Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch
Waynesboro, Virginia, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 08, 2006
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
BV 0 0 0
TV 0 0 0
OS 4 12 181
BE 2 2 58
NH 8 9 41
SS 88 295 798
CH 8 40 116
NG 1 1 1
RS 1 1 6
BW 2 235 14333
RT 1 7 52
RL 0 0 0
GE 0 0 2
AK 17 29 113
ML 1 1 4
PG 1 5 48
UA 0 1 3
UB 1 1 6
UF 1 1 3
UE 0 0 1
UR 0 1 12
Total: 136 641 15778
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Observation start time: 13:00:00
Observation end time: 17:00:00
Total observation time: 4 hours
Official Counter: Brenda Tekin
Observers: Vic Laubach
Visitors:
A hugh thanks to Vic Laubauch who showed up as the fog lifted to help in
spotting the many birds that seemed all over the sky!
Bruce & Ping Davenport
Weather:
Although rain moved out overnight low clouds and fog at the higher
elevation north across the gap prevailed throughout the morning into early
afternoon. Brisk NW winds, 20-35km/h kept pushing clouds and heavy mist
over the gap from the west where it would evaporate as it blew out over
the east. The towers to North on Bear Den Mountain remained hidden
throughout the afternoon by small pockets of low clouds/fog. By 1 p.m.
EST the fog over much of the north side of gap and to the west over
Waynesboro was lifting as clearing to east increased with sun shining
through breaks in the clouds. By 1:15 birds were lifting up out of the
trees on north side of the ridge.
Temp: Holding steady at 13c;
Very moist with 85% humidity even after most of the clouds had moved out
by 3 p.m. EST;
Raptor Observations:
Great flight once the fog lifted. The brisk winds kept the birds low, with
accipiters flapping hard as they moved along the north ridge before
shooting out across the gap like speeding bullets. That is, except the
season's first Northern Goshawk, a subadult, that held steady in the
winds. A sharp-shinned took several dives and a nearby Cooper's gave a
great size comparison to the largest of the accipiters. It sailed across
the gap with wings fully extended, circling a few times before continuing
its southward journey.
A great showing of Northern Harrier, and even they were observed
contiually flapping as they moved on the high winds.
Other than the goshawk, the only other raptor observed NOT flapping in the
wind today was an adult Bald Eagle that zipped across the gap and was gone
in a flash heading south down the ridge.
Most of the American Kestrel were observed shooting across on the east
side of the gap well below eye level.
Non-raptor Observations:
Most interesting sighting was a single RED BAT flying from over Waynesboro,
crossing over the gap heading east at 4:43pm EST.;
Two separate groups of Great-blue Heron (4 plus 2);
Indigo Bunting - adult male low in underbrush;
Yellow Warbler - 1 male;
Palm Warbler - 3;
Gray Catbird - 1;
Common Yellowthroat - 5;
Ruby-crowned Kinglet; Golden-crowned Kinglet;
Monarch Butterfly - 5;
Predictions:
warmer and sunny
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Report submitted by Brenda Tekin (bt8x@xxxxxxxxxxxx)
Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch, VA information may be found at:
http://home.ntelos.net/~btkin/rockfish_gap_hawk_watch
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