Today's forecast is calling for ESE winds up to 10mph.  This is the most productive wind for good flights at CGHW.  I'm hoping to see many Golden Eagles as well as Red-Tailed hawks.  Come see the Eagles fly...

10:20. Update, birds are flying low and providing great views.  Species thus far;  RT, SS, CH, NG

2012 Fall Migration is underway...

Fall migration has begun.  The first few weeks of September are exciting.  Large counts of Broad-Winged Hawks make their flight south passing over the gap and filling the skies.  This is one of the highlights of fall migration and should not be missed.  Come out and watch as they soar by.  Bald Eagles are also on the move and can be seen almost daily above the Gap.  If you've never seen a wild Bald Eagle now is the time to  come up to the watch.  Hope to see you there.

First few weeks of spring migration 2012

Well the first few weeks of migration are accounted for.  I've been spending most weekdays at the watch.  The first few weeks weren't that bad.  Weather wise... Most of the winds have been out of the WSW (which isn't a favorable wind)  E to ESE are best.  A few days have produced 50+mph gusts.  Most days have been pleasant with a few being quite chilly and recently becoming unseasonably warm.   Turkey Vultures have been the most plentiful migrant, while the Golden Eagles have been fewer than I would've expected.  Hopefully the winds become more favorable for the area and we see more movement overall.   Lots of Canada Geese and Ring-billed Gulls have been passing through as well.  Visitors are always welcome.  Please come out and visit our newly formed hawk watch.

Wednesday 2.29.12

Tomorrow is the start of the first annual spring migration count at Cumberland Gap hawk watch.  The forecast is looking great with a cloud ceiling above 12,000' and west winds up to 20 mph.  These conditions should produce a fair number of Golden Eagles as well as other raptors making their way north.  I made the trip down to the watch on Monday 2/27/12 and observed for 4 hours between 10:00 and 1:00 pm.  The day started chilly with wind around 8 mph.  It died down to calm for 2 hours and then picked up to 10 mph for my last hour.  The 12:00-1:00 hr. produced the most birds and it seems as if things were only getting started as I was leaving.  I wish I could've stayed to see the true daily count.  I'm guessing there was good activity the remainder of the day as was indicated by the counts at other hawk watches along the western side of the Appalachians.  Here's the raptor count for the day:

Turkey Vultures - 29

Golden Eagles - 2 adult

Bald Eagle - 1 adult

Northern Harrier - 1

Red-Tailed hawks - 8

Total raptors - 41

Hope to see you at the watch tomorrow.  -Tim