Snickers Gap
20 Miles West of Leesburg, Virginia, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 11, 2007
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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 0 0 181
Bald Eagle 2 19 200
Northern Harrier 2 16 156
Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 34 1621
Cooper's Hawk 3 9 245
Northern Goshawk 1 2 5
Red-shouldered Hawk 7 16 133
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 8110
Red-tailed Hawk 57 287 1113
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 1 5 13
American Kestrel 0 0 132
Merlin 0 0 45
Peregrine Falcon 0 0 21
Unknown Accipiter 2 4 19
Unknown Buteo 0 1 15
Unknown Falcon 0 0 4
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 1 17
Short-eared Owl 0 0 1
Total: 77 394 12031
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Observation start time: 09:30:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 6.5 hours
Official Counter: Joan Boudreau and Bob Abrams
Observers: Duane Schilling, Matt Orsie, Yusuf Gantt
Visitors:
Mr. Demar
Weather:
A wintery day. Cold and lots of high clouds. Unfortunately, not much wind.
Raptor Observations:
The Northern Goshawk was neither an adult nor a juvenile. It did not have
the bold markings of an adult and lacked the heavily marked breast of a
juvenile. The breast showed an even grayish coloration and there was a
mottled look to the upperwing. It showed a massive profile, long broad
tapering wings and a long wide strongly wedged tail. It was probably a five
minute viewing. Again, the lack of wind was appreciated because the bird
dawdled. If the wind was ripping I am sure the look would have been brief.
This bird stopped several times to circle and soar and show off.
The Golden Eagle was an adult that was almost as cooperative. Matt Orsie
rooted this bird out of a small kettle of vultures. A pair of hikers and
their two kids all got to view this bird through our optics. While we
chatted with them after the bird flew south, a first year Bald came in
close and they got good looks at their second life eagle. They were all
appropriately impressed.
At 3 PM we had a mixed kettle of vultures containing 84 birds.
Non-raptor Observations:
40 Tundra Swans
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Report submitted by Joan and Bob (icepeep@xxxxxxx)
