Snickers Gap
20 Miles West of Leesburg, Virginia, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 17, 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 8 70 75
Bald Eagle 7 31 35
Northern Harrier 0 11 14
Sharp-shinned Hawk 9 129 129
Cooper's Hawk 2 28 31
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 9 9
Broad-winged Hawk 460 2060 2077
Red-tailed Hawk 1 54 61
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 1 20 22
Merlin 0 4 4
Peregrine Falcon 1 1 1
Unknown Accipiter 2 2 2
Unknown Buteo 1 4 4
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 2 2
Total: 492 2425 2466
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Observation start time: 07:30:00
Observation end time: 15:45:00
Total observation time: 8.25 hours
Official Counter: Todd M. Day
Observers: Bob Blakney, Doug Graham, Joan Boudreau and Bob Abrams,
Joe Kelly, Wes Hetrick, William Leigh
Visitors:
A full house of mid-weekers, plus a couple typical weekenders.
Weather:
Wind was blowing 5-10 mph from the WNW and NW until around midday, when it
shifted to light and easterly. For the morning we had a small patch
stationary (but churning) overhead and a little east, but once the wind
shifted, clouds were essentially gone.
Raptor Observations:
Nearly all the broad-wingeds were discovered while already streaming out,
high overhead. A few distant, small kettles were noted, but barely able to
track as they blinked out of view. We struggled to pick them out of the
blurry blue sky.
Non-raptor Observations:
Warblers around the site included Wilson's, Canada, American Redstart,
Magnolia, Myrtle, and a Chestnut-sided. White-eyed and Red-eyed Vireos
noted. Two veeries flew low over our heads. A few hummingbirds zipped
through. Decent numbers of swallows and swifts. A couple hundred waxwings
pushing west through the gap (and into the wind) early, but few flocks
noted later (though a few were hanging around the parking lot). Moderate
Blue Jay push early, with 210 noted.
Predictions:
The forecast is for light southeasterly wind, which can sometimes produce a
good Broad-winged flight for us. The Red Sox will be even closer to
clinching the American League East.
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Report submitted by Todd Day (blkvulture@xxxxxxx)
