Date: 1/31/25 8:01 am From: Thomas Kuehl <tjk.kuehl...> Subject: Westmoreland County – Kuehl Ligonier Valley WRS # 653 61 Raptors
Greg and All,
This is the 13th year for this route in the Ligonier Valley (area between Chestnut Ridge to the west and Laurel Ridge to the east). The route is almost entirely south of Rt. 30. Six species and 61 total raptors are both in line with our best years, so Janet and I are quite pleased with the day’s results. The Ligonier Valley and the route both delivered on their reputation for being a prime winter location for Vultures as we had above average counts for both Black and Turkey Vulture, however neither a record number due to some unusually high counts in past years on the route. There are several good locations for Red-shouldered Hawks, and we saw two adults together at one of them today. Today’s three American Kestrels was a new record high for the route.
The lunch break in the parking lot at the Powdermill Nature Reserve Visitor’s Center was very productive with each of a Black and Turkey Vulture, and two Red-tailed Hawks that included a leucistic one that is likely the one that is occasionally seen in the area. This is likely the bird that we saw (with Mark McConaughy) with a Rough-legged Hawk while doing the Rector CBC in December 2023. Link to see photos:
County: Westmoreland
Name of route - Ligonier Valley / PSO map number: 653
Date – January 30, 2025
Observers - Tom & Janet Kuehl
Survey time (minus breaks) : Hrs: 4 Mins: 2
Start/End: 10:17am / 2:53pm Break time of 24 minutes
Approx. Miles on route: 56.6
Avg Temp.- 40F
Clear/Pt cloudy/Cloudy- Clear to start, transitioning to mostly cloudy by the end
Wind – Calm/Light/medium- Medium
Avg. Inches Snow cover- 4” (a foot still at the top of Laurel Ridge at the start of the route)
29 Red-tails Average = 18.5 High is 31 in 2021
3 Kestrels – M = 2 and F = 1 Average = .46
22 TVs- Average = 12 and high count is 34 in 2019
4 BVs- Average = 3.15 and high count is 10 in both 2023 and 2024
2 Red-shoulders – Adults = 2 Average = 1.5 and high is 6 in 2024
1 Bald Eagles- Ad = 1 Average = .46 and high is 2 in 2021
COMMENTS?
In addition to the raptors other birds recorded for the PBA3 included Eastern Bluebirds and American Robins (at many locations), Pileated Woodpecker and one Female Purple Finch.
