Waggoner's Gap 40 km W of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 29, 2025 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- BV 0 0 0 TV 0 0 0 OS 1 94 126 BE 1 157 224 NH 6 66 74 SS 115 1086 1102 CH 1 42 50 AG 0 0 0 RS 0 3 4 BW 27 10076 10222 RT 0 66 130 RL 0 0 0 GE 0 1 1 AK 10 96 105 ML 1 20 20 PG 1 16 20 UA 1 12 13 UB 0 6 11 UF 0 2 2 UE 0 0 0 UR 0 17 19 SK 0 0 1
Observation start time: 05:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 10.25 hours
Official Counter: Jess Cosentino
Observers: Dave Grove, Gene Wagner, Pat Freed, Ron Freed, Steve Espamer
Visitors: 11
Weather: Overcast throughout the entire count period from sunrise through late afternoon, Stronger NE winds from sunrise throughout morning while tapering off and shifting to a light E by afternoon, High 80 F
Raptor Observations: The day brought a steady dribble of raptors, largely Sharp-shinned Hawks, down the ridge throughout the entire count period. With no morning Broad-winged Hawk lift off from the ridge, the raptor movement picked up momentum in the late morning with the first Sharp-shinned Hawks and continued for each hour onward. Generally, it was single birds appearing up the ridge and passing with increased altitude as the day went on. The momentum never picked up considerably, but there was a consistent dribble of small accipiters passing along the ridge - like a leaky fauctet in need of repair.
In the early afternoon, there was a brief run of four Northern Harriers all appearing up the ridge in succession of each other within a five minute window. Each bird passing high and directly overhead along the ridge.
A distant Peregrine Falcon cut south in the valley to the north, while a mix of American Kestrels and Merlin all rode the ridge while making quick passes heading southwest
Only a few small kettles of Broad-winged Hawks appeared to the north throughout the day, usually only between five and six birds, before passing distant along the south side of the ridge
Canada Goose 32, Chimney Swift 18, Double-crested Cormorant 115, Red-bellied Woodpecker 1, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2, Hairy Woodpecker 1, Northern Flicker 12, Pileated Woodpecker 1, Red-eyed Vireo 1, Blue Jay 141, Cedar Waxwing 6, Tufted Titmouse 1, Carolina Chickadee 2, Horned Lark 1, Carolina Wren 2, Red-breasted Nuthatch 1, American Robin 1, House Finch 1, Brown-headed Cowbird 9, Ovenbird 2, Nashville Warbler 1, Cape May Warbler 6, Blackpoll Warbler 3, Black-throated Blue Warbler 2, Yellow-rumped Warbler 28, Black-throated Green Warbler 2, warbler sp. 13, Monarch 48
Predictions: Tuesday: Similar conditions as today, Overcast, with N/NE winds, High in low 80s
Wends: Sunny, N/NE winds, High in low 70s
Thurs: Cooling down a bit, High in upper 60s, Winds from the east ======================================================================== Report submitted by WG Counter ()
