September 2002
Synopsis of Outings

Sunday, September 15 — Scott Shalaway (by Participants Sherron & Pat Lynch)
View Pictures

Club members enjoyed their first out-of-state outing when 15 intrepid birders traveled across the hills, hollows and ridges to Scott Shalaway's property, south of Cameron, West Virginia. Scott is well-known for his Saturday radio talk show on WPTT-AM (1360AM) and for his Sunday column in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Sports section). He has many bird feeders, bird houses and excellent birding habitat on his 95-acre spread across the ridge and slopes.

The weather forecast was gloomy, and it rained on and off as we drove to Scott's. He warmly greeted everyone and soon had us organized to explore his property. Heavy bird activity near his feeders held our attention for a long time. Cedar Waxwings, Titmice, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Baltimore Oriole, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Scarlet Tanagers, Blackburnian Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo, and Eastern Towhees were moving in the nearby trees. Heavy rain delayed our walking up to the meadow, so we birded from the shelter of the porch of Scott's office/garage complex.

After the rain ended, we walked to the meadow and examined several bluebird boxes and their old nests. Scott found a very colorful Box Turtle. Tom Byrnes delighted in showing people several spiders such as a Golden Orb Weaver. The group went down a steep bank which required concentration and good footing. We then explored along a wide path.

Our youngest birder, Patrick Susoeff, and his mother, Joanne, found a flurry of warblers: American Redstart, Black-throated Green, Hooded, and either a Magnolia or a Pine. There were also Philadelphia Vireos and a Blue-headed Vireo. Scott performed an excellent imitation of an Eastern Screech-Owl, which kept the birds curious and in view.

We ascended from the hollow and saw young Indigo Buntings. Betty Guidish had extended looks at a Yellow-throated Warbler. As the group had a picnic lunch on the porch of Scott's house, Patrick birded on his own and added Black-throated Blue Warbler, Hairy Woodpecker, House Wren, and Song Sparrow. A Pileated Woodpecker nicely concluded our birding as it flew over the picnickers.

Our group saw 41 different species during the rain-shortened outing. Scott was a very gracious host and invited us back during May when the warblers would be plentiful. We think that everyone in the Three Rivers Birding Club would enjoy such as venture.



Turkey Vulture Cooper’s Hawk Mourning Dove Chimney Swift Ruby-throated Hummingbird Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Pileated Woodpecker Acadian Flycatcher Eastern Phoebe Red-eyed Vireo Blue-headed Vireo Philadelphia Vireo Blue Jay American Crow Carolina Chickadee Tufted Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch Carolina Wren House Wren

American Robin Gray Catbird European Starling Cedar Waxwing Black-throated Blue Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Blackburnian Warbler American Redstart Hooded Warbler Scarlet Tanager Song Sparrow Northern Cardinal Rose-breasted Grosbeak Indigo Bunting Baltimore Oriole Eastern Towhee House Finch American Goldfinch Magnolia or Pine Warbler

Saturday, September 21 — Harrison Hills County Park (By Leader Jim Valimont)
[1 bird added to 3RBC Life List - noted with an *]

A nice turnout of 18 birders showed up in the early morning drizzle. The rain quickly ended and was not a factor for the rest of the morning. Unfortunately, the Allegheny County Police were not as obliging as they had been in May, and the gates were not open when we arrived. However, we parked our cars along the highway, walked in, and found feeding flocks of warblers within a short time.

This was the start to a surprisingly good day for migrating warblers. After a gruff warning by the county policeman when he finally arrived at 9:15, we returned to move our cars and continue our pursuit of fall warblers. In all, we had 17 species of warblers, with Black-throated Green being the most common and probably accounting for half of all that we saw. But also found were Blue-winged, *Golden-winged, Tennessee, Nashville, Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, Black-throated Blue, Blackburnian, Bay-breasted, Blackpoll, American Redstart, a late Kentucky, two Mourning, Hooded, Wilson’s, and Canada. Although Connecticut Warbler was found the day before, no confirmed sighting was made on this day, despite diligent searching. Several birders caught furtive looks at birds that might have been a Connecticut.

Yellow-throated Vireo was both heard and seen, along with lots of Red-eyed Vireos, and two Philadelphia Vireos. Thrushes included Gray-cheeked, Swainson’s and Wood, and at least 15 Scarlet Tanagers were observed. We had 46 species in all, not that impressive a total, but the numbers of warblers kept us busy.

Monday, September 23 — Frick Park (By participant Stephen Thomas)

Jack Solomon led 18 people under a clear sky and temperatures rising from 50 to 62. The birding started slowly, with little seen in the meadow, except for the usual Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, and Cedar Waxwing. While we looked for an unidentified thrush that was heard but not seen, an American Redstart was spotted.

Birds were again sparse along Clayton Trail, the Nature Trail, and Falls Ravine Trail. A locust tree along Falls Ravine Trail held a Nashville Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Philadelphia Vireo and a male Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

About 9:15AM, Bernie Conley suggested we go back to the meadow for one more try. The group got a good look at a male Scarlet Tanager in non-breeding (basic) plumage, and fleeting looks at a Wilson’s Warbler in the garden area. On the way back to the parking lot, a Black-and-white Warbler was spotted by Joan Tague. In all, 29 species of birds were observed.

During the walk, Bob Lucas showed the group various fungi he found along the trails. Thanks to Sherron Lynch for taking the field notes and to Jack for again leading an informative walk.