Sure. Both watches would love the extra eyes and to share in the fun !
Jacks is on the Jacks Mt ridge just south of Belleville and Stone is on the Stone Mt ridge just north of Belleville.
JACKS: N 40.54347, W -77.75703
From State College - 322 East to Reedsville, 655 South, Front Mountain Rd to Wills Rd/Jacks Mt Rd to the top of the ridge and the gravel parking lot on the Right, Watch site right there.
Bring a chair, sunscreen (AM full sun, PM some shade), a snack and your bins !
STONE: N 40.56896, W -77.82859
Best to input coordinates into your GPS or Google Maps - The drive involves State Forest gravel roads last few miles up to the top of the Mt. and then a ~10-20 min hike along the ridgetop.
From State College - PA-26 South to McAlevy's Fort
Turn Left on PA-305 East
Right on Barr Rd
Right on E. Branch Rd
Left on Allensville Rd/T508 (Game Lands Gravel from here)
There are a few connecting gravel roads from here - the GPS will get you to the top and to the Gravel Parking area. Park and hike the top of the ridge to the Northeast 10-20 mins. Follow the Mid-State Trail path along the ridge top (over 3-4 rock outcroppings) to the platform location. Minimal seating, bench for counters, room for maybe 3 chairs but carrying in is difficult. Sunscreen - no shade !
From: Jeff Gallo <psugallo...>
Sent: Monday, September 14, 2026 9:22 PM
To: <SCBIRDCL...>; Lee, Jen <jal21...>
Subject: Re: Jacks Mountain (14 Sep 2026) 1219 Raptors
Can you remind us all of the directions/tips for coming out to visit the Jacks Mountain hawk watch? (And/or Stone Mt for that matter.)
Apologies if this was shared recently and I overlooked.
Thanks!
________________________________
From: State College (PA) Bird Club <SCBIRDCL...><mailto:<SCBIRDCL...>> on behalf of Lee, Jen <jal21...><mailto:<jal21...>> Sent: Monday, September 14, 2026 9:16 PM
To: <SCBIRDCL...><mailto:<SCBIRDCL...> <SCBIRDCL...><mailto:<SCBIRDCL...>> Subject: Re: Jacks Mountain (14 Sep 2026) 1219 Raptors
Thanks! Stone Mt had a great day too. Hoping for a top 10 BW at Jacks (1600+).
~ Jen
________________________________
From: State College (PA) Bird Club <SCBIRDCL...><mailto:<SCBIRDCL...>> on behalf of Gyekis, Joseph Peter <jpg186...><mailto:<jpg186...>> Sent: Monday, 14 September 2026 20:05:01
To: <SCBIRDCL...><mailto:<SCBIRDCL...> <SCBIRDCL...><mailto:<SCBIRDCL...>> Subject: Re: Jacks Mountain (14 Sep 2026) 1219 Raptors
wow Jen, great count, what a beautiful day to be on the ridge
________________________________
From: State College (PA) Bird Club <SCBIRDCL...><mailto:<SCBIRDCL...>> on behalf of Hawkcount.org reports <reports...><mailto:<reports...>> Sent: Monday, September 14, 2026 7:58:05 PM
To: <SCBIRDCL...><mailto:<SCBIRDCL...> <SCBIRDCL...><mailto:<SCBIRDCL...>> Subject: Jacks Mountain (14 Sep 2026) 1219 Raptors
Observation start time:
07:45:00
Observation end time:
16:00:00
Total observation time:
8.25 hours
Official Counter
Jen Lee
Observers:
Diane Stewart
Visitors:
No visitors, but a great group of hawk watching chicks on the mountain! Deena, Carol, Jo and Diane were FANTASTIC scanners of the skies for today's big count!!
Weather:
A beautiful fall day! High of low 70s. Moderate winds from NNW all day. Very few clouds early but they gradually built up to help us spot the raptors.
Raptor Observations:
BWs were streaming early. Saw my first few about 2 mins after arrival and boom, the clicker was humming!. Streaming at high naked eye level, straight down the ridge to start. Birds went from high naked eye to mid/high binocular view fairly quickly. They also used both sides and middle of the ridge, with some streams starting on one side, crossing over and finishing on the other side. A few kettles up to 40-50 birds. Steady flow of birds all morning, tapered down from noon onward. We hoped for a late fallout but struck out. My first Harrier (female or imm.) of this season. 1 Am.Kestrel swooped in to check out our owl and landed on the top of the telephone pole 15 ft away. Later 2 Am. Kestrels came in an landed on the old tower for a few minutes.
Non-raptor Observations:
First Cormorants (13), TVs/BVs not counted, Modo, raven, cedar waxwing. Chim.swifts, Goldfinch, chickadee, hummers. Tree swallows, towhee calling, rb.nuthatch beeping.
