[va-bird] HSR: Snickers Gap (22 Sep 2003) Raptor counts (total=1584)

Snickers Gap Hawkwatch
20 Miles West of Leesburg, Virginia, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 22, 2003
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0              0              0
Turkey Vulture               0              0              0
Osprey                       2            105            118
Bald Eagle                   1             44             50
Northern Harrier             1             28             33
Sharp-shinned Hawk          28            297            299
Cooper's Hawk                2             39             40
Northern Goshawk             0              0              0
Red-shouldered Hawk          0             14             14
Broad-winged Hawk         1549           7257           7285
Red-tailed Hawk              0             68             68
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0              3              3
American Kestrel             1             50             50
Merlin                       0              9             10
Peregrine Falcon             0              6              6
Unknown                      0             15             15

Total:                    1584           7935           7991
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 08:00:00 
Observation end   time: 14:30:00 
Total observation time: 6.5 hours

Official Counter: Todd M. Day

Observers:        BJ Westervelt, Ian Topolsky

Weather:
  Dense fog blanketed the site for the first hour or so. "Mae" and "Mickey"
began to emerge from slumber around 9:45 EST. Winds were light out of the
SE to start with, slowly changing to E as the morning progressed (no more
than force 1 on the Beaufort). 100% Cloudcover was present for the
duration with Temps topping off at 19C. The low, dark clouds began
spitting at 1:30 EST, and rain began to fall shortly after.

Observations:
  BJ was our OC (official counter) for the day and really had her work cut
out for her. All by her lonesome, and in a two hour period, she had over
1000 BWs parade past by the time I arrived a little after noon. Given the
lack of any decent thermals, they came through slowly and deliberately-
just plodding along the E side of the ridge, many finding it necessary to
pump way more than they wanted to just to maintain altitude. 

  2 Red-headed Woodpeckers and one really determined Monarch.

Predictions:
  "Still a decent no. of BWs up the pipeline"?
Magic eightball replies, "Most likely". 

*Our eightball really appears to be of the 'glass half full' variety- we
shall see, but we shall see...
========================================================================
Report submitted by Ian Topolsky (ict_earth@xxxxxxxxx)


     Snickers Gap Hawkwatch was established in 1990.  It is located in northern 
Virginia, on the Clarke and Loudoun County line.  It is reached by taking VA 
Route 7 to the county line, which runs atop the ridge at Snickers Gap.  On the 
south side of Route 7 is a commuter parking lot.  The count is conducted from 
there.  It is a volunteer site, and is counted in fall only, from late August 
until late November or early December.  There are no facilities at the site, so 
bring a snack, drinks, and a chair.  Many of the birds can be distant, and a 
scope is helpful.  
     As a volunteer site, we are always looking to increase our pool of 
counters.  We are eager to train those who have never counted, but are skilled 
with hawk identification.  We are also willing to pair inexperienced observers 
with experienced counters.  Please contact the compiler, Todd Day, at 
blkvulture@xxxxxxx with any questions or if you are interested in participating 
in the count.  


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