Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch
Waynesboro, Virginia, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 19, 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 6 105 125
Bald Eagle 1 53 66
Northern Harrier 3 18 20
Sharp-shinned Hawk 43 292 308
Cooper's Hawk 4 31 35
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 1 1
Broad-winged Hawk 2002 16391 16443
Red-tailed Hawk 4 33 42
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 1 1
American Kestrel 4 86 91
Merlin 0 2 2
Peregrine Falcon 2 5 5
Unknown Accipiter 0 1 2
Unknown Buteo 1 4 4
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 4 7
Total: 2070 17027 17152
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Observation start time: 07:00:00
Observation end time: 17:00:00
Total observation time: 10 hours
Official Counter: Multiple Counters
Observers: Brenda Tekin, Diane Lepkowski, Rose Thomas, Vic Laubach
Visitors:
Many visitors today (please forgive misspellings and omissions): David
Shoch, Allen Larner, Mickey Evans (from Mt. Peter Hawk Watch, NY), Wade &
Lisa Heldreth, Gabriel & Mary Mappel, Andrew Clem, Bonnie Sexton, Glennis
Sheppard (Lynchburg, VA), Robert Butler & Marlene Condon, Leona Watkins,
Nancy Cosier & Bruce Bennett, Vaughn & Melinda Arthur (Lynchburg), Laurie
Greer (Rocky Mount, VA), Mark & Linda Russel (Lynchburg), Eileen Rowan,
Fenton Day, and many more.
Weather:
Warm, sunny, and clear blue skies. Moderate W winds for first 3 hours,
decreasing to light E breezes. Temp. 17-24C. Good visibility. A couple of
high clouds came over briefly 12-1pm, then blue sky again, and then
becoming overcast by 4pm.
Raptor Observations:
Another terrific day for BW Hawks! The biggest flights came in the morning
as we watched large numbers of BW Hawks rising up from the nearby forests
and from over the ridge to our north, gathering in low kettles, and then
streaming southward after gaining height. The middle of the day was slow,
and then larger numbers of BW kettling and drifting by overhead in the last
two hours. Hourly BW counts: 2 (7-8am), 104 (8-9am), 900 (9-10am), 399
(10-11am), 57 (11am-12pm), 81 (12-1pm), 73 (1-2pm), 2 (2-3pm), 169 (3-4pm),
156 (4-5pm).
Good numbers of SS Hawks and Osprey today, 2 Peregrine Falcons, and 3 more
Northern Harriers. One adult BE at 4:09pm. One BW Hawk was released nearby
by the Virginia Wildlife Center. It flew across the parking lot and landed
in a sumac tree right in front of the hawk watch, providing super looks!
After resting for about 20 minutes, it finally took off.
Non-raptor Observations:
5 Red-Headed Woodpeckers, Chimney Swifts, 2 Hummingbirds, Black-Throated
Blue Warbler. 458 Monarch Butterflies. A big thanks to our official Monarch
counter today, Gabriel Mappel, who was so exited to also see his first
migrating Coopers Hawk!
Predictions:
Sunny and warm again. Light N breezes.
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Report submitted by Vic Laubach (laubach@xxxxxxxxxxxx)
Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch, VA information may be found at:
http://www.rockfishgaphawkwatch.org
