Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch
Waynesboro, Virginia, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 12, 2011
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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 79 319
Bald Eagle 0 31 117
Northern Harrier 0 15 36
Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 481 1071
Cooper's Hawk 0 73 160
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 4 5
Broad-winged Hawk 0 73 28783
Red-tailed Hawk 0 37 66
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 1 1
American Kestrel 0 29 214
Merlin 0 2 12
Peregrine Falcon 0 6 24
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 2
Unknown Buteo 0 0 4
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 2 2
Total: 0 833 30816
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(No count conducted today)
Weather:
Steady rain, heavy at times, throughout the region with fog along higher
ridges greatly reducing visibility.
Raptor Observations:
SEASON TO DATE RECAP --
We're coming into the home stretch and what a season it's been. Although
plagued with persistent low clouds and rain along upper ridges during the
peak flights of Broad-wings, the dedicated volunteer counters and spotters
held steady and the results of their efforts are impressive indeed, with
quite a few record breakers. A very special "THANKS" to Rose Thomas and Vic
Laubach for their countless hours this season and to Vic for entering the
bulk of the data on a regular basis!
Osprey - 41 on October 2, 2011 set the 2nd highest single day record;
season's total to date of 319 not only set the record for a season, it
smashed the previous record set back in 1986 (233);
Bald Eagle - 14 flying over on September 11, 2011 set the 2nd highest
single day record; total of 117 to date sets a new season record previously
broken last year (115);
Broad-winged Hawk - I was fortunate to be on board on September 18, 2011
when the 2nd highest single-day record totalling 10,766 was set. The
impressive streams and kettles , numbering into the thousands will not soon
be forgotten. And the total to date of 28,783 has set the 2nd highest
overall season count.
American Kestrel - 44 individuals on September 29, 2011 set the 5th
highest single day record and season's total to date of 214 sets the 2nd
highest season count. Only 56 more will tie the all time high of 260 set
in 1986.
The overall season total to date stands at 30816, the 3rd highest since
the beginning of the hawk watch (1976)!
Non-raptor Observations:
We should also note the record setting flight of Red-headed Woodpeckers.
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Report submitted by Brenda Tekin (brenda@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx)
Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch, VA information may be found at:
http://www.rockfishgaphawkwatch.org
