The 2019 fall migration count at Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch recorded a total of 28,938 raptors between Aug 15 – Nov 30, which is a little more than our 10-year average of 26,612. Our volunteer counters put in 522 total hours (10-year avg = 565) of effort between Aug 15 to Nov 30. This year we were challenged with a lot of weather that was not very conducive to good raptor flights (e.g. fewer says with W or NW winds). We had 16 days not counted due to poor weather (rain and/or fog) and only 4 days that were uncovered due to lack of volunteer counters. Thus, we had 88 days out of 108 total (81%) that were covered.
Overall it was a pretty good season even though most of our raptor species numbers were below average, and no records were set this year. Among our larger common migrants, we had 264 BALD EAGLE (10-year avg = 250), 206 OSPREY (avg = 262), and our NORTHERN HARRIER count of 31 was less than half of our average of 66. Of the accipiters, we had 1,161 SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (avg = 1,765) and 194 COOPER’S HAWK (avg = 307). Of the buteos, our RED-TAILED HAWK count of 677 was not too bad (avg = 744) while the RED-SHOULDERED HAWK count of 65 was low (avg = 86). On two occasions, a rare dark morph Red-tailed Hawk was observed (Sep. 10 and Oct. 25). Our BROAD-WINGED HAWK count of 26,058 was very healthy and above average (avg = 22,747), of which 19,245 passed through over a 2-day period (Sep 17-18). All of our falcons were below average with 141 AMERICAN KESTREL (avg = 218), 33 MERLIN (avg = 41), and 29 PEREGRINE FALCON (avg = 35).
Among our uncommon raptors, our NORTHERN GOSHAWK count of 3 was somewhat low (avg = 7), and our GOLDEN EAGLE count of 11 was only half of our average of 20. The MISSISSIPPI KITE season count of 7 (2 adult and 5 immature) was high again this year (avg = 3). We were very lucky to have observed not one but two SWAINSON’S HAWKS (an adult light morph on Nov. 1 and a juvenile light morph on Nov. 29). These were only the 7th and 8th Swainson’s on record at Rockfish Gap. Finally, we were also fortunate to have observed a light morph adult female ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK on Nov. 28 (our 11th on record).
In terms of migrating non-raptor species, a number of waterfowl, gulls and waders were observed: 68 Snow Goose, 3 Ring-billed Gull, 4 Bonaparte’s Gull, 2 Herring Gull, 17 Common Loon, 181 Double-crested Cormorant, 69 Tundra Swan, as well as Canada Goose, Wood Duck, Mallard, Great Blue Heron, and Great Egret. Of swallows and swifts, there were 450 Barn Swallow, 2,204 Tree Swallow, 5 Bank Swallow, 1 Cliff Swallow, and 2,445 Chimney Swift. Of woodpeckers, we had 141 Red-headed Woodpecker, 292 Northern Flicker, 5 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Migrating warblers included 19 species: Cape May, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, American Redstart, Common Yellowthroat, Magnolia, Prairie, Black-and-white, Tennessee, Nashville, Cerulean, Canada, Northern Parula, Chestnut-sided, Ovenbird, Hooded, Palm, Orange-crowned, and Yellow-rumped. Other notable migrants this season included: 215 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, 229 Common Nighthawk, 800 Blue Jay, 3,283 American Robin, 8 Pine Siskin, 2,140 Cedar Waxwing, 168 Common Raven, 2,721 Red-winged Blackbird, and 17 Rusty Blackbird. Finally, we were happy to see that our Monarch Butterfly migration comprised a healthy count of 1,660.
I’d like to thank the following volunteer counters who contributed this season: Brenda Tekin, Rose Thomas, Ezra Staengl, Dave Hunter, Baxter Beamer, John Spahr, John Rowlett, Dave Fischer, Gabriel Mapel, and Ira Lianez. We thank all the visitors who came up to witness this great migration with us. Finally, we thank all those who helped support our hawk watch with your generous donations!
Vic Laubach – Coordinator