Bake Oven Knob 2 miles North of Germansville, Pennsylvania, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 30, 2026 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Observation start time: 06:45:00 Observation end time: 15:30:00 Total observation time: 8.75 hours
Official Counter: Andre Vu
Observers: Hazleton John , Mike Kaufmann
Visitors: 3 hikers passed by the north lookout today. Joined by Hazleton John and Mike Kaufmann, who, like me, were hoping for golden eagles. No luck for us today, but I'll never complain about being outside in good company.
Weather: 53-65 F, partly cloudy to clear, and strong northwesterlies gusting up to 24 mph.
A solid flight that started off strong in a flurry of sharpies, red-tails, and a persistent trickle of TVs, but became pretty staggered and slow by late afternoon. At that point all the birds were also very high or very far off the ridge, with some (a harrier and one of my eagles) not even using it.
Non-raptor Observations: Migrant passerine flight was dominated by robins today with about 80 individuals, along with continuing presence of siskins and purple finches. Had one flock of about 40 grackles.
A winter wren belting its full song was a lovely surprise - for me, a top 3 song (and it isn't 2 or 3). Also had an accommodating hermit thrush feasting on mountain-ash.
One monarch and both a lesser anglewing and a fork-tailed bush katydid persisted in today's chilly northwesterlies.
Predictions: Sunny, with a high near 60. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph. I'm curious how the similar (but weaker) wind, combined with a slight temp drop, will affect tomorrow's flight. Good luck to our weekend crew! ======================================================================== Report submitted by Lehigh Gap Nature Center (<mail...>) Bake Oven Knob information may be found at: www.lgnc.org
