Waggoner's Gap 40 km W of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 02, 2025 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- BV 0 0 0 TV 0 0 0 OS 0 2 34 BE 6 8 75 NH 1 4 12 SS 1 1 17 CH 0 1 9 AG 0 0 0 RS 0 0 1 BW 6 36 182 RT 1 3 67 RL 0 0 0 GE 0 0 0 AK 0 1 10 ML 1 1 1 PG 0 0 4 UA 0 0 1 UB 0 1 6 UF 0 0 0 UE 0 0 0 UR 0 0 2 SK 0 0 1
Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Jess Cosentino
Observers: Gene Wagner, Pat Freed, Ron Freed
Visitors: 7 plus one dog
Weather: High of 75 F with a lighter NE wind throughout the morning into the afternoon, Lots of sun and cloud cover (cumulus) for most of the count period
Raptor Observations: Morning raptor movement took a few hours before the first birds of the day appeared, as individual Broad-winged Hawks began appearing to the north of the ridge while flapping their way to the WSW. Eventually, Broad-winged Hawks began taking long and low glides along this same line to the north, seemingly to be pushed to this side of the ridge from the NE/east wind pattern.
Similar to the last two days, by afternoon the raptor migrants had gained considerable altitude and were appearing as distant specks against the clouds before pointing to the south and passing directly over the ridge. A mix of Bald Eagles and Broad-winged Hawks made up most of the activity into the early afternoon until things gradually slowed down.
The first migrant Merlin of fall passed high directly over the ridge, briefly pausing to harass a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk that was also migrating along the same line, before continuing southward
Chimney Swift 4, Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1, Hairy Woodpecker 1, Northern Flicker 1, Eastern Wood Pewee 1, Blue Jay 1, Cedar Waxwing 5, Tufted Titmouse 1, Carolina Chickadee 2, Tree Swallow 4, Barn Swallow 3, Carolina Wren 1, Red-breasted Nuthatch 2, Ovenbird 1, Black-throated Green Warbler 5, warbler sp. 5
Predictions: The winds will likely shift by tomorrow morning and bring a southern component, Highs in the high 70s F, Lots of sun ======================================================================== Report submitted by WG Counter ()
