Mendota Fire Tower
Mendota, VA, Virginia, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 17, 2016
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 0 0 0
Osprey 0 1 1
Bald Eagle 1 1 1
Northern Harrier 0 2 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk 4 5 5
Cooper's Hawk 0 2 2
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 2 2
Broad-winged Hawk 21 220 220
Red-tailed Hawk 0 2 2
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 1 1 1
American Kestrel 0 1 1
Merlin 0 0 0
Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0
Unknown Buteo 0 0 0
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 0 0
Total: 27 237 237
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Observation start time: 07:30:00
Observation end time: 16:45:00
Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Larry McDaniel
Observers: George Larkin
Visitors:
Sally Hoover and Margaret Gregg of Abingdon.
Weather:
For the most part it was a hot day without hawks. Skies were about 30%
cloud cover and wind was from the east and southeast at 5-10 with gusts up
to 15-20 mph.
Raptor Observations:
The Golden Eagle was a sub-adult which came in pretty close to the tower.
The American Bald Eagle was an adult.
Non-raptor Observations:
None reported
Predictions:
A weak cold front should be moving through and hopefully the temps will
drop. About a 50% chance of rain. May have some good cloud backdrop for
observation.
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Report submitted by Ronald Eugene Harrington (roneharrin@xxxxxxx)
Site Description:
The Mendota Fire Tower Hawkwatch site is located atop Clinch Mountain at
the abandoned fire tower near Mendota, Virginia. A hawkwatch has been
conducted during fall migration each year since 1958 at this site.
Clinch Mountain is a 150 mile long ridge that runs from near Burke's Garden
in Tazewell County, Virginia to Blaine, Tennessee. It runs generally
Northeast to Southwest and divides the Clinch River drainage to the north
and the Holston River drainage to the south.
The site is on the Russell and Washington County lines and is at an
elevation of 3000 feet As is usual with a fire tower location there is a
360 degree view with Moccasin Valley and Pine Mountain to the North and
Mendota and the Holston River to the south.
Access to this site requires a moderately strenuous 25 minute hike on the
old fire tower access road. There are no facilities so be sure to bring
water, sunscreen, raingear, chair, snacks and lunch and binoculars. There
are no restrooms.
