Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch, VA
Waynesboro, VA, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 09, 2002
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
BV 0 0 0
TV 0 0 0
OS 0 1 100
BE 0 0 14
NH 2 4 42
SS 18 93 691
CH 19 36 118
NG 0 1 5
RS 2 16 24
BW 0 0 3650
RT 138 529 751
RL 0 0 0
GE 1 1 3
AK 1 1 101
ML 0 0 6
PG 0 0 22
MK 0 0 1
UA 0 0 4
UB 0 0 10
UF 0 0 5
UE 0 0 0
UR 0 0 18
Total: 181 682 5565
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Observation start time: 09:30:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 6.5 hours
Site Coordinator: Brenda Tekin
Observers: Brenda Tekin, Gordy Adamski
Visitors:
Ron and Liz Darnell from Newport News stopped by on return trip home.
Weather:
A wonderful early October day in November! SW wind 6-19 km/h the first few
hours diminishing to less than 6 km/h initially out of SW then NW,
variable and back to SW.
Temp: (high) 21C (It was warm.)
Bar.Pressure: 1015
Cloud Cover: white wispy clouds for most of the day ranging from partly
cloud to mostly cloudy. Between 1-2 p.m. overcast with darker clouds.
Observations:
Birds were moving through, steady non-stop stream of RTs,some 4-5 at a time
with high of 15 that came through together along with Cooper's, 2 SS and 1
NH. Most were easily seen with unaided eye, a few below eye level, and a
few came through at limit of unaided vision between 12-2 p.m.
Golden Eagle, im. - first observed in front of towers to NE. Not much
wind and it flapped continously coming across gap, slowing gaining a
little altitude. Turned and came over in front for wonder views and
photographic opportunity.
Im. No.Goshawk was observed at 11:56 a.m. working trees on north side of
gap. Disappeared heading north.
One RT was unsuccessful in crossing gap, being struck by westbound vehicle
on I-64.
Dark-eyed Junco
Fish Crow - two very impressive dark clouds, one flock of just under 100
and seond one with 150-200 birds.
Cedar Waxwing - several small flocks back and forth and one very large
flock estimated at 150.
Most trees still have leaves providing very colorful backdrop.
No waterfowl, geese, cormorants. Guess it was too warm.
Predictions:
Increasing cloud cover with rain moving in later in day.
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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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