Snickers Gap Hawkwatch
20 Miles West of Leesburg, Virginia, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 28, 2003
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 0 0 0
Osprey 17 191 204
Bald Eagle 4 69 75
Northern Harrier 8 49 54
Sharp-shinned Hawk 43 505 507
Cooper's Hawk 7 69 70
Northern Goshawk 1 1 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 4 21 21
Broad-winged Hawk 176 11519 11547
Red-tailed Hawk 8 100 100
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 2 2
American Kestrel 6 110 110
Merlin 3 13 14
Peregrine Falcon 0 28 28
Unknown 0 25 25
Total: 277 12702 12758
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Observation start time: 08:30:00
Observation end time: 16:30:00
Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Joan Boudreau and Bob Abrams
Observers: Ian Topolsky
Visitors:
Sam & Lois Shoemaker came up for most birds and a special sighting of an
interdenominational prayer service including shofar horns!
Weather:
WNW winds at between 5 and 10 mph.
Cooler than lately 12 to 24 degrees celsius.
A clear cool day of high clouds.
Observations:
Bob got a birthday immature Goshawk.
We had been hoping for a Golden Eagle too....
Predictions:
I imagine most of the Broadwings are past - boo - so it's time to wish for
the late season specialties.
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Report submitted by Joan and Bob (icepeep@xxxxxxx)
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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