Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch
Waynesboro, Virginia, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 11, 2010
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 0 0 0
Osprey 15 41 61
Bald Eagle 5 10 23
Northern Harrier 1 2 4
Sharp-shinned Hawk 3 10 26
Cooper's Hawk 0 8 12
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0
Broad-winged Hawk 11 79 131
Red-tailed Hawk 1 13 22
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 1 1
American Kestrel 5 32 37
Merlin 0 1 1
Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 1
Unknown Buteo 0 0 0
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 2 5
Total: 41 199 324
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Observation start time: 07:00:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 9 hours
Official Counter: Multiple Counters
Observers: Brenda Tekin, Vic Laubach, William Leigh
Visitors:
Marshall Faintich,
Carolyn Ratcliffe,
Florence Geyer,
Janice Paisley,
William Leigh
Weather:
Great start with contrails providing a decent backdrop before increasing
clouds moved in. Slow, steady breeze 6-12km/h out of the east to SE to
South. Eastly winds typically do not produce good flights for us. Temp:
15c>21.5c; humidity: 40% increasing to 62% and dropping back to 46%;
Bar.Pressure: 1012<1011; Haze in the distance with good visibility for the
most part up to 20-25 km/h;
Approaching front from W pushed in clouds by 1 p.m. EST and completely
overcast by 1:30. Light rain squalls from the west by 4 P.M. EST moving
east over the ridge.
Raptor Observations:
Another good day for Osprey. But where are the Broad-wings? For now,
they're just trickling in. More, please! A group of three kestrel flew in
together but the group of three bald eagle (2 adults & 1 juv.) and three
osprey coming in low, below the cloud cover, circling out over the parking
lot with three black vulture at 1:37 pm EST were the highlight of the day.
Another BAEA, an adult, passed over a few minutes later at 1:46. William
Leigh, Diane Lepkowski and Janet Paisley remained and a few more birds,
including at least one more BAEA and osprey flew over. Data will be
updated once details are provided.
Non-raptor Observations:
Monarchs ruled the day with at least 83 recorded.
Cedar Waxwing-a flock of 30 with several indivdual birds throughout the
day; Chimney Swift - a few passing through; Ruby-throated Humningbird (6);
Pileated Woodpecker; Oriole species;
Vic Laubach was on hand to witness a spectacular sunrise with four hot air
ballons slowly floating along with a low ground fog over the valley floor.
Predictions:
Rain moving in overnight and forecast is for clearing skies by tomorrow
morning.
========================================================================
Report submitted by Brenda Tekin (brenda@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx)
Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch, VA information may be found at:
http://www.rockfishgaphawkwatch.org
