Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch
Waynesboro, Virginia, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 10, 2017
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 0 0 0
Osprey 5 63 112
Bald Eagle 12 85 94
Northern Harrier 1 2 4
Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 15 23
Cooper's Hawk 2 18 30
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 1 7 10
Broad-winged Hawk 446 664 762
Red-tailed Hawk 3 27 44
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 1 1
American Kestrel 2 29 32
Merlin 0 4 4
Peregrine Falcon 0 3 4
Unknown Accipiter 0 1 1
Unknown Buteo 0 1 6
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 1 5
Mississippi Kite 1 1 2
Total: 475 922 1134
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Observation start time: 07:00:00
Observation end time: 17:00:00
Total observation time: 10 hours
Official Counter: Vic Laubach
Observers: Allen Larner
Visitors:
Louis Kauffman, Wade Hildreth, Shannon and Chris Updike, Linda Corwin,
Coleman Ticer, Jennifer Jowdy, Marshall Faintich, Erin Johnson, Betty
Mooney, Janet Paisley, Pat and John Lloyd, Nina Kaplan,
Minot/Charlotte/Gillian Clements, Cole Burrell, Len and Ellen Smock, Peter
Dutnell.
Weather:
Another beautiful day with moderate NW winds throughout that shifted to NE
after 3pm. Partly cloudy early becoming partly sunny after 2pm. Lots of
clouds to help spot raptors! Temp. 9.2-21.3-18.3C. Clear visibility.
Raptor Observations:
The morning highlight was an immature Mississippi Kite out to the west at
9:35am. It gave a long, nice study as it slowly flew due south with its
typical buoyant flight and long, slender, pointed wings and hallmark
bell-shaped tail. The afternoon highlight was the Broad-winged Hawk flight!
Small groups (from 6-24) came through periodically, usually soaring fast
high overhead with a few kettles. Then at 2:30pm Jennifer spotted a nice
kettle of 67 directly overhead giving everyone super looks! Then an hour
later Jennifer again spotted a kettle to the west, however this one was big
and contained 177 birds!
Hourly BWHA count: 8-9 (2), 9-10 (2), 10-11 (18), 11-12 (26), 12-1 (24),
1-2 (19), 2-3 (111), 3-4 (224), 4-5 (20).
Bald Eagles again came through in good numbers with 12 today (mostly
singles): 9:20 1st-YR, 9:44 1st-YR, 10:00 adult, 10:15 two adults, 11:14
2nd-YR, 11:48 3rd-YR, 12:01 adult, 12:35 1st-YR, 1:16 2nd-YR, 2:17 adult,
3:11 3rd-YR.
Osprey numbers continue to be low.
Non-raptor Observations:
A single Common Loon flying east fast over the ridge. 45 Monarchs. 3 Hot
air balloons flying to the east early. 1 Great Blue Heron, 16 Hummingbird,
2 Red-headed Woodpecker, 9 Raven, 2 Barn Swallow, 1 House Wren, 57 Waxwing,
4 Cape May Warbler, 2 Black-throated Blue Warbler, 1 Scarlet Tanager.
========================================================================
Report submitted by Vic Laubach (laubach@xxxxxxxxxxxx)
Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch information may be found at:
http://www.rockfishgaphawkwatch.org
More site information at hawkcount.org:
http://hawkcount.org/siteinfo.php?rsite=491
