FreeLists / va-bird / [va-bird] HSR: Snickers Gap (05 Sep 2003) Raptor counts (total=38)

[reports@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Snickers Gap Hawkwatch
20 Miles West of Leesburg, Virginia, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 05, 2003
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Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0              0              0
Turkey Vulture               0              0              0
Osprey                      11             15             28
Bald Eagle                  10             10             16
Northern Harrier             1              1              6
Sharp-shinned Hawk           1              2              4
Cooper's Hawk                1              1              2
Northern Goshawk             0              0              0
Red-shouldered Hawk          0              1              1
Broad-winged Hawk           10             12             40
Red-tailed Hawk              1              2              2
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 1              1              1
American Kestrel             2              2              2
Merlin                       0              0              1
Peregrine Falcon             0              0              0
Unknown                      0              0              0

Total:                      38             47            103
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Observation start time: 09:15:00 
Observation end   time: 16:00:00 
Total observation time: 6.75 hours

Official Counter: Sam Young

Observers:        BJ Westervelt, Ian Topolsky

Weather:
  Today was a mixed bag of sorts- we had periods of truly ideal skies and
periods of 90-100% Cloudcover also. Winds were predominantly out of W-NW
at 2 on the Beaufort scale and Temps topped off at 20C.

Observations:
  Mother Nature finally paid Sam back for many days that he stuck it out
for hours in rain and snow, waiting for a break in the clouds and some
birds. 
  Kestrels flew into the picture today, netting us our first and second of
the season. Not to be shown-up, a 2nd year Golden Eagle also decided to
make a pass our way, giving great looks. While it is early for GEs, we had
our first-of-the-season last year on Aug 31 ( the first official count day
). Bald Eagles also made the scene in numbers.

  A small flock of warblers passed through our 
"facilities" on the South side of the lot in the afternoon: 2 female
Black-throated Blues, 1 Black and White, 3 Kentuckys and 2 Common
Yellowthroats. Also seen were 30+ Cedar Waxwings, 3 Ruby-throated Hummers
and a single White-eyed Vireo.

Predictions:
  The forecast appears promising...
========================================================================
Report submitted by Ian Topolsky (ict_earth@xxxxxxxxx)


     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.  


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