Below is a brief summary of our very successful 2005 season at Rockfish Gap
Hawk Watch. A resounding "THANK YOU" to all of the volunteer counters and
observers for making this one of the most successful seasons at Rockfish
Gap. A more detailed narrative report is in the works and will be posted to
the web site in near future (I hope.)
Brenda Tekin, Co-coordinator
Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch, VA
http://home.ntelos.net/~btkin/rockfish_gap_hawk_watch/
ROCKFISH GAP HAWK WATCH, VIRGINIA
Summary for Fall 2005
Coverage: (Season ran from August 12 through November 20)
Total for the season: 10,657
Total Raptor Species: 13
Total days in season: 101
Total days covered: 78
Total hours covered: 454.75 hours (Although below
approximate 15-year median of 475 hours, it was highest coverage
dating back to
2001 (475 hours).
August: 17 days - 92.25 hours
1 day - no one signed up
2 days shut down due to weather (27, 30; between 27,
28, 29, 30 only 6 hours during 2 of the 4 days
covered.)
September: 29 days - 200.83 hours
1 day shut down due to weather (between 24-26-26,
only 7.5
hours covered.)
October: 22 days - 117.67 hours
1 day - no one signed up
Remainder of days with no coverage appear to be
weather related. Snow on 25th with vehicle
accidents on I-64.
November: 10 days - 44 hours
Appears most of the uncovered days due to no one
signed up.
Species count - Record Setters/Statistics:
Osprey - Earliest: 1 on 8/12/05;
Season's total of 176 is highest dating back to 1999 (180) and well above
the 15-year median of 131.
Bald Eagle: Earliest: 2 on 8/14/05; Single day highest count of 11 set on
8/21/05 (Note: all were adults except one imm.);
Season's total of 44 tied with second place dating back to 2000.
Was a substantial increase over last year's disappointing 26.
Northern Harrier: Although still below the 15-year median (52), season's
total of 35 was 7 more from last year.
Sharp-shinned Hawk: Season's total of 1060 was a significant increase from
previous year (975) and best overall dating back to 1995 (1106) and placed
well above the 15-year median of 786.
Cooper's Hawk: Season's total of 185 was a significant increase from
previous year (145) and above the 15-year median of 154.
Northern Goshawk: only one this year, lowest count dating back to 1998 (0)
and below the 15-year median (4).
Red-shouldered Hawk: Not much of an increase, but we take what we can.
With season total of 28, it was highest count dating back to 2001 (38) and
just under the 15-year median (31).
Broad-winged Hawk: Earliest: 19 on 8/13 and although not earliest, 73 on
8/20/05 was one for the records. No real record setters other than good
early flights back in August.. Season's total of 7263 above the 15-year
median (6502).
Red-tailed Hawk: Earliest: 5 on 8/13;
2nd highest single day - 590 on Oct. 29
3rd highest single day - 309 on Oct. 26
Season's total of 1,633 was first time we've hit the four-digit mark
dating back to 1996 (1066) and highest count dating back to 1988 (1643), and
at 3rd overall highest record in history of RGHW it ranked well above the
15-year median (582).
American Kestrel: Earliest: 1 on 8/14/05
Season's total of 149 is highest dating back to 1988 (151) and 4th
overall highest season count. A substantial increase from last year's
disappointing 63, this year's rebound put us well above the 15-year median
(94).
Merlin - Single day record of 10 on Oct. 15, broke the previous record by 3
set exactly 10 years ago on Oct. 15, 1995 (7) and placed well above the
15-year median (13).
Peregrine - To sum it up - DISSAPPOINTING! 2nd straight year with
substantially lower numbers. With only 7 for the season, it was the lowest
dating back to 1993 (7) and well below the 15-year median (17).
Unusual sighting(s):
Cave Swallow - 3 on November 12. Detailed reports submitted to state's
record committee.
Few highlighted posts:
August 21- Oh what a day! And it's only August! And, we had a total of
eight species!
After yesterday's record-breaking Broad-wing flight (73) for so early in the
season, things settled back down. With today's strong winds there were no
thermals and no kettling BW -- most were single birds or in pairs. Numbers
were down to only 26 for the day but still a bit above our normal average
for this time of year. And the Red-tails keep a'coming...including a
stunning dark-phased at 11:36 a.m. to the east between the I-64 cut-through
and observation sidewalk. It stalled to kite, providing full view of the
very dark underside; the blackish underside of wings with very pale edges
along the trailing edge like that of Turkey Vulture and rufous tail!
Bald Eagle. The fact that we squashed the highest single day record by 3 was
cause for celebration but the truly amazing thing is it was done in August
and not mid to late September. Of the eleven BE for the day, all were adults
except for one.
Oct. 24 - Spectacular flight of Monarch Butterfly with overcast skies and
rain bands produced by remnants of tropical depression Rita. Although a
sporadic count, well over 600 were tallied - the sky was filled with
Monarch's.
Oct 29 - It's a day hawk watcher's hope for with some degree of
trepidation. A sure fire way to see a big Red-tail flight is on the leading
edge of a strong cold front producing brisk northerly winds and bone
chilling temps At least today there was no snow or sleet but it sure was
cold enough! These are the days when records can be broken. Today was such a
day with Red-tails breaking third highest single day record. RTs were
coming in groups of 4 to 6 at a time, low in the sky.
Nov. 18 - This was the last day of the season for volunteer counter Bill
Gallagher and he certainly deserves a medal for being on board today. Hey,
at least it wasn't sleeting or snowing. However, it was bitter cold with
north wind. How cold you ask? So cold that the ink in pen froze up! A steady
North wind 6-11km/h with temp -1.0c at 8 a.m.; -1.5c at 10 a.m. and -2 c at
11 a.m.; (10 birds in 4 brutally, bone-chilling hours.)
You are subscribed to VA-BIRD. To post to this mailing list, simply send email
to va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx. To unsubscribe, send email to
va-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field.
