Date: 10/15/25 6:43 pm From: Hawkcount.Org Reports <reports...> Subject: Waggoner's Gap (15 Oct 2025) 569 Raptors
Waggoner's Gap 40 km W of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 15, 2025 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- BV 4 11 11 TV 395 785 785 OS 0 19 148 BE 6 86 317 NH 5 19 98 SS 115 701 2016 CH 6 71 133 AG 0 1 1 RS 5 11 15 BW 1 18 10265 RT 13 61 194 RL 0 0 0 GE 3 9 11 AK 2 40 159 ML 8 22 43 PG 0 26 47 UA 4 16 30 UB 1 3 15 UF 0 4 6 UE 0 0 0 UR 1 19 39 SK 0 0 1
Observation start time: 06:30:00 Observation end time: 17:30:00 Total observation time: 11 hours
Official Counter: Jess Cosentino, Paul Kosten, Ron Freed
Observers: Betsy Shaver, Dave Grove, Gene Wagner, Jeff Thompson , Jim Binder, Katherine Weber, Pat Freed, Paul Kosten, Ron Freed, Steve Dunwoody, Tim Johnson
Visitors: Joe Lavella, 11
Weather: Overcast throughout the morning with cloud cover opening up and clearing by afternoon, Steady northwest winds throughout the count period gradually shifting to WNW later in the day, High of 68 F
Raptor Observations: Raptor movement picked up late in the morning, with a steady stream of Sharp-shinned Hawks passing fast on a line far north of the ridge. The day count for this species would eventually pass the triple-digit mark by sunset, as Sharpies continued to pass well in the final 10 minutes leading up the sun setting.
The best Merlin day count passed throughout the entire day, as small falcons passed high often on north-to-south flight lines
The day also saw the best Turkey Vulture day count of the season-to-date, as large groups began appearing to the distant north in the afternoon. Groups as large as 140+ began drifting towards to the ridge and continuing southward, with several Black Vultures mixed in as well
A late Broad-winged Hawk migrant was spotted high above the ridge, being pushed quickly southward by the northwest winds while catching a few rotations directly overhead before disappearing on the horizon
The day also saw the best movement of Red-shouldered Hawks so far this season, with most birds taking direct flight lines down the ridge while passing directly overhead in long glides
The dominant flight line for the day took raptor migrants far north of the ridge, often passing quickly. A young Golden Eagle took a similar route when passing in the afternoon, barely offering a few seconds of viewing before continuing south out of view. Two additional young Golden Eagles would come in the final hours of the count, with the final Golden passing just ~ 30 minutes before sunset on a long, slow pass directly overhead along the north side of the ridge.
First bird SS 7:40 Last bird SS 17:21
Non-raptor Observations: Canada Goose 63, Double-crested Cormorant 50, Red-bellied Woodpecker 1, Blue Jay 7, American Crow 2, Carolina Wren 1, European Starling 25, Purple Finch 1, Pine Siskin 8, Dark-eyed Junco 1, Cape May Warbler 1, Yellow-rumped Warbler 8, Monarch 1
LFE: 2 Monarch: 0 Hummingbird: 0
Predictions: Northwest winds for the next two days, shifting to SE/E by Saturday ======================================================================== Report submitted by WG Counter ()
