Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch
Waynesboro, Virginia, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 02, 2008
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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 7 7 127
Bald Eagle 0 0 31
Northern Harrier 2 2 21
Sharp-shinned Hawk 91 91 415
Cooper's Hawk 11 11 66
Northern Goshawk 0 0 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 1
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 14429
Red-tailed Hawk 2 2 25
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 1
American Kestrel 11 11 80
Merlin 0 0 3
Peregrine Falcon 1 1 11
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0
Unknown Buteo 0 0 2
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 0 6
Mississippi Kite 0 0 1
Total: 125 125 15220
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Observation start time: 07:00:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 9 hours
Official Counter: Vic Laubach
Observers:
Weather:
Very sunny day with no haze and clear visibility. High winds from the W at
50-61km/hr during first 3 hrs, then the winds gradually calmed down to
20-28km/hr by 1pm. Cool in the morning (50F) and warm in afternoon (68F).
Usually some nice, white cumulus clouds in the sky after 11am. Humidity
started at 52% and ended at 33%.
Raptor Observations:
The birds were fighting the winds in the morning, usually rising just off
the ridge and crossing Rockfish Gap fairly low. In the afternoon, when the
winds calmed down, the birds then were able to gain more height.
An adult Peregrine Falcon observed at 8:58am, and two Northern Harriers
observed between 12-1pm (one adult female and the other unknown).
All 7 Ospreys came over before noon.
Hourly Sharp-Shinned Hawk counts: 5 (7-8am), 2 (8-9am), 15 (9-10am), 9
(10-11am), 11 (11-12pm), 16 (12-1pm), 19 (1-2pm), 9 (2-3pm), 5 (3-4pm).
Non-raptor Observations:
8 Ravens.
Usually were some Chimney Swifts flying all day.
2 Hummingbirds.
A few Swallows observed several times today. Although distant, they
appeared to be Cliff Swallows due to the white underside and squared-off
tail.
Also observed was the rare "blue-breasted latex balloon" and the
"silver-backed mylar balloon" flying high across the gap.
Predictions:
Sunny and a little warmer
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Report submitted by Vic Laubach (laubach@xxxxxxxxxxxx)
Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch, VA information may be found at:
http://home.ntelos.net/~btkin/rockfish_gap_hawk_watch
