FreeLists / va-bird / [va-bird] HSR: Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch (06 Oct 2002) Raptor counts (total=122)

[reports@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch, VA
Waynesboro, VA, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 06, 2002
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Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
BV                           0              0              0
TV                           0              0              0
OS                           2              9             97
BE                           1              1             13
NH                           2              7             27
SS                          81            293            417
CH                           2             23             48
NG                           0              2              3
RS                           2              2              2
BW                           6             17           3650
RT                           9             23             44
RL                           0              0              0
GE                           0              0              0
AK                          10             72             90
ML                           0              1              5
PG                           6             13             21
MK                           0              0              1
UA                           0              1              4
UB                           0              4              7
UF                           1              1              5
UE                           0              0              0
UR                           0              0             12

Total:                     122            469           4446
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Observation start time: 08:00:00 
Observation end   time: 17:15:00 
Total observation time: 9.25 hours

Site Coordinator: Brenda Tekin

Observers:        Brenda Tekin

Visitors:
Rick Myers
John Howard
Paul Cabe
Ken Ranck
Ed and Donna Lewis
Rick and Nancy Moore


Weather:
First hour started out with light breeze out of N changing to breezy NW
wind by 8:20.  By 2 p.m. wind had shifted to remain out of the south.
Temp: (hi) 21c
Humidity:  55 increasing to 59%
Bar.Pressure: 1020 decreasing to 1018
Cloud Cover:  partly cloudy to zero coverage by late mornning then
overcast by late afternoon.

Observations:
Much slower from previous day with few and far between for several hours. 
Change in wind the Sharp-shinned were found high even early morning far
out on east side of ridge.  

At 1:14 p.m. an imm. No.Goshawk crossed the gap close to observers heading
NORTH and dropping down in trees to not be seen again.

Single adult Bald Eagle found circling high in the sky behind observation
deck and Osprey sailing through below.

I'm excited to report we broke our single day record for Peregrine Falcon
with a total of six.  By 5 p.m. EST we had tallied five, matching the
previous day's five and tying with single day record.  While tallying up
the day's totals, observer Donna Lewis spotted a single bird coming across
the gap with long pointed wings.  Nine minutes after the last one had
passed, Peregrine Falcon number six passed over.  After a brief
celebration, the day's total was quickly changed to include this record
setter!   Most of the Peregrine were low and close for great views!



Pileated Woodpecker crossed the gap heading south and continued on
out-of-sight.
Red-headed Woodpecker - 2 imm.
Northern Flicker - many
American Robin - small numbers 
Chimney Swift - still passing through in small numbers
Blue Jay - many
Monarch Butterfly - less than 40
Three gulls flew directly overhead together heading NW over the gap.  Two
were possibly Ring-billed or at least Ring-billed size.  The third was
following close behind and was considerably smaller.
Canada Goose - 3 heading NW into valley.

Five large mystery birds at 8:20 a.m.:  
Looking from the upper pool deck and looking down toward Waynesboro (to
the north)they were just at the western slope and a little past and near
what may be the quarry area.  They were in a tight group, lifting off,
continuously flapping and gaining little altitude in a brisk NW wind.  I
did not see them circling but instead facing into the wind and flapping
with very stiff strong downward wing beats as they lifted up.  It almost
appeared as if they were standing as they lifted with long legs extending
out and downward.  The long legs were noticeably paler than body.  Wings
were very large and plank-line except on the downbeat I was able to detect
what appeared to be a paler patch-like area on two of the birds and tips
of primaries on the downward stoke seemed tapered or pointed.  Could the
pale areas on underside of wings be light refraction?  Backs and top of
wings appeared uniform in color.  Because of light filtering through
clouds and at that distance, I couldn't detect color.  Back and wings were
not black.  For the life of me, I could not get any good sense as to
head/neck extension.  Again, during lift off they had backs to me.

Unfortunately, due to mechanical problems with my scope, I was unable to
keep up with them as they began to fly over Waynesboro, still a bit below
eye level from my observation point.  As they lifted up they never circled
and even when they reached "cruising" altitude they did not circle.  They
remained in a tight group, constantly flapping and crossing over the plant
heading SSW.  By the time they reached the plant they were almost eye
level as I looked across the interstate.  By now I had grabbed my camera
and headed to north end of the building.  Wind gusts were 3-4 out of NW
and hard to hold camera steady.  The five remained relatively close, not
"streaming" behind each other as they headed SSW behind the parking lot
and behind the large sign and water tank.  Even then with my binoculars I
could not get a sense of head/neck.
Hopefully pictures taken will reveal what they were.
========================================================================
Report submitted by Brenda Tekin (bt8x@xxxxxxxxxxxx)
Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch, VA information may be found at:
http://home.ntelos.net/~btkin/rockfish_gap_hawk_watch


***Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch, VA - Established 1976***
The Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch is held on the grounds of the Inn at Afton, located 
on the southern side of Rockfish Gap in the Blue Ridge Mountains, just above 
where I-64 (exit 99) intersects with the southern end of the Skyline Drive and 
the northern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway, just east of Waynesboro, VA and 
approximately 22 miles west of Charlottesville, VA.  

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