Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch
Waynesboro, Virginia, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 22, 2013
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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 4 133 167
Bald Eagle 12 83 103
Northern Harrier 1 21 26
Sharp-shinned Hawk 40 226 239
Cooper's Hawk 10 55 66
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 1 11 15
Broad-winged Hawk 772 22789 23023
Red-tailed Hawk 2 43 60
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 3 3
American Kestrel 6 38 46
Merlin 0 6 6
Peregrine Falcon 1 4 5
Unknown Accipiter 0 6 6
Unknown Buteo 0 1 2
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 2 9 12
Mississippi Kite 0 1 1
Total: 851 23429 23780
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Observation start time: 09:00:00
Observation end time: 16:30:00
Total observation time: 7.5 hours
Official Counter: Vic Laubach
Observers: Allen Larner, Brenda Tekin, Gabriel Mapel, Rose Thomas
Visitors:
Other Observers present: William Leigh & Mark Johnson. Many visitors
(approximately 24) including: Janet & Richard Paulette (Deep Gap, NC), Bill
& Linda Miller (NC), Bill Nettlehorst, Elizabeth Hunter, Marshall Faintich,
Walt Childs, Shea & Leight Tiller, Erin Smith.
Weather:
A cold front pushed through last night. Rockfish Gap was socked in with
thick fog until it finally lifted at 9am. 15-19C. Strong N winds through
1pm switching to mild WSW wind after 2pm. 10% cloud cover early increasing
to 75% clouds by 4pm.
Raptor Observations:
As soon as the fog lifted the birds began to fly. The strong early winds
were causing the birds to struggle low over the ridge, gain a little height
and then speed down the east side of the gap. A few BW kettles forming
briefly on both sides of the mountain. Hourly BW count: 45 (9-10), 68
(10-11), 234 (11-12), 291 (12-1), 21 (1-2), 13 (2-3), 100 (3-4). 12 BE made
for our best eagle day thus far: 5 adults (11:55, 11:56, 12:11, 1:46 3:36)
and 7 immatures (11:50, 12:46, 1:40, 1:40, 2:59, 2:05, 2:05).
Non-raptor Observations:
Today is most memorable because of all the migrating dragonflies! There was
a constant flow of thousands and thousands of dragonflies speeding through
the gap from west to east, which made for plenty of distractions while
scanning for raptors. Other sightings: 13 Swifts, 1 hummingbird, 2
Red-headed Woodpecker, 1 Raven, 37 Tree Swallows, 1 Northern Parula, 569
Blue Jays, 7 Monarchs.
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Report submitted by Vic Laubach (laubach@xxxxxxxxxxxx)
Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch information may be found at:
http://www.rockfishgaphawkwatch.org
