Date: 10/14/25 9:13 pm From: Hawkcount.Org Reports <reports...> Subject: Waggoner's Gap (14 Oct 2025) 106 Raptors
Waggoner's Gap 40 km W of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 14, 2025 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- BV 0 7 7 TV 8 390 390 OS 0 19 148 BE 8 80 311 NH 0 14 93 SS 67 586 1901 CH 9 65 127 AG 1 1 1 RS 1 6 10 BW 1 17 10264 RT 3 48 181 RL 0 0 0 GE 0 6 8 AK 1 38 157 ML 2 14 35 PG 1 26 47 UA 2 12 26 UB 0 2 14 UF 1 4 6 UE 0 0 0 UR 1 18 38 SK 0 0 1
Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8.5 hours
Official Counter: Dave Grove, Jess Cosentino, Ron Freed
Observers: Dave Grove, Gene Wagner, Pat Freed, Paul Fritz, Regina Gaison, Ron Freed
Visitors: 8
Weather: Overnight rain left fog on the ridge until around 9 AM DST, slowly blowing off with the north wind and cleared by 09:30 AM DST for the remainder of the count period, A blustery north wind blew consistently for the remainder of the count, Mostly overcast with a bit of sun breaking through, High in mid 60s F
Raptor Observations: A foggy start to the morning slowly cleared, and raptors began moving down the ridge. A steady stream of Sharp-shinned Hawks continued passing a bit distant along the north side of the ridge, while several other raptors took direct north-to-south lines over the ridge heading out over the next valley
A late juvenile Broad-winged Hawk was spotted briefly getting buffeted in the heavy north winds along the south side of the ridge for only a few moments, before it continued onward out of view. Very possible the last of this species we will see this fall.
An adult Peregrine Falcon cut high along the north side of the ridge fast, while a distant America Kestrel passed distant to the north over the valley, and a Merlin cut close directly over the ridge before disappearing over the treeline behind us.
A Red-shouldered Hawk popped up along the ridge to the north, erratically flapping to find lift before getting high to tuck into a lengthy glide that took the bird directly overhead at high speeds.
A juvenile American Goshawk popped up along the ridge, flapping deep heavy wing beats and flashing a tawny wing bar before tucking into a sturdy glide taking the large bird across the north side of the ridge.
A good day of raptor diversity on the ridge, with 11 migratory raptor species documented throughout the count period
First bird BAEA 08:35 Last bird SSHA 3:38
Non-raptor Observations: Feral Pigeon 1, Red-bellied Woodpecker 1, Hairy Woodpecker 1, Northern Flicker 1, Pileated Woodpecker 1, Cedar Waxwing 21, Tree Swallow 42, Carolina Wren 1, European Starling 2, American Robin 2, Blackpoll Warbler 1
LFE: 14 Monarch: 0 Hummingbirds: 0
Predictions: Wend: Northwest winds 10 mph, high in upper 60s F, Clear. It could be a great day of fall hawkwatching with these conditions
Thurs: Northwest winds 13 mph, high in lower 60s F, Clear. Similar conditions as Wends
Fri: A third consecutive day of northwest winds 8 mph, high in lower 60s F, Clear. This should be a good multi-day window of raptor movement for mid-October ======================================================================== Report submitted by WG Counter ()
