Harvey's Knob
Roanoke, Virginia, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 24, 2006
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 0 0 0
Osprey 0 26 229
Bald Eagle 0 12 80
Northern Harrier 0 21 52
Sharp-shinned Hawk 10 459 680
Cooper's Hawk 4 80 129
Northern Goshawk 0 3 3
Red-shouldered Hawk 1 3 8
Broad-winged Hawk 0 59 4707
Red-tailed Hawk 9 88 169
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 1 5 7
American Kestrel 0 29 122
Merlin 0 14 21
Peregrine Falcon 0 13 40
Unknown 16 58
Total: 25 828 6305
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Observation start time: 08:45:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 7.25 hours
Official Counter: Mike Purdy
Observers: Baron Gibson
Visitors:
Still a good number of parkway travelers enjoying the leaves and the
views, stopping to take a quick picture or two before running back to
their warm vehicles.
Weather:
Very cold, strong NW winds gusting as high as 37 mph. Temp. ranged from
33-37F with a wind chill as low as 22F. Cloud cover from 50 -95%.
Visiblity was good. At times we could see snow showers coming across the
Allegheny Mts.,which lie on the other side of the Great Valley to our
West.
Raptor Observations:
Today and yesterday we have observed an interesting interaction between a
Raven and a Red-tailed Hawk. The Raven would approach to within a few feet
of a kiting Red-tail and provoke it into chasing it. The Raven was so
confident in it's ability to out-maneuver the Red-tail that it would allow
the Red-tail to get within a couple of feet of it as they dove from up
high. Just as it looked as though the Red-tail might "catch" the Raven,
the Raven would make a quick turn and let the Red-tail go sailing by. The
Raven would then catch up with the Red-tail and it would be on again. This
went on for a couple of minutes. The Raven was obviously having a good
time, and who knows, maybe the ol' Redtail was enjoying it too.
At 1:02 EST an immature Golden Eagle showed up right in front of the
lookout. It was being harassed by a very feisty Sharp-shinned Hawk. The
eagle crossed over the ridge at the parking lot and headed SE.
Non-raptor Observations:
One flock of 200+ DC Cormorants heading South and also a flock of 25
Tundra Swans heading South.
Predictions:
NW winds but not as strong. Could be the best day this week.
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Report submitted by Mike Purdy (MikeLPurdy@xxxxxxx)
Harvey's Knob Hawk Watch information may be found at:
http://mysite.verizon.net/harveys95.5/
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