Harvey's Knob
Roanoke, Virginia, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 23, 2011
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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 25 157
Bald Eagle 1 24 91
Northern Harrier 0 13 26
Sharp-shinned Hawk 16 529 717
Cooper's Hawk 3 59 98
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 3 12 12
Broad-winged Hawk 0 67 10225
Red-tailed Hawk 2 85 107
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 0 39 68
Merlin 0 12 20
Peregrine Falcon 0 15 28
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 1
Unknown Buteo 0 0 3
Unknown Falcon 0 1 4
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 4 8
Mississippi Kite 0 1 1
Total: 27 886 11566
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Observation start time: 09:00:00
Observation end time: 16:30:00
Total observation time: 7.5 hours
Official Counter: Baron Gibson
Observers: Randy Doss
Visitors:
Dave Brunstetter, Debbie Russell & Laura Beltran. Great eyes & great help,
thank you.
Parkway goers out in force today!!!
Weather:
Very nice day on the mountain today.
Finally something to look at besides all blue as we had very thin clouds
all watch.
Not too hot nor cold with not much wind.
Raptor Observations:
Movement was sparse today.
An IBE @ 11:20 gave us our 91st of the season. Our next BE will tie the
record of 92 set last season.
@ 15:38 a hawk was spotted on the east side and the appearance was, should
I say, DIFFERENT looking. Hawk was Buteo in size & very light underneath
with very little markings observed except for pointed wings with black wing
tips. We put out collective sightings together, I got the books out and
after about 10 minutes of purusing them & Debbie showing me some pictures
she took, I still did not know. Debbie (who got her 1st BE,
congratulations) was gracious enough to give me her SD card to view pics on
the computer. After viewing the pics at a zoom level, I came to the
conclusion that this hawk was a very young Osprey. I may add that this
really challenged my 14 years of hawk watching & I was puzzled all the way
home (an hours drive). The Buteo size, lightness underneath & straight
winged flight really threw me, not what I am used to seeing from an Osprey.
This is one of the things that keeps me coming back day after day, the
CHALLENGE of identification. Another learning experience & one for the
memory bank for sure.
Non-raptor Observations:
A lot of little bird movement this morning. Heard a Red eyed vireo & saw a
couple of Titmice, others not identified.
11 Double Crested Cormorants viewed kettling like Broadwings then moving
on southward.
TV, BV & local RT's moving in & out of our viewing area all watch.
Predictions:
Hopeful for more clouds & wind, may be wishful thinking though.
Much less traffic (hopeful!!!)
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Report submitted by Baron Gibson (Hawkwatche215@xxxxxxxxx)
Harvey's Knob Hawk Watch information may be found at:
http://bijame.googlepages.com/home
