FreeLists / va-bird / [va-bird] HSR: Snickers Gap (05 Oct 2002) Raptor counts (total=285)

[reports@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Snickers Gap Hawkwatch
20 Miles West of Leesburg, VA, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 05, 2002
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Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0              0              0
Turkey Vulture               0              0              0
Osprey                      19             25            227
Bald Eagle                  12             16            101
Northern Harrier             7             20             68
Sharp-shinned Hawk         144            230            671
Cooper's Hawk               15             28             94
Northern Goshawk             0              1              1
Red-shouldered Hawk          2              5             27
Broad-winged Hawk           10             24           3359
Red-tailed Hawk              8             23             80
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 1              2              8
American Kestrel            41             48            103
Merlin                       5              8             17
Peregrine Falcon            17             22             35
Unknown                      4              9             56

Total:                     285            461           4847
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Observation start time: 08:30:00 
Observation end   time: 17:30:00 
Total observation time: 9 hours

Site Coordinator: Todd M. Day

Observers:        Abrams&Boudreau, BJ Westervelt, Ian Topolsky, Jon Little

Visitors:
  Charles Smith, Els Knudson (hope I'm at least close) and a few others.


Weather:
  Great sky for spotting birds until late afternoon; 30-50% cloudcover
accompanying pretty much haze-free skies. A healthy batch of NW wind
dominated & held steady throughout the day.

Observations:
  Birds were up left & right, East, West and overhead with no real break at
all. We finally broke into the 3-digit mark on Sharpies AND had our
highest day ever for Peregrines: 17, (13 on 10/5/91). 8th GE also, late
afternoon.



Predictions:
  
========================================================================
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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