Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch, VA
Waynesboro, Virginia, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 15, 2005
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
BV 0 0 0
TV 0 0 0
OS 7 25 168
BE 1 2 36
NH 2 3 26
SS 127 419 664
CH 7 48 108
NG 0 1 1
RS 0 0 2
BW 1 67 7260
RT 9 31 137
RL 0 0 0
GE 1 1 2
AK 20 25 124
ML 10 10 12
PG 0 1 4
UA 0 5 10
UB 0 1 15
UF 0 0 1
UE 0 0 1
UR 0 2 14
Total: 185 641 8585
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Observation start time: 08:30:00
Observation end time: 16:30:00
Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Gordy Adamski
Observers: Bill Funk, Brenda Tekin, Gordy Adamski, Robert Plank
Visitors:
Several visitors today including folks all the way from San Francisco!
Weather:
As a reminder: We report using standard time!
After all the nasty weather that lingered around for days, it was rags to
riches although clouds would have been nice.
Very brisk NNW to WNW wind throughout the day with strong gusts -
29-49km/h
temp: 15.5c>19.5c;
humidity: 50%<45%
Bar.Pressure: 1008<1006;
Cloud Cover: not even a wisp or jet contrail for most of the day. About
mid-day a few upper level clouds moved in providing great backdrop to help
find all of those sharpies and falcon!
With strong winds coming across the valley, haze pushed out producing
crystal clear skies by late afternoon.
Raptor Observations:
It's been a long day and don't know where to begin.
Getting late in the season for Osprey but they keep a'comin' making this
the best season dating back to 1999.
Adult BE at 10:04 a.m.
Bill Funk picked up a second adult BE heading north at 3:37 pm which was
not counted. While watching it a hummingbird zipped by in the foreground
heading south.
Broad-winged Hawk - juvenile at 12:28 p.m. - came in close providing great
looks and photographed (link to photograph:
http://home.ntelos.net/~btkin/rockfish_gap_hawk_watch/link_pages/Broad-wingedHawk5_link.htm
Golden Eagle at 12:26 pm;
Sharp-shinned and falcon ruled the day! Majority of birds ridge-hopped,
up and down working against the wind before zinging across the gap.
We broke the bank with Merlin, breaking the single day record by 3
previously set exactly 10 years ago (10/15/1995)for a total of 10 today.
Most came in low and close. Also impressive were the 20 kestrel for
mid-October.
Only thing missing were Peregrine. Maybe tomorrow!
Non-raptor Observations:
DC Cormorant - flock of 33;
Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 3;
Tree Swallow
Eastern Phoebe
Blue Jay
Northern Flicker
Eastern Bluebird (singing)
American Robin - 2 flyover
Hummingbird - 2
Monarch Butterfly - 4
Walking Stick hanging around the observers
Female Common Yellowthroat- dang thing managed to fly inbetween opening of
a sewer drain grate. Betty and Gordy to the rescue. Gordy managed to lift
up the grate and Betty went down inside to retreive the bird. Bird was a
bit stunned but eventually flew off.
Predictions:
A bit cooler 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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