2022 marked the 47th season for Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch. Our volunteer counters were able to cover 92 out of 108 days this season (avg = 90 days) totaling 524 hours of effort (avg = 595). Poor weather canceled the count on 14 days, and only 2 days were uncounted due to unavailability of counters. In total, we recorded 28,392 migrating raptors this season, which is slightly above average (10-year avg = 27,238).
Most raptor species this year had average or below-average numbers. We counted 393 BALD EAGLE, which is second only to 426 in 2020 (10-year avg = 299). OSPREY numbers were below average with only 188 (avg = 268). Our NORTHERN HARRIER count of 53 was also below average (avg = 69). Our count of 2379 SHARP-SHINNED HAWK was the third-highest season number (avg = 1,821), however our count of 282 COOPER’S HAWK was below average (avg = 333). Of the buteos, our count of 929 RED-TAILED HAWK was above average (avg = 879), and our count of 94 RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was average (avg = 94). The BROAD-WINGED HAWK count of 23,765 was slightly above average (avg = 23,075). We had six days with over 1,000 Broad-winged hawks, with the two biggest days being 3120 on Sep. 15 and 9166 on Sep. 22. Of the falcons, our counts of 172 AMERICAN KESTREL (avg = 209) and 22 PEREGRINE FALCON (avg = 41) were below average, and the MERLIN count of 48 was average (avg = 49).
Among uncommon raptors, our count of 5 NORTHERN GOSHAWK was near average (avg = 7), but our count of 15 GOLDEN EAGLE was notably below average (avg = 21). Our MISSISSIPPI KITE count of 4 was average (avg = 4). We were fortunate to have observed an immature SWAINSON’S HAWK on September 22 that migrated south (a second Swainson’s Hawk was observed on September 17 but did not fly south).
In terms of non-raptors, we didn’t see many waterfowl other than 95 Snow Geese on Nov. 8 and a total of 50 Double-crested Cormorant. A few Herring Gulls, Caspian Terns and Common Loons flew through to the southeast. In terms of swallows and swifts, we counted 10 Barn Swallow, 607 Tree Swallow, 2 Bank Swallow, and 1047 Chimney Swift. We had all possible woodpeckers this fall including 107 Red-headed Woodpecker, 135 Northern Flicker, and numerous Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, White-breasted Nuthatch Pileated, Hairy, Downy and Red-bellied Woodpeckers, 6 Red-breasted Nuthatch, and a Brown Creeper. Migrating warblers included 11 species: American Redstart, Magnolia, Black-throated Green, Black-and-white, Cape May, Black-throated Blue, Blackpoll, Pine, Common Yellowthroat, Chestnut-sided, and Yellow-rumped.
Other notable migrants counted this fall include: 145 Ruby-throated Hummingbird, 1563 Blue Jay, 1662 American Robin, 3429 Cedar Waxwing (including 1000 on Nov 3), 421 Red-winged Blackbird, 2 Common Nighthawk, 573 Fish Crow, and a few Purple Finch, Pine Siskin, and Horned Lark. Finally, we had a good Monarch Butterfly migration consisting of 1038 total counted this season including 6 late Monarchs on November 12.
On September 17, we held our 9th annual Open House event “Where the Raptors Soar!”. We hosted exhibits by numerous groups including the Virginia Wildlife Center (2 live raptors shows), Rockfish Wildlife Sanctuary, Rivanna Master Naturalists, Piedmont Virginia Bird Club, Augusta Bird Club, Rockingham Bird Club, Virginia Bluebird Society, Monarch Butterfly life cycle, and a Master Falconer. A huge thanks goes out to Mary Mapel who coordinated our event and helped make it such a great success! Thanks also to Chris Updike for grilling the hot dogs! We had an estimated number of 150 folks on site! The Inn’s parking lot was filled with cars!
I want to give a huge thanks to the following volunteer counters who contributed this season: Brenda Tekin, Rose Thomas, David Hunter, Gabriel Mapel, David Fischer, Josh Laubach, Nelson Lewis, and Diane Lepskowski. We were very happy that so many visitors made it up to witness this great migration with us this season. Finally, we sincerely thank all those who helped support our hawk watch this year with your generous donations!
– Vic Laubach, Coordinator