Date: 10/28/25 7:45 am From: Hawkcount.Org Reports <reports...> Subject: Waggoner's Gap (27 Oct 2025) 122 Raptors
Waggoner's Gap 40 km W of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 27, 2025 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- BV 0 11 11 TV 79 1210 1210 OS 0 19 148 BE 2 194 425 NH 0 37 116 SS 8 1284 2599 CH 1 135 197 AG 0 3 3 RS 8 37 41 BW 0 18 10265 RT 21 267 400 RL 0 0 0 GE 3 39 41 AK 0 46 165 ML 0 30 51 PG 0 33 54 UA 0 26 40 UB 0 9 21 UF 0 4 6 UE 0 0 0 UR 0 28 48 SK 0 0 1
Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Jess Cosentino
Observers: Gene Wagner, Joe Sabo, Pat Freed, Ron Freed
Visitors: 13, USAWG (30)
Weather: High in upper 50s F, Clear blue sky all morning with minimal clouds moving in by afternoon, Light north wind all morning gradually shifting to northeast but never gaining velocity
Raptor Observations: The morning hours were on the slower side, with minimal movement. By noons, raptors were moving down the ridge, often on north-south flight lines. One large group of Turkey Vultures was seen moving south very distant over the valley south of the ridge. The day saw the best movement of Red-shouldered Hawks so far this season, with many birds shooting off the ridge on straight north-south flightlines, often very high.
The highlight on the day came shortly after noon. A distant subadult Golden Eagle was spotted flapping very distant to the north of the ridge, working its way southwest over the valley while never breaking stride. Just two minutes later, a second young Golden followed the same flight line only a bit closer to the ridge. While enjoying the quick pass of two Goldens, a third juvenile Golden Eagle was spotted passing along the south side of the ridge. The third eagle made a closer pass directly overhead, giving a great view from below before continuing south. It was a great burst of activity following a slower morning flight, with three young Golden Eagles passing the ridge in a seven-minute time window.
First bird SSHA 1013 Last bird RTHA 1520
Non-raptor Observations: Canada Goose 6, Hairy Woodpecker 1, Common Raven 4, Cedar Waxwing 77, Tufted Titmouse 1, Carolina Chickadee 3, Horned Lark 1, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1, Carolina Wren 1, Eastern Bluebird 6, American Robin 3, American Pipit 1, Purple Finch 41, American Goldfinch 2, Dark-eyed Junco 20, White-throated Sparrow 1, Palm Warbler 1, Yellow-rumped Warbler 5
LFE 2 Monarch 1 Hummingbirds 0 ======================================================================== Report submitted by WG Counter ()
