Bake Oven Knob 2 miles North of Germansville, Pennsylvania, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 01, 2024 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 16:15:00 Total observation time: 9.25 hours
Official Counter: Rick Morrissey
Observers: James Holt
Visitors: A total of 81 visitors, thanks to a large group at the end of the day of an extended family or church group of about 26! Great conversations, I hope James and I did not hold them up from their hike bake down the trail.
Weather: At 0700 EST there was visibility of about 3 miles looking South over the Lehigh Valley that was quickly engulfed by a fog cloud that rolled down from the North into the bowl in span of about 15 minutes. This weather pattern persisted with light rain until 1000 EST. The low temperature at the start of the count was 67F, with a high temperature of 82F recorded at 1400 EST. Winds were generally from the SW at 1-3 mph with some 'gusts' of 3-5 mph late morning and early afternoon. It was generally sunny with 25% cloud cover for the last 2 hours of the count.
Raptor Observations: First raptor of the day, an immature Sharpshin hawk taking a pass at the owl at 1045 EST. With the afternoon sun creating thermals it was curious that there were so few Broadwing hawks, just two, and only one migrating Osprey. We did observe one non-migrating Osprey and a Cooper's hawk rising high over the Bowl mid-afternoon, neither headed to the finish line yet a nice look nonetheless. Near the end of the count, a Merlin strafed the South lookout from behind us before disappearing into the bowl heading northeast. I had a distinct feeling the Merlin was 'saying' "where is the plastic owl from yesterday?"
Bald Eagles (2) - 1214 (Immature). 1427 (adult)
Non-raptor Observations: 13 Hummingbirds, 2 Monarchs, Cedar Waxwings, a Scarlet Tanager, a Carolina wren, all thanks to our weekend intern James.
So my first count of the season, reallyy excited to be back on the knob and my first look at the South lookout from last season. In that early morning fog, time for positive mindfulness, and or time to 'perplex' on the new graffiti. Which will I choose?
On that prime rock extending out to look over the Lehigh Valley, you know, the one that gets all the graffiti. This morning, behold, sprayed in bold "DEP Sucks." Great, another pearl of wisdom which is far out shadowed by all of the wonderful people who visit the South lookout of historic Bake Oven Knob.
So this iconic rock, composed of primarily of Tuscarora quartzite about 400-430 million years ago 'give or take,' a rock that is part of a collision of a second generation mountain building event known as the Caledonian Orogeny, a rock that the author of this DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) derogatory statement who has no idea that it is actually held in place from sliding down into the bowl by a rock the size of a softball, the rock that has survived the last glacial event reaching this far South, the Pre-Illinoian un-named till about 770,000 years ago (give or take), is now sitting there for all visitors to see such utter stupidity. I know I should not get upset about this, and after this writing I will not because that rock has survived all tempests big and small over the eons of time. That rock will still be here long after that person with a spray can is gone. Here again all upset, but then this event also has me pivoting to take this observation as a learning opportunity to explore the geology of the rocks where I stand most Sundays during migration. Maybe I should say a prayer for this person? Possibly, but not today.
Predictions: Plenty of sunshine, high of 74F. Winds NNW,at 10 to 15 mph. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Lehigh Gap Nature Center (<mail...>) Bake Oven Knob information may be found at: www.lgnc.org
