1 December 2025
Yesterday was cloudy and cold when seven of us gathered at Duck Hollow. While we looked for birds we found several surprises.
Most amazing was the very fat rusty-orange fox squirrel (at top) who posed like a Buddha — the fattest squirrel I’ve ever seen. I’ll bet he’s overeating at a feeder in the Duck Hollow neighborhood.
The immature tundra swan first seen in mid-November was still present, though far across the river. After our group broke up Ed McKaveny crossed the Monongahela for a closer look.
Even from a distance we saw the swan tip up and paddle to keep its head down while it fed on underwater plants. Here it is up close.
On the subject of raptors: We started off with an immature bald eagle flyover and a young Cooper’s hawk on the hunt.
That’s when I put in my Wish for two more raptor species including my favorite bird
We saw a red-tailed hawk, as I expected, but where was the peregrine I’ve seen at Duck Hollow since November?
After more than half the group had left, three of us were puttering in the parking lot when I saw a peregrine approaching from upriver. Ta dah! This bird has a full crop; none of the songbirds need to worry.
View our checklist below and online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S286805518
Duck Hollow, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, US
Nov 30, 2025 8:30 AM – 10:05 AM, 7 participants
Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus) 1 Immature, continuing
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 15
Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) 2
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 4
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) 5
Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) 2
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) 3
Cooper’s Hawk (Astur cooperii) 1 Immature
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) 1 Immature
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 2
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) 1
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) 1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 4
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 4
Common Raven (Corvus corax) 1
Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) 3
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) 1
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 150
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 350
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) 2
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) 3
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 1
(Thanks to Ed McKaveny @edtechfocus for sharing his photos.)
Another great and interesting post! Thanks Kate! And I will say that sure is a FULL crop!!!
Thanks for the great pictures and video.
where do you usually find the herons?
Sometimes they’re on the “mud bar” (as opposed to sand bar) within easy sight of the parking lot at Duck Hollow. Otherwise they’re along the river’s edge, usually on the other side of the river and hard to see, even with binoculars.