Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 7.5 hours
Official Counter: AB, NB
Observers: AB
Visitors: 5 hikers 1 runner
Weather: NW winds for the entire count at 12-19kph. Visibility was limited to the S to Warriors Ridge for the morning hours, but by the last few hours of the count Stone Mountain was becoming more visible. Mostly cloudy skies made for excellent spotting conditions. Low temperature of 11C at 09:30 and a high of 17C by 14:00.
Raptor Observations: OS 1 (20) NH 1 (17) CH 1 (25) RT 4 (205) Total 7 (915)
Slow flight which was to be expected with the NW winds. From 13:00 – 15:00 a total of 5 raptors moved through, 4 RT’s and one NOHA. This happened to be the warmest temperature of the day as well as the wind started to subside.
The resident COHA was detected at 11:38 flying S along the N slope of Tussey Mountain. A few BE’s were spotted out over Stone Valley later in the afternoon. A few fairly large mixed kettles of TUVU and BLVU were seen over Stone Valley and to the N of Tussey Mountain.
Non-raptor Observations: Canada Goose 2 Common Loon 1 Black Vulture 6 Turkey Vulture 9 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 1 Blue Jay 2 American Crow 2 Common Raven 1 Black-capped Chickadee 2 Tree Swallow 2 White-breasted Nuthatch 1 House Finch 4 Pine Siskin 1 American Goldfinch 6 Red-winged Blackbird 1
Predictions: Rain and possibly a thunderstorm before 10am, then rain between 10am and 1pm, then rain and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. High near 65. Southeast wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
======================================================================== Report submitted by Adam Richardson (<poecile.gambeli...>) Tussey Mountain Hawk Watch information may be found at: tusseymountainspringhawkwatch.org/
