9/25 12:40 pm From: Gyekis, Joseph Peter <jpg186...> Subject: history of bird protections in State College?
Hi Everyone,
Maybe there's a local historian among the many subscribers to this listserve.
Many municipalities made it illegal to kill birds in town before the federal-level protections went into effect in the 1960s and 1970s. Some towns still have signs up like Welcome to Thisville (Bird Sanctuary).
I wonder if this was the case for State College, and if so, what was done when? Can't seem to find it by Googling and searching the borough code just says that you can't hunt birds in the municipal parks/regs about pets and raising birds.
Any leads appreciated!
Joe
Trace amount of snow fell overnight along the summit of Tussey Mountain.
Stiff WNW winds peaking at 50+ kph in the 10:00 hour. Visibility was good
in the morning with large cumulus clouds drifting over the ridge. A little
afternoon the clouds had moved off and sunny skies prevailed. Low
temperature of -1C at 09:00 and a high of 3C by 11:00.
Raptor Notes
TV 1 (79) BE 4 (33) RT 1 (33) GE 2 (73) Total 8 (264)
GE A 12:37, A 14:49
Another tough day scanning a mostly featureless blue sky for high flying
migrants. All migrants were moving through at the limit of binoculars and
primarily on the N side of the ridge.
Nick Bolgiano issued his first of four GE updates for the seasons survey
effort. I can’t post graphs on Hawk Count, but here is summary:
At the end of February, our Golden Eagle cumulative count was ahead of all
previous seasons. However, we haven't counted many on the last several days
of strong WNW wind, so this year's cumulative total of 73 is now consistent
with a group of other years. Good so far, but not extraordinarily so.
Possible that we could get S wind days later next week.
If there are multiple S wind days early in the season, many Golden Eagles
tend to drift to the Allegheny Front. The AF hawk watch has tallied 16
Golden Eagles so far this year, so that scenario has been limited, which is
good for our count.
The resident RTHA were active along the ridge throughout the day. At 14:00
an adult and immature were both seen flying S along the ridge, the adult
leading and the juvenile following. I noticed this same behavior yesterday
as well. At 14:46 Nick spotted an adult male NOHA flying south low along
the west side of the ridge.
Non-raptor Notes
Canada Goose 413
Black Vulture 1
Turkey Vulture 6
American Crow 3
Common Raven 8
Black-capped Chickadee 1
Visitors
Bob McLaughlin arrived early in the count to help scan for migrants. It was
a tough day scanning blue skies again so I really appreciate his effort.
Later in the afternoon Phaedra brought her daughters Kaia and Emerson up to
the site after having visited Shavers Creek Nature Center. They enjoyed
getting to see the raptors in the aviary and I hope they visit again
tomorrow. Hopefully some GE’s will be flying so we can help them spot some.
Bob McLaughlin
Phaedra
Kaia and Emerson Leslie
7 hikers.
Next Day Forecast
Sunny, with a high near 48. West wind 7 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 26
mph.
We could see a decent flight tomorrow considering it is the first day in
three days without NW winds. After 4 days of struggling to break double
digits for migrants, it would appear the raptors may be stacking up south
of us. Looking ahead the first day we see S winds in the forecast is likely
to be a big day. After the last two days of scanning blue skies, I am
hoping the west winds tomorrow will bring us more birds.
Date: 3/8/25 3:14 pm From: Nick Bolgiano <nickbolgiano...> Subject: Tussey Mt Golden Eagle Cumulative chart - first 2025 chart
Here is the first Golden Eagle cumulative chart for the Tussey Mt hawk watch this season.
At the end of February, our Golden Eagle cumulative count was ahead of all previous seasons. However, we haven't counted many on the last several days of strong WNW wind, so this year's cumulative total of 73 is now consistent with a group of other years. Good so far, but not extraordinarily so. Possible that we could get S wind days later next week.
If there are multiple S wind days early in the season, many Golden Eagles tend to drift to the Allegheny Front. The AF hawk watch has tallied 16 Golden Eagles so far this year, so that scenario has been limited, which is good for our count.
Beginning Saturday, March 8, visitors to Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area again will have regular access to the property.
The Game Commission in early February closed public access to several locations at Middle Creek, including the popular wildlife-viewing area Willow Point, due to concerns about highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), which at the time was being detected in increasing numbers of wildlife species and locations statewide.
The HPAI outbreak is ongoing nationwide, and the Game Commission continues to respond to reports and detect new cases in wild birds across the Commonwealth. However, there have been no mass mortality events in Pennsylvania approaching the scale seen in early January, when upward of 5,000 dead snow geese were removed from two sites in the Lehigh Valley. With limited HPAI reports and detections occurring within Middle Creek and its immediate surroundings, the Game Commission is comfortable lifting the access restriction previously put in place.
Visitors to the site, and Pennsylvanians everywhere, are advised to:
- Always view wildlife from a safe distance
- Avoid wildlife feces, and
- Never handle sick or dead wildlife
Sick or dead wild birds, or any wild animal behaving abnormally or causing concern, should be reported to the Game Commission at 1-833-PGC-WILD (1-833-742-9453).
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture continues to advise domestic bird and poultry owners to maintain heightened biosecurity and, if possible, keep poultry indoors to safeguard their health. Any questions regarding domestic animals should be directed to the Department of Agriculture at 717-772-2852.
Those with questions about visiting Middle Creek can call the Visitor Center at 717-733-1512.
The Wildlife Drive, which is closed seasonally and remained closed in recent weeks, will reopen on Saturday, as well. Visitors are reminded that certain areas of Middle Creek are regularly closed to the public throughout the year to prevent disturbance of wildlife. and remain closed. Please adhere to posted signs indicating these areas.
Trace amount of snow fell over Tussey Mountain overnight. Strong WNW winds
peaking at 11:00 at 49kph. Visibility was excellent at 16 km with good
views of Stone Mountain. Bluebird skies for the entire count with only a
few clouds drifting over the ridge. Low temperature of -3C at 08:44 and a
high of 7C by 13:00.
Raptor Notes
TV 1 (78) BE 3 (29) GE 1 (71) Total 5 (256)
GE A 11:17
Virtually non-existent flight with only 5 raptors migrating along Tussey
Mountain. BE led the flight with 3 coming through. The one GE of the day
was sky high going cross ridge and then off to the west. There is a high
likelihood other GE’s were taking these sky high lines, but it was
difficult to spot them in the blue skies. In fact, the one that was
detected was due to scanning around the edges of the few clouds drifting
over the ridge during the afternoon.
While migrating raptors weren’t moving through in great numbers our
resident raptors were quite active along the ridge. At 09:41 while Deb
Rittelman and I were discussing some of the finer points of the use of
Trektellen our resident RTHA zipped into the forest behind the OP with
furry prey in its clutches. It looked to be some kind of rodent or squirrel
that it had secured. The RTHA’s by far were the most frequent raptor
detected today kiting in the stiff WNW winds, gliding south along the ridge
and occasionally soaring over Leading Ridge. Gabe and I got a good look at
an immature NOHA flying south along the ridge as well.
Non-raptor Notes
Mourning Dove 2
Black Vulture 3
Turkey Vulture 4
American Crow 8
Common Raven 2
Black-capped Chickadee 3
Eastern Bluebird 1
Visitors
Deb Rittelmann arrived with some healthy snacks and provided good company
on this sunny and blustery day. Gabe Imler the Program Director of Camp
Blue Diamond also joined us to help spot migrating raptors. Fortunately,
one distant GE was spotted taking the cross-ridge route high and out to the
west while they were here. Later on, Gabe got to see many of our resident
raptors including a lifer NOHA. Looking forward to his visit next Friday
and I hope we get some closer GE’s then.
Deb Rittelmann
Gabe Imler
3 hikers. 1 runner.
Next Day Forecast
Mostly sunny, with a high near 40. Northwest wind 9 to 14 mph, with gusts
as high as 28 mph.
Trail conditions are superb and I won’t update on them any longer unless
there is a reason to.
Date: 3/7/25 6:28 am From: Brittingham, Margaret <mxb21...> Subject: FW: Saving Seabirds: Lessons from 50 Years of Project Puffin
Hi All
I’m forwarding this announcement from the Arboretum. Stephen Kress will be the Arboretum Avian Education featured speaker on Thursday March 20th at 6:00 pm. This should be an excellent talk. Note, there will also be a bird walk at 8:00 AM.
From: The Arboretum at Penn State <arboretum.psu.edu...>
Sent: Wednesday, March 5, 2025 10:48 AM
To: Brittingham, Margaret <mxb21...>
Subject: Saving Seabirds: Lessons from 50 Years of Project Puffin
Saving Seabirds: Lessons Learned from 50 Years of Project Puffin
Join us for our annual avian lecture! This year's topic: how innovative conservation methods helped to restore a beloved seabird to the coasts of Maine and how those methods became standard across the world.
* Date: March 20, 2025
* Time: 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
* Location: Events space in the Palmer Museum of Art
* Registration for the live event is recommended but not required. Drop-in participation will be available if space permits.
* If you would prefer to attend virtually, please register for the Zoom lecture.
[Register to attend in person]
[Register to attend via Zoom]
About our speaker
Stephen Kress is the founder of the National Audubon Society's Project Puffin and is a visiting fellow of the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. He previously served as vice president for bird conservation for the National Audubon Society and director of the Hog Island Audubon camp in Bremen, ME. He received his Ph.D. from Cornell University and is the author of many books on birdwatching and gardening, as well as co-author of Project Puffin: The Improbable Quest to Bring a Beloved Seabird Back to Egg Rock.
Drop in to the Overlook Pavilion and join our 2025 speaker for a morning bird walk! All levels of avian expertise are welcome. Wear sturdy shoes and bring binoculars if you have them; a limited number of pairs will be available to borrow.
Join us in the Palmer Museum lobby for a trip behind the scenes! We will be checking out the Palmer's collection of Audubon prints and learning the secrets of sketching a bird.
Create your own puffin decoy using paint and a wooden decoy blank. These adorable pseudo-seabirds probably won’t attract real puffins to central Pennsylvania but are guaranteed to look amazing on your bookshelf.
Spring migration is here and waves of birds are returning to their breeding grounds in Pennsylvania and points north! Meet at the Arboretum's Overlook Pavilion for a drop-in walk guided by an avian expert. Please wear sturdy shoes suitable for walking in rustic areas, and bring binoculars if you have them. A limited number of pairs will be available to borrow.
I wanted to take a moment and welcome the State College Bird Club members
to Tussey Mountain. I realize if you have never been to a hawk watch before
you may feel as if you are interfering with the count by coming over and
saying hello. Or it may seem intimidating with all the scopes and camera
gear on site. Since this site doesn't really experience a high volume of
migrating raptors like some sites do, it isn't a big deal to come over and
talk with myself, Adam Bradley or some of the other expert spotters who may
be up the day you are visiting. Our goal is to help you spot some migrating
raptors while you are up. It can be hard to do so if you're standing a ways
back as the perspective changes. Either way, definitely come say hello and
realize we are a very welcoming bunch. We really enjoy visitors. Another
way to contribute to the count is to help spot birds. The more eyes the
better.
Official Counter
Adam Bradley
Total observation time
7.5 hrs (109.25)
Observers
Bill Chambers
Patty Gray
Jon Kauffman
Weather
Trace snow overnight. At the OP at 09:00 light snow was drifting over
Tussey Mountain. WNW winds peaking in the afternoon at 50kph. Excellent
visibility to 32km. Mostly cloudy skies for the entire observation effort.
High temperature of 0C at 09:00 and a low of -3C by 15:00. Light snow
falling off and on through the entire count. In the 10:00 hour heavy
graupel fell for about 15 minutes.
Raptor Notes
TV 1 (77) SS 2 (6) CH 1 (5) RT 2 (32) GE 5 (70) Total 11 (251)
GE A 09:22, A 10:13, A 10:13, A 10:38, A 12:34
GE led the flight today with 5 coming through. The two in the 10:00 hour
seemed to be travelling together. One hesitated briefly by the cut and that
is when the second eagle came into view. All but one of today’s GE’s were
following the west side of the ridge. In the 13:00 hour a CH and SS both
came through in that order while I was taking the wind measurement. While
it wasn’t a busy day, migrants were easy to spot as they were all taking
the same flight line.
Bill Chambers spotted the local SSHA zipping around on both sides of the
ridge. Late in the afternoon the resident RTHA was gliding back and forth
across the powerline cut.
Non-raptor Notes
Canada Goose 7
Mourning Dove 2
Pileated Woodpecker 2
Common Raven 1
Visitors
Bill Chambers
Patty Gray
Jon Kauffman
Bill Chambers arrived in the 10:00 hour to help locate some migrating GE.
He got on one pretty quickly after getting situated and another followed
shortly thereafter. I greatly appreciated his help scanning. Later in the
afternoon Patty Gray and Jon Kauffman from Shavers Creek Environmental
Center stopped by for a visit. We got some decent looks at one of our
resident RTHA zipping back and forth across the powerline cut.
Next Day Forecast
Mostly sunny, with a high near 45. West wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as
high as 39 mph.
Heavy rain fell over Tussey Mountain until a little after 13:00 when the
clouds rapidly began lifting over Stone Valley. Up at the op at 14:30 WSW
winds at 28kph were blowing bands of fog through the cut. Visibility was
superb, in fact the best I have seen since the count was initiated in
February. The heavy rains cleared out much of the haze and I could make out
the tree cover 32km distant on the east. Mostly cloudy skies for the brief
count period. Temperature was 10C.
Raptor Notes
GE 2 (65) Total 2 (240)
GE A 14:37, A 15:05
A brief flight occurred with a GE spotted within five minutes of arriving
at the OP. It was gliding out over Leading Ridge and made its way NE
parallel to the ridge on the S. Approximately a half hour later another GE
took the exact same line as the first eagle. Unfortunately, 1.5 hours of
prime observation time were missed and there likely were GE moving prior to
my arrival. Fortunately, since my hosts live about 15 minutes’ drive from
the site, that won’t be happening again.
Our local resident RTHA kited over the powerline cut right near the OP at
14:35. At 15:34 likely this same buteo was spotted in a prominent snag
along leading ridge. It had its feathers fluffed out and was carefully
reorganizing its tailfeathers. I am becoming aware of some prominent
perches that are favorites of the local corvids and raptors. I like
checking down there when the flight lulls just to watch what the locals are
up to.
Non-raptor Notes
Thousands of migrating waterbirds out over Stone Valley late this
afternoon. I frequently picked up distant migrating passerines as well.
Canada Goose 2666
American Crow 2
Common Raven 20
Black-capped Chickadee 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Common Grackle 60
Visitors
None
Next Day Forecast
Tomorrow likely will not be a busy flight. I will be up alone for the day,
so if any all-star local spotters want to come help for a few hours from
11:00 – 14:00 I could certainly use the help scanning.
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 37. West wind 9 to 18 mph, with gusts as
high as 39 mph.
The trail is virtually ice free now. There are two patches of ice still
lingering along the trail near the OP. The trail also has two trees down on
it, but this hasn’t proven to be an issue yet for anyone visiting. Our
parking area was almost full yesterday, but most of the snow has melted out
so we have ample parking.
Date: 3/5/25 10:22 am From: Nick Bolgiano <nickbolgiano...> Subject: Nature Colombia and Colombian bird tours
A large part of why Colombian bird tours are typically well organized is because of an organization called Nature Colombia. It was started and owned by two women and what they do for tours seems very Colombian.
Nature Colombia does all the behind-the-scenes coordination with where our tour group stayed overnight, where we ate, the hiring of drivers and vehicles, and arranging for local guides at two particular sites. There is also a Colombian bird guide on the tour the whole time, who helps find birds and handles all local transactions. Our recent Colombian guide, Manuela, is actually an employee of Nature Colombia. I think that the previous two Colombian guides contracted with Nature Colombia with input from the tour company, Hillstar Nature. Nature Colombia provides this service for many bird tours in Colombia and I think is a big reason for the success of Colombian bird tours.
Our principal guide, Josh Covill, splits where he lives between Montana in the warm season and Costa Rica otherwise; he guides in both places. Josh said that Colombia and Ecuador are about 30 years behind Costa Rica in terms of ecotourism. I think overall that ecotourism has been a benefit for Colombia. Many Colombians are excellent birders and guiding is one way that many earn a living.
Attached are pictures of our Colombian tour guide, Manuela, and of a local guide, Alvaro. The Colombian guides are usually a lot of fun to have along and are very good at finding birds. There is a lot happening on these tours other than just birds.
Date: 3/5/25 9:13 am From: KATHLEEN BECHDEL <0000d165c6a818d5-dmarc-request...> Subject: Bird Walk with Ethan Tapper
Dear State College Bird Club Members,
We have been offered a great opportunity to join Ethan Tapper for a bird walk at Shaver's Creek Environmental Center on Sunday, March 9 from 10 - 11:30 am.
This field trip is for State College Bird Club MEMBERS ONLY to show appreciation for their continuing support.
Spaces are limited and we are capping the registration at 12 participants. Please register by emailing Kathy Bechdel at <kmbechdel...> mailto:<kmbechdel...>
Observation start time: 09:30:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 5.5 hours
Official Counter: Darrell Smith
Observers: Ken Tucker
Visitors: A couple of site seers and one female on a motorcycle who picked up some trash on the Belleville side and brought it over and asked if we could dispose of it. Ken told her to put on the back of his truck.
Weather: Started out complete overcast cool and rather dark with good winds from the SE. About midday it started to clear and became quite sunny. The winds came from the S some later and then back to SE. The sun was warm after clearing.
Raptor Observations: 1 adult Bald Eagle late in the day migrating. We observed at least 5 Bald Eagles not migrating. Some came from behind us from the north and went south and others come from the south and then turned and went back. Some TV's and BV's not counted as migrating. A couple Red-tails and a Sharp-shin not counted as migrating. Nemo chasing and swiping at one Bald Eagle. We had hopes of at least one GE, but that didn't happen.
Superb group of legendary Pennsylvanian hawk watchers out today to make
sure no raptor migrated past Tussey Mountain Hawk Watch undetected.
Official Counter
Adam Bradley
Total observation time
8.23 hrs (99.23)
Observers
Brandon Brogle
Bob McLaughlin
Paul Fritz and Regina Gaison
Joyce and Jim Waugh
Nick Bolgiano
Jon Kauffman
Joe Sabo
Ken Bowman
Peggy Wagoner
Weather
A light drizzle, high winds and colder temps to start the morning. 28kph
SSW winds for most of the count. Visibility to 13km with a haze present.
Mostly cloudy skies until noon when it began to clear off fast. Low
temperature of 2C at 08:30 and a high of 15C by 14:00.
Raptor Notes
GE A 10:52, A 11:49, A 12:35, A 12:43, A 12:48, A 12:51, A 12:58, A 12:59,
A 13:21, A 13:39, A 13:48, U 13:54, A 13:54, A 14:15, A 14:20
TV 1 (76) BE 6 (26) NH 1 (2) CH 2 (4) RS (6) RT (8) GE 15 (63) PG 1 (3) UA
1 (2) UB 1 (3) Total 43 (75)
Golden Eagles led the flight today with a total of 15 coming through. Most
flew parallel to the S of the ridge. The flight didn’t get underway until
the noon hour with a total of 10 raptors coming through 6 of which were
GE’s. The flight peaked in the 13:00 hour with 18 raptors migrating past
and really good diversity. A NOHA shot through the gap providing close
looks and another PEFA was zooming around over Leading Ridge. We also
picked up our highest one-day totals thus far this season for RS and RT.
Our resident RT was frequently spotted along Leading Ridge, but may be
seeing some challengers arriving to test the boundaries of its territory.
It may also have a mate as there were times when two were kiting very close
to one another. A resident BAEA flew S along the ridge several times as
well.
Non-raptor Notes
Canada Goose 452
Tundra Swan 197
Wood Duck 1
Common Merganser 5
Killdeer 2
Black Vulture 2
Turkey Vulture 6
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 5
Common Raven 6
Black-capped Chickadee 1
Tufted Titmouse 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
American Pipit 1
House Finch 1
American Goldfinch 1
Red-winged Blackbird 14
Common Grackle 1
Visitors
Brandon Brogle
Bob McLaughlin
Paul Fritz and Regina Gaison
Joyce and Jim Waugh
Nick Bolgiano
Jon Kauffman
Joe Sabo
Ken Bowman
Peggy Wagoner
Jeff Peters
Superb group of legendary Pennsylvanian hawk watchers out today to make
sure no raptor migrated past Tussey Mountain Hawk Watch undetected. Brandon
Brogle arrived early shortly after I did and got settled in. When Paul
Fritz and Regina Gaison arrived, Regina quickly located the first raptor of
the day with a close SS. The flight remained slow until Joe Sabo arrived
and with his good spirits the flight picked up with several GE’s pouring
through. Brandon located our 2nd NH and 3rd PG of the season helping us
diversify the days flight. Jon Kauffman picked out some distant specks over
Stone Mountain for us to sort through on non – traditional flight lines.
Peggy Wagoner made sure we were getting all those sky high buteos trying to
sneak by directly overhead. Jeff Peters a member of the State College Bird
Club joined us on a fabulous day and was able to get on several migrating
raptors. With a group of such dedicated hawk watchers I gained an entire
new vocabulary and picked up some of the local hawk watching history. It
was a special day at Tussey Mountain and I was lucky to enjoy it with such
a fine group. I also appreciate Brandon doing some impromptu outreach for
our hiker friends.
2 hikers.
Next Day Forecast
Rain before 3pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 3pm and
4pm, then a chance of showers after 4pm. High near 56. Southeast wind 8 to
13 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New
rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
The trail is melting fast. I couldn’t believe how ice free the single track
was on the hike out compared to the hike in this morning. The only stubborn
section that remains is still close to the parking lot, however a strip has
melted out where some vehicle drove through. I would hope after this rain
event the trail should be looking pretty good.
Signage is up, stadium seating has been installed and free State College
Bird Club stickers are available while supplies last.
Official Counter
Adam Bradley
Total observation time
7.53 hours (91)
Observers
Nick Bolgiano
Weather
Light WSW winds at 5kph to start the count increasing to 19kph by 13:00.
They then slowly dissipated for the remainder of the count eventually
becoming calm by 16:00. Visibility was good at 13km. Very little cloud
cover with most clouds out on the horizon. This made for difficult spotting
while scanning the blue skies. Low temperature of -4C at 09:00 and a high
of 4C by 14:00.
Raptor Notes
TV 3 (74) BE 2 (4) RS 1 (11) RT 3 (20) GE 3 (20) PG 1 (2) UA 1 (1) Total 14
(189)
GE A 10:07, A 10:12, A 12:33
The flight got underway in the 10:00 hour with a total of 5 raptors coming
through. My personal favorite was our second adult PEFA of the season. The
large falcon was first detected to the south of the powerline tower heading
NE along the NW side of the ridge. It didn’t linger long as it was gliding
fast across the OP. The flight then lulled in the noon hour before picking
up again at 13:00 with another 5 raptors coming through. One was our last
GE of the day moving NE over Stone Valley. After the close of this hour the
flight came to an abrupt halt.
A resident COHA was heard calling from the forest just N of the powerline
cut. Shortly after one was detected zipping through the cut over the
powerlines to the NW. Despite the flight lulling at the end of the 13:00
hour our resident raptors were plenty active in the light and variable
winds. The resident RTHA was spotted for most of the remainder of the
afternoon over Leading Ridge and Stone Valley kiting and occasionally
stooping on prey.
Non-raptor Notes
Black Vulture 4
Turkey Vulture 5
Cooper's Hawk 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 4
Common Raven 2
Black-capped Chickadee 14
Tufted Titmouse 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
Eastern Bluebird 1
American Goldfinch 1
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 1
Visitors
Jon Kauffman hiked out and installed our signage. We are now looking more
like and official hawk watch. I wanted to thank him kindly for the nice
Shavers Creek Environmental Center vest and an ample supply of awesome
State College Bird Club stickers. I especially appreciated these gifts as I
was celebrating my birthday today. I am more than happy to stoke out any
dedicated hawk watcher or spotter if they are willing to locate a few
distant specks for me to investigate. Get them while supplies last.
Next Day Forecast
Tomorrow could be our first chance to see a good movement of migrating
raptors this month. With S winds in the forecast and cloud cover migrants
should be easy to spot. The trail is still treacherous in the vicinity of
the parking lot up to where the double track becomes single track.
Hopefully the warmer weather in the next few days melts it out. I am
finding it to be slow going on the way in in the morning when it is rock
solid and ditto on the way out in the evening.
Partly sunny, with a high near 55. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 7 mph in
the afternoon.
Blustery day on Tussey Mountain with only a few migrants passing through.
Official Counter
Adam Bradley
Total observation time
8 (83.47)
Observers
Nick Bolgiano
Bob McLaughlin
Weather
Blustery day at Tussey Mountain with WNW winds gusting to 38kph for most of
the morning. By 14:00 they had set down a little to 19kph. Visibility was
limited to 6km to start the count as light snow formed over the Stone
Valley. By 10:00 it began to clear and visibility improved to 12km. Mostly
cloudy skies until 13:00. Low temperature of -9C at 09:00 and a high of 2C
by 15:00.
Raptor Notes
GE A 11:08, U 14:07
Not much moving today with only a few GE’s and a few BE’s. All eagles were
spotted on the W side of the ridge.
We are starting to note resident TUVU in the area more frequently. The
resident adult RTHA was seen moving S along the ridge several times. A
little after 14:00 we spotted two BAEA’s, one giving chase. A third was
spotted and this third eventually took a swipe at the one being chased.
Non-raptor Notes
Canada Goose 180
American Crow 1
Common Raven 2
Black-capped Chickadee 7
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Visitors
Bob McLaughlin
6 hikers.
Next Day Forecast
Sunny, with a high near 40. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the
afternoon.
For our local all-star spotters, keep an on eye on Tuesday’s possible S
winds in the afternoon.
The trail is still quite icy up from the parking lot to the single track.
Even on the single track I almost went down several times.
