Candler Mountain
Lynchburg, Virginia, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 27, 2005
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 0 0 0
Osprey 5 36 36
Bald Eagle 0 9 9
Northern Harrier 0 2 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk 5 25 25
Cooper's Hawk 0 3 3
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0
Broad-winged Hawk 2829 4719 4719
Red-tailed Hawk 2 4 4
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 4 10 10
Merlin 0 0 0
Peregrine Falcon 1 1 1
Unknown 1 4 4
Total: 2847 4813 4813
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Observation start time: 09:30:00
Observation end time: 17:30:00
Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Gene Sattler
Observers: Mark Johnson
Weather:
5% clouds, 73-81 degrees, wind NNE 5-10 until mid afternoon, then minimal.
Raptor Observations:
1600 Broadwings conservatively between 12:30-1:00 EDT, then 375 at 3:40,
and 730 between 5:40-6:05 EDT. Birds were beyond naked eye range, and one
stream passing overhead at mid day was at the limit of binoculars. A lot
of birds no doubt escaped detection under these conditions, especially as
our small ridge does not hold the birds as close as something like the
Blue Ridge.
Non-raptor Observations:
Great movement of Monarchs all day long. I was averaging over one a minute
much of the day even with intensive scanning for hawks. Some were up
overhead near the limit of binocular range. At the end of the day when I
left the pace had doubled. Total count = 564
Darners - 6
Saddlebags - 15
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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
eighth 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 a hawk
migration link, then take the "Find a Watch" link, or contact me.
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