Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch, VA
Waynesboro, VA, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 05, 2002
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Species Day's Count Month Total YTD Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
BV 6 6 6
TV 0 3 6
OS 0 4 5
BE 1 1 1
NH 0 1 1
SS 0 6 16
CH 0 1 9
NG 0 0 0
RS 0 0 0
BW 5 21 24
RT 0 3 7
RL 0 0 0
GE 0 0 0
AK 1 5 9
ML 0 0 0
PG 0 0 2
MK 0 1 1
UA 0 0 1
UB 0 0 0
UF 0 2 3
UE 0 0 0
UR 0 0 0
Total: 13 54 91
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 18:00:00
Total observation time: 10 hours
Site Coordinator: Brenda Tekin
Observers: Allen Larner, Brenda Tekin, Gordy Adamski, Robert Plank
Visitors:
Bruce Rickenbacher
Rae Hickman
Weather:
Wind: a.m. 3-4 out of NW; very light breeze from SE 3 p.m. -on
Temp (Hi): 26C
Humidity: 42 increasing to 50%
Bar.Pressure: 1016
Cloud Cover: zero
NO HAZE - clear skies
Observations:
First Bald Eagle, and adult flew directly overhead at 4:33 p.m.
No migrants noted during a.m. watch 8 a.m.-12. Today's total between 3-6
p.m.
After the previous massive Common Nighthawk migration, well into the
thousands, numbers dropped dramatically but still impressive with 664. By
6:05 p.m. EST the last few came through. Of interest, a very light breeze
was coming from the SE and every one of the nighthawks came up from the
east side of the ridge, most coming up from the SE, a few slipping over
ridge to NE and heading in westerly direction and then turning SW once
they reached the western side of the gap. Chimney Swift numbers, well,
let's just say I had a hard time coming up to 100. The few observed were
all heading South into the breeze and in opposite direction of the
nighthawks. This was the same behavior observed last evening. Nighthawks
were moving S-SE on strong NW wind and swifts were coming up from S-SE
heading NW into the valley.
Several large bands of Cedar Waxwing were observed early evening.
Monarch Butterfly: 18
Predictions:
More clear 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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