Candler Mountain
Lynchburg, Virginia, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 23, 2008
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 0 0 0
Osprey 0 26 26
Bald Eagle 1 5 5
Northern Harrier 1 1 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 23 23
Cooper's Hawk 0 4 4
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 1 1
Broad-winged Hawk 36 12371 12371
Red-tailed Hawk 0 5 5
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 1 13 13
Merlin 0 2 2
Peregrine Falcon 0 1 1
Unknown Accipiter 0 4 4
Unknown Buteo 0 0 0
Unknown Falcon 1 1 1
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 0 0
Total: 40 12457 12457
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Observation start time: 10:30:00
Observation end time: 13:00:00
Total observation time: 2.5 hours
Official Counter: Mark Johnson
Observers: Gene Sattler
Weather:
Early morning overcast giving way to a mix of sun and clouds, NNE-ENE 3,
low 70s.
Raptor Observations:
A trickle of birds most seen on the north side of the ridge at a height of
a 3 or 4, with best hour the last, but we had to leave early after a late
start. Our first Northern Harrier this season, an immature BE, and an
unidentified falcon in the distance that was either a Merlin or a
Peregrine.
Non-raptor Observations:
Monarch - 31
Dragonfly - 50
Blue Jay - 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.
