Superb group of legendary Pennsylvanian hawk watchers out today to make
sure no raptor migrated past Tussey Mountain Hawk Watch undetected.
Official Counter
Adam Bradley
Total observation time
8.23 hrs (99.23)
Observers
Brandon Brogle
Bob McLaughlin
Paul Fritz and Regina Gaison
Joyce and Jim Waugh
Nick Bolgiano
Jon Kauffman
Joe Sabo
Ken Bowman
Peggy Wagoner
Weather
A light drizzle, high winds and colder temps to start the morning. 28kph
SSW winds for most of the count. Visibility to 13km with a haze present.
Mostly cloudy skies until noon when it began to clear off fast. Low
temperature of 2C at 08:30 and a high of 15C by 14:00.
Raptor Notes
GE A 10:52, A 11:49, A 12:35, A 12:43, A 12:48, A 12:51, A 12:58, A 12:59,
A 13:21, A 13:39, A 13:48, U 13:54, A 13:54, A 14:15, A 14:20
TV 1 (76) BE 6 (26) NH 1 (2) CH 2 (4) RS (6) RT (8) GE 15 (63) PG 1 (3) UA
1 (2) UB 1 (3) Total 43 (75)
Golden Eagles led the flight today with a total of 15 coming through. Most
flew parallel to the S of the ridge. The flight didn’t get underway until
the noon hour with a total of 10 raptors coming through 6 of which were
GE’s. The flight peaked in the 13:00 hour with 18 raptors migrating past
and really good diversity. A NOHA shot through the gap providing close
looks and another PEFA was zooming around over Leading Ridge. We also
picked up our highest one-day totals thus far this season for RS and RT.
Our resident RT was frequently spotted along Leading Ridge, but may be
seeing some challengers arriving to test the boundaries of its territory.
It may also have a mate as there were times when two were kiting very close
to one another. A resident BAEA flew S along the ridge several times as
well.
Non-raptor Notes
Canada Goose 452
Tundra Swan 197
Wood Duck 1
Common Merganser 5
Killdeer 2
Black Vulture 2
Turkey Vulture 6
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 5
Common Raven 6
Black-capped Chickadee 1
Tufted Titmouse 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
American Pipit 1
House Finch 1
American Goldfinch 1
Red-winged Blackbird 14
Common Grackle 1
Visitors
Brandon Brogle
Bob McLaughlin
Paul Fritz and Regina Gaison
Joyce and Jim Waugh
Nick Bolgiano
Jon Kauffman
Joe Sabo
Ken Bowman
Peggy Wagoner
Jeff Peters
Superb group of legendary Pennsylvanian hawk watchers out today to make
sure no raptor migrated past Tussey Mountain Hawk Watch undetected. Brandon
Brogle arrived early shortly after I did and got settled in. When Paul
Fritz and Regina Gaison arrived, Regina quickly located the first raptor of
the day with a close SS. The flight remained slow until Joe Sabo arrived
and with his good spirits the flight picked up with several GE’s pouring
through. Brandon located our 2nd NH and 3rd PG of the season helping us
diversify the days flight. Jon Kauffman picked out some distant specks over
Stone Mountain for us to sort through on non – traditional flight lines.
Peggy Wagoner made sure we were getting all those sky high buteos trying to
sneak by directly overhead. Jeff Peters a member of the State College Bird
Club joined us on a fabulous day and was able to get on several migrating
raptors. With a group of such dedicated hawk watchers I gained an entire
new vocabulary and picked up some of the local hawk watching history. It
was a special day at Tussey Mountain and I was lucky to enjoy it with such
a fine group. I also appreciate Brandon doing some impromptu outreach for
our hiker friends.
2 hikers.
Next Day Forecast
Rain before 3pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 3pm and
4pm, then a chance of showers after 4pm. High near 56. Southeast wind 8 to
13 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New
rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
The trail is melting fast. I couldn’t believe how ice free the single track
was on the hike out compared to the hike in this morning. The only stubborn
section that remains is still close to the parking lot, however a strip has
melted out where some vehicle drove through. I would hope after this rain
event the trail should be looking pretty good.
