Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch
Waynesboro, Virginia, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 03, 2013
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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 9 18 52
Bald Eagle 5 9 29
Northern Harrier 0 1 6
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 5 18
Cooper's Hawk 4 7 18
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 1 3 7
Broad-winged Hawk 21 62 296
Red-tailed Hawk 1 7 24
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 6 10 18
Merlin 1 1 1
Peregrine Falcon 0 0 1
Unknown Accipiter 0 2 2
Unknown Buteo 1 1 2
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 0 3
Mississippi Kite 1 1 1
Total: 51 127 478
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Observation start time: 08:15:00
Observation end time: 18:00:00
Total observation time: 9.75 hours
Official Counter: Gabriel Mapel
Observers: Allen Larner, Pete Nebel, Vic Laubach
Visitors:
Daniel & Mary Mapel
Weather:
Strong NW winds early, mild WNW winds 11am-1pm, then mild variable winds
after 1pm. 21.7-26.7C. Mostly cloudy with nice blue sky between the clouds.
Clear visibility.
Raptor Observations:
Our first Merlin (an adult female) passed through at 11:18am. Five Bald
Eagles: immature at 2:04pm and 3 adults at 2:18pm, 3:23pm, 3:30pm and
4:49pm.
At 4:47pm, Gabriel (no other observers present at the time) sighted a
high, falcon-like bird passing by and had views through binoculars and took
photos. His written notes taken immediately after sighting were:
"Very probable MK -- Review photographs taken and send to Vic, Rose, and
Brenda. 4:47pm overhead. Pointed-shaped wings but even more slender than
a Falcon. Impression of size was similar to that of a BW or PG. Head
appeared lighter than the body. Very slender, extremely square-tipped
tail. Thin, white subterminal band to tail. Tail appeared evenly banded
with black and brown. Bird spotted high and directly overhead, first
thought was PG or possible MK based on quick view in Carl Zeiss Conquest
10x40 binoculars, almost immediately tried to locate bird in scope.
Without success, I opted to take photographs of the bird. I took several
and after the bird flew overtop of the building, I looked at my photographs
and noticed the the field marks stated above (some of them I also saw in
the binoculars.)." He also described its flight as "Circling when first
spotted, then streamed out to the south flapping most of the time with
short glides, fairly buoyant."
Upon investigation and processing of Gabriel's photos, I was convinced
enough to concur with Gabriel's first impression that this was indeed a
Mississippi Kite. Congrats on a super sighting Gabriel! The photos reveal
many features of a juvenile MIKI including: 1) very long, narrow, slender,
pointed wings, 2) the leading primary feather is shorter than the second
primary, 3) bell-shaped, squared-off tail (slight flaring on sides), 4) the
brownish coloring on undersides of wings, brown streaking on breast, tail
showing light/dark banding and a lighter-colored chin indicate a juvenile
MIKI. Photos available upon request.
Non-raptor Observations:
27 hummingbirds. 62 Waxwing. 3 Raven. 1 female Summer Tanager. 1 Red-headed
Woodpecker. 326 Chimney Swift. 1 Pewee. 1 Phoebe.
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Report submitted by Vic Laubach (laubach@xxxxxxxxxxxx)
Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch information may be found at:
http://www.rockfishgaphawkwatch.org
