Bake Oven Knob 2 miles North of Germansville, Pennsylvania, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 07, 2025 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Observation start time: 06:00:00 Observation end time: 17:00:00 Total observation time: 10 hours
Official Counter: AB
Observers: Bill Berger, Cynthia Berger, Lesley, Mark Boyd, Ron Kline
Visitors: 29 hikers
Weather: S-SW winds for the entire count at 4-7 mph. Visibility was limited in the morning due to fog and haze over the Lehigh Valley. It was unlimited visibility above the fog. Visibility began improving rapidly after 09:00 and the day was closed out with visibility to 30 miles. Welcome cloud cover arrived by 11:00 which made for excellent spotting conditions. Low temperature of 17C at 06:45 and a high of 24C by 10:00.
Raptor Observations: BV 9 (145) TV 20 (830) OS 11 (185) BE 10 (262) NH 5 (40) SS 32 (927) CH 3 (87) BW 1 (14828) RT 6 (161) AK 2 (96) ML 1 (44) PG 7 (34) UR 7 (140) Total 114 (17793)
BAEA (10): 10:24 I, 10:49 A, 11:39 I, 11:50 A, 12:20 A (2), 12:21 I, 12:50 I, 13:05 A, 14:26 U
PEFA (7): 12:27 A, 12:46 U, 13:29 A, 14:03 I, 15:30 U, 15:53 A, 16:34 I
Solid flight at Bake Oven Knob which is to be expected with the approaching weather. The flight got underway in the 08:00 hour with 13 migrants moving through which is a good start to the day. These early moving raptors were primarily below eye level and out over Lehigh Valley. A few came through the bowl and hugged the base of the cliff below the OP. There was a lull in the 09:00 hour with only 5 SS’s moving through. From 10:00 on it was steady with approximately 10 birds an hour through the rest of the survey. OSPR rallied in the 13:00 hour with a total of 5 moving through. By now the SW winds had picked up and more birds were kicking up on top of the ridge. A late BW was spotted in close to the OP in the 14:00 hour which has been where they have been showing up lately when they do make a surprise appearance. Good showing of PEFA late in the day as well, with some really nice topside looks. That slate blue of the adult falcons looked cool in the light of the cloudy skies. Closed out the count a little late as it appeared to be sputtering along with the weather approaching. Two unknown NOHA were spotted possibly travelling together and really struggling to cross Blue Mountain from the N to the S. After 15 minutes they appeared to give up and zipped down the ridge along the notch.
With good winds on the ridge the residents were quite active. At 08:16 an adult RT was in close just south of the OP carrying prey and letting out its dry raspy call. At 09:05 there was a dogfight between two adult and one immature RT over the slope of 1. At 09:54 an adult RT was performing its territorial display over the bowl – the rollercoaster. At 10:54 the blue wing tagged BLVU was spotted on the slope of 1. At 12:15 an adult BE was spotted over Lehigh Valley and the eagle moved N. At 13:51 an adult RT and immature BAEA were spotted chasing a CORA over the bowl. Their appeared to be quite a bit of activity just below the Pine Flats and I am wondering if there is a carcass or something down there. Late in the day there was a large CORA party and then seeing eagles and buteos fighting with the corvids in the area made me suspicious. Towards the close of the count two adult and one immature BE were spotted on the slope of 1. One of the adults was carrying prey and parachuted legs down with the prey right in front of the other adult. The immature kept chasing the adult with prey, but the adults paid it no attention.
Non-raptor Observations: A WIWR was calling from the trail on my hike in this morning. Several big CORA parties throughout the survey primarily between 1 -3 & 5. BAOW booming from the bowl towards the end of the count.
Predictions: Showers likely, mainly before 10am. Cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 66. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
======================================================================== Report submitted by Adam Richardson (<poecile.gambeli...>) Bake Oven Knob information may be found at: www.lgnc.org
