Snickers Gap Hawkwatch
Virginia, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 19, 2004
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 0 0 0
Osprey 13 153 171
Bald Eagle 7 52 59
Northern Harrier 5 29 31
Sharp-shinned Hawk 25 156 161
Cooper's Hawk 12 44 56
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 2 8 8
Broad-winged Hawk 357 3067 3177
Red-tailed Hawk 2 29 43
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 4 36 40
Merlin 1 6 6
Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown 3 18 18
Total: 431 3598 3770
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Observation start time: 07:45:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 8.25 hours
Official Counter: T.M. Day and I.C. Topolsky
Observers: Abe Bunch
Visitors:
If I tried to name everyone, I would only leave someone out...
Weather:
Rich Rieger summed it up well, "A great day to do almost anything, except
hawk watch".
With the cloudless, electric-blue sky and the warmth of the full sun
merging gently with the cool breeze, anyone in their right mind would've
felt blessed with this early autumn day. Say no more...
There was one unsubstantiated (and highly suspect) report of a cloud in
the 3rd hour of observation, eyewitnesses have been detained for
questioning. Winds were out of the NW, with a few odd periods of SW and
NE, at 1-2 Beaufort Scale. High Temp 70F.
Observations:
Sadly, the highlight of the day may have actually been (finally) an
Osprey "packin' a lunch".
Bald Eagle breakdown: 4- adult, 1- 1st yr, 1- 2nd yr and 1-(you guessed
it) 3rd yr.
Predictions:
The Eightball and I are not speeking tonight.
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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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