Date: 10/26/25 10:51 pm From: Hawkcount.Org Reports <reports...> Subject: Waggoner's Gap (26 Oct 2025) 67 Raptors
Waggoner's Gap 40 km W of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 26, 2025 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- BV 0 11 11 TV 3 1131 1131 OS 0 19 148 BE 3 192 423 NH 2 37 116 SS 14 1276 2591 CH 3 134 196 AG 0 3 3 RS 3 29 33 BW 0 18 10265 RT 31 246 379 RL 0 0 0 GE 1 36 38 AK 0 46 165 ML 1 30 51 PG 1 33 54 UA 1 26 40 UB 1 9 21 UF 0 4 6 UE 0 0 0 UR 3 28 48 SK 0 0 1
Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Jess Cosentino
Observers: Abby Sentz, Betsy Shaver, Dave Grove, Debbie Spinelli, Joe Sabo, Katherine Weber, Pete Biasucci
Visitors: 76, John Denice and Loudoun Wildlife (VA)(5)
Weather: A few degrees above freezing following sunrise, slowly warming up by noon into the afternoon, Light north winds to begin the count gradually picking up by mid-day while shifting a bit northeast at times, then abruptly dropping off to non-existent winds by mid/late afternoon until the end of the count, Clear sky/no cloud cover for the morning hours with cloud gradually filling in throughout the second half of the count
Raptor Observations: The morning began with a cloudless blue sky and the first hours of the count were a bit of a struggle to pull migrants out. Sharp-shinned Hawk movement began to pick up a bit before noon, as well as the Red-tailed Hawk migrants.
Entering the first afternoon hour, an adult Red-shouldered Hawk flapped its way along the spine of the ridge, while a young Peregrine Falcon shot southward down a similar flight line later on.
At 2:22 PM DST, a large flock of Turkey Vultures up the ridge began to abruptly rise into the sky in a disordered kettle. A few moments later, scanning below the vulture group revealed a large dark eagle circling slowly while rising in the same thermal. While still distant, bright white at the base of the tail feathers were obvious with each rotation as the subadult Golden Eagle took the next six minutes to make a long and slow pass along the south side of the ridge. The Golden rose high in the thermal before tucking into a rigid glide taking it distant along the valley to the south of the ridge, pausing briefly to circle a few more times in search of additional lift before tucking into a southbound glide and disappearing behind the treeline.
Many visiting hawkwatchers from Virginia were able to see and enjoy their "lifer" Golden Eagle as the bird passed the ridge.
First bird SSHA 0905 Last bird NOHA 1529
Non-raptor Observations: Canada Goose 79, Double-crested Cormorant 65, Red-bellied Woodpecker 1, Northern Flicker 1, Pileated Woodpecker 1, Blue-headed Vireo 1, Blue Jay 2, Cedar Waxwing 152, Tree Swallow 1, Carolina Wren 1, Red-breasted Nuthatch 1, Grey Catbird 1, Eastern Bluebird 1, American Robin 6, Purple Finch 50, American Goldfinch 3, Pine Siskin 11, Dark-eyed Junco 3, Northern Cardinal 1
Predictions: Variable north/northeast winds for the next three days, with rain likely late Wednesday into Thursday ======================================================================== Report submitted by WG Counter ()
