Waggoner's Gap 40 km W of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 24, 2025 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- BV 0 0 0 TV 0 0 0 OS 1 87 119 BE 0 138 205 NH 0 46 54 SS 36 505 521 CH 0 33 41 AG 0 0 0 RS 0 2 3 BW 62 9576 9722 RT 1 56 120 RL 0 0 0 GE 0 1 1 AK 0 50 59 ML 0 12 12 PG 0 13 17 UA 0 10 11 UB 0 4 9 UF 0 2 2 UE 0 0 0 UR 0 15 17 SK 0 0 1
Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 14:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Jess Cosentino, Ron Freed
Observers: Katherine Weber, Pat Freed, Paul Kosten, Ron Freed
Visitors: 4
Weather: A low cloud ceiling hung over the valley to the south of the ridge throughout the first morning hours; however, the ridge itself and sky to the north was clear. Winds were almost absent for the first few hours, gradually picking up from the southeast. High of 69
A large band of rain showers moved in from the west/southwest and quickly cut directly east. A wall of rain hung to the south of the ridge from noon onward, while the ridge itself remaining somewhat dry beyond a steady drizzle.
Raptor Observations: Despite noon showers moving in by late morning, a steady triple-digit day count was managed. A slow trickle of Sharp-shinned Hawks began pushing down the ridge in the late morning, followed by the first lift off of Broad-winged Hawks from the nearby trees. Groups of Broad-winged Hawks spent the next hour cutting low along the ridge, barely above the trees, while gliding in search of lift.
The push of both species remaining somewhat equal and steady right up until the arrival of the rain around noon. As the wall of dark sky approached from the southwest, both Sharp-shinned and Broad-winged Hawks continued to push past the overlook at low altitudes. Eventually, small groups of Broad-winged Hawks began to divert their direction to avoid the approaching rain, while Sharp-shinned Hawks continuined to fly well after the first light drizzle began.
The count consisted largely of these two species for most of the day, until a late afternoon Osprey cut southwest through the distant valley to the north. Eventually, a larger band of rain continued to advance from the west and landed on the ridge (extending for several miles south), while shutting down any raptor movement for the remainder of the day.
Non-raptor Observations: Chimney Swift 19, Blue Jay 15, American Crow 1, Common Raven 1, Cedar Waxwing 32, Tufted Titmouse 1, Carolina Wren 1, American Pipit 1, Brown-headed Cowbird 2, Ovenbird 1, Monarch 12
LFE: 5 Monarch: 12 Hummingbird: 0
Predictions: Thursday: Rain likely (70%), Chances of rain throughout the morning into the afternoon, Unclear if conditions will be countable yet
Friday: Clear, some cloud, Northwest winds 7-8 mph, Good migration conditions
Saturday: Cloudy/overcast, Variable east winds
Sunday: Cloudly, Variable east winds again ======================================================================== Report submitted by WG Counter ()
