Bake Oven Knob 2 miles North of Germansville, Pennsylvania, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Aug 26, 2025 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8.18 hours
Official Counter: AB
Observers: Cynthia Berger
Visitors: Cynthia Berger who is one of Lehigh Gap Nature Centers esteemed board members was up to enjoy this wonderful day at Bake Oven Knob. She helped in spotting a nearby kettle of BW’s and also did some impromptu outreach with visitors which was greatly appreciated.
12 hikers 1 AT SOBO
Weather: A cold front moved through just to the north of Bake Oven Knob during the day. Winds were light during the entire count, but inconsistent in direction. Visibility was superb at 30 miles for the entire survey. Nice cumulus clouds built through the entire count providing welcome shade and superb spotting conditions in the afternoon. Low temperature of 16C at 07:00 and a high of 25C by noon. From noon on it cooled off nicely as the cold front moved through.
Raptor Observations: South Lookout
8.18 hrs (88.35)
BV 3 (22) TV 18 (138) OS 2 (25) BE 4 (35) SS 2 (12) CH 1 (6) RS 1 (3) BW 11 (35) AK 1 (2) Total 44 (316)
BAEA (4): 09:59 I, 11:30 I, 11:53 A, 12:30 I
The cold front that passed through just to the north of Bake Oven Knob during the day brought a nice pulse of migrating raptors. The flight got underway in the 09:00 hour with 4 migrating raptors moving through and some welcome diversity. An adult male AK was spotted naked eye close to the OP and it flared out to catch a flying insect. The flight then tapered off after this morning pulse. The 12:00 hour saw the peak of the flight with a total of 9 migrants coming very close to the OP. BW’s made a good showing with a nice kettle of 3 juveniles with an immature SS mixing it up. I believe they were interested in BC the decoy and after this group left, we heard one come in hard and take a swipe. Raptors kept moving through in the 13:00 hour, but now singly following the ridge top along the notch.
A resident immature RT was spotted at 07:56 naked eye close to the OP. It thought hard about giving the decoy a swipe, but continued up ridge. I later saw this same buteo dogfighting with a TV over the notch. An adult RT was spotted later in the afternoon hawking insects over the bowl and soaring over Lehigh Valley.
Non-raptor Observations: Several RTHU’s zipped over the most prominent part of the rock outcrop at the OP. A nice flock of ROPI’s was spotted flying low in the bowl which included one white one. An SCTA made a few passes below the OP during the survey. It was detected by its call which is one I am not familiar with – the chick-bree.
Wild Turkey 1 Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 13 Mourning Dove 3 Chimney Swift 1 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 5 Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 Downy Woodpecker 1 Pileated Woodpecker 2 Eastern Wood-Pewee 1 Red-eyed Vireo 4 Blue Jay 3 American Crow 2 Common Raven 1 Black-capped Chickadee 3 Tufted Titmouse 2 Tree Swallow 2 Barn Swallow 3 Cliff Swallow 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 Eastern Bluebird 1 Cedar Waxwing 30 American Goldfinch 1 Black-and-white Warbler 1 Scarlet Tanager 1
Predictions: Sunny, with a high near 71. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
======================================================================== Report submitted by Adam Richardson (<poecile.gambeli...>) Bake Oven Knob information may be found at: www.lgnc.org
