Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch
Waynesboro, Virginia, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 11, 2007
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
BV 0 0 0
TV 0 0 0
OS 0 0 170
BE 1 1 87
NH 0 1 44
SS 2 56 1524
CH 2 17 163
NG 0 1 1
RS 3 15 34
BW 0 0 15214
RT 36 641 878
RL 0 0 0
GE 0 1 2
AK 2 2 201
ML 0 1 18
PG 0 1 16
UA 0 0 7
UB 0 1 16
UF 0 0 1
UE 0 0 0
UR 0 1 18
Total: 46 739 18394
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Observation start time: 09:15:00
Observation end time: 15:00:00
Total observation time: 5.75 hours
Official Counter: Brenda Tekin
Observers: Vic Laubach
Visitors:
This was my last day at the watch for fall 2007. I was SOoooo hoping for a
Golden and at least my first Goshawk for the season but will settle for
that close up Cooper's and the season's 87th Bald Eagle. Many thanks go to
all of the volunteer counters, especially to a few folks who continued
thoughout the season (which extends through next weekend!): Jennifer
Gaden, Rose Thomas, and Dave Hunter. I also want to express A HUGH thanks
to Vic Laubach, who not only took on many days this season, but who also
helped immensely in submitting the data.
Visitors today:
Carolyn Zimmerman and Robert (Bob) Hing;
Volunteer counter Rose Thomas and her husband, Herb, making brief stop
before heading down the mountain to pack and close up the "cabin" for the
winter.
Weather:
Overall, a pleasant day, although a bit chilly in the shade with NW winds
shifting to NE by mid-day. Not much wind at that, less than 1km/h
increasing to 1-5km/h, with many Red-tails forced to flap to gain altitude
and cross the gap.
Temp: 7.5c increasing to 8.5c by 11am and then dropping rest of day, back
to 7.5c by 1 p.m.;
Humidity: 56%<48%>59%;
Bar.Pressure: 1022<1021;
Partly cloudy diminishing to mostly sunny with few whisps and puffy white
clouds.
Thick mist or haze persisted out over western valley throughout the day
reducing visibility to less than 25km/h.
Raptor Observations:
A few Red-tails moving through. Vic Laubach spotted a distant bird coming
out of the clouds to the east beyond Beagle Gap, the season's 87th Bald
Eagle, an adult, at 12:10 p.m.
Highlight of the day was a Cooper's Hawk that zipped by close heading west
through the gap at eye level, then dipping down a short distance out over
the old abandoned buildings along the hillside. While searching for the
Cooper's, two American Kestrel, both adult males, were located perched on
the utility wires, one munching down on lunch.
Non-raptor Observations:
Several large flocks of Cedar Waxwing;
One impressive flock of 100+ Dark-eyed Junco;
one White-crowned Sparrow;
Common Raven - 2;
Red-winged Blackbird - one adult male flashing bright red wing patches
heading SE.
Predictions:
Anyone's guess. By late afternoon clouds began to roll in. There may be a
slight chance of rain in the Piedmont overnight.
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Report submitted by Brenda Tekin (bt8x@xxxxxxxxxxxx)
Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch, VA information may be found at:
http://home.ntelos.net/~btkin/rockfish_gap_hawk_watch
