Date: 10/21/25 8:09 pm From: Hawkcount.Org Reports <reports...> Subject: Waggoner's Gap (21 Oct 2025) 45 Raptors
Waggoner's Gap 40 km W of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 21, 2025 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- BV 0 11 11 TV 11 1050 1050 OS 0 19 148 BE 10 139 370 NH 2 30 109 SS 11 1058 2373 CH 1 122 184 AG 0 2 2 RS 1 21 25 BW 0 18 10265 RT 8 186 319 RL 0 0 0 GE 0 25 27 AK 0 46 165 ML 0 28 49 PG 0 29 50 UA 1 24 38 UB 0 7 19 UF 0 4 6 UE 0 0 0 UR 0 25 45 SK 0 0 1
Observation start time: 07:15:00 Observation end time: 14:45:00 Total observation time: 7.5 hours
Official Counter: Jess Cosentino, Ron Freed
Observers: Dave Grove, Gene Wagner, Pat Freed
Visitors: 11
Weather: Clear blue skies with moderate SW wind all morning, cloud cover crept in from the west by early afternoon as a cold front moved in from the distant west, By mid-afternoon the wind had diminished to a non-existent breeze while a dark ceiling of cloud enveloped both vallies to the north and south of the ridge, High in low 60s F
Raptor Observations: The morning raptor movement was almost non-existent, with just a few birds passing along the ridge. The afternoon hours did not bring much of a change beyond an increase in Bald Eagle movement down the ridge with a few other raptors following. Small numbers of Turkey Vultures headed south in the distant vallies, while an adult Red-shouldered Hawk cut quick along the north side of the ridge in the afternoon.
A lone grey ghost cut in towards the ridge from the north, passing high over the farm fields as it flapped deep rhythmic flaps, eventually finding a thermal and lift over the field north of the ridge before peeling off southwest and disappearing along the treeline.
The afternoon hours saw a steep drop off in wind speed, leaving a stale air as the cold front and dark purple cloud cover moved in from the west, with a sky void of any raptor movement - migratory or local
Predictions: High 58 F, Southwest winds 15 mph, Mix of cloud and sun ======================================================================== Report submitted by WG Counter ()
