[va-bird] HSR: Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch (27 Oct 2002) Raptor counts (total=88)

Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch, VA
Waynesboro, VA, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 27, 2002
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
BV                           0              0              0
TV                           0              0              0
OS                           0             11             99
BE                           0              2             14
NH                           1             18             38
SS                          12            473            597
CH                          11             57             82
NG                           0              3              4
RS                           2              7              7
BW                           0             17           3650
RT                          59            194            215
RL                           0              0              0
GE                           2              2              2
AK                           0             82            100
ML                           0              2              6
PG                           0             14             22
MK                           0              0              1
UA                           0              1              4
UB                           0              7             10
UF                           0              1              5
UE                           0              0              0
UR                           1              6             18

Total:                      88            897           4874
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 09:45:00 
Observation end   time: 16:00:00 
Total observation time: 6.25 hours

Site Coordinator: Brenda Tekin

Observers:        Brenda Tekin

Visitors:
Bill and Katie James from Harvey's Knob Hawk Watch.  A big "Thank You" to
them for helping out yesterday and today.  Those extra eyes are a big
help.



Weather:
No lower level wind until between 1 - 3 p.m. with light breeze out of NNW. 
Little upper level winds from SE and this is what RTs were flying in on,
most tiny specs against the clouds.  Overcast skies in the morning with
dark gray clouds, clearing somewhat by 1 p.m. with white puffy clouds and
blue sky.   
Temp:  (high)  19.5c
Humidity:  43 increasing to 63% dropping to 56% by 3 p.m.
Bar. Pressure:  1015 to 1017


Observations:
First Golden Eagles of the season - adult at 10:28 found circling with BVs
on NE ridge. Second was an imm. first spotted at 3:19 p.m., again circling
low on NE ridge with BVs.  It came across north side of ridge heading west
and after gaining altitude to about one binocular glass above top of ridge
it headed WSW across valley.

Yesterday evening before leaving a large pale hawk with long tail came in
low along north side of gap and quickly went into trees before we could
get a positive I.D.  Initially we thought it to be male Northern Harrier.
Considering the lateness of the day, we figured it was settling in for the
night.  This morning visitors Bill and Katie James from Harvey's Knob Hawk
Watch observed a low flying adult male NOHA coming off the ridge, most
likely the same one we saw yesterday afternoon. 

Fish Crow - several small bands and one impressive group of 129
DC Cormorant - flock of 5 at 2:25 p.m. heading E
hang glider coming off west side of ridge just north of site sailing
across valley.
Monarch Butterfly - good push both yesterday and today with over 65
counted today.
Ladybug - Thousands, filling the sky both yesterday and today.  They were
everywhere and at times today it was difficult to view the high sailing
hawks!
========================================================================
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.  

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.

Other related posts: