Candler Mountain
Lynchburg, Virginia, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 19, 2008
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 0 0 0
Osprey 11 20 20
Bald Eagle 2 4 4
Northern Harrier 0 0 0
Sharp-shinned Hawk 4 14 14
Cooper's Hawk 0 0 0
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 1 1
Broad-winged Hawk 3444 8457 8457
Red-tailed Hawk 0 4 4
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 1 7 7
Merlin 0 0 0
Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0
Unknown Buteo 0 0 0
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 0 0
Total: 3462 8507 8507
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Observation start time: 08:45:00
Observation end time: 15:45:00
Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Gene Sattler
Observers: Lee Boatwright
Weather:
Mostly cloudy all day with occasional periods of weak sun, NE2 most of the
day, and 64-72 degrees F.
Raptor Observations:
Hourly BW totals EST: 9(21), 10(687), 11(762), 12(1766), 1(2), 2(205), and
3(1). Broadwings in the 10 & 11 o'clock hours were north of the ridge over
the southeastern edge of Lynchburg, mostly at the limit of binoculars and
sometimes the scope. The first 300+ birds of the 12 o'clock hour were the
same and I was anguishing over how maybe I should move down off the ridge
to the edge of town to count. Then within five minutes as I was straining
to find more to the north a kettle of 700 surprised me overhead and was
already streaming behind me. Within 15 minutes they were followed by
additional groups of 150, 100, 135, and 200 until 12:30 EST, when things
died down. The last kettles were 130 at 2:10 and 70 at 2:50 EST, one on
the north side and one on the south side of the ridge, but relatively
close. Hawks were low at a 2 all day. Like yesterday two eagles traveling
together, an adult and an immature, with today's two not quite as close
together as yesterday, when one, I think the immature, made a pass or two
at the other as it was trying to make progress down the ridge. A dark
cloud bank rolled in from the east by 3:30 PM EST and seemed to inhibit
whatever meager movement might still have been trying to take place.
Non-raptor Observations:
Monarchs - 132
Dragonflies - 55
Hummers - 2
RH Woodpeckers - 2
Blue Jays - 13
RB Grosbeak - 1
Palm Warbler - 3
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Report submitted by Gene Sattler (edsattle@xxxxxxxxxxx)
Site Description:
Candler Mountain is located on the southeast edge of Lynchburg, VA, in
Virginia's Inner Piedmont. It is 45 miles SSE of Rockfish Gap and 32 miles
E of Harvey's Knob. The primary site is a bare knob known locally as the
"Bald Spot". It is part of a minor ridge that parallels the Blue Ridge
Parkway, which is 16 miles to the NW. The bare knob offers a 360 degree
view from an elevation of 1336 feet. The Candler Mountain count is in its
twelfth year, and is sponsored by the Liberty University Department of
Biology and the Lynchburg Bird Club. The count is currently conducted only
from early September to the end of the month because of a shortage of
counters.
For directions to the lookout visit "virtual birder.com" and take the
"Backgrounder" link. Next choose "Hawk Watch", then "Find A Watch", and
scroll down to Virginia, or contact me.
