Mendota Fire Tower
Mendota, VA, Virginia, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 20, 2018
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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 3 8 8
Bald Eagle 0 0 0
Northern Harrier 0 0 0
Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 5 5
Cooper's Hawk 0 4 4
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0
Broad-winged Hawk 1451 1896 1896
Red-tailed Hawk 2 6 6
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 1 4 4
Merlin 0 0 0
Peregrine Falcon 0 1 1
Unknown Accipiter 0 5 5
Unknown Buteo 0 0 0
Unknown Falcon 0 1 1
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 0 0
Total: 1457 1930 1930
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 17:30:00
Total observation time: 9.5 hours
Official Counter: Ron Harrington
Observers: Freddie Osborne, Jeremy Keller, Michael Ripper, Sam Evans
Visitors:
Dr. Steven Hopp and his Wildlife Monitoring Class from Emory and Henry
College, Emory, VA, came up for a visit: Isaac Carver, Blake Logan,
Samantha Caudell, Malachi Beaver, Chloe Yates, Ethan Cave, Sara Leonard,
Carley Gunnell, Emilee Deskins, Rafe Hagee, Marie Mitchell, Jeremiah
Severn, Meghan Truslow, and Kent Sanslow. With all these young, keen eyes
scanning the sky, not many hawks escaped our count during the 3 hours they
were with us!!
Weather:
Another nice day. Clear in the am with valley fog, then a few clouds
forming as the heat built up. Temperature ranged from 68 F in the morning
to the low 80s by mid-afternoon. Visibility was good. Wind was mostly from
the S/SW and fairly steady all day with speed varying from a slight breeze
(4-7 mph) to a moderate breeze (13-18 mph).
Raptor Observations:
The first Broad-winged hawks begin arriving at 8:55 and we experienced a
steady flow all day. Morning birds were mostly seen with the naked eye, but
as the heat built up they were flying high and at the limit of unaided
vision, with some not picked up without binoculars. During the afternoon
they were on both sides of the mountain. Flying conditions began to
deteriorate during the 4:00 o'clock hour. Hourly counts: 8:00: 10; 9:00:
185; 10:00: 236; 11:00: 240; 12:00: 110; 1:00: 100; 2:00: 290; 3:00: 270;
and 4:00: 10. We had the usual array of Turkey and Black vultures; a couple
of local Red-tailed hawks drifted by.
Non-raptor Observations:
Monarch Butterflies: 14
Double-crested Cormorant: 1
Several Chimney swifts, a few warblers, and 3 Ravens
Predictions:
Warm and clear weather is predicted. Should be another good day for seeing
hawks!
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Report submitted by Ronald Eugene Harrington (roneharrin@xxxxxxx)
More site information at hawkcount.org:
http://hawkcount.org/siteinfo.php?rsite=706
