FreeLists / va-bird / [va-bird] HSR: Harvey's Knob (02 Oct 2006) 18 Raptors

[reports@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Harvey's Knob
Roanoke, Virginia, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 02, 2006
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0              0              0
Turkey Vulture               0              0              0
Osprey                       0              4            207
Bald Eagle                   1              3             71
Northern Harrier             0              2             33
Sharp-shinned Hawk          11             28            249
Cooper's Hawk                1              2             51
Northern Goshawk             0              0              0
Red-shouldered Hawk          0              0              5
Broad-winged Hawk            4             49           4697
Red-tailed Hawk              0              2             83
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0              1              3
American Kestrel             1              6             99
Merlin                       0              3             10
Peregrine Falcon             0              3             30
Unknown                                                   42

Total:                      18            103           5580
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 08:30:00 
Observation end   time: 16:15:00 
Total observation time: 7.75 hours

Official Counter: Mike Purdy

Observers:        Dillard Childress

Visitors:
   Visitors - A through hiker on the AT stopped to rest and chat. Mike
Speed from Kansas was hoping to make it to Georgia by Thanksgiving.  A few
other parkway travelers stopped to see what we were looking for. One young
lady got out of her car just in time to see the Bald Eagle.


Weather:
   Sunny, very light breeze out of the W and WNW. Later in the afternoon
wind almost nonexistent. No clouds, temp. range 58-65F.

Raptor Observations:
   Tough spotting hawks today, clear, cloudless sky all day, very little
wind to keep them near the ridge. Most birds seen were on the west side
out over the valley. Constant scanning was the only way to find them.

   An adult Bald Eagle at 2:35pm contributed to our record breaking season
for that species. Good spot, Dillard!

Non-raptor Observations:
   Non Raptor Observations - A few migrating passerines were hanging around
the lookout today including Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Blue-headed Vireo,
which was almost constantly singing, Black-throated Green Warbler, Eastern
Phoebe, and the first Ruby-crowned Kinglet I've seen this fall.  A few Blue
Jays were on the move, approx. 20 and Chimney Swifts were still passing
through.

Predictions:
Hard to say, lookouts north of us are still seeing a lot of hawks,
including Broadwings. Weather may not cooperate, supposed to be warm with
temps. in the mid 80s and SW winds.
========================================================================
Report submitted by Mike Purdy (MikeLPurdy@xxxxxxx)
Harvey's Knob Hawk Watch information may be found at:
http://mysite.verizon.net/harveys95.5/


You are subscribed to VA-BIRD. To post to this mailing list, simply send email 
to va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx To unsubscribe, send email to
va-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field.