Date: 10/9/25 4:23 pm From: Hawkcount.Org Reports <reports...> Subject: Waggoner's Gap (09 Oct 2025) 113 Raptors
Waggoner's Gap 40 km W of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 09, 2025 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- BV 0 7 7 TV 46 256 256 OS 1 19 148 BE 7 64 295 NH 1 10 89 SS 40 458 1773 CH 6 43 105 AG 0 0 0 RS 1 2 6 BW 0 16 10263 RT 0 29 162 RL 0 0 0 GE 1 5 7 AK 6 35 154 ML 1 9 30 PG 1 23 44 UA 2 9 23 UB 0 1 13 UF 0 3 5 UE 0 0 0 UR 0 13 33 SK 0 0 1
Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Jess Cosentino
Observers: Betsy Shaver, Brandon Brogle, Carolyn Hoffman, Dave Grove, Gene Wagner, Glenn Mitzel, Karena Johnson, Katherine Weber, Pete Biasucci
Visitors: 9, one Goodyear blimp seen north of the ridge heading northeast
Weather: A second day of north winds, mostly out of the northeast throughout the entire count period. Winds were light in the morning hours, gaining intensity leading up to noon and for the first few afternoon hours, with a brief afternoon lull with minimal/no wind it seemed. Late afternoon into early evening saw NE winds pick up intensity again, High of 60 F, Mix of cloud cover throughout the day with periods of empty blue sky early and late in the count period
Raptor Observations: The morning raptor flight took a couple of hours before migrants began to pass through in good numbers. Beginning with a few Sharp-shinned Hawks down the ridge in the northeast wind, several American Kestrels followed soon after. An adult Red-shouldered Hawk appeared to the north of the ridge, spiraling high in a thermal before darting south in a long glide directly overhead.
A mix of local Bald Eagles flying around the distant valleys together made for a challenge to pull out migrant birds, but some did pass through on their way south. Small groups of Turkey Vultures continued to be detected distant to the north of the ridge, reaching the ridge and continuing southward.
The mid-afternoon had a lull with minimal raptor movement despite good northeast wind; however, a distant, high non-adult Golden Eagle was spotted tucked in a lengthy glide far up the ridge and the large bird continued to pass directly overhead, slightly north of the ridge, never breaking stride before it disappeared out of view to the south
One of the final raptors of the day included a young Peregrine Falcon on a similar lengthy, uninterrupted glide from far up the ridge before passing directly overhead in the late day setting sun
First bird: SSHA 0804 Last bird: PEFA 1538
Non-raptor Observations: Canada Goose 31, Chimney Swift 1, Red-headed Woodpecker 1, Red-bellied Woodpecker 16, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1, Northern Flicker 4, Blue Jay 120, Tree Swallow 24, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1, Golden-crowned Kinglet 1, Carolina Wren 2, European Starling 5, Purple Finch 12, American Goldfinch 2, White-throated Sparrow 3, Cape May Warbler 3, Palm Warbler 2, Yellow-rumped Warbler 5, Black-throated Green Warbler 1, Monarch 2
Predictions: Friday: Frost warning overnight, around 35 F shortly after sunrise but warming to 63 F by midday, steady south/southeast winds (10 mph)
Saturday: East winds, chance of rain beginning later into the day into evening
Sunday: Rain may continue into early morning hours, possibly after sunrise, Unclear yet if the day will be clear for counting, East/northeast winds ======================================================================== Report submitted by WG Counter ()
