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*Mendota Fire Tower Mendota, VA, Virginia, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Sep
25, 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 2 2 Bald Eagle 0 7 7 Northern Harrier 0 5 5
Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 17 17 Cooper's Hawk 1 9 9 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 2 2 Broad-winged Hawk 21 4099 4099 Red-tailed Hawk
3 11 11 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 1 1 American Kestrel 0 5
5 Merlin 0 1 1 Peregrine Falcon 0 1 1 Unknown Accipiter 1 3 3 Unknown
Buteo 1 1 1 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0
0 Total: 29 4164 4164
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Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 14:00:00 Total
observation time: 6 hours Official Counter: Jennifer Meade Observers:
George Larkin Visitors: Ginny and Gary Vanhuss, Kingsport, TN. Weather:
The wind was mostly calm during the day with only slight, sporadic
breezes at 7-8 MPH from the ENE to ESE. Temperature 64-88F. The skies
were very clear in the morning but clouds gradually formed and there was
40-50% by mid-afternoon. Visibility was 20+ miles with distance haze.
Raptor Observations: It was a slow day for raptors. The flight level
ranged from below eye level in the early morning to eye level, then at
the limit of unaided eye to needing binoculars by afternoon. Do not know
if the raptors were too high or too far out over the valleys to pick up.
Or we are seeing the late seasonal migration declining. Non-raptor
Observations: Ruffed Grouse, Towhees, a lone Double-creasted Cormorant
flying over, Pileated WP, one Monarch Butterfly and a few Chimney Swifts
here and there. Most of today's activity and entertainment was provided
by Ravens, Turkey Vultures, and Black Vultures. Predictions:
Temperatures will be cooling off and there is a chance of rain. Hard to
predict what will be coming by, but based on today's results, it may be
a slow week. Still some fairly good numbers up the line to give us some
encouragement!
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Report submitted by Ronald Eugene Harrington (roneharrin@xxxxxxx) *
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rin@xxxxxxx <mailto:roneharrin@xxxxxxx>)*
