FreeLists / va-bird / [va-bird] HSR: Snickers Gap (03 Dec 2003) Raptor counts (total=1)

[reports@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Snickers Gap Hawkwatch
20 Miles West of Leesburg, Virginia, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Dec 03, 2003
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Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0              0              0
Turkey Vulture               0              0              0
Osprey                       0              0            282
Bald Eagle                   0              0            168
Northern Harrier             0              0            255
Sharp-shinned Hawk           0              0           1793
Cooper's Hawk                0              0            307
Northern Goshawk             0              0             13
Red-shouldered Hawk          1              1            150
Broad-winged Hawk            0              0          11647
Red-tailed Hawk              0              0           1106
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0              0             22
American Kestrel             0              0            207
Merlin                       0              0             38
Peregrine Falcon             0              0             45
Unknown                      0              0            154

Total:                       1              1          16187
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Observation start time: 09:30:00 
Observation end   time: 13:30:00 
Total observation time: 4 hours

Official Counter: Ian Topolsky

Observers:        

Visitors:
Yeah, right...


Weather:
  Weather conditions were right for our late-season friends, but no
dice...
  Winds were out of the NW at 1-2 on the Beaufort scale, with brief
periods of 0-1 around noon. Cloudcover held relatively steady at 10% and
the high temp was just a few degrees above freezing (35F).

Observations:
  The only 'countable' bird of the day was an adult Red-shouldered, but an
adult and an immature BE (presumably local) put on a nice show around
11:50. They tangled with each other for over 25 minutes off to the NW,
talon-locking a few times and then disappearing below the ridge.
  We need a Rough-legged, I'm not going two seasons in a row without
one...

 In the woods on the S side of the lot:
 
 Winter Wren-       1
 Hairy Woodpecker-  1
 Red-bellied-       2
 
Also:
 Common Raven-      4
========================================================================
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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