Mendota Fire Tower
Mendota, VA, Virginia, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 10, 2010
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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 2 3
Bald Eagle 1 3 5
Northern Harrier 0 0 0
Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 0 0
Cooper's Hawk 0 0 2
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0
Broad-winged Hawk 75 207 214
Red-tailed Hawk 2 3 3
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 1 1
American Kestrel 0 0 0
Merlin 0 0 0
Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0
Unknown Buteo 0 0 0
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 0 0
Mississippi Kite 0 1 1
Total: 78 217 229
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Observation start time: 10:00:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 6 hours
Official Counter: Thomas O. Hunter
Observers: Bob Riggs, Mary Anne Spicer
Visitors:
Joel Keebler brought his Horticulture Club from Virginia Highlands
Community College to visit today. The Bald Eagle came by while they were
here and the Broad-winged Hawks were close giving excellent looks.
Weather:
Partly cloudy this morning with heavy cloud over and rain after 4 pm. Wind
was calm.
Raptor Observations:
The Broadwing flights shut down after 3:15 as the thermals disappeared. The
last 8 seen were flapping their wings and dropping below the ridge line
into the trees.
An immature Bald Eagle came by in the afternoon just in time for the
visitors.
Non-raptor Observations:
We had a Black-throated Blue Warbler, Blue-headed Vireo, Scarlet Tanager
and several other passerines migrate past the tower. 10+ Monarch
Butterflies and lots of dragonflies seen today.
Predictions:
The weather for tomorrow looks challenging. Rain in the morning with
possible thunderstorms in the afternoon.
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Report submitted by Thomas O. Hunter (opiehunter@xxxxxxxxx)
