Snickers Gap, 14-20 Sep 98
BlkVulture@aol.com
Sun, 20 Sep 1998 20:09:41 EDT
Snickers Gap is a full time fall hawk watch with volunteer counters. It began
in the fall of 1990, with 2365 birds in 161 hours of observation. It is
located about 50 miles WNW of Washington, D.C. in Virginia. It is about 1100
feet above sea level. It straddles the Clarke and Loudoun county line, along
VA route 7. Due to the local breeding population, large wintering population,
and proximity to a large roost, we do not count any vultures.
14 Sep 98:
OS.......5
BE.......1
NH.......1
SS.......14
CH.......8
RS.......1
BW......926
RT.......2
AK.......2
PG.......1
UR.......8
15 Sep 98:
OS......5
SS......4
CH......1
BW.....263
RT.......3
ML.......1
UA.......2
UR.......1
16 Sep 98:
OS......2
BE......1
NH......2
SS......20
CH......5
BW.....246
AK......12
UF......1
UR......2
17 Sep 98: (Light west winds, 28C)
8.5 Hours observation
OS......1
BE......1
NH......3
SS......37
BW.....177
AK......1
ME......1
18 Sep 98: winds easterly, 5-10mph.
9.5 Hours observation
OS.......22
BE.......1
NH.......6
SS.......29
RS.......1
BW......19,004
RT.......4
AK.......5
ML.......1
UR.......9
Unlike many other northeastern hawk watch sites, Snickers Gap has its biggest
broadwing days with east winds. All except 102 birds were seen after 2:30pm
hawktime (EST). The biggest hour was 15:00-16:00 EST with over 10,000 birds.
19 Sep 98
OS.......16
NH........7
SS........57
CH........3
RS........1
BW.......2136
AK........2
PG........2
UR........5
The wind was east again, blowing about 5-10mph. The early morning found a low
ceiling, with about 1 km visibility. However, birds were moving. The first
few hours had a couple hundred broadwings or so, per. The clouds began to
lift around late morning. The peak hour was 511, that was 2-3 EST.
20 Sep 98: (light east wind, 5mph, temp. 28-29C)
10 hours observation.
OS.....11
BE......3
NH......5
SS......70
CH......6
BW.....898
RT......3
AK......9
PG.....1
UA......3
Much less constant wind. Third day in a row with over 1000 birds, but we had
to struggle to get there today. 628 broadwings were before 11:00 EDT, and
only 33 after 2pm EDT.
Year to date totals:
Prev. Annual
1998: 1997: Record:
OS 91 (185) 250 (1995)
BE 21 (64) 73 (1996)
NH 51 (120) 267 (1994)
SS 322 (1622) 2645 (1995)
CH 45 (316) 521 (1995)
NG 0 (31) 42 (1993)
RS 17 (147) 287 (1995)
BW 24261 (3747) 12622 (1995)
SW 1 (none) 1 (??)
RT 46 (1442) 2302 (1995)
RL 0 (3) 4 (1992)
GE 0 (14) 29 (1995)
AK 72 (100) 204 (1995)
ML 8 (25) 39 (1995)
PG 6 (35) 35 (1997)
UA 11
UB 8
UE 0
UF 2
UR 28
Tot: 24990 (7990) 19413 (1995)
Key:
OS = osprey, BE = bald eagle, NH = northern harrier, SS = Sharp-shinned,
CH = Cooper's hawk, NG = northern goshawk, RS = red-shouldered, BW = broad-
winged hawk, SW = Swainson's hawk, RT = red-tailed, RL = rough-legged, GE
= golden eagle, AK = American kestrel, ML = merlin, PG = peregrine falcon,
UA = unidentified accipiter, UB = unidentified buteo, UF = unidentified
falcon,
UR = unidentified raptor
Notes:
Anyone interested in more information about Snickers Gap, or anyone interested
in counting, (we still have many open days in October and November), please
contact me here.
Cheers,
Todd M. Day
Jeffersonton, VA