Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch
Waynesboro, Virginia, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 16, 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 0 18 219
Bald Eagle 3 48 230
Northern Harrier 1 10 41
Sharp-shinned Hawk 81 827 1414
Cooper's Hawk 13 165 283
Northern Goshawk 1 2 3
Red-shouldered Hawk 1 5 20
Broad-winged Hawk 4 1029 23586
Red-tailed Hawk 2 49 105
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 3 9
American Kestrel 1 73 234
Merlin 4 15 66
Peregrine Falcon 2 11 48
Unknown Accipiter 1 4 9
Unknown Buteo 0 0 3
Unknown Falcon 0 0 6
Unknown Eagle 0 0 1
Unknown Raptor 2 12 30
Mississippi Kite 0 0 9
Total: 116 2271 26316
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Observation start time: 07:45:00
Observation end time: 15:30:00
Total observation time: 7.75 hours
Official Counter: Gabriel Mapel
Observers:
Visitors:
Joe Minor (Hamilton, Ontario), Peter Clark, Andrew Rapp, Jennifer Jowdy,
Mary Mapel, Buzz Van Santvoord, Bob Furst, Mike McCarthy, Phil Dulaney.
Weather:
Moderate NW wind this morning then moderate SSE breezes this afternoon.
Chilly (11.2-16.3C). Overcast all day, with dark, gloomy clouds this
afternoon. Clear visibility.
Raptor Observations:
A slow start but fairly steady action after 9am. Most of the birds this
morning came up over the ridge and headed SE, while the afternoon flight
was mainly distant to the west. 11 raptor species today including all
three Falcons. An adult male Merlin gave good views early this morning at
7:57am. Three unaged Merlins later in the morning at 9:32, 11:22, and
11:59. A nice, close-in adult Peregrine at 10:46 and another minutes later
at 10:50. An immature Northern Goshawk at 10:09 gave decent views as it
flew SW high across the gap. Three Bald Eagles (two 2nd-YR birds together
at 10:45, and a 1st-YR at 11:15). Immature Harrier at 8:18. First Raptor:
7:57 ME, Last Raptor: 3:17 SS.
Non-raptor Observations:
A single Greater White-fronted Goose flew west across Rockfish Gap this
morning. Other highlights included: 3 Chimney Swifts, 11 Ring-billed & 3
Herring Gulls, a group of 30 DC Cormorants, a group of 10 Great Blue
Herons, woodpeckers (2 Sapsucker, 3 Red-bellied, 24 Flicker), 183 Fish
Crows (four large groups), 102 Tree & 2 Barn Swallows, 4 GC Kinglets, 266
Robins, 25 Waxwings, 1 Purple Finch, warblers (1 Tennessee, 2 Cape May, 1
Blackpoll, 6 Yellow-rumped, 1 BT Blue), and 3 Monarch Butterflies.
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Report submitted by Gabriel Mapel (birdmangabriel@xxxxxxxxx)
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