Date: 10/21/25 6:48 pm From: Hawkcount.Org Reports <reports...> Subject: Waggoner's Gap (20 Oct 2025) 72 Raptors
Waggoner's Gap 40 km W of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 20, 2025 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- BV 0 11 11 TV 12 1039 1039 OS 0 19 148 BE 11 129 360 NH 1 28 107 SS 29 1047 2362 CH 3 121 183 AG 1 2 2 RS 0 20 24 BW 0 18 10265 RT 10 178 311 RL 0 0 0 GE 0 25 27 AK 0 46 165 ML 1 28 49 PG 3 29 50 UA 1 23 37 UB 0 7 19 UF 0 4 6 UE 0 0 0 UR 0 25 45 SK 0 0 1
Observation start time: 08:30:00 Observation end time: 16:45:00 Total observation time: 8.25 hours
Official Counter: Dave Grove, Jess Cosentino, Ron Freed
Observers: Dave Grove, Gene Wagner, Jeff Thompson , Ron Freed, Steve Dunwoody
Visitors: Jay, Heather and Michael, John and Kevin Denice, 12
Weather: Light rain lingering in first hour following sunrise, but clearly quick into a beautiful day of weather, Crisp west/northwest wind all morning slowly shifting to north/northwest later in day, Temps low 60s, Mix of cumulus with lots of warm sun shining through late into the afternoon
Raptor Observations: The morning raptor momentum was generally slow, with a few migrants moving down the ridge but good overall diversity with five species. By afternoon, the northwest winds brought more migrants down the ridge but never in large bursts of activity.
A highlight on the day included the third Peregrine Falcon on the day appearing up the ridge and passing directly down the spine of the mountain, passing overhead while briefly stalling out for a few moments to provide excellent views from below in the afternoon sunlight
Another highlight on the day included a large raptor that appeared up the ridge during a late afternoon lull with minimal activity. The bird worked its way steadily into the northwest winds, initially questioned to be a falcon due to swept back wings; however, a few flaps and glides revealed a large Accipitrine working down the ridge. The bird held steady in the sturdy north headwind, until it passed into the late afternoon golden sun, revealing a distinct white eyebrow: American Goshawk!
The Gos worked down the distant northside of the ridge quickly as tripods and scopes across the rocks scattered to keep pace, watching the large bird for several minutes as it took some time passing.
As the old saying goes: Any day with a Gos, is a good day.
First bird NH 8:40 Last bird ML 15:30
Non-raptor Observations: duck sp. 50, Red-bellied Woodpecker 1, Common Raven 3, Cedar Waxwing 4, Carolina Chickadee 1, Tree Swallow 28
LFE:39 Monarch: 0 Hummingbird: 0
Predictions: High in low 60s, Variable light south winds ======================================================================== Report submitted by WG Counter ()
