[Va-bird] HSR: Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch (18 Aug 2012) 26 Raptors

  • From: reports@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • To: va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: 18 Aug 2012 17:08:49 -0400

Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch
Waynesboro, Virginia, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Aug 18, 2012
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0              0              0
Turkey Vulture               0              0              0
Osprey                       0              2              2
Bald Eagle                   4              8              8
Northern Harrier             0              0              0
Sharp-shinned Hawk           1              2              2
Cooper's Hawk                0              0              0
Northern Goshawk             0              0              0
Red-shouldered Hawk          0              1              1
Broad-winged Hawk           18            132            132
Red-tailed Hawk              2              3              3
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0              0              0
American Kestrel             1              4              4
Merlin                       0              0              0
Peregrine Falcon             0              0              0
Unknown Accipiter            0              0              0
Unknown Buteo                0              2              2
Unknown Falcon               0              0              0
Unknown Eagle                0              0              0
Unknown Raptor               0              0              0

Total:                      26            154            154
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 08:00:00 
Observation end   time: 13:30:00 
Total observation time: 5.5 hours

Official Counter:        Brenda Tekin

Observers:        Rose Thomas, Tom Mizell, Vic Laubach

Visitors:
Several folks dropped to visit today including Steve Patti & Cory Goff;
Vince and Carol Capaccio of Raphine, VA; and Bob Martinka visiting the area
from Helena, MT.


Weather:
Stepped out of vehicle and was hit with a brisk NW wind with a definite
chill in the air.  Folks were pulling out the lightweight long sleeves. 
What happened to summer?  Winds remained from NW but diminished throughtout
the day allowing it to warm up.  A few clouds here and there early and
increased partly cloudy by 12 pm and dark threatening clouds passed over. 
Temp 18.6c>23.8c; Humidity: 69%<55%; Bar.Pressure: 1000<999; Thick haze
persists with greatly reduced visibility over Piedmont and Shenandoah
Valley.  

Raptor Observations:
And the Bald Eagles keep coming!  Today we added four more adults -- one at
11 am; two at 12:20 and the 4th one at 12:30 pm.

A few more Broad-wings but quite a few just not ready to move on and
therefore no countable.  An adult Cooper's observed sailing across the gap,
northbound, and then drop into the trees.  

Non-raptor Observations:
Monarch Butterfly-2; Chimney Swifts swirling around, some moving through; a
good number of Tree Swallows along with Barn.  Common Raven:  At least
seven, incuding one group of 5; Hummingbird: 2

Several vendor have set up shop in the parking area at the old abandoned
buildings below -- Kettle corn and apples.  Oh, and fried pork rinds. 
Several of us stopped on the way out to pick up a bag of the kettle corn.
========================================================================
Report submitted by Brenda Tekin (brenda@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx)
Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch, VA information may be found at:
http://www.rockfishgaphawkwatch.org




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