Snickers Gap Hawkwatch
Virginia, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 15, 2004
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 0 0 0
Osprey 0 78 96
Bald Eagle 0 33 40
Northern Harrier 0 21 23
Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 104 109
Cooper's Hawk 0 28 40
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 5 5
Broad-winged Hawk 54 1002 1112
Red-tailed Hawk 0 23 37
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 0 21 25
Merlin 0 3 3
Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown 1 7 7
Total: 57 1325 1497
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Observation start time: 08:30:00
Observation end time: 12:00:00
Total observation time: 3.5 hours
Official Counter: Ian Topolsky
Observers: Lad Topolsky, Yusuf Gantt
Weather:
In one word- nasty. But, to quote the great thinkers of our time (the
Three Stooges), we did it for "Duty and humanity"...
100% Cloudcover with a very low ceiling (barely above the ridgeline) and
periodic drizzle. Temp hovered around 70F. Winds were out of the East @ 2
but that would not help us today...
Observations:
The grass is not always greener... The small number of Broad-wingeds seen
were merely crossing over The Gap to search out thermal activity in the
Western valley. They didn't find it.
Great Crested Flycatcher- 1, Black-throated Green Warbler- 1,
Prothonatary Warbler- 1...!?, Common Yellowthroat- 4, Black-throated Blue
Warbler- 2, Swainson's Thrush- 1, Chimney Swift- 3, Cedar Waxwing- 25.
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Report submitted by Ian Topolsky (ict_earth@xxxxxxxxx)
Snickers Gap Hawkwatch was established in 1990. It is located in
northern Virginia, on the Clarke and Loudoun County line. It is reached
by taking VA Route 7 to the county line, which runs atop the ridge at
Snickers Gap. On the south side of Route 7 is a commuter parking lot.
The count is conducted from there. It is a volunteer site, and is counted
in fall only, from late August until late November or early December.
There are no facilities at the site, so bring a snack, drinks, and a
chair. Many of the birds can be distant, and a scope is helpful.
As a volunteer site, we are always looking to increase our pool of
counters. We are eager to train those who have never counted, but are
skilled with hawk identification. We are also willing to pair
inexperienced observers with experienced counters. Please contact the
compiler, Todd Day, at blkvulture@xxxxxxx with any questions or if you are
interested in participating in the count.
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