Date: 1/27/25 3:47 pm From: Thomas Kuehl <tjk.kuehl...> Subject: Westmoreland County WRS – Kuehl West-Central Route – 61 Raptors
Greg and All,
This is the 5th year for our Westmoreland County Central-West Route (PSO #657). The route is located south of Rt. 22 (excepting a short part at the start), and west of Rt. 66. The route starts in Delmont and crosses south of Rt. 30 in Adamsburg, then wanders in and around Hermine, Madison, West Newton Sutersville, Yukon and Centerville before ending on Rt. 30 in Jeannette.
We started out like gang-busters on this beautiful blue-sky day. Calm to start, then winds picked up a bit in the afternoon, but never to the point of saying it was gusty. Not sure whether or the clear skies or winds impacted the count, however things certainly slowed down for RT’s and TV’s in the afternoon versus the morning. The 34 RT’s was a new low for the route. The 22 TV’s was just one short of the record high count of 23 in 2023. A mini deer dump accounted for 7 of the TV’s and the one Common Raven seen today. The route provided for 2 Northern Harriers in 2022 and one Rough-legged Hawk in 2023. We have yet to record a Red-shouldered Hawk, a Sharp-shinned Hawk, a Merlin or a Peregrine Falcon on the route. Four-year averages on the species seen today are noted below.
Tom Kuehl
Westmoreland County Compiler
County: Westmoreland
Name of route - West Central / PSO map number: 657
Date – January 27, 2025
Observers - Tom & Janet Kuehl
Survey time (minus breaks) : Hrs: 5 Mins: 49
Start/End: 9:30am / 3:29pm - Just 10 minutes of break time
Approx. Miles on route: 90.4
Avg Temp.- 30F
Clear/Pt cloudy/Cloudy- Clear
Wind – Calm/Light/medium- Light, then medium in the afternoon
Avg. Inches Snow cover- 4”
34 Red-tails Average = 48.75
3 Kestrels- Male = 3 Average = 4.25
22 TVs Average = 8.5
2 Cooper’s – ND = 2.75
Comments:
Non-raptors species seen included Common Raven, Eastern Bluebirds and American Robins. We were delighted to see two Black-phase Gray Squirrel.
Many new drilling pads seen today – they are popping up like Dollar General Stores.
