Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch
Waynesboro, Virginia, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 13, 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 0 347
Bald Eagle 1 22 173
Northern Harrier 1 9 62
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 83 2328
Cooper's Hawk 2 13 310
Northern Goshawk 0 0 2
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 35 47
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 28790
Red-tailed Hawk 7 307 489
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 3 5
American Kestrel 0 1 294
Merlin 0 1 26
Peregrine Falcon 0 0 27
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 3
Unknown Buteo 0 0 5
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 2 6
Total: 12 476 32914
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Observation start time: 08:30:00
Observation end time: 13:30:00
Total observation time: 5 hours
Official Counter: Multiple Counters
Observers: Allen Larner, Brenda Tekin, Mark Johnson, Vic Laubach
Visitors:
Janet Paisley
Weather:
As I was driving north on Rt. 340 which runs parallel with the Blue Ridge I
was alarmed to discover what appeared to be several forest fires along
lower western slopes just a few miles south of Afton Mtn. The smoke from
the fires, all within small area, was flowing northward toward the gap but
remaining below the top of the ridges. Mark Johnson was on site and
reported fire crews and US Foresty vehicles heading south on the parkway
with sirens and lights flashing. Not good, considering dry conditions,
very low humidity, and southerly flow of air. Today's report states there
were at least six fires and crews hoped to contain today. Today winds were
SW to SE 6-11 km/h and increasing by late afternoon.Temp: a balmy 14c >
16.1c until clouds began moving in and temp started to drop by 1:00 p.m.;
Humidity: 38%<36%; Bar.Pressure: 1003<1003; Partly cloudy increasing to
mostly cloudy.
Raptor Observations:
Another slow day; the first migrating raptor not spotted until the 11-12
hour! Still no big push of Red-tails. Several were observed in
non-migratory mode. An adult male Northern Harrier came up low over the
western slopes heading southward; Vic Laubach picked up on the day's only
eagle, an immature Bald Eagle at 11:25 that finally moved southward at
11:34 am
Non-raptor Observations:
Warm enough for a few stink bugs and bees to emerge. The one stink bug at
entrance to hotel may have checked in but it won't be checking out!
Monarch Butterfly - 1
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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
