[va-bird] HSR: Snickers Gap (25 Oct 2004) 7 Raptors

Snickers Gap Hawkwatch
Virginia, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 25, 2004
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Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0              0              0
Turkey Vulture               0              0              0
Osprey                       0             33            278
Bald Eagle                   0             56            128
Northern Harrier             0             37             82
Sharp-shinned Hawk           2            911           1502
Cooper's Hawk                1            186            342
Northern Goshawk             0              7              7
Red-shouldered Hawk          4             46             72
Broad-winged Hawk            0              6           3701
Red-tailed Hawk              0            397            481
Rough-legged Hawk            0              1              1
Golden Eagle                 0              1              1
American Kestrel             0             19             86
Merlin                       0             13             23
Peregrine Falcon             0             22             29
Unknown                      0             29             64

Total:                       7           1764           6797
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 08:30:00 
Observation end   time: 14:00:00 
Total observation time: 5.5 hours

Official Counter: Ian Topolsky

Observers:        

Visitors:
  Lee and Peabody were back for their usual 6-10 mile hike up the trail
toward Bear's Den. Peabody (Lee's adorable female Jack Russel- a regular
visitor, and the Jack Russel on our breed list) just got done with a 65
mile stretch of the AT, done over a long weekend- 

  She has 4 inch legs and probably walked 120 miles to his 65, not too
shabby...


Weather:
  I despise weathermen...

  Winds were barely out of the NW at 1 Beaufort. 100% Cloudcover all day,
with an extremely low ceiling that never completely lifted on the Eastern
half of the ridge. High Temp 56F.

Observations:
  
  What raptors...?

  Passerines:

  Red-headed Woodpecker- 1, Downy- 2, Hairy- 1, Red-bellied- 1, Pileated-
1, Blue Jay- 13, American Robin- 170, Eastern Bluebird- 3, Cedar Waxwing-
80+, Purple Finch- 8 (still haven't made it to the feeder), American
Goldfinch- 15. 

  Canines: 

  Jack Russel- 1 (Peabody) and, new to the list, German Short-haired
Pointer- 1. It pointed out our only Cooper's Hawk of the day (thank
you)...

Predictions:
  This will make sense to no more than 3 or 4 people- so in the words of
the late, great Moe Howard, "ah, skip it".
Ralph Wall, this one's for you.

  Magic Eightball, will a bird ever fly low over Snickers when Ralph is
present?

  The 8 Ball's reply is a bunch of jibberish. A shiver runs down my
spine.
  
  All I can make out in the turbulent, frothing, blue liquid is a number
so far, wait. Yes. "12:15".

  Hold on, that's not all. There's a few letters appearing now. 

  "WEETIN" 

  It's making absolutely no sense tonight, and where are these extra
letters coming from? 

  Again. "12:15, WHEETEN"...     [8 ball drops to floor]


  [Fade to black...]
========================================================================
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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