Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch, VA
Waynesboro, Virginia, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Aug 24, 2003
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
BV 0 0 0
TV 0 0 0
OS 1 2 2
BE 0 2 2
NH 0 0 0
SS 3 5 5
CH 0 1 1
NG 0 0 0
RS 0 0 0
BW 30 36 36
RT 1 3 3
RL 0 0 0
GE 1 1 1
AK 1 2 2
ML 0 0 0
PG 0 0 0
UA 1 1 1
UB 0 0 0
UF 0 0 0
UE 0 0 0
UR 0 0 0
Total: 38 53 53
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Observation start time: 09:00:00
Observation end time: 15:30:00
Total observation time: 6.5 hours
Official Counter: Brenda Tekin
Observers: Gordy Adamski, Jean Brodwater, Robert Plank
Weather:
An absolute gorgeous day!
Wind: light through most of day changing from North to East.
Temp (high): 24C
Humidity: 52%
Bar.Pressure: 1014
Cloud Cover: 0 - with occasional small clouds
Visibility: crystal clear sky up to 42km
Observations:
Small numbers of Broad-wings with one kettle of five this morning that were
not in a hurry to go but instead milled around feeding and dive-bombing
one another. Most entertaining...
The most unspected surprise of the day and for the season to date was an
incredibly early Golden Eagle.
Shortly after 3 p.m. (EST) I was watching a glider being towed on a second
run. Right after it was released over tepee area, I turned and scanned
sky to east and found a single BW just above a small cloud left of
cut-through and not too high and not that far from observation deck. A
large dark bird was beneath it, a little to left and an Osprey with almost
flattened wings as it made a wide circle. The three were kettling
together. There was no mistaking the EAGLE! But wait, it wasn't just any
eagle. Basically uniformly dark underside and top, NO white in tail or
head and no white patches or mottling on the underside. And there was
just something about the head and bill that were noticeably smaller than
Bald Eagle. By now it was a bit below eye level and it turned with
afternoon sun hitting the back of the head and I just about fell out of my
chair. It was the unmistakable "golden" head, reminding me of a lion's
mane. I jumped up and headed for the scope where I quickly picked it up.
A gorgeous adult Golden Eagle! I was able to see every angle on this bird.
It was 4:11 p.m. (3:11 EST) This early sighting in all probability has
broken early dates for our area.
We are well on our way to a great start to what I suspect will be an
interesting and productive season. -- Brenda Tekin
Barn Swallow - 37
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 3 (1 female, 1 imm.male, 1 un)
Monarch Butterfly - 5
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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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