[bcbirdclub] Mendota Fire Tower (19 Sep 2019) 115 Raptors

  • From: reports@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • To: bcbirdclub@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Thu, 19 Sep 2019 15:53:37 -0800

Mendota Fire Tower
Mendota, VA, Virginia, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 19, 2019
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0              0              0
Turkey Vulture               0              0              0
Osprey                       1              2              2
Bald Eagle                   1              4              4
Northern Harrier             0              0              0
Sharp-shinned Hawk           1              4              4
Cooper's Hawk                0              1              1
Northern Goshawk             0              0              0
Red-shouldered Hawk          0              0              0
Broad-winged Hawk          112            888            888
Red-tailed Hawk              0              0              0
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0              0              0
American Kestrel             0              0              0
Merlin                       0              0              0
Peregrine Falcon             0              1              1
Unknown Accipiter            0              0              0
Unknown Buteo                0              0              0
Unknown Falcon               0              0              0
Unknown Eagle                0              0              0
Unknown Raptor               0              0              0

Total:                     115            900            900
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 08:00:00 
Observation end   time: 15:00:00 
Total observation time: 7 hours

Official Counter:        Ron Harrington

Observers:        Freddie Osborne, Heather Risney, Jennifer Meade, Sam Evans

Visitors:
None


Weather:
It was a rather cool day with mostly cloudy to cloudy skies,  temperatures
ranging from the mid-fifties to the mid-sixties. There was a steady wind
all day out of the E/SE, and occasionally the South, with speeds ranging
from 13-24 mph (based on the Beaufort Scale for Wind Speed Estimation).
Visibility was good (about 15 miles). Flying conditions were not ideal.
Some hawks seem to be struggling at times.  

Raptor Observations:
Most of the Broad-winged hawks were riding the wind, sailing by on the
Southeast side of the mountain. They were generally visible to the unaided
eye. Most of the day they came by just a few at a time, with Twenty being
seen during the 0800 hour; and the largest number, 70,  counted during the
1400 hour. 

The American Bald Eagle was an adult. Two local Red-tailed hawks were
hanging around. 

Non-raptor Observations:
Not much to be seen other than the usual Turkey and Black Vultures, a few
Chimney Swifts, and a Raven. No Monarch Butterflies were seen (Too windy)

Predictions:
The skies are suppose to clear up and we're hoping for good flying weather,
and increasing numbers of hawks. 
========================================================================
Report submitted by Ronald Eugene Harrington (roneharrin@xxxxxxx)


More site information at hawkcount.org:  
http://hawkcount.org/siteinfo.php?rsite=706


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