FreeLists / bristol-birds / [Bristol-Birds] Mendota Hawk Watch

[RonEHarrin@xxxxxxx]

Bob Quillen and I kicked off the 2005 Mendota Hawk Watch season today. We 
were at the Mendota Fire Tower from 9:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Gene and Margie 
Leonard were at the site when we arrived and left at 1:30. Clear-blue skies 
with 
only a few lonely clouds in the afternoon made it difficult to see hawks that 
were flying high. There was a slight, cool breeze from the north-northwest, 
and visibility was generally very good. 

As could be expected this early in the season, the action was relatively 
slow, but it was a beautiful day and the views were as magnificent as ever. In 
addition to the birds that we are tracking, we also saw one Red-headed 
Woodpecker, two local Red-tailed Hawks, and two N. Ravens.

Species                   09-09-05          Year-to-date

Northern Harrier            1                      1
Broad-winged Hawk      36                   36
Coopers Hawk              1                      1
Osprey                        1                      1
Am. Kestrel                 1                      1

Totals:                        40                    40

Most of the Broad-winged Hawks were seen between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00. 
Very few birds were seen in the afternoon. I had a hard time keeping Bob 
awake.

Catch the Fever: Come join us as the action will gain momentum during the 
next two weeks. The Mendota Fire Tower is located atop Clinch Mountain, on the 
Washington-Russell County line about 3 miles north of Mendota, VA. If you need 
directions, let me know. 

Ron Harrington
Bristol, VA