Due to a closed bridge, I was only able to access the western two-thirds of my Winter Raptor Survey (link to Part 1), so today Josh Lefever and I ran the last third as its own survey. The weather was great, with a bright sun and blue skies accentuating the snow-covered stripmines of northern Centre County, Pennsylvania. Within the first half hour of our survey we encountered 2 Red-tailed Hawks and an adult Red-shouldered Hawk. We also spotted an adult Golden Eagle soaring in the distance with 5 Common Ravens! I was so happy to have finally found a wintering Golden Eagle up on the stripmines, since we have figured they must use the area but no one had ever seen one up there. About halfway during the survey, we spotted a flock of Common Redpolls foraging in a stand of larches. We walked over to get a better look and counted 80 individuals redpolls and were able to pick out a very cooeprative Hoary Redpoll! My second ever, and second so far this month in Centre County! This is also the 4th documented record for Centre County, ever! Later during the survey we spotted an adult male light type Rough-legged Hawk and then saw a distant adult Golden Eagle soaring around….we weren’t sure if this was the same one we saw earlier or not.

Hoary Redpoll on Kato-Orviston Rd, Centre County, PA (Photo by Alex Lamoreaux)

Hoary Redpoll on Kato-Orviston Rd, Centre County, PA (Photo by Alex Lamoreaux)

Red-shouldered Hawk (adult) – One of the most common raptors on the stripmines during winter. (Photo by Alex Lamoreaux)

Common Raven – a nice addition to any winter day. (Photo by Alex Lamoreaux)

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Alex Lamoreaux

Alex is currently working for the Center for Conservation Biology, studying migrant Whimbrel and other coastal birds of Virginia's Eastern Shore. Alex is also studying Wildlife Biology at the Pennsylvania State University. An avid birder since 8 years old, Alex has since been able to travel not only across most of the United States, but also to Central America and Southern Africa in search birds. Raptors, shorebirds, and warblers are among his favorite groups of birds to observe and photograph.

Latest posts by Alex Lamoreaux (see all)

• Leucistic Whimbrel – Eastern Shore of Virginia - May 18, 2013
• First Day of Work on the Eastern Shore! - May 6, 2013
• Springtime Orange-crowned Warbler – Centre County, PA - May 2, 2013
• Montour County, PA – Yellow-headed Blackbirds - April 15, 2013
• Magnificent Frigatebirds – Determining Age and Sex - April 9, 2013