Date: 11/17/25 10:50 pm From: Hawkcount.Org Reports <reports...> Subject: Waggoner's Gap (17 Nov 2025) 201 Raptors
Waggoner's Gap 40 km W of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 17, 2025 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- BV 0 0 11 TV 5 360 1615 OS 0 0 149 BE 35 246 689 NH 0 19 148 SS 4 83 2700 CH 3 35 236 AG 0 1 4 RS 5 41 98 BW 0 0 10265 RT 118 592 1053 RL 0 0 0 GE 29 113 157 AK 0 0 165 ML 0 9 60 PG 1 7 61 UA 0 1 41 UB 0 9 34 UF 0 0 6 UE 0 3 3 UR 1 7 60 SK 0 0 1
Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 17:00:00 Total observation time: 9.75 hours
Official Counter: Jess Cosentino, Ron Freed
Observers: Dave Grove, Gene Wagner, Ian Hess, Jeff Thompson , Laura Minnich, Paul Kosten, Ron Freed
Visitors: 9, one dog
Weather: High 47 F, NW winds throughout entire count period, Up to 18-20 mph (gusts up to 38 mph), Mostly blue sky and sunny with some cloud cover
Raptor Observations: A second consecutive day of blustery northwest wind brought another fantastic mid-November flight down the ridge. While yesterday's Golden Eagle and Red-tailed Hawk flights were great, today's flights managed to top them and bring the first triple-digit Red-tail day total this season, while another 29 Goldens passed along the ridge and valleys
Goldens were on the move early, with eight moving in the first two hours following sunrise. This momentum lasted throughout the entire morning, as 16 Golden Eagles were logged migrating south by the time the noon hour arrived. The eagles continued to appear, passing along the north side of the ridge at varying distances and heights. A highlight included a run of three Goldens appearing up the ridge, one after the other, all within a few minutes. As the birds passed on long glides along the north side of the ridge, the three Goldens stretched out in a long spaced out line while following one another.
Several other Golden Eagles provided great extended looks as they rode the updraft winds off the ridge high into the atmosphere, while many Red-tailed Hawks seemed to follow similar flight lines. The Red-tail flight persisted throughout the entire count period, with steady movement south during each hour. The 100th Red-tailed Hawk on the day appeared circling in a high kettle with two Golden Eagles directly above the ridge, while hawkwatchers below looked skyward and enjoyed the view for several minutes.
Several more Red-tails would continue to pass throughout the count period, providing a great day count total. The few Red-shouldered Hawks on the day all cut fast and low along the leeward side of the ridge, sheltered away from the harsh northwest winds while cutting south.
One of the moments of excitement on the day included an adult Peregrine Falcon appearing quickly out of the treeline up the ridge, darting quickly barely above the tree line as it shot south over the rocks and out of view.
As sunset slowly approached during the final hours of the count, the Goldens continued to pass along the north side of the ridge while chasing fleeting daylight. The final birds counted for the day included two Golden Eagles spotted ten minutes before sunset, circling together high over the valley to the north of the ridge. The two large eagles swung in large circles while gaining lift, until each tucked into a glide taking them southward.
First bird BE 7:15 Last bird GE 16:40
Non-raptor Observations: Canada Goose 36, Tundra Swan 29, Common Loon 44, Pileated Woodpecker 2, American Robin 110, Purple Finch 2, American Goldfinch 5, Pine Siskin 24, Red-winged Blackbird 5
Predictions: West winds shifting SW, High in low 40s F ======================================================================== Report submitted by WG Counter ()
