Snickers Gap
20 Miles West of Leesburg, Virginia, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 21, 2008
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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 2 81 83
Bald Eagle 0 48 48
Northern Harrier 0 15 15
Sharp-shinned Hawk 15 251 252
Cooper's Hawk 3 57 57
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 2 22 23
Broad-winged Hawk 95 5808 5813
Red-tailed Hawk 0 55 59
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 1 1
American Kestrel 1 38 39
Merlin 0 6 6
Peregrine Falcon 1 3 3
Unknown Accipiter 0 3 3
Unknown Buteo 0 2 2
Unknown Falcon 0 2 2
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 5 5
Total: 119 6397 6411
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Observation start time: 08:30:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 7.5 hours
Official Counter: Joan Boudreau and Bob Abrams
Observers: Larry Cartwright, Larry Meade, The Littles
Visitors:
Two field trips today from both the Audubon Naturalist Society and the
Fairfax Audubon Society plus several other visitors and spotters - thank
you!
Weather:
Cool, partly cloudy, light west wind.
Raptor Observations:
Looks like we've reached the last of the big Broadwing flights unless we
get some strays from the west. It was great while it lasted.
Non-raptor Observations:
A few nice looks at migrating birds up the trail including: a coy Wilson's,
and a Magnolia, Black-throated Green, Black-throated Blue, and a
Worm-eating Warbler, a (Yellow) Redstart, and a Red-eyed Vireo. Seven
species of woodpecker were seen and Tree Swallows and Chimney Swifts. A
Walking Stick and Preying Mantis, and various butterflies graced us with
their presence too.
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Report submitted by Joan and Bob (icepeep@xxxxxxx)
Site Description:
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.
Directions to site:
