Snickers Gap, 28 Sep - 8 Oct 98

BlkVulture@aol.com
Thu, 8 Oct 1998 18:24:30 EDT 

Snickers Gap is a full time fall hawk watch with volunteer counters.  It began
in the fall of 1990, with 2365 birds in 161 hours of observation.  It is
located about 50 miles WNW of Washington, D.C. in Virginia.  It is about 1100
feet above sea level.  It straddles the Clarke and Loudoun county line, along
VA route 7.  

Due to the local breeding population, large wintering population,
and proximity to a large roost, we do not count any vultures.

28 Sep 98: (7 hours) 
NH.......1
SS.......13
BW......1
RT........7

29 Sep 98: (6.5 hours)
OS......1
BE......1
NH......4
SS......16
CH......1
BW.....2
RT.......5
AK......1
ML.......1
UR.......3

30 Sep 98: (6 hours)
NH......1
SS......17
BW.....1

1 Oct 98: (3.5 hours)
OS......3
NH......1
SS......16
CH......2
BW.....2
RT.......1
ML......1
UR......4

2 Oct 98: (3 hours) 
SS......1
CH......2
AK......2
UR......4

3 Oct 98: 
OS......3
BE......1
SS......43
CH.......4
BW......9
AK...... 2
PG.......3
UA.......2
UF.......1
UR.......2

4 Oct 98: Rain

5 Oct 98: Rain

6 Oct 98:(7 hours)
OS......22
BE.......1
NH.......23
SS.......63
CH.......16
NG.......1
BW.......8
RT........6
AK.......2
ML.......1
PG.......12
UR.......6

7 Oct 98: (1 hour)
No birds.

Year to date totals:
                                      Prev. Annual
1998:            1997:              Record:                   Average:
OS   141       (185)                 250  (1995)               201
BE   28         (64)                   73    (1996)               51
NH   96         (120)                 267  (1994)               182
SS   613       (1622)              2645 (1995)                2026
CH   81         (316)                 521  (1995)               349
NG   1           (31)                  42    (1993)               23
RS   19         (147)                 287  (1995)               209
BW  25813    (3747)             12622 (1995)              5152  
SW  1           (none)                 1     (??)                < 1
RT   81         (1442)               2302 (1995)              1736
RL   0           (3)                      4    (1992)               3
GE   0          (14)                    29   (1995)              18 
AK   89        (100)                  204  (1995)              143
ML   14          (25)                   39    (1995)             22
PG   22          (35)                   35    (1997)              27
UA   17
UB   9
UE   0
UF   8
UR   49         
Tot: 27084   (7990)              19413 (1995)

All totals are unofficial.  

Key:
OS = osprey,  BE = bald eagle,  NH = northern harrier,  SS = Sharp-shinned,  
CH = Cooper's hawk,  NG = northern goshawk,  RS = red-shouldered, BW = broad-
winged hawk,  SW = Swainson's hawk,  RT = red-tailed,  RL = rough-legged,  GE
= golden eagle,  AK = American kestrel,  ML = merlin,  PG = peregrine falcon, 
UA = unidentified accipiter,   UB = unidentified buteo,  UF = unidentified
falcon,  
UR = unidentified raptor

Notes:
Anyone interested in more information about Snickers Gap, or anyone interested
in counting, (we still have many open days in October and November), please
contact me here.

Cheers,

Todd M. Day
Jeffersonton,  VA
BlkVulture@AOL.com