FreeLists / va-bird / [va-bird] HSR: Snickers Gap (11 Oct 2003) Raptor counts (total=161)

[reports@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Snickers Gap Hawkwatch
20 Miles West of Leesburg, Virginia, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 11, 2003
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Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0              0              0
Turkey Vulture               0              0              0
Osprey                      12             54            258
Bald Eagle                   3             20            100
Northern Harrier            10             47            106
Sharp-shinned Hawk         105            431            963
Cooper's Hawk               10             56            129
Northern Goshawk             0              3              4
Red-shouldered Hawk          3             16             38
Broad-winged Hawk            0             74          11646
Red-tailed Hawk              3             32            136
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0              0              3
American Kestrel             6             35            166
Merlin                       2              6             20
Peregrine Falcon             2             15             43
Unknown                      5             34             60

Total:                     161            823          13672
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Observation start time: 07:00:00 
Observation end   time: 17:00:00 
Total observation time: 10 hours

Official Counter: Sam Young

Observers:        BJ Westervelt, Ian Topolsky

Visitors:
David, John Drummond


Weather:
Fog bank rolled in at the Gap pre-dawn and was burned off by 9:00am.  Blue
sky then lasted till 11:00am  clouds gradually increased to 100% cover by
2:00pm.  Wind started from the west at 1 B. scale but thankfully switched
to easterly at about 10:15am and stayed east for the rest of the day. 
Temperature from 13 to 20 degrees Celsius.

Observations:


833 Blue jays, 2 Monarchs, 1 Canada Goose
========================================================================
Report submitted by Joan and Bob (icepeep@xxxxxxx)


     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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