[va-bird] HSR: Snickers Gap (26 Oct 2004) 169 Raptors

Snickers Gap Hawkwatch
Virginia, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 26, 2004
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Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0              0              0
Turkey Vulture               0              0              0
Osprey                       2             35            280
Bald Eagle                   2             58            130
Northern Harrier             8             45             90
Sharp-shinned Hawk          43            954           1545
Cooper's Hawk                8            194            350
Northern Goshawk             0              7              7
Red-shouldered Hawk         13             59             85
Broad-winged Hawk            0              6           3701
Red-tailed Hawk             89            486            570
Rough-legged Hawk            0              1              1
Golden Eagle                 1              2              2
American Kestrel             0             19             86
Merlin                       0             13             23
Peregrine Falcon             0             22             29
Unknown                      3             32             67

Total:                     169           1933           6966
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 08:30:00 
Observation end   time: 16:00:00 
Total observation time: 7.5 hours

Official Counter: Ian Topolsky

Observers:        BJ Westervelt, George Wheaton, Lad Topolsky, Ralph Wall

Visitors:
  A photographer from the Winchester Star stopped by today. This normally
occurs around Broad-winged peak and is slightly uncomfortable and
distracting. 
  Today, it was slow and I figured we could have some fun; within minutes
of speaking to him, we were all tracking a non-existent Swainson's that
majestically passed through on the east side of the ridge. "Work it, work
it. FEEL the bird..." 

  Irene Frye (hope I spelled it right) made the drive from Stephen's City,
do come back.


Weather:
  We had to deal with some extremely heavy fog rolling up out of the
western valley for the first few hours. 

  Winds were out of the NNW (at 1-2) for most of the day, gradually
switching to NNE by close. Cloudcover was just  a bit sparse where we
needed it at times but, for the most part, hung around 50%+. High Temp
61F.

Observations:
  Not much going on for the first half of the day. Things started to pick
up around 12:00 EST.

  Poof, Sharpies are waning...

  A nice Red-shouldered push today. 13 counted.

  An immature Golden graced us with its presence at 12:35 EST, always a
pleasure.

  Still a few Osprey passing through, none packin' a lunch.

  Not a good dog day, none counted.

  Passerines:

  A late Yellow-billed Cuckoo was the highlight of the day. Next best was
a Chipping Sparrow at the feeder, only the third species to take advantage
of the free meal. 

  Canada Goose- 4, Double-crested Cormorant- 83, Yellow-billed Cuckoo- 1,
American Robin- 319, Blue Jay- 16, Chipping Sparrow- 1, Purple Finch- 4 (2
ad), Monarch- 2, Red Admiral- 1, Clouded Sulphur- 1. 
  Lady Bugs. A little invasion today. I've heard of this happening before
at Snickers. The sky was full of them, and ballooning spiders, all
afternoon. 

Predictions:
  So, Eightball. How you doin'?

  "KEEP ON TRUCKIN'"


  Strangely fitting, considering the new curse of Snickers Gap- the USA
Truck...
========================================================================
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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