Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch, VA
Waynesboro, Virginia, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 17, 2003
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
BV 0 0 0
TV 0 0 0
OS 5 32 38
BE 3 11 16
NH 0 4 4
SS 1 15 21
CH 4 8 9
NG 0 1 1
RS 0 1 1
BW 286 871 924
RT 3 12 17
RL 0 0 0
GE 0 0 1
AK 0 9 14
ML 0 1 2
PG 0 2 2
MK 0 0 1
UA 0 0 1
UB 0 1 2
UF 0 0 0
UE 0 0 0
UR 0 2 2
Total: 302 970 1056
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Observation start time: 09:15:00
Observation end time: 17:30:00
Total observation time: 3.75 hours
Official Counter: Jean Brodwater
Observers: Brenda Tekin, Gordy Adamski, Nancy Corwin, Sarah Splaun
Visitors:
Many! Including group from Lifelong Learning Institute, James Madison
University; Marlene Condon, Robert Butler, Helen Priest, Vickie Validstro,
Dot Kaster, Anne Nielson, Allen Richardson....
Weather:
After days of rain and fog, a brutal, bright blue sky with maybe two small
clouds.
Diminishing winds thoughout the day from NE to NW.
Temp (high): 21.5
Humidity: 63% decreasing to 42%
Bar.Pressure: 1017
Cloud Cover: NONE
Visibility: Crystal clear with minimal haze
Observations:
Thoughout most of the morning and early afternoon majority of BWs found to
our north heading sw over valley, very difficult to spot. Late afternoon
small kettles found that quickly disappeared. Some would seem to pop out
from nowhere high overhead, joining a high soaring osprey or vulture.
One Osprey came up on west side of ridge, below eye level. 10 minutes
later it was circling high overhead and was joined by second Osprey and
small group of Broad-wings. Late afternoon a single Osprey was found low
over NE corner near towers, leading the way for small squadron of BWs!
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 4 (un)
Chimney Swift - still moving through in small numbers with several hundred
observed today.
Common Raven - 5
Tree Swallow - small group of 14
Predictions:
Another sunny day with increasing winds.
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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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