Date: 11/27/25 3:25 pm From: Hawkcount.Org Reports <reports...> Subject: Waggoner's Gap (27 Nov 2025) 37 Raptors
Waggoner's Gap 40 km W of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 27, 2025 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- BV 0 0 11 TV 0 374 1629 OS 0 0 149 BE 17 310 753 NH 0 22 151 SS 1 96 2713 CH 2 40 241 AG 0 1 4 RS 0 62 119 BW 0 0 10265 RT 11 817 1278 RL 0 0 0 GE 5 158 202 AK 0 0 165 ML 0 9 60 PG 0 7 61 UA 0 1 41 UB 0 12 37 UF 0 0 6 UE 0 3 3 UR 1 9 62 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, Ron Freed
Observers: Gene Wagner, Laura Minnich, Ron Freed
Visitors: 26
Weather: High in mid 30s F, with wind chill feeling like below freezing by afternoon, Grey overcast all day with light snow flurries throughout the entire count period, Morning winds were light west but gained strength by afternoon shifting to WNW/NW
Raptor Observations: While the morning winds from the west were a bit lighter than forecasted, they gradually increased strength and a steady raptor flight continued to push southward - including good numbers of Bald Eagles, Red-tailed Hawks, and several Golden Eagles. The day's Golden Eagle flight pushed the season total over the 200 mark.
Most birds were spotted north of a ridge at varying distances, passing slowly into the morning west winds. Several Red-tailed Hawks and Bald Eagles seen distant to the north hit the westerly headwinds and struggled to make much progress, taking an extended amount of time to cut south towards the ridge and opt for heading south while on the south side, perhaps finding favorable conditions.
The first Golden Eagle of the morning appeared quickly along the north side of the ridge, popping up close over the treeline and making a slightly above eye-level pass into the headwind, which provided a few extra seconds of viewing from below. This would be the main flight line for all Golden Eagles on the day, appearing in the same location up the ridge while riding the updrafts and passing along the north side after offering great eye-level looks while passing south.
The second Golden on the day was the only bird that opted for a different flight line. The bird appeared very distant to the north of the ridge, passing steadily southwest over the valley and smaller ridges. The late morning west winds seemed to present challenges for the Golden, as it continued to get pushed back northeast each time it began to circle in an attempt to find lift. The bird would make progress south for several minutes, before being buffeted back east several miles.
The next few minutes was spent with observing the distant Golden drop low below eye-level into the valley, cutting low over treelines and farm fields, while searching for the best path south. Eventually, the large raptor found enough lift to suck into a steady glide and fought the west winds enough to make progress southward and out of view. From the moment the Golden was first spotted to the north, it took a little over 20 minutes for the bird to finally make passage through the valley and continue onward.
Predictions: Stronger WNW winds (up to 19 mph), increasing from late morning throughout the afternoon, High upper 30s F
The winds seem similar to today with more force, and could be favorable to more raptor movement ======================================================================== Report submitted by WG Counter ()
