Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch
Waynesboro, Virginia, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Aug 18, 2007
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
BV 0 0 0
TV 0 0 0
OS 0 0 0
BE 1 1 1
NH 0 0 0
SS 6 6 6
CH 0 0 0
NG 0 0 0
RS 0 0 0
BW 19 19 19
RT 0 0 0
RL 0 0 0
GE 0 0 0
AK 1 1 1
ML 0 0 0
PG 0 0 0
UA 0 0 0
UB 0 0 0
UF 0 0 0
UE 0 0 0
UR 0 0 0
Total: 27 27 27
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Observation start time: 09:00:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Brenda Tekin
Observers: Allen Larner, Gordy Adamski, Vic Laubach
Visitors:
Volunteer counters:
Gordy Adamski
Jim Fitzgerald
Bill Feeney
Jennifer Gaden
Allen Larner
Frank lslked
Vic Laubach
Clair Mellinger
Weather:
In a word - Gorgeous with clear visibility for miles and miles and miles!
Breezy in the morning with NW winds 12-19km/h diminishing to 1-5km/h in the
afternoon.
Temp: high: 24.9c;
Humidity: Very Low at 36% dropping to 34%;
Bar.Pressure: 1071;
Cloud Cover: 0-15% increasing to 16%-50%;
Raptor Observations:
A great opening day for our 2007 season. Volunteer counters arrived by 10
a.m. for a refresher workshop and were rewarded to a few early Sharp-shins
and Broad-wings. After last year's Bald Eagle record buster, we're off to
good start with an adult first spotted by Vic Laubach at 11:02 a.m. EST.
(REMINDER: ALL TIMES ARE IN STANDARD TIME, NOT DAYLIGHT SAVINGS!)
Several Broad-wings came in low for great looks and observers were able to
get a few to whistle in response to ours! Today's flight was about an equal
mix of adults and immatures. One group of 7 was a treat, with 6 heading
south and 1 turning back, to later join up with a few more Broad-wings.
During the last hour a young lad and his mother, staying at the hotel,
stopped by to see what we were doing, just in time for them to see and hear
a few close-up Broad-wings, circling and whistling back.
The real treat and surprise was a Golden Eagle at 2:45 EST. Yes, we know
the calendar says TOO EARLY, but we saw what we saw. It was first picked
up by, once again, Vic Laubach, circling over the cut-through over I-64 to
the east. It then came head on a short distance before bearing a bit
northward, crossing the interstate and then flying due west over the north
ridge. Vic followed the bird with his spotting scope and Allen Larner and
I viewed through binoculars. With 10x42 Swarvoski binocs I could not pick
up any light areas on this bird and the overall head shape and size were
too small and rounded, ruling out Bald. In good light, Vic stated the bird
appeared generally brownish all over and he noted the golden brown on back
of the head/nape. Unfortunately, once over the valley, the GOEA turned NW
and continued without turning southward and was not included into day's
count.
Web links to few images of the day including adult BWHA diveboming
immature BWHA:
http://home.ntelos.net/~btkin/rockfish_gap_hawk_watch/link_pages/Broad-wingedHawk10_link.html
http://home.ntelos.net/~btkin/rockfish_gap_hawk_watch/link_pages/Broad-wingedHawk9_link.html
http://home.ntelos.net/~btkin/rockfish_gap_hawk_watch/link_pages/Broad-wingedHawk11_link.html
Non-raptor Observations:
Monarch Butterfly - 1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1
Predictions:
more of the same great weather!
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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
