Tussey Mountain Hawk Watch State College, Pennsylvania, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 12, 2025 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 17:00:00 Total observation time: 8.23 hours
Official Counter: Adam Bradley
Observers: Jacqui McKee, John Leskosky, Nick Bolgiano, Ron Crandall
Visitors: Ron Crandall was out early to help me spot migrants. Unfortunately, due to the cloud cover and colder air we didn’t get our morning flight. John Leskosky of Bake Oven Knob Hawk Watch was with us early to help spot birds as well. Louann Wertz was up early as well hoping to see some migrating raptors. Jacqui McKee joined us for day two hoping to luck into a good flight. It was Jeff Peters of State College Bird Club that spotted our first GE of the day. Jacqui got us on a decent kettle that yielded a COHA. John Leskosky started picking out our other GE of the day and got me on our 3 NOHA of the season. Mark Reismeier and Alan Rabolo arrived just in time to see the bulk of the days flight pass by. Sometimes I forget that it isn’t all about racking up big numbers as I really enjoyed how excited Louann, Mark and Alan were to see GE’s and the other species migrating overhead. I also appreciate all the positive feedback I have received over the last few weeks about the daily summaries. That really means a lot, and more importantly I hope it encourages folks to keep coming up to help spot birds. Every hawk watch I have been to is a team effort and it really does help to have more people scanning. I’ve also enjoyed getting to meet all the hawk watchers from the different corners of PA. I hope I continue to meet more of you and learn more about your sites. Jon Kauffman popped in briefly to see how the days flight was coming along. This coming Saturday he will be leading a group out from Nature Inn on the Golden Eagle Voyage. They are in for a stellar weekend kicking off with a presentation by Nick Bolgiano on Friday night. This event is booked, but of course anyone is welcome to join us this Saturday at Tussey Mountain.
Ron Crandall John Leskosky John Donoughe Louann Wertz Jacqui McKee Jeff Peters Mark Reismeier Alan Rabolo Jon Kauffman
Weather: Light WNW winds from 08:00 – 11:00. At 11:00 the winds shifted to the SW for the remainder of the count. Mostly cloudy skies from 08:00 – 11:00. By 11:00 the clouds started lifting rapidly which is when the flight got underway. The cloud cover in the morning made for excellent visibility to 32km, but was reduced once the clouds burned off to 16km by noon. Low temperature of 2C at 08:00 and a high of 15C by 13:00.
Raptor Observations: NH 1 (3) SS 1 (13) CH 3 (8) RT 5 (52) GE 3 (91) Total 13 (330)
GE A 12:36, A 13:51, A 13:51
Today’s flight didn’t shape up as predicted. With clouds in place and colder temps we likely missed what would have been the morning flight. By 11:00 the flight got underway with excellent diversity. The birds were mostly spotted in one of two mixed kettles over the gap quite high. In fact, the eagles today were the highest I have seen yet that early in the day.
Resident raptor activity was greatly reduced other than the local BLVU and TUVU. Of course, the resident Leading Ridge RTHA was out on territory throughout the day. Late in the afternoon the resident COHA was heard calling from the gap.
Non-raptor Observations: The resident PIWO has found a very resonant snag to drum on in the gap. He was just tuning up today, but I hope to hear more of that. Another nice flock of TUSW passed through the gap on a W route. That BCCH isn’t fooled by me anymore. The largest kettle of BLVU thus far during the season was spotted near closing time.
Canada Goose 3 Tundra Swan 56 Mourning Dove 2 Killdeer 1 Black Vulture 16 Turkey Vulture 7 Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Pileated Woodpecker 1 American Crow 5 Common Raven 6 Black-capped Chickadee 3 White-breasted Nuthatch 1 European Starling 1 Eastern Bluebird 3 American Robin 2 House Finch 4 Pine Siskin 2 American Goldfinch 4 Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 2 Red-winged Blackbird 2 Common Grackle 1
Predictions: Partly sunny, with a high near 52. Light southeast wind.
I won’t be making anymore predictions on good flights after todays lackluster flight. I have learned in the past that making predictions more than 48 hours out on the weather is a bad idea. It is interesting to note that clearly the raptors are more in tune with what the actual weather is going to be.
======================================================================== Report submitted by Adam Richardson (<poecile.gambeli...>) Tussey Mountain Hawk Watch information may be found at: tusseymountainspringhawkwatch.org/
