Tussey Mountain Hawk Watch State College, Pennsylvania, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 16, 2025 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 14:00:00 Total observation time: 6 hours
Official Counter: AB
Observers:
Visitors: Deborah and Peter
3 hikers.
Weather: Despite a forecast for rain, a successful count was conducted. In the 08:00 hour there was a little bit of off and on rain as squalls passed over the ridge from the south. 28kph SE winds at 08:00 increasing to 49kph by 13:00. Visibility was good to 12km. Low temperature of 14C at 08:00 and a high of 16C by 13:00.
Raptor Observations: TV 12 (101) NH 1 (6) SS 1 (28) CH 2 (11) RS 3 (28) RT 11 (107) GE 3 (119) Total 33 (475)
GE A 11:59, A 12:25, I 13:36
Solid flight today considering the forecast called for rain. TV led the flight with a total of 12 coming through, sometimes two to three at a time. The first GE was spotted at 11:59 gliding across Leading Ridge, then staying far out from Tussey Mountain over Stone Valley. In the 11:00 hour the flight really picked up with a total of 12 migrating raptors zipping across the cut. The flight line today was that birds appeared between the Curly Q Tree and the Tall Tree, then glided out and around the cut to the south side of the ridge. The accipiters seemed to be bubbling up the slope below the gap and then they too would bomb through to the south of the OP about eye level. RTHA climbed pretty high at times, folding in and zipping south along the ridge. Another NOHA glided in following the ridgetop, then peeled out to the N of the tower. Thankfully it banked a few times before heading off the N side of the ridge. The flight remained consistent before coming to a halt before some heavy rain and thunder moved in from the south. The last raptor of the day was a RSHA with full crop. Maybe this bird had been digesting lunch and decided to peel out before the heavy rain.
First raptors of the day were TUVU spotted low on Leading Ridge. The resident RTHA was detected multiple times kiting over Stone Valley and in the gap near the OP. At 11:22 just before the flight got underway a lone adult BE was detected flying N to S across the gap and down into Stone Valley.
Non-raptor Observations: A flock of SNGO was spotted far to the south that seemed to come from the Sideling Hill area. They then passed far south of the OP across Tussey Mountain.
Snow Goose 15 Canada Goose 265 American Crow 5 Common Raven 3 Black-capped Chickadee 4 European Starling 3 American Robin 1 Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 7 Common Grackle 4
Predictions: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 47. Northwest wind 7 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
There are seven downed trees across the trail. They are all small and shouldn’t present any real challenges. Lots of downed trees and debris on the highway.
======================================================================== Report submitted by Adam Richardson (<poecile.gambeli...>) Tussey Mountain Hawk Watch information may be found at: tusseymountainspringhawkwatch.org/
