Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch
Waynesboro, Virginia, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 16, 2010
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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 1 88 108
Bald Eagle 3 45 58
Northern Harrier 2 13 15
Sharp-shinned Hawk 83 148 164
Cooper's Hawk 1 23 27
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 1 1
Broad-winged Hawk 458 5594 5646
Red-tailed Hawk 0 27 36
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 1 1
American Kestrel 2 77 82
Merlin 0 2 2
Peregrine Falcon 1 2 2
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 1
Unknown Buteo 0 3 3
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 4 7
Total: 551 6028 6153
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 15:00:00
Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Multiple Counters
Observers: Brenda Tekin, Dave Hunter, Vic Laubach
Visitors:
Quite a few folks came out and some managed to see some of the low, and
slow sailing birds.
They included (and please forgive me for any mispellingss as I had a late
day eye exam and my eye are still dialated. The trip home was full of
approaching vehicles and street lights encircled within bright,
multi-colored halos!
Diane Lepkowski,
Marshall Faintich, Buzz Van Santwood, Penny Warren, Allen Larner, Andrew
Clem, Peter Nebel, Bill Portlock, Gabriel Mapel, Frank Wilzcek, Judy
BOnnett, Alice Davis, Marilyn Gilespie, and a young woman visiting
overnight from West Virginia. I apologize but I can't read the name from
the counter's notes.
Special thanks to Dave Hunter who took on the role of official countkeeper
today.
Weather:
What a difference a day will make. Increased clouds with little wind
1-5km/h predominently out of the east and then diminishing to variable
closed the gates by early afternoon. Temp 23.5c increasing to 26;
Humidity: 47% climing to 55% before dropping down to 41%; Bar.Pressure 1017
dropping to 1013 with approaching rain. Overcase throughout the day with
thickening dark clouds and light rain moving through.
Penny Warren and others noted a long stretch of a sickly yellowish haze
far out over the valley to the west. Due the stagnant air with no wind, it
was the road polution on I-81, the modern day version of the yellow brick
road.
Raptor Observations:
Well, the gates got closed today with the increasing cloud cover and
easterly wind (what little there was) changing to variable. Sharp-shinns
were the first to go during the first hour (17) with only 4 Broadwing. The
next hour only 2 Sharps. In the 3rd hour between 10-11 EST, 10 Sharps and
41 Broadwing with quite a few BWs slowing turning to drop back down into
the trees below on north side of the ridge. The next two hours the birds
came through in a steady stream, many low below the cloud cover and quite a
few far out over the western valley, oftentimes difficult to see through
the dense haze/smog. The Peregrine Falcon was first spotted low out over
the valley floor, pumping wings full speed ahead, then turned abruptly,
apparently in a hunting mode to see what it could stir up. It changed
course again, last seen heading south. The two immature Bald Eagles flew
in together at 12:51 p.m. EST and judging by images, one was a 3rd-4th and
one a 4th. Bulk of today's BWs flew between 11 am - 1 p.m. EST:
11-12pm(138); 12-1pm(272). Only 3 more for the rest of the afternoon and by
3 p.m. EST darker clouds and rain moved in.
Non-raptor Observations:
Lots of butterflies but many with uncounted. At least 50 Monarch's.
Rose-breasted Grosbeak,
Indigo Bunting,
Yellow-rumped Warbler,
Palm Warbler,
American Tree Swallow,
Chimney Swifts
Predictions:
Oh please say a bit more sunny, with just the right amount of white puffy
clouds, a nice breeze from anywhere but out of the east, not too hot and
not too cold, and lots of birds to entertain the folks below!
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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
