Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch, VA
Waynesboro, VA, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 02, 2002
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Species Day's Count Month Total YTD Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
BV 0 0 0
TV 0 0 3
OS 2 2 3
BE 0 0 0
NH 0 0 0
SS 2 2 12
CH 0 0 8
NG 0 0 0
RS 0 0 0
BW 11 11 14
RT 2 2 6
RL 0 0 0
GE 0 0 0
AK 0 0 4
ML 0 0 0
PG 0 0 2
MK 1 1 1
UA 0 0 1
UB 0 0 0
UF 0 0 1
UE 0 0 0
UR 0 0 0
Total: 18 18 55
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 17:00:00
Total observation time: 9 hours
Site Coordinator: Brenda Tekin
Observers: Brenda Tekin, Pat Alther
Visitors:
Josephine King
Marietta Beverage (2 hours)
Weather:
Heavy fog upon arrival until 10:05 a.m. before north side of gap could be
observed. Pretty much lifted by 11:15 with aid of steady NW wind.
Wind: NW (am), Variable, East
High Temp: 25 c (12-1 p.m.)
Humidity: 74%
Bar.Pressure: 1018 dropping to 1015 at 4-5 p.m. hour
Fog, Fog, Fog
Observations:
Mississippi Kite (adult)this afternoon, first spotted at 4:01 p.m. EST east
out over the piedmont.
Wind: light breeze out of the east
Temperature: 25 c
It was a good distance out to our east but not high up when first spotted.
Outstretched long pointed falcon-like wings, pale body and long tail were
easily detected and caught my immediate attention. It was slowly sailing
heading in wide southeasterly direction then, without flapping, veered and
in wide turn began heading east. So slow, in fact, that I thought to
myself any slower and if would fall out of the sky. As it began to head
east it pulled in its wings and in a fast glide went a short distance
before abruptly stooping. I thought surely it was going to crash into the
treetops below when in an incredible aerial split second maneuver, it
threw out its long wings, legs dropped down and it seemed to come to a
dead standstill. (In the fast glide with tucked wings it reminded me of a
Broad-wing observed earlier in the day when wings were pulled in and
gliding across the sky.) I ran to scope and quickly picked it back up.
The long square-tipped tail would at times appear to "twist" and partially
flair; wings were long and at several angles when it made wide turns
almost looked like a elongated or stretched out "M" with crook in the
wings. The short outer primary in each wing was easily detected. It
veered southward and just when we thought it would continue following the
ridge it slowly turned and sailed towards us heading north and as it
approached the SE corner of the building almost over the area of the
swimming pool it stalled with wings fully extended and tail dropped down.
We were facing south and it was facing north so we had an unobstructed
close view of the underside. If there had been any doubts up until this
time, it was this precise moment when the two observers knew without a
doubt at what they were looking at. At the moment it stalled, the tailed
dropped, the legs and talons extended downward and forward towards us
grabbing onto a dragonfly and lowering its head. The whitish head was in
contrast to the silvery underbody. Viewing the underside of the tail
through the scope I could see no banding. It was uniformly darker than the
"silvery" underside and with sun shining through it almost had a brownish
tint with just a faint hint of brownish orange (not the rufous red of
Red-tail hawk) that could be explained by afternoon sun.
It continued on a leisurely course sailing north across the gap and as it
reached the Interstate it began to gain altitude, making a slow wide
circle, climbing higher before it headed east toward the right rollover
just left of the towers. We lost it as it went up into thick grayish
clouds almost 3 minutes after it was first spotted.
Most of the raptors observed throughout the day were actively feeding ALL
OVER THE PLACE! They would head south, back north, east, and then south.
A few, however, never turned back south. They were like a hungry teenager
who hadn't eaten in a couple of hours. Maybe the bad weather for past
several days reduced curtailed their feeding. They certainly seemed to be
enjoying the day taking it in leisure and taking advantage of the large
flying insects comprised mainly of dragonflies. Three SS were observed
together on north side of gap. One dived bomed another into the trees and
third flew north. A low flying Cooper's came directly over our heads,
very LOW, heading North. Except for the two Osprey, all of the others
were very low, easily seen without aid of binoculars.
Skink (adult) running and pausing on patio before scrabling for cover under
wheel.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird: 8 (including 1 adult male
Tree Swallow - 1
Chimney Swift - while sitting out in the morning fog with visibility less
than 50 yards in front of you, we could hear an occasional Chimney Swift
chatter as they crossed in front of us. Could hear them, couldn't see
'em.
Monarch Butterfly: 7
Predictions:
Partly cloudy skies
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Report submitted by 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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