Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch
Waynesboro, Virginia, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 28, 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 12 141 161
Bald Eagle 3 78 91
Northern Harrier 1 31 33
Sharp-shinned Hawk 91 764 780
Cooper's Hawk 3 56 60
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 1 3 3
Broad-winged Hawk 107 32399 32451
Red-tailed Hawk 1 40 49
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 1 1
American Kestrel 7 150 155
Merlin 0 4 4
Peregrine Falcon 3 10 10
Unknown Accipiter 0 1 2
Unknown Buteo 0 4 4
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 6 9
Total: 229 33688 33813
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Observation start time: 09:00:00
Observation end time: 17:00:00
Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Multiple Counters
Observers: Robert Plank, Vic Laubach
Visitors:
Janet Paisley, Cole Burrell, Andrew Clem, Art Baker, Gabriel & Mary Ann
Mapel.
Weather:
The storms from the past 2 days have moved off to the north, leaving behind
lots of low, grey clouds until 2pm. It was only partly cloudy from 2-5pm.
Moderate SW winds and temperature 19-22C. Very clear visibility. No
precipitation.
Raptor Observations:
Lots of birds flying today as the skies slowly cleared, with 10 species
represented. First off, we broke our season record for Bald Eagles today
with eagles #89, 90, and 91 (unknown age between 10-11am, immature Basic II
at 12:06pm, and an immature 4th Year at 3:14pm). Second, three Peregrine
Falcons observed at 1:23pm, 2:16pm, and 4:00pm, two of which flew close
overhead and gave very nice looks! Lots of Sharp-shinned Hawks today, and
the Broad-winged Hawks are are still flying. In fact, a nice kettle of 23
BW Hawks were observed over the ridge in the final hour! Most BW were
flying either as single birds or in small groups. Lots of Osprey continue
to migrate through. Most birds today flew in low over the ridge to the
north, and after hitting the SW winds, they fought to gain height before
proceeding to rapidly stream across the east side of the mountain.
Non-raptor Observations:
A pair of fall Palm Warblers were feeding in the weeds near the Inn. Lots
of Chimney Swifts continue to fly. Numerous Tree Swallows (>6) observed
throughout the afternoon. 2 Hummingbirds. 4 Ravens.
Predictions:
Sun in morning with chance of rain in afternoon.
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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
