Date: 10/5/25 2:25 pm From: Hawkcount.Org Reports <reports...> Subject: Waggoner's Gap (05 Oct 2025) 53 Raptors
Waggoner's Gap 40 km W of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 05, 2025 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- BV 0 7 7 TV 17 72 72 OS 0 13 142 BE 1 23 254 NH 1 4 83 SS 26 202 1517 CH 3 21 83 AG 0 0 0 RS 0 0 4 BW 1 14 10261 RT 0 22 155 RL 0 0 0 GE 1 4 6 AK 1 8 127 ML 0 2 23 PG 0 8 29 UA 1 2 16 UB 0 0 12 UF 0 1 3 UE 0 0 0 UR 1 8 28 SK 0 0 1
Observation start time: 07:30:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 7.5 hours
Official Counter: Jess Cosentino
Observers: Abby Sentz, Gene Wagner, Pete Biasucci
Visitors: 74
Weather: A barren cloudless blue sky for the entire count period made for challenging raptor detection as birds seemed to get to the ceiling of the atmosphere throughout the day, High of 78 F, Wind was almost non-existent for the morning hours while gradually increasing from the southeast in the afternoon
Raptor Observations: It was an overall slow migration pace throughout the entire count period, with only a few Sharp-shinned Hawks moving down the ridge each hour. A few small groups of Turkey Vultures took lengthy, slow traverses from the north valley over the ridge while continuing southward migration.
The highlight on the day came just before noon, as a distant speck rose up the ridge alongside a mix of local Turkey Vultures. As the speck gained size, two white flashes across the wings quickly revealed a subadult Golden Eagle which took the better part of the next 3-4 minutes spiraling slowly in the thermal before gliding down the ridge in our direction. The Golden paused directly overhead, circling several more times high in the blue sky while a pair of local Common Ravens harassed it a bit before the eagle continued on a long glide out of view down the ridge. A great, sustained view of another early season Golden Eagle.
An adult Peregrine Falcon crossed the ridge in the early morning and continued heading north out of view, while a Red-shouldered Hawk also headed straight north up the ridge and was never seen again returning south. Both birds were not added to the day count total.
First bird: SSHA 0841 Last bird: SSHA 1436
Non-raptor Observations: Chimney Swift 54, Red-bellied Woodpecker 2, Hairy Woodpecker 1, Pileated Woodpecker 1, Eastern Phoebe 1, Blue Jay 73, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1, Carolina Wren 1, Red-breasted Nuthatch 2, American Robin 1, Purple Finch 2, Cape May Warbler 1, Palm Warbler 1, Black-throated Green Warbler 2, Monarch 30
LFE: 77 Monarch: 30 Hummingbirds: 0 ======================================================================== Report submitted by WG Counter ()
