The Natural Life

July photos- miscellaneous

2011-08-05T22:28:00.002-04:00

June 29th, 2011 Benezette, PA

2011-08-05T22:06:00.001-04:00

A swallow at Hicks Run Viewing Center, near Benezette.

Fred's antlers at the visitor's center

August photos

2011-08-05T21:46:00.001-04:00

She crossed the road in front of me on Aug 3rd.

These two fawns were hanging out at the corner of 711 and route 30 August 4th in the morning and were there again in the evening.

Donegal Lake dragonflies.

Turkey vultures may not be pretty but these ones sure gave me some striking photos!

I came over the hill on a back gravel road behind Stahlstown and about a dozen of them took off. They flew a short distance and landed on the roof of this barn where they gladly posed for some photos.

These are the same fawns as this morning (there were actually 3 tonight-but the third didn't stick around for photos- it ran down the bank towards the Loyalhanna.

June 2011- Misc birds, rabbits and deer- Marcellus gas drilling at Donegal Lake

2011-06-11T22:57:00.002-04:00

This is at my bird feeder- Cardinal in the sun!

On the way home from work-I saw this doe.

I didn't see this until almost too late:

This catbird was singing by the Latrobe Reservoir the
other day.

This killdeer was making sure I stayed away from her nest (Donegal Lake).

June 11, 2010- yellow warbler at Donegal Lake.

Indigo bunting at Donegal Lake.

Yellow warbler nest!

I also saw a common yellow throat, baltimore orioles, scarlet tanagers, cedar waxwings, orchard orioles, tree and barn swallows, and lots of goldfinch.

Brown Thrasher

The female osprey on the nest.

Marcellus gas drilling ~~New construction~~ starting above Donegal lake. Frightening to think what this will do to the habitat, animals and birds in the area.

Is this heron sitting on a nest? She heard the osprey male make a noise and started to scream-

She took off from the tree-

Crossed the lake - First she tore into the osprey-

Here the osprey chases her away.

A few minutes later, the osprey flew back and skimmed the lake.

This deer has been hanging out in Wilpen- so she gets to
be the last photo of the day.

Donegal Lake Osprey 5/14/11

2011-06-11T13:59:00.001-04:00

So a few posts today- to help me catch up. First here are a bunch of shots of the male osprey from Donegal Lake:

Isn't he amazing! I just saw yesterday (6/10/11) both osprey on the nest, feeding at least 2 young!
Some other shots from 5/14 (which was the bird survey day in PA) are below:

Return of the Eurasian Collared-Dove

2011-05-13T22:49:00.000-04:00

A new visitor to my feeder! Isn't he beautiful?

And a few hours later- Look who is back~ Haven't seen this bird since 5/1

Great Egret- Mammoth Park

2011-05-05T21:24:00.000-04:00

I stopped at Mammoth Park today since it was so nice out. Drove the up the road by the lake (not the picnic side- the other one) and was disappointed because I didn't see anything but robins and starlings. Just as I was leaving, I looked into the marshy part by the reeds and saw a Great Egret.

Last year I drove to Moraine State park to see one of these- this year, it's right down the road at Mammoth! All of these photos are greatly zoomed so none of them are great but they are what they are!

Timing is everything-Eurasian Collared Dove in my yard

2011-05-01T15:55:00.001-04:00

Was leaving my house and stopped to look for the WhiteCrowned Sparrow I saw earlier- and I see this land in my yard:

It flew away just a few minutes later. I've been watching as I downloaded and posted and no sight of it anywhere but it is raining- so it may be in a tree sheltering.

From Turkey Vultures to Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks

2011-04-29T19:20:00.001-04:00

On the way home from work, I stopped at Donegal Lake and saw three turkey vultures in a tree and soaring over the lake.

I also saw the osprey sitting on her nest, lots of swallows below the dam- stand still for a minute and they forget you are there- you end up being dive bombed as they seek the insects.

I also found this Northern Mockingbird who gracefully sat for portraits!

And then I came home to:

6 Blue Jays

2 Northern Cardinals

3 Tufted Titmice

1White Breasted Nuthatch

3 Black Capped Chickadees

5 Mourning Doves

Common Grackles

RedWing Blackbird

European Starlings

House Sparrows

3 Purple finches

Chipping Sparrow

American Robins

Eastern (Rufous sided) Towhee

5 or 6 Goldfinches

Hairy Woodpecker

and 2 perfectly gorgeous Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks!

April showers take a break!

2011-04-23T22:25:00.010-04:00

? ~~Female Purple Finch~~? Song Sparrow

Eastern Towhee at my feeder!

Eastern Towhee and female purple finch

Pine Siskin!

Pine Siskin in the tree above the feeders.

First and second pine siskins ever!

Mr. and Mrs. Brown Headed Cowbird- she sings so sweetly!

Male Purple Finch

Red Wing Blackbird

Violets at Mammoth park

More flowers at Mammoth- Quaker Ladies (Bluets) and thanks to Art who also sent me a

great website to help identify plants and flowers: www.ct-botanical-society.org

Yellow-rumped Warbler Terrible photo- white throat, bluish bird, Yellow on wings , and a yellow spot on tail. Seen in pines and in a fallen branch on ground at Mammoth Park.

Osprey over the lake at Mammoth

This bird has some orange in it? Female Red Winged Blackbird! (Thanks Chuck and Corey!)

Ok, so he was in a pen- going up 3 Mile hill on Route 31, there were goats all over the road at the Animal Rescue. I stopped to let the owners know and saw this guy in the pen!

Altogether today I had the following list of birds:

American Robin

Northern Cardinal

Mourning Dove

White-Breasted Nuthatch

Hairy Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Tufted titmouse

American Goldfinch

Pine Siskin

Eastern Towhee

Brown Headed Cowbird

Dark Eyed Junco

American Crow

Common Grackle

European Starling

House Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

American Tree Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Black Capped Chickadee

Purple Finch

Chipping Sparrow

House Finch

The above were at my feeders or in my yard.

-------------------------------

Below were at different locations- Latrobe Reservoir, Mammoth Park, Acme Dam, and Donegal Lake.

Mallard

Canada Geese

American Coot

Pied Billed Grebe

Horned Grebe

Red-Tailed Hawk

American Kestrel

Turkey Vulture

Spotted Sandpiper

Tree Swallow

Barn Swallow

Bank Swallow

Belted Kingfisher

Eastern Kingbird

Osprey

Yellow-rumped Warbler ~~(Pending Positive Id)~~

Eastern Bluebird

Rock Dove

Gray Catbird

For a total of 42 species!

These are some photos of an interaction between a mourning dove and a towhee!

Did you hear something?

Shh, don't let him know I'm back here.

I feel like someone is watching me!

Uh, oh!

Get the heck out of here- you don't scare me!

I had this bird the other day and ~~can't identify it either~~: It's an American Pipit- another life bird for me!

Brown Pelican in PA

2011-04-14T19:41:00.000-04:00

I sat in the sun and watched a Pelican swim in the water of a small reservoir (Boone Reservoir, Waterdam Road, Washington County, PA) for over an hour today. How strange to see it and a Common Loon in the same photo! Further down is a photo of the Pelican and a Canada Goose! Wonderful experience and well worth the hour drive!

I think this is a double-crested cormorant getting ready to dive for food.

Bonaparte's Gulls on Latrobe Reservoir

2011-04-13T18:47:00.000-04:00

Horrible pics of some great birds!

2011-04-08T19:33:00.000-04:00

Empty Feeder

2011-04-07T21:19:00.006-04:00

When I got home today, Irealized that my feeders were pretty much empty. There was some finch food in that feeder and suet for the woodpeckers but other than that- empty. And the chickadees were really angry about that! So I set down my stuff and filled them up. Then I went inside, made some coffee and walked over to the window-Lord the news travelled fast! Within 10 minutes, I had:
Chickadees
Blue Jays
Cardinals
Purple Finches
House Finches
Grackles
Robins
Nuthatches
Sparrows
Juncos
Mourning Doves
Hairy Woodpecker
and!
For the first time ever! An Eastern Bluebird.

On my way home from work, I also found some new birds:

Acme Dam/Chestnut Ridge Park: (also Coots, Mallards, Canada Geese)

Greater ~~Lesser~~ Yellowlegs (Life Bird)

At Jacob's Creek, (and Great Blue Heron)

Tree Swallow

Unknown Sparrow! (Savannah?)

And Donegal Lake: (also Mallards, Canada Geese, Osprey, Coots, Horned Grebes, Swallows)

And on my way to work this morning, I saw this guy again (He was in the same area only deeper in the woods on my way home!)

More Birds around Town

2011-04-06T21:50:00.000-04:00

Northern Flicker-Yellow shafted in a yard near Donegal Community Center on 4/6/11

Common Loon on Chestnut Ridge Park Lake 4/6/11

An osprey at Chestnut Ridge- It flew back into the trees and came back with a second osprey so I'm hoping they are nesting here.

Ring-Billed Gulls in a Field near Donegal Lake.

A Northern Mockingbird at Donegal Lake 4/6/11

Ring-Billed Gull at Donegal Lake- 2nd launch area.

American Kestrel at Donegal Lake- lifebird!

Both Osprey on the nest at Donegal Lake-4/6/11

Common Loons on Donegal Lake

2011-03-24T17:27:00.001-04:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87ITLB_goM0

Blogger won't let me post the video so I put it on YouTube.

Middle Creek Wild Life Management area

2011-03-13T21:05:00.004-04:00

(This was on the way down to Middle Creek- stopped at several places to look for And saw the Red-breasted merganser, and Eurasion Wigeon but couldn't get a photo or find the Cackling or Ross' Geese)

At this pond, I did find (center back) a Northern Pintail which I had never seen before!

Above, American Wigeons at Middle Creek.

There were hundreds of tundra swans.

Several Double-crested Cormorants joined the tundra swans.

Along the road on the way to stop 3, this goose was hiding alone- ~~Is it a Snow or a Ross'?~~

It's a Snow Goose!

There had been 50000 snow geese on Friday- I get there Saturday morning and most of them have left- still an enjoyable day!

Snow Geese on one of the ponds.

A ~~Northern Harrie~~r Peregrine Falcon perches on a dead tree at stop 3! Another life bird- but I missed seeing the short-eared owls.

Latrobe Reservoir- lots of ducks!

2011-03-13T20:24:00.001-04:00

If you enlarge the above, you would see -back near the shore line- a row of hooded mergansers, mallards, and some buffleheads, along with a very few Canada geese. This is the landscape setting on my Nikon- no zoom used! In the foreground you can see several small black dots- these are the ones I picture below- using the full 26x optical zoom. (verrrry hard to hold the camera still with the full zoom so I apologize for the quality of the shots!)

The two photos above placed side by side show the full zoom view of the ducks/geese shown in the top photo.

Three photos above and two below are unknown? Possibly horned grebes?

Hooded Mergansers- there were these 4 up close and many at the shore line across the reservoir.

More Ring-Necked Ducks!

2011-03-01T21:38:00.000-05:00

Today, I drove past Latrobe Reservoir found some ducks on the partially thawed lake- amidst the Redheads on the lake, 2 more Ring-Necked Ducks!

Strangely enough, yesterday, I misidentified Canvasbacks as Redheads- today, there were Redheads in my camera viewfinder! Another life bird for me! :)

Ring-Necked ducks at Chestnut Ridge Park (Acme Dam)

2011-02-28T20:14:00.001-05:00

So I drove the whole way to Shawnee State Park yesterday and added Ring-necked ducks to my life list- today, I drove by Chestnut Ridge Park (Acme Dam) and lo and behold- look what I see!

Also saws 7 or 8 Hooded Mergansers on the lake.

~~I think this is a Redhead~~ -Canvasback- also on Acme Dam.

Shawnee State Park

2011-02-27T19:42:00.001-05:00

I decided to take a drive towards Johnstown today, to look for some red crossbills that had been reported. Sadly, I found the area but not the birds. But the day was not a complete loss- I kept going out 56 and ended up at Shawnee State Park where I found:

I thought this was a red-tailed hawk until it flew- it seem really white underneath? Thanks to Shawn, I think this is a Cooper's Hawk- which is life bird for me. (I known I have seen them before- just never correctly identified them!)

Here he is flying away.

Are these American Wigeons with the Canada Geese? If so they are a life bird for me!

(Again, thanks to Shawn for confirmation)

Tundra swans on the lake. Probably 40-50 in total.

And I think, another life bird- If I am correct in identifying them as ring-necked ducks?

Yeah, Shawn says I'm right again! Appreciate the help!

Close up of the wigeons?

Three more pictures of ring-necked ducks.

Are these the wigeons swimming?

On down Route 30 on my way home, I stopped at the Bison farm. This lady is Rosie or so her tag said. She came right up next to me at the fence!

He, on the other hand, stayed way back and stared me down, warning me away, I think!

Is this little one sweet- Very young but munching on grass and pushing the older ones out of the way when they got between him and his mom!

I've got to thank Ross, too- if he hadn't posted about the red crossbills in his grandma's yard, I'd have never ended up at Shawnee - and wouldn't have added 3 new life birds!

Fred has Fallen

2011-01-09T14:16:00.000-05:00

Fred, the best known elk in Benezette, was possibly 20 years old when he died yesterday. Apparently Fred, pictured above in the title image and below, fell recently near Trout Run and was injured (including some broken bones). He was left alone to see if he would mend independently and when it became apparent that this would not happen, he was killed to prevent any further suffering. Fred will be greatly missed by all who photographed and searched for him each time they visited Benezette. He was undisturbed by the paparazzi and patiently ignored the hordes of tourists. Some photos from my last visit to Benezette are below. (10/2/2010)

And here are some I took 7 August 2007 with my Canon EOS Film camera and telephoto lens- I was on the edge of the woods not standing next to him like the man in the pictures. There must have been 50 people all around him and Fred was not in the least bothered.

Birds at my feeder today!

2011-01-08T11:35:00.003-05:00

Black-capped Chickadee

~~I don't know what this is!~~ (Brown Headed Cowbird!)

~~Can't identify this one either!~~ (Brown Headed Cowbird!)

Mourning Dove-isn't it pretty!

~~The same unidentified bird with American Tree Sparrow.~~
Oops- (Brown Headed Cowbird!) and House Sparrow!

My tufted titmouse- this guy bangs on my window if I let the feeders get empty!

This sparrow is just so fluffy and sweet!

Northern Cardinal male- the female is really pretty at this time of year too.

White-throated Sparrow.

Junco-Gorgeous!

~~The unknown and an American Tree Sparrow.~~

Oops- (Brown Headed Cowbird!) and House Sparrow!

Short Days

2011-01-05T19:22:00.000-05:00

I'm doing alright at keeping up with my lists of birds- mainly because I get to see so few these days! It's barely light out most days when I leave for work and it's dark when I get home! I really dislike the month of January- dark and cold! The lakes I like to visit are frozen over and have few birds around right now. Donegal lake had a couple of foolhardy ice fishermen on it this morning! I did see a rabbit eating some grass by the edge of the road and a few American Tree Sparrows but that was just about it for today.

2011

2011-01-01T00:39:00.000-05:00

So, it's been awhile! Note to self- blog more frequently! I'm getting back on track with more daily photos (project 365 or so!). Also I want to keep a list of 2011 'Yard' birds (those I identify by sight or sound in my yard) and a list of all birds seen in 2011. I'll have to come up with a way to keep a list on here - maybe start a "Page" for each! Yep, that's worth a shot! Let's see how long I can stick with it! I'm setting my expectations pretty high here and hope to keep up with both through out the year!

Donegal Lake sighting

2010-10-20T18:35:00.001-04:00

Is this an eagle on the osprey nest?

Bat in the Day Time?

2010-10-18T21:20:00.001-04:00

I went to the PA Grand Canyon on Saturday, Oct. 16. I was too late for the best of the fall colors but it was still a great visit. After visiting the observation area, I drove to Owassee Day Use Area

where I was surprised to have this little fellow fly across in front of my car:

It was 2:51 p.m.! I thought bats only came out at night! He flew from one tree to another twice before I lost sight of him!

Other views at the PA Grand Canyon included:

2010-10-03T15:47:00.001-04:00

So when you get really behind, what's the best way to go? Jump in where you are and ignore the missed postings? That's what I'm going to do. If I ever catch up, maybe I'll post some of the missed photos! But here goes starting where I am!
Yesterday, I went for a drive- just needed to get away. I ended up going to Benezette and fighting the crowds to visit the elk! Wow, I don't know if it's the new welcome center or the fall leaf viewing crowds or just elk fanatics there to view them in the rut season but there were cars everywhere! The new welcome center is beautiful ?$5 million worth of beautiful? I don't know but the volunteers are welcoming and full of information. Here are some photos!

This gate is at the entry way:

This also greets visitors!

You can pay for a wagon ride through the fields. ($10)

Views from the one of the 'viewing areas':

Statue that greets you as you walk into the center:

Some more views:

Inside, there is a viewing area with interactive computer learning centers and a tableau of various local animals and birds. I recall a bull, cow, and calf, a fisher, owl, hawk, squirrel, porcupine, chipmunk, etc.

Coming up the path from the parking lot:

And from the viewing area later that evening, some wonderful sightings of elk despite hundreds of people with cameras jostling for clear shots.

(This little buck was at the entrance!)

In town and along the roads, I saw more elk:

(Back on the ridge at the visitor's center)

On my way out of town:

Red Tailed Hawk

2010-08-23T21:28:00.000-04:00

On a fence post in a field along route 259 on my way home tonight!

Donegal Osprey

2010-07-14T23:13:00.003-04:00

I went to Greensburg after work last night and bought a new pair of binoculars- hoping that my view of the osprey at Donegal lake is considerably improved! When I got to the lake this morning on my way to work- this is the first thing I saw! A little white on the wings and tail in the photos but a full band when it flew? ~~Not sure what it is~~ but the bird is a beauty! (Edited: Northern Mockingbird- probably a juvenile!)

So beautiful that it almost distracted me enough to miss this Green Heron catching it's breakfast. In the first picture, there is a fish in the beak.

And to my disappointment- too muggy/foggy to see much of the osprey nest!

So later in the day, I drove thru Jacob's Creek and it started to rain but this guy caught my eye. I really couldn't be sure what it is? But believe that it is another Green Heron. A Great Blue Heron flew over my head at about this time but I didn't get a photo.

The sun came back out and I hobbled back to the first pond (where the above flew). Didn't find it again but I did find these Eastern Kingbirds. These two sat on a branch and made lots of noise.

I got a bunch of photos of them and then 2 more larger birds began yelling at me! I think mom and dad were home and wanted me to leave their young alone! You can barely see the whole family here :

Stopped back at Donegal in time to see Dad fly from the nest and go fishing! He flew back over me and if you look closely, you can see a fish in his talons.

Surprisingly, he flew on over the nest and took his dinner with him.

The next photo is a full landscape taken with my new camera! If you enlarge it, you can just make out the nest. I was standing on the water's edge at the first boat dock.

The next photo shows mom and TWO young. It was taken at the end of the optical zoom on the camera. (My new binoculars let me have a much better view of these guys- I've never seen 2 young ones at a time.)

This photo is taken with the camera pushed to the digital zoom- 26x. Not good but you can see the babies. Looks like they are about ready to fledge- there was some flapping of the wings and standing at the edge of the nest.)

What a great way to begin July!

2010-07-04T17:09:00.001-04:00

New Camera- Nikon Coolpix- I'm loving it!

Perfectly awful photo- taken out the window but can you see the black bear running thru the woods!

They both jumped and ran at the same time when the landowner set off a firecracker to scare them away from the highway.

The next few photos were actually taken at Keystone Park on my way to see the elk.

The above shot was taken on the landscape setting. The shot below is taken on the same setting at the end of the optical zoom!

I didn't even see the Green Heron until I was processing the photos!

The heron below was in the lake behind the one in the other photos- this one flew up into the trees and sat there for awhile.

Back to the Elk!

This calf and cow were among a group of about 5 cows, each with calves, that ran in front of my car, up into a rather dense part of the woods.

Next four photos are Butterfly Milkweed.

(The first two photos are extremely edited, the flowers are really much brighter orange than shown here!)

Yep, they look more like the next 2 pictures.

This little guy stuck his head out of the door of the barn on an Amish farm.

The photo above was taken with the 26 x zoom fully extended and the below was taken at the landscape auto setting - no zoom.

June sped by!

2010-07-04T12:11:00.000-04:00

Here's a few shots- mainly from my yard during the month of July!

The mountain laurel were along the road.

The geese were on Donegal Lake.

I thought the posse was going to scare away the bunny but he apparently won the standoff!

Just cruising down the road!

On the way to work!

Presque Isle 25 and 26 May 2010

2010-05-28T14:51:00.001-04:00

On Tuesday, the 25th, I woke up early and headed for Presque Isle. Below are some of the pictures I took (mixed in are a few from Wednesday morning, too!)

Mute Swans - there were 6 of them on Lake Erie.

Tree Swallow nesting in a Bluebird box.

Purple Martins

Beautiful flowering tree

Eastern Kingbird

Spotted Sandpiper

Almost missed the osprey!

American Robin and Brown Thrasher

I'm not sure about this one. Female Red-Wing?

Another photo of the Eastern Kingbird.

A Baltimore Oriole.

I saw a sign along the road that said: Bird Banding. I pulled over and got to see Amy and friends banding a Philadelphia Vireo, Trail Flycatcher, lots of Baltimore Orioles, and Yellow Warblers, and a Grey Catbird. They held the attention of a bus load of 2nd graders! (and several of us adults!)

Male and female Yellow Warblers

Baltimore Oriole

Philadelphia Vireo

Grey Catbird

Trail Flycatcher (The folks at the banding station said that's what they used when they were unable to positively id a Flycatcher!)

Red-Winged Blackbird - was giving me heck because I was on the trail near his nest.

I believe these are female Red-Winged Blackbirds.

Lovely picture but I don't remember what bird I was photographing!

Yellow Warblers were everywhere!

Turtles - some of the many on the pond!

Flowers that grow right in the sand on the beach!

On my list of birds for this day were: Canada Geese, Chipping Sparrow, House Sparrow, European Starling, Common Grackle, Ring-billed Gulls, Mute Swans, American Robins, American Crow, Yellow Warbler, Mallards, Red-winged Blackbirds, Scarlet Tanager, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Grey Catbirds, Evening Grosbeak, Wild Turkey, Barn Swallow, Tree Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Goldfinch, Northern Flicker, Trail Flycatcher, Black-and-White Warbler, Baltimore Oriole, Brown Thrasher, Eastern Kingbird, Philadelphia Vireo, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Belted Kingfisher, Henslow's Sparrow, Osprey, Veery, Blackburnian Warbler, Wood Duck, Blackpoll Warbler, Eastern Wood Peewee, Brown-headed Cowbird.
(And my pedometer tracked 14,015 steps- after I remembered to put it on about 10 am.)

Pymatuning State Park May 24

2010-05-27T19:46:00.005-04:00

I've got a few days off and I headed for Pymatuning on Monday.
Some things I encountered:

Gotta love the slogan!

At the Educational Center: No that's not a rope-it's a vine!

Along the walkway:

The other side of the lake: (This is where I saw the Great Blue Heron)

At the fish hatchery: (I love that they mowed around this small bed of flowers)

Spillway sights!

Straight-up is not getting you out of there!

Here's a list of the birds I saw! (39 different species!)

American Robins

Downy Woodpecker

Mourning Doves

House Sparrows

Chipping Sparrows
White-breasted Nuthatch
Gray Catbird
Northern Cardinal

Red-winged Blackbird

European Starling
Common Grackle

American Crow

Rock Pigeons

Blue Jay

Eastern Meadowlark (FOY)

American Goldfinch

Turkey Vulture

Cliff Swallow

Ruddy Duck ??

Spotted Sandpiper

American Eagle- (yes, there is an immature eagle sitting on a log in the lake, amidst 50 or more Canada Geese!)(Got some help from some other birders- thanks for the checking with the stronger binoculars!)

And in this, a female Bald Eagle sits on her nest! Yep, got some great photos of the eagle family this day!

Tree Swallow

Great Blue Heron

Baltimore Oriole (Look Close!)

Canada Geese

Yellow Warbler

Double-crested Cormorant

Scarlet Tanager

Barn Swallow

Brown Thrasher

Black Capped Chickadee

Brown-headed Cowbird

Mallard

Killdeer

Northern Flicker

Hairy Woodpecker

Eastern Bluebird

Indigo Bunting

Purple Martin

Ring-billed Gulls

and this guy that I believe is a Common Tern. It was in the middle of the parking lot at the spillway and didn't move -even for cars. I took multiple photos and was within 4 feet of it when it finally flew a few feet off onto the sidewalk.

That ended my day at Pymatuning and I headed off to Presque Isle. I found a room at the local Red Roof Inn and got a good night's sleep.

Lots of Birds Today!

2010-05-15T22:31:00.001-04:00

After watching my grandsons for a few hours, I decided to drive over to Donegal Lake. Here are a few photos from there:

Black-billed cuckoo

~~I'm not sure what this is - it seemed~~ ~~too light for a Kingbird~~.

Another view of the above bird.

Third View.

The above is a Eastern Kingbird that was hanging at the dam.

Grey Catbird

Grey Catbird at the first boat ramp.

Yellow Warbler at the bridge, just off 711.

View from the road going up to the upper parking lot.

Another view from just above the dam.

Great Blue Heron fishing below the dam.

I left Donegal and made my way to Jacobs Creek Wetlands. Here's some photos from there:

Northern Flicker

Swallows (not being attacked-but mating)

Eastern Towhee

Killdeer (I couldn't see the breast bands?)

A Green Heron that I startled up and away from the second set of ponds. He didn't go far- just settled further down and brought the next fellow to my notice:

I believe this is a Solitary Sandpiper.

PAMC, Imperial Grasslands, May 11 and 12th

2010-05-12T22:15:00.001-04:00

11 May, 2010 Driving to work on the Marietta Road- this big guy flew up from the side of the road and landed on a low branch!

More Photos from PA Bird Survey:
A field of Bluets at Mammoth Park

Gorgeous Rhodendrums and Other Flowers!

Side roads around Mammoth Park- neat seeing the cows and calves in the high grass.

Mayapple with flower!

2010 05 09 Canada Geese family at Donegal Lake.

Swallows at Donegal Lake:

2010 05 09 Heading for Ohio to visit with my mom for Mother's Day, I stopped at Imperial -
Sandpiper at the first pond

2010 05 12 I saw a report of a trumpeter swan on Lake Somerset and went to see if I could find it.
Barn Swallows at the dock.

Barn Swallow at Somerset Lake

Found the Trumpeter Swan

Robins Eggs at one of the Group Homes. (After visiting Somerset, I went to work.)

Grey Catbird at Jacob's Creek Wetlands. (Stopped here on my lunch hour.)

Sparrow at Jacob's Creek.

Mallards at Jacob's Creek.

Common Yellowthroat at Jacob's Creek.

Calves at Donegal Lake.

Sandpiper at Lake Somerset.

Common Tern? at Somerset Lake

Pennsylvania Annual Migration Count (PAMC)- need help!

2010-05-08T20:38:00.001-04:00

I took part in the Pennsylvania Annual Migration Count (PAMC) today and surveyed at Acme Dam where I found this bird that I'm not able to identify! Can anyone help?

Who Am I? Eastern Kingbird.

I'm also not sure about this female duck-

~~Female Woodduck? or Mallard?~~ Nope-it's a Ruddy Duck.

I know who these fellows are but what's the story? They were at a Taxidermy shop on the way from Acme Dam over to Mammoth Park!

What's his game? Is he wanting back in? Trying to entice the others to come out and play? Intent on fighting for the female's affection? (She's hiding in a dark corner of the pen!)

Isn't he just gorgeous?

To and Fro (Off to work I go!)

2010-05-04T23:03:00.000-04:00

On my way to work today, I saw some more Yellow Warblers-this time along Robb Road.

Below is a female Baltimore Oriole next to her nest at Jacobs Creek Wetlands. (This is the spot where the male flew from yesterday.) I drove through on my way home tonight.

Then I stopped at Donegal Lake and met this big guy!

Just above him in the bushes were Mr. and Mrs. Gray Catbird.

The osprey is still sitting on her nest. Swallows, Canada Geese, and Red-winged Blackbirds were everywhere again.

This bunny has been hanging out under my bird feeders for the last two days!

Jacobs Creek Wetlands, Westmoreland County, PA

2010-05-03T22:47:00.001-04:00

This birding area is located off of Route 31 in the Mount Joy area. It is between Mt. Pleasant and Laurelville.

Today, I was met at the gate by this little fellow who was intent on getting across the road.

At the first parking area, a duck breeding box sits in the water and a female duck (unknown) poked her head out and was gone in an instant! This little House Wren however took more than 5 minutes to figure out how to fit the stick into the hole while building its' nest.

Walk past the first pond and up the hill to the second- I found what I believe is the home of a muskrat family. There are several on the property.

Back to my car and I saw a Goldfinch fly into the trees, heard a Catbird and several Eastern Towhees, and saw several tree swallows.

I drove along the creek back to the lake:

Which is lovely, and surrounded by marsh- so bring your boots! And your bug spray- cuz the gnats are innumerable!

It was getting noisy- lots of starlings, robins and red-wing blackbirds by the dozens. A pair of Canada geese drifted around between the creek and the pond. Above me, an Osprey soared and dove for dinner while his/her mate waited in the trees!

A hawk of some sort circled around after the ospreys left, several crows yelled across the fields, blue jays were everywhere as were cardinals. There were many small birds in the bushes along the waterways but I could hear them and catch glimpses but not see them well enough to identify. A Downy Woodpecker fly right past me and then landed, loudly introducing himself. A Baltimore Oriole twisted out of a bush just in front of me and I was able to get the binoculars focused for a great look at it. Right where it flew away, I found this - I believe it's some time of nest?

I did watch what I am sure was an Eastern Phoebe catch gnats from a dead branch.

I headed back out- this pond is on the right heading back out to the road. Bull frogs serenaded me as I walked up around. A second pond holds another muskrat den.

Back up the road, I drove and along the way, spotted 4 or more Yellow Warblers along the creek in the bushes.

I continued on my way home and stopped at Donegal Lake where the fishermen were busy, 2 yellow fire trucks were refilling their tanks, and kids were everywhere riding bikes and yelling. Through all the noise, the osprey sat on her nest, which is now barely visible through the leaves.

I saw several Canada Geese, 2 Mallard Males, numerous Tree and Barn Swallows (Not enough to make inroads on the vast numbers of gnats and other bugs-though!).

These flowers were growing along the roads.

The calves were just up the road from the lake.

Twins-fighting over dinner!

Pretty blooms at the upper parking area near the dam. There were several Swallowtail butterflies.

Swallows on the wires as I left the lake.

Wandering the neighborhood!

2010-05-02T23:10:00.002-04:00

By 10 a.m. on May 1st, the following had already visited my bird feeders: 12 (or more) Blue Jays, 3 cardinals, 2 house finches, fox and chipping sparrows, a tree sparrow, downy woodpecker, robins, mourning doves, and a nuthatch. Across the creek 2 squirrels chased each other around a tree and a crow cawed loudly at them.

Chipping Sparrow

A Full House- 3 Mourning Doves and 2 female Brown-headed Cowbirds. Boy, did the cowbirds do some posturing- stretching those necks and strutting around!

Love these little flowers (I've got to get out my flower book and identify them but it's in the car and it's outside in the rain.) They are Bluets.

First Goldfinch at my feeder this year! (April 25th)

This American Robin has been around the feeder a lot lately. It has several white spots on its back that make it easy to identify.

Isn't this a lovely Blue Jay?

This Downy Woodpecker visits daily and is quite friendly. Today, he flew right over my head as he was taking a short cut under my porch roof!

White-throated Sparrow- it was only around this one day but I think it's quite a pretty little bird.

She looks like she had a tough winter.

May 1st- I awoke to see (and hear) about a dozen Blue Jays at my feeders! If you look closely, I believe there are 7 in or around the tree in this photo!

Another photo of the DownyWoodpecker.

And a close-up!

Blue Jays are everywhere!

I went for a drive thru Linn Run. The violets are everywhere-white, 2 shades of purple and yellow!

Future trees are all around.

The picnic area at Adams Falls.

Adams Falls area rocks.

The creek out of the park- heading into Forbes National Forest.

I chased this Dark-Eyed Junco around and saw several others.

I'm not sure exactly what this is-plants, flowers or seedlings but they are pretty!

Hidden in this photo is the noisiest chipmunk I've ever heard. I had a hard time hearing the birds because it was yelling at me for disrupting dinner!

Painted Trillium Lovely!

Yellow violets.

Maidenhead Ferns?

Okay, this one I did some editing on but it was a lovely tree in a field of a deserted farm. There were warblers singing all around it, although I only saw one - a Yellow Warbler. (On Sportsman's Road in Somerset County)

Hopefully this nest is awaiting some eggs!

While in Somerset County, I drove up to Laurel Hill State Park and stopped at the Gift Shop (which was closed!). But I walked around their little garden and got screamed at by a Gray Catbird. First one I have seen or heard since I moved to PA 20 years ago!

During my drive, I also saw Eastern Bluebirds, American Robins, American Crows, Turkey Vulture, Barn Swallows, American Goldfinch, Brown-headed Cowbirds, Red Wing Blackbirds, and the Dark-Eyed Juncos.

Outside My Door Today

2010-04-24T16:39:00.001-04:00

My bird feeders were busy today- here's some of the birds who visited:
Brown-headed Cowbird

Brown-headed Cowbird with a Chipping Sparrow

White-breasted Nuthatch (there are a pair of them)

American Robin

Northern Cardinal (Male)

Northern Cardinal (female)

Northern Cardinal (male and female)

American Robin (again)

And this guy: can't figure out who he is!

Oh, he is a White-throated Sparrow (white striped morph)

Chipping Sparrow again

Another photo of the White-throated Sparrow

Almost got the Downy Woodpecker (He had just chased away the Bluejay.)

Common Grackle

I didn't get pictures of the tree sparrows, bluejays, Chickadee or the mourning doves.

McConnells Mills and Moraine State Parks

2010-04-23T09:50:00.003-04:00

On Wednesday, I drove to McConnells Mills- I don't think I have been there since I was a teenager. (Although I may have taken Shaun there once when he was young.) I certainly don't remember the walk being as difficult! Going down was fine but those steps on the way up-Whew!

Look closely and you can see the waterfall reflected in the windows.

After leaving there, I drove over to Moraine State Park.

There were several of these on the water and also some Double-crested Cormorants. (They never got close enough for a photo but were fun to watch.)

Tree swallows at the beach.

There's a Pileated Woodpecker hidden in this tree!

~~I'm not sure what kind of hawk is pictured here.~~ - this is as close as I got to it!

It's a Turkey Vulture, not a hawk!

(Thanks, Dick!)

I missed the female Wood Duck and almost missed the male.

Here is the reason I almost missed the Woodducks- I was focused on this Killdeer.

Gorgeous flowers were all over the place.

The dogwood is in bloom!

I had just been thinking that the wildlife was hiding-no deer, no squirrels or chipmunks, not even a rabbit or groundhog. Look who's coming down the road-it was about 6:30 pm but still pretty bright out for him. I'm hoping he was healthy.

(No pictures-but I also saw Mallards, Canada Geese, a Coot, Robins, Red-Winged Blackbirds, Thrush, Tree Sparrows, Grackles, and others.)

Blair Bros. Rail Road Grade Birding spot

2010-04-20T23:19:00.002-04:00

Although I am 'on vacation', I had to go into work for a short time today. From Mount Pleasant, I decided to ride over to Jacobs Creek Park. I saw an Eastern Bluebird, some Robins, and a Killdeer. I had printed out directions to a birding spot in the Jones Mills area so I decided to drive up there.

On the way, I headed for Acme Dam. There were no birds on the lake at all although I did see some Tree Swallows along the road.

The usual suspects were at Brady's Pond- several Mallards, 2 Canada Geese and some domestic/Mallard mixed ducks.

On over the mountain I went, making a stop at McDonald's for a drink. A quick left on Route 381, and 1.8 miles down the road I found the turnoff to Hunter's Lane as directed. I was in the Forbes State Forest at Blair Brothers R.R. Grade.

I hadn't even gotten out of my car when I heard an unusual bird call and looked into the tree beside my car. Here's what I saw:

I Believe This is an Eastern Towhee. I saw 2 more of them along the path. I also heard a Belted Kingfisher chattering at me and finally saw him above the creek. See, he was right there on that dead tree-oops, missed him.

Most noteably, a Great Blue Heron flew over me and landed somewhere in the trees on the other side of Hunter's Lane. There is supposed to be a rookery along the creek there but I couldn't find it. Possibly because this guy was blocking my path:

And he brought his whole posse along to help:

Yeah, okay, they are behind a fence - but honestly, everytime I moved closer trying to see the trees and locate the rookery, they moved up en masse. I found them slightly intimidating! And I never did find the rookery.

Along the walking trail were many flowers but I saw most of them all again and got better photos at my next stop. I had fun with the dandelions:

Too bad we can't do scratch and sniff! This was everywhere-Skunk Cabbage.

And i found this one gorgeous flower (Red Trillium) - lovely, just lovely.

And this beautiful tree in full bud:

Next Stop- Linn Run State Park where the forsythia are in full bloom:

Yellow Violets (And some purple ones too)

Loved these pretty leaves- ~~but I don't know their name:~~

Edited: Virginia Waterleaf (so named because it looks like water is splashed on the leaves)

~~This one is unknown to me too.~~ Edited: Mayapple They will get a flower, when they are bigger, and have two branches. The flower forms in the crotch. Then it will become a fruit, that when it is ripe, is yellow. The fruit is edible, when ripe, and only when ripe, the rest of the plant is poisonous. It is a popular food item among wildlife.

Trout-Lily, also known as Adder's-Tongue

Red Trillium- I took piles of pictures of these beauties.

Edited: ~~Dutchman's Breeches~~ mistook Squirrel corn for Dutchman's breeches, a common error since the two look so much alike."

Large-Flowered Trilliums

At a farm on the way home, the lambs are finally out of the barn:

King of the Mountain-he looks so big but is just a tiny guy!

And in a newly tilled cow pasture (along a creek), I found a pair of Wood Ducks.

Thanks to all those from PABIRDS {@}LIST.AUDUBON.ORG who have helped with identification and extra information!