2020 marked the 45th season for Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch. Our 2020 fall migration was actually quite successful despite dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. We don’t feel that COVID-19 significantly impacted our season in any way except perhaps there were somewhat fewer visitors this year. In total, we counted 34,945 raptors this season (Aug 14 – Nov 30), which is our second highest season total on record (second only to 35,078 in 2010; 10-year avg = 26,612). Our volunteer counters put in 569 total hours (avg = 570) of effort. We had 17 days uncounted due to poor weather and only 4 days uncounted due to unavailability of volunteer counters. Thus, 88 days out of 109 total (81%) were counted.
Most raptor species had average or above-average numbers this year. We had 426 BALD EAGLE, which is a new season record (avg = 250, prior record = 368 in 2018)! OSPREY numbers were near average with 249 (avg = 262) including a new late date of Nov 29. Our NORTHERN HARRIER count of 75 was above average (avg = 66). Our counts of both 2,110 SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (avg = 1,765) and 349 COOPER’S HAWK (avg = 307) were quite healthy and above average. Of the buteos, our RED-TAILED HAWK count of 1,598 was over twice the average (avg = 744) and the RED-SHOULDERED HAWK count of 92 was above average (avg = 86). The BROAD-WINGED HAWK migration was spectacular this year with a season total of 29,661 (avg = 22,747), a new 2nd-highest season record! The weekend of Sep 18-19 alone had 17,192 Broad-wings fly through to the joy of many visitors on site! Of the falcons, our count of 174 AMERICAN KESTREL was below average (avg = 218). However, the count of 66 MERLIN was a new 2nd-highest season record (avg = 41), and a count of 46 PEREGRINE FALCON was above average (avg = 35).
Among our uncommon raptors, the NORTHERN GOSHAWK count of 3 was somewhat low (avg = 7), and our GOLDEN EAGLE count of 17 was only slightly below average (avg = 20). The MISSISSIPPI KITE season count of 3 was equal to our 10-year average. We were lucky to have observed an early-season SWAINSON’S HAWK (a light-morph juvenile) on August 19! This was the 9th Swainson’s on record at Rockfish Gap. Finally, we were also fortunate to have observed 3 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKs on November 3, 6, and 7 (all light phase). In fact, the Rough-legged Hawk that appeared on November 7 actually remained in Rockfish Gap through the end of the season (last observed Nov 28), giving daily appearances for the many visitors who came seeking out this bird. Perhaps this bird has set up its first winter territory here, predominantly located in the McCormick Gap area to the northeast of the hawk watch.
In terms of non-raptors, several unusual sightings worth mentioning include an Olive-sided Flycatcher (Sep 10), a juvenile White Ibis (Sep 11), and a Clay-colored Sparrow (Oct 15). This year marks several significant winter irruptions for various species that have showed up at the hawk watch including 886 Pine Siskin, 18 Purple Finch, 9 Evening Grosbeak, and 33 Red-breasted Nuthatch. We didn’t see large numbers of waterfowl this year but did count 17 Tundra Swan, 49 Double-crested Cormorant, and 17 Common Loon. A few Herring Gulls appeared, and a large group of 115 Ring-billed Gulls flew through on November 22. Of swallows and swifts, we counted 209 Barn Swallow, 2,757 Tree Swallow, 5 Bank Swallow, 7 Cliff Swallow, and 5,827 Chimney Swift. Of woodpeckers, we had 191 Red-headed Woodpecker, 358 Northern Flicker, 37 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, and 191 Red-bellied Woodpecker. Migrating warblers included the following 22 species: Cape May, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, American Redstart, Common Yellowthroat, Magnolia, Prairie, Black-and-white, Tennessee, Chestnut-sided, Ovenbird, Hooded, Palm, Yellow, Prothonotary, Worm-eating, Blackpoll, Bay-breasted, Blackburnian, Blue-winged, Golden-winged, and Yellow-rumped. Other notable migrants counted this fall include: 278 Ruby-throated Hummingbird, 4,362 Blue Jay, 1,849 American Robin, 1,604 Cedar Waxwing, 168 Common Raven, 1,260 Red-winged Blackbird, and a whopping 30,670 Common Grackle (25,583 on Nov 13 alone). Finally, we were happy to again see a good Monarch Butterfly migration consisting of 1,436 (the biggest day being 515 on Sep 16) that were counted flying through the gap.
I wish to give a huge thanks to the following volunteer counters who contributed this season: Brenda Tekin, Rose Thomas, Ezra Staengl, David Hunter, Baxter Beamer, Gabriel Mapel, and Josh Laubach. We were very happy that many visitors made it up to witness this great migration with us. Finally, we sincerely thank all those who helped support our hawk watch with your generous donations!