Harvey's Knob
Roanoke, Virginia, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Aug 24, 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 0 1 1
Bald Eagle 1 7 7
Northern Harrier 0 1 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 6 6
Cooper's Hawk 0 0 0
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0
Broad-winged Hawk 0 9 9
Red-tailed Hawk 1 1 1
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 0 0 0
Merlin 0 1 1
Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0
Unknown Buteo 0 2 2
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 0 0
Total: 2 28 28
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Observation start time: 08:30:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 7.5 hours
Official Counter: Bill Grant
Observers: Retired Ranger Cathy
Visitors:
2 hikers, "Highlife from Boston and "Hob" from Pennsylvania emerged from
the trail from the North both throug hiking it. Highlife approached my van
and inquired if I was the gentleman who had a daughter that lived in Boston
and played in a band. He reminded me that he had passed this way back in
2007 and had made it to Harvey's on a particuarlly hot day in late
September. When he got to Harvey's he collapsed under the tree at the
North end of the parking lot, out of water and declaring he wasn't moving
until he could get something to drink. Having heard his plea I did not
have any water but did offer him several Diet Cokes that I had on board
which he consumed and declared I had saved his life. He stayed at the Knob
with Hop for quite a while and it turns out Highlife also is familiar with
the band that my Son-in-law sings with in Boston. I guess it's really true
what a small world we live in. As he departed I told him I'd look for him
again in 4 more years, just make sure he got to Harvey's on a Wednesday.
Cars today from Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts (these
folks from just out of Boston also), New Jersey, North Carolina and
Tennessee.
A couple from Forest, VA, didn't write down their names and my memory
fails me, who have been up before came in around 11:00 and stayed until
about 2:30.
Retired Ranger Kathy joined me about 2:00 and was the first to see the
bird of the day. See Summary for hour 3:00-4:00.
Weather:
Temps in the 70's for most of the count. Visibility hampered by haze on
both the east and west side most of the day with Pugatory not becoming
clear until 2:00 EST. Sharp Top was covered from the top down 1/3 of the
way by clouds until 1:30 and finally became clear at 1:55. Winds calm at
first began to pick up substanially at 11:00. Early on the winds were from
the NW on the west side and from the SSE on the east side but by 11:00 the
easterly winds took over ranging from Beaufort 3 to right on the cusp of 4
with many gust well into the 4 range. Cloud cover high most of the day.
Raptor Observations:
Only two countable birds today with 1 BV, 5 TV's. See hourly summaries for
the two countable. All bird action with the exception of several of the
vultures passing back and forth between the west and east side, was on the
east side.
Non-raptor Observations:
3 Ravens, 4 Chimney swifts, a few Goldfinches, Cardinals and Jays.
Predictions:
High's in the 80's with 50% chance of thunderstorms. BUT if the birds are
ready to move, a few might appear. Don't know how much Irene will afftect
the Eastern flyway but looks like it could be substantial, which may push
some of the birds over to our mountain flyway.
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Report submitted by Bill Grant (clarinetman@xxxxxxxxxxxxx)
Harvey's Knob Hawk Watch information may be found at:
http://bijame.googlepages.com/home
