Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch
Waynesboro, Virginia, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 21, 2008
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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 4 94 110
Bald Eagle 2 21 31
Northern Harrier 1 15 17
Sharp-shinned Hawk 24 214 232
Cooper's Hawk 6 37 41
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 1 1
Broad-winged Hawk 1206 14136 14379
Red-tailed Hawk 2 19 19
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 1 1
American Kestrel 1 61 65
Merlin 2 3 3
Peregrine Falcon 1 7 7
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0
Unknown Buteo 0 2 2
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 3 5 6
Mississippi Kite 0 1 1
Total: 1252 14617 14915
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Observation start time: 07:00:00
Observation end time: 17:30:00
Total observation time: 10.5 hours
Official Counter: Multiple Counters
Observers: Brenda Tekin, Rose Thomas, Vic Laubach
Visitors:
Rose Thomas, Wade Hildredth, Harold Dunning, Lois Gebhardt, Vic Laubach and
Brenda Tekin were on hand for the early morning liftoff. A group of early
morning bicyclists were also treated to some of the low kettling BW out
over the parking area. Vic Laubach passed under a cloud of BW as he drove
up the hillside on the way to the watch.
William Leigh, Marlene Condon, Robert Butler, Ed and Donna Lewis, along
with Frank Wilczek and group of naturalist.
Weather:
Very blustery and downright chilly with W to WNW wind on top of mountain
upon arrival. Winds estimated a 5 on the Beaufort wind scale began to
diminish by 11 a.m. EST, then shifting to SE. At one point lower level
clouds were drifting from the north with stationary upper level. A few
clouds and thin cirrus wisps helped later in the day to find the many
kettles the would form to the N with a few out to the NNW. Temp. started
at 13.5c and reached 18.5c by 1 p.m. EST. With calm winds in late
afternoon and clearing skies with no clouds, the temp rose to a hight of
19.5c.
Humidity: 83% droping to 48%;
Bar.Pressure: 1018 throughout the day;
A thick haze persisted to the west and east of the ridge throughout the
day.
Raptor Observations:
WOW! Those on board by 8 a.m. EST, were treated to a spectacular morning
liftoff of Broadwings that had roosted along the parkway and I-64 between
the watch and Waynesboro to the NW and extending northward. We could
literally see them in the trees as they lifted up, trying to form kettles
but meeting strong resistance with the brisk W to WNW wind. The birds
further to the north along the parkway were found out over Waynesboro, many
so low they went undetected between the lower ridges until they reached the
"turtle" and "plateau" to the NW where they would once again attempt to
rise and kettle, eventually giving up and quickly streaming southward.
Several times we had BW sailing across the sky from W to E, and later in
the day the kettles that ranged between 10 to upwards of 60 or 80 birds
were found to the N over the towers. With clouds we could pick out the
specs and then they would disappear up in the mist of clouds. Luckily
quite a few of these larger kettles drifted southward closer to the
observers.
The hourly BW count for the day: 0(7-8); 8-9(326); 264(276); 199(11-12);
33(12-1); 70(1-2); 3(2-3; 33(3-4); 2(4-5); 0(5-5:30);
A Peregrine Falcon was picked up by Donna Lewis as it sailed high
overhead.
Another definite highlight of the day was when a Merlin sailed in,
actively feeding on dragonflies, at times coming in close providing a
wonderful photo op. A second Merlin zipped by moments later at 3:10 p.m.
EST.
Two juvenile BAEA, a 3rd-4th year at 10:57 and unaged at 1:31.
To see a few images of today's FUN, go to
http://home.jntelos.net/~btkin/rockfish_gap_hawk_watch/link_pages/HawkWatchq2_link.html
Non-raptor Observations:
Chimney Swift still moving through.
Tree Swallows;
Red-headed Woodpecker - 3;
Hummingbird - 5;
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 1 male;
Monarch Butterfly migration is picking up.
Predictions:
Sunny
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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
