[va-bird] RGHW - Late flight of 6 Northern Harrier

The early evening flight of six juvenile Northern Harrier is one for the
record books, at least in my journal and I'm sure if I go back through the
records, this is a first for Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch.
 
I drove up after work to retrieve the day counts from past two days and to
sit back and enjoy the remaining daylight.  There was only the faintest hint
of a breeze out of the south and several small groups of low flying
Broad-winged flew overhead, most having to flap to maintain altitude as they
crossed the gap.  An Osprey came up low over the north ridge, circling and
flapping as it gained altitude before setting wings and heading south. A
single COMMON NIGHTHAWK was spotted high up heading west over the gap
heading toward the sunset (photographed).  A single Monarch Butterfly
fluttered overhead.
 
At 6:17 p.m.(EDST) I picked up on 6 birds, in formation like a squadron of
planes, coming straight on over the tall tree across the gap to the north,
all flapping.  In the setting sun, the undersides on all six were a
brilliant rufous orange against the blue background.  Hmmm, I've never seen
Broad-wing glow a bright orange like that!  The long, tapered-like wings
exhibiting a pronounced dihedral on the upbeat and longish tail were not in
proportion to Broad-winged and Red-shouldered.  But six harriers?  And all
juveniles?
 
Luckily I had my camera at hand and managed to photograph several of them
before they disappeared down the ridge, flapping the whole way.  The
photographs confirm a flight of six juvenile NORTHERN HARRIER flying over
Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch at 5:18 pm EST (6:18 pm EDST) on September 26, 2006.
 
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------
Brenda Tekin
Charlottesville, VA
Co-coordinator, Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch 
http://home.ntelos.net/~btkin/rockfish_gap_hawk_watch/

Leave behind what you find; if you must take something, take pictures.

Photo journal including Birds of Virginia:
 <http://www.birdsofvirginia.com/> http://www.birdsofvirginia.com

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