[Va-bird] HSR: Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch (19 Sep 2008) 5053 Raptors
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- Date: 19 Sep 2008 22:09:44 -0400
Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch
Waynesboro, Virginia, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 19, 2008
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 0 0 0
Osprey 12 77 93
Bald Eagle 4 17 27
Northern Harrier 3 9 11
Sharp-shinned Hawk 17 138 156
Cooper's Hawk 1 21 25
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 1 1
Broad-winged Hawk 5015 9534 9777
Red-tailed Hawk 0 11 11
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 1 1
American Kestrel 0 58 62
Merlin 0 1 1
Peregrine Falcon 0 5 5
Unknown Accipiter 1 1 1
Unknown Buteo 0 2 2
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 2 3
Total: 5053 9878 10176
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Observation start time: 07:00:00
Observation end time: 18:00:00
Total observation time: 11 hours
Official Counter: Rose Thomas
Observers: Allen Larner, Vic Laubach
Visitors:
Peak Broadwing migration brings them back to the mountain, year afer year.
Many old friends returned and were on hand for the late afternoon flight.
Peter Dutnell, Wade Hildreth, Harold Dunning, Allen Larner, Ed and Donna
Lewis, Janet Johnston and Mary Burger from Colorado, Bill Gallagher, Debra
and yours truly, Brenda Tekin.
Weather:
From bad to worse back to worse before clearing in late afternoon. At 6:12
a.m. EST the expanse of low, dark clouds extended well into the piedmont
and west over Shenandoah Valley with spurts of light rain. There was a
breeze diminishing to almost nonexistent by 8 a.m. increasing to 2 on the
Beaufort wind scale out of the SE by late afternoon (4 p.m.).
Temp: 19.5<16.0>21.5c; (slight chill in the early evening hours);
Humidity: 545>56%;
Bar.Pressure: 1020>1022;
Raptor Observations:
After yesterday's so-so flight that paled in comparison to those observed
at our neighboring sites (Harvery's Knob and Snicker's Gap with over 1,000
BW and the nearly 5,000 birds over Candler's Mtn to our SSE), we were
wondering if any birds were left in the pipeline and if so, would the winds
favor us with at least one good flight.
Long time raptorians Wade Hildreth and Harold Dunning from North Carolina
were on hand to observe the first migrant of the day, an immature BAEA at
7:18 a.m. EST. On the previous day at approximately 5:30 p.m.EST counters
observed a small kettle of Broadwing dropping down to the NNW just east of
downtown Waynesboro which were not included in the day's tally. Counter
Rose Thomas arrived by 8 a.m. EST in time to catch the early liftoff of
these birds with 58 BW between 8-9 and 79 the following hour. With the
heavy cloud cover and threat of rain, flights were sporadic throughout most
of the day. Ever hopeful, dedicated observers kept looking skyward for any
sign of Broadwings on the move. Between 10-12 p.m. only 7 BW were counted
and 86 in the next three hours. By now, some folks had left, with others
arriving. It was now getting late in the day and doubt was setting in.
That's what's so great about the Broad-wing migration. There is no flight
schedule; they fly when conditions are right and they will continue late in
the day if sufficient wind or thermals will keep them airborne. I arrived
late, at approximately 4:50 p.m. EST, a time when many folk are
contemplating dinner. It looked like homecoming with many old friends who
gather once a year for the annual migration fondly dubbed "Broadwingers."
They were all standing with eyes fixed to the skies, and it was apparent
they were looking at something. You could see the excitement and with arms
outstretched and fingers pointing skyward, I grabbed my binoculars. Allen
Larner came rushing up - "Broad-wings. Lots of them.." Even without
binoculars I could see the hundreds and hundreds of birds flowing in,
easily seen against the clouds to our north, streaming out over the gap and
even though it was late in the day, they were high in the sky and moving
on. These were the last birds of the hour that ended with a total of
3,898. In the following hour (4-5 pm EST) three large kettles of hundreds
of BW were located out over Waynesboro on the western slope and the final
count in that last hour was 515. There was no doubt these birds were
pushing on with Veracruz on the mind. Another kettle of birds was observed
breaking up and literally dropping down to the trees below just east of the
Waynesboro that were not included in the day's count. Counters plan to be
on hand early tomorow morning for the liftoff.
At around 5 p.m. EST, a bird flew in from the north heading south
overhead. It was not too difficult to pick this bird up without binoculars
and some observers called "Peregrine." The bird flew in closer providing
great overhead view. That was NO Peregrine. With the long falcon-like
wings fully extended and the long tail the shape and size of a Mississippi
Kite can be mistaken for a Peregrine. Fortunately the sub-adult
Mississippi Kite, a rare visitor, slowly sailed and glided overhead,
circling a few times providing great opportunity for study as it moved
effortlessly across the sky.
Non-raptor Observations:
Eastern Phoebe,
Yellow-shafted Flicka (sure fire sign that fall is here),
Hummingbird - 4
Predictions:
Clearing skies, mild temps and let's hope favorable winds!
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Report submitted by Brenda Tekin (bt8x@xxxxxxxxxxxx)
Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch, VA information may be found at:
http://home.ntelos.net/~btkin/rockfish_gap_hawk_watch
Directions to site:
The Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch is held on the grounds of the Inn at Afton,
located on the southern side of Rockfish Gap in the Blue Ridge Mountains,
just above where I-64 (exit 99) intersects with the southern end of the
Skyline Drive and the northern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway, just east of
Waynesboro, VA and approximately 22 miles west of Charlottesville, VA.
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