The 2016 fall hawk migration count at Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch recorded 30,417 raptors; only the fourth season to surpass 30,000 (10-year avg = 23,346). Our small group of volunteer counters managed to put in 750 hours of effort between Aug 14 to Dec 10. We had five new species records this season, and all but two species counts were above the 10-year average. In addition, this year was only our second season with 16 total raptor species (not including vultures).
Among our 11 common raptor migrants, a new record was set for OSPREY with 373 (previous record = 365 in 2014, avg = 250). A high of 39 Osprey occurred on Sep 17. The BALD EAGLE count of 304 was also a new record (previous record = 280 in 2014, avg = 174), and a high of 18 Bald Eagles occurred on Dec 1. This was only the second time that RED-SHOULDERED HAWK numbers surpassed 100, and this year’s 168 was a new record (previous record = 156 in 2014, avg = 65). Merlin numbers continue to rise where our six highest counts occurred in the past six years. This year’s MERLIN count of 51 was yet another season record (exceeding 48 in 2015 and 46 in 2014, avg = 29). Other raptor counts included: 78 NORTHERN HARRIER (avg = 60), 328 COOPER’S HAWK (4th-highest, avg = 262), 26,257 BROAD-WINGED HAWK (avg = 19,910), 1,012 RED-TAILED HAWK (avg = 642), and 34 PEREGRINE FALCON (avg = 29). Our three biggest Broad-winged days were Sep 21 (4,009), 22 (8,387), and 23 (4,385). The two species with counts below the 10-year average were 167 AMERICAN KESTREL (avg = 205) and 1,521 SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (avg = 1,656).
We have 5 uncommon raptors, and we were lucky to have been visited by our two rarest species this season: a light-morph, adult male ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK on Dec 8 (only 9 counted ever) and a light-phase juvenile SWAINSON’S HAWK on Oct 9 (only 5 counted ever). This season’s count of 5 MISSISSIPPI KITE is a new record, surpassing a count of 3 in 2014 (only 16 counted ever). On September 9 we had a family group of Kites (one adult male, one adult female and one juvenile) migrate through Rockfish Gap. Another uncommon species is the NORTHERN GOSHAWK, where we had 10 this year (our 3rd-highest count, avg = 4). Finally, GOLDEN EAGLE numbers continue to rise where our four highest season counts occurred in the past four years. This season’s 23 Golden Eagles was second only to 40 in 2014 (avg = 14).
We also try to keep track of interesting non-raptors that pass through Rockfish Gap. This year we had a total of 130 bird species (raptors and non-raptors). A total of 230 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds were counted migrating through the gap this fall. Migrating fall warblers, as usual, put on a good showing this year with 22 species including: Ovenbird, Black-and-white, Tennessee, Orange-crowned, Connecticut, Mourning, Common Yellowthroat, Hooded, American Redstart, Cape May, Magnolia, Bay-breasted, Blackburnian, Yellow, Chestnut-sided, Blackpoll, Black-throated Blue, Palm, Pine, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Green, and Yellow-breasted Chat. Other notable migrants this season included: 385 Double-crested Cormorants, 45 Common Nighthawk, 5,592 Chimney Swifts, 147 Red-headed Woodpeckers, 246 Northern Flickers, 1,833 Blue Jays, 2,734 Tree Swallows, 587 Barn Swallows, 24 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 8,564 American Robins, 3,071 Cedar Waxwings, 3,200 Red-winged Blackbirds, 4,379 Common Grackles, 89 Purple Finches, 16 Pine Siskins and 404 American Goldfinches. Our uncommon migrants this season included: Snow Goose (a flock of 5), American Black Duck (a flock of 15), Northern Pintail (a flock of 15), Common Loon, Sandhill Crane (a pair on 11/17), three gull species (Bonaparteʼs, Ring-billed, and Herring), Black-billed Cuckoo, Bank & Cliff Swallows, Black-capped Chickadee, Swainsonʼs Thrush, Vesper Sparrow, Summer Tanager, Rusty Blackbird and Red Crossbill (a female on 10/20). Finally, we were very happy to see that our Monarch Butterfly season total of 943 was up from last year.