Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch
Waynesboro, Virginia, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 18, 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 5 99 119
Bald Eagle 3 52 65
Northern Harrier 2 15 17
Sharp-shinned Hawk 46 249 265
Cooper's Hawk 0 27 31
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 1 1
Broad-winged Hawk 7891 14389 14441
Red-tailed Hawk 0 29 38
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 1 1
American Kestrel 0 82 87
Merlin 0 2 2
Peregrine Falcon 1 3 3
Unknown Accipiter 0 1 2
Unknown Buteo 0 3 3
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 4 7
Total: 7948 14957 15082
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Observation start time: 07:00:00
Observation end time: 17:15:00
Total observation time: 10.25 hours
Official Counter: Multiple Counters
Observers: Brenda Tekin, Rose Thomas, Vic Laubach
Visitors:
LOTS of visitors! And unfortunately, we were unable to get everyones names.
But many, many thanks for their help in spotting some of those distant
birds.
I would also like to think the counters that included Vic Laubach, Rose
Thomas and Allen Larner as well as Counter Monitor, Dave Hunter, who
monitored counters.
Some of the many folks visiting for the day included Hannah Glass and her
dad, Paul (who were a great asset in spotting many birds); Gabriel Mapel
and his dad, Dan; Diane Lepkowski; Tom Lord; Phyllis Showalter; Betty
Redmond; Irene Schnock; Peter Brask; Kati and Ted Pearson; Dan Perkuchin;
long time raptorians Wade & Lisa Hildredth from North Carolina and Ed and
Donna Lewis.
Weather:
Almost perfect except for lack of clouds. And believe me when I say that
clouds are NOT overrated! For most of the day there was not the first hint
of a cloud, not even a wisp. Wind speed was pretty much non-existent, and
when there was it seemed to be more out of the east to SE. Temp: 16c
increasing to 21.5c; humidity: 58%increasing to 66%; humidity: steady at
1023; Thick haze, expecially out over the valley to the west.
Raptor Observations:
After a full day at the hawk watch, we left knowing it had been a very
special day. Not only because there had been another spectacular flight of
Broad-wings that kept those counters clicking (Yes, that's counters with an
"s" on the end.) pretty much none stop for several hours, but it was the
fact that this spectacular event was witnessed by quite a few visitors.
Fantastic! Unbelievable! Oh my gosh! And then there was the moment after
another large wave of broadwings passed over when everyone broke out into a
round of applause.
Today the runway was cleared for takeoff and the skies cleared of all
traffic except for the Broadwings. And they filled the sky, with many
passing high to low overhead or a little to the east, and a good number
going off out over Waynesboro to the west where many were not easily seen
without the use of a spotting scope as they would disappear in the thick
haze. There was a decent early morning liftoff, with birds coming up out of
the trees, slowly stirring seeking air currents to get them up and over the
ridges. By 10 a.m. EST, if was slowing down quite a bit and only 94 were
counted that next hour. Then things begin to pick up around 11:30 EST. The
hourly count (in Eastern Standard Time): 7-8 (8); 8-9 (680); 9-10 (587);
10-11 (94); 11-12 (213); 12-1 (257); 1-2 (1112; 2-3 (774); 2-3 (774); 3-4
(3384); 4-5 (782). A good number of Broadwings were seen dropping down
into the trees just to the north and we plan to be back Sunday morning with
hopes of seeing a decent liftoff.
Not much else other than Broadwings were observed although there was a
decent showing of Sharp-shinns. Bald Eagles of the day: Imm (8:35); 2
adults (9:52 and 9:55). Quite surprisingly, the only falcon that was also
the last bird counted for the day was a Peregrine coming in fast and low.
Non-raptor Observations:
Most of us had out eyes to the sky looking at the thousands of broadwings
and any other migrating raptors that might be moving through. Some other
sightings including over 60 Monarch Butterly, Chimney Swifts, Ruby-throated
Hummingbord (2); Common Ravens (4); Eastern Bluebirds (2); Northern Flicker
(5); Red-headed Woodpecker (1)
Predictions:
sunny
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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
