Candler Mountain
Lynchburg, Virginia, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 20, 2008
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 0 0 0
Osprey 2 22 22
Bald Eagle 0 4 4
Northern Harrier 0 0 0
Sharp-shinned Hawk 7 21 21
Cooper's Hawk 2 2 2
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 1 1
Broad-winged Hawk 3597 12054 12054
Red-tailed Hawk 1 5 5
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 1 8 8
Merlin 2 2 2
Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Accipiter 1 1 1
Unknown Buteo 0 0 0
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 0 0
Total: 3613 12120 12120
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Observation start time: 09:30:00
Observation end time: 16:30:00
Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Gene Sattler
Observers:
Weather:
Good cloud cover of 50-85% almost all day until the last hour or so, winds
NNE-NE2,63-72 degrees F.
Raptor Observations:
We were graced by a third day of unusually high BW numbers for our lookout.
Hourly totals EST: 9:30(10), 10(132), 11(1606), 12(515), 1(450), 2(677),
3(185), 4(22). Like a significant part of yesterday's flight, kettles up
until the 12:00 hour were distant to the north over Lynchburg, and this was
verified by over 2000 seen by Mark Johnson in Amherst Co and around 800 or
so by Robert Ferrell in Lynchburg today. Likewise, yesterday John
Williamson in Bedford County reported over 5000; all locations east of the
Blue Ridge. After 12:00 thankfully kettles and streams I detected were
either closer on the north or on the south side of the ridge and also
closer. By early afternoon most birds'height was a 4 A merlin today was
nice as we get 0-2 during September counting. The flight was pretty strong
into the afternoon again as yesterday, so maybe there are a significant
number still pointed in our direction for tomorrow. Our daily Broadwing
counts the last three days have been our highest, fourth highest, and fifth
highest counts in our eleven year history.
Non-raptor Observations:
Monarch - 294
Dragonflies - 71
RT Hummer - 1
Blue Jays - 10
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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.
