Snickers Gap Hawkwatch
Virginia, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 18, 2004
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 0 0 0
Osprey 44 140 158
Bald Eagle 10 45 52
Northern Harrier 2 24 26
Sharp-shinned Hawk 22 131 136
Cooper's Hawk 3 32 44
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 1 6 6
Broad-winged Hawk 874 2710 2820
Red-tailed Hawk 1 27 41
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 11 32 36
Merlin 1 5 5
Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown 7 15 15
Total: 976 3167 3339
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Observation start time: 08:30:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 7.5 hours
Official Counter: Ian Topolsky
Observers: Lad Topolsky, Larry Hopson
Visitors:
Despite the shortage of eyes, a few familiar faces and a few unfamiliar
faces were present to pick up the slack.
Your keen eyes and ability to communicate the whereabouts of flying
bullets was instrumental...
(Chuck, bring your friend back- we need need his eyes)
Weather:
Batten down the hatches...
As if he hadn't already done enough (how many tornadoes?), Ivan mooned
us all day long as he sauntered off to the North. In his wake, we were
left with winds whipping out of the NNW (5+ Beaufort), gradually switching
to W by close (down to 4 Beaufort)...this really lit a fire under every
birds' rear.
Cloudcover held steady at 85-90% up until the last 3 hours, dropping to
50% by close. Visibility was crystal, Temp topped off at 75F.
Observations:
Birds were anywhere and everywhere. The only "true" kettle of the day
consisted of 68 birds, the runner-up held 14. Antsy Broad-wingeds
literally nickle'n dimed us the entire day...
Bald Eagle breakdown (10 in all): 1st yr- 4, 3rd yr- 2, adult- 4.
Osprey also came through for us big-time, 44 (none that I saw were
packing a lunch).
Not much time for the others, but...
Double-crested Cormorant- 38, Large Egret- 1, yeah that's right (GREG), UF
Shorebirds- 18, Canada Goose- 46, Chimney Swift- 300+, Tree Swallow- 120+,
Swallow sp- 200, Red-headed Woodpecker- 2.
Predictions:
The "BIG" day tomorrow?
"OUTLOOK GOOD"...
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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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