Saturday forecast for hawk watch

The Eagles should be up and flying by today given the forecasted winds, recent weather and bird movements to our North.  Tim and Skyler Anderson will be counting at the watch today.  Come on up and enjoy the Eagle flights, plentiful sunshine and mild November weather.  Hope to see you there. 

PS. Keep an eye out for the Wills Mountain goat.  He was spotted on Thursday as seen in the photos below.

Another mild Nov. day

Today's forecast is similar to yesterday, wam temps and favorable winds.  If you couldn't make it yesterday, today is your second chance at mild weather, Eagles and one of the best views in Maryland!

Want to see a Golden Eagle? Today's your day!

With 6mph. East winds forecast, today should be a good Golden Eagle day at the watch.  The light winds will have them flying low n' slow providing good views.  A counter will be present today to help you enjoy your visit.  You should really be there!  

11:15 UPDATE

Upon reaching the watch, I realized I left my tripod sitting beside my car at the gate.  Well I decided I see how fast I could get down and back.  I set the FKT (fastest known time) for down and back up to the watch site.  10:22 was my time. 2 Golden Eagles so far.  Beautiful day at the watch.  -Tim 

Saturday Nov.16, 2013

Those of us at hawk watch today are being treated to great views of the migrating raptors.  We've had 5 Golden Eagles and 1 Bald Eagle come through already as well as about a dozen other raptors.  Unseasonably warm temps are creating a rather pleasant day up at the watch.

Counters at watch this weekend

Just wanted to let everyone know that counters will be at the watch all weekend if you'd like to stop up for a visit.  Hope to see you there.  We're expecting ESE winds and temps in the 60's a great day for hawk watching.

New single day Golden Eagle record set for Cumberland Gap Hawk Watch

Hundreds of Golden Eagles fly right by Cumberland MD

I had an unexpected great Golden Eagle day on Thurday, Nov. 7th.  The forcast was calling for winds from the NW (which isn't a favorable wind for raptor migration in our area).  On top of that there was rain during the morning hours (another factor which usually isn't favorable).  Despite the forcast, I decided to make the drive down since the afternoon was supposed to clear.  On Tuesday and Wednesday the winds were from the proper direction (ESE), just not hard enough to send the birds down Wills Mountain and over Cumberland Gap.  The birds did however move down The Allegheny Front where the winds were blowing a very favorable 12 or so mph out of the East.  Over 100 Golden Eagles flew down the Front over the course of several days.  Then with Allegheny Front socked in bad weather and a bunch of Eagles in the "pipeline" it seems the birds decided to keep moving down Wills Mountain where the weather was clearer and  continued movement.  We set a new one day record of 27 Golden Eagles migrating past Cumberland Gap.
Counters will be at the watch site all weekend long.  Stop up and see the Golden Eagles fly by.

The GOEA's labored by on the slow winds

The Turkey Vultures were out in full force right off the cliff

Black Vultures flying over the Cumberland Gap

A cloud that looked like a feather...

Fall '13 Golden Eagle season is underway

The Cumberland Gap hawk watch view

A one person hawk watch is a tough thing to keep up.  Especially when it takes over an hour to get there.  For the past several years in both spring and fall I've spent time observing and counting raptors here.  Artmor Plastics is no longer in business and the red gate is always locked.  This makes it a trek to get up to the watch.

One of my favorite hawk watching buddies "Big Ed" Gowarty,
enjoying some great looks after surviving the hike up.
A great fall day at Cumberland Gap hawk watch 2011.

Once again I assure you that when the views present themselves, you'll be glad you made the hike.  Some old friends of mine emailed me stating that they were going to spending more time down towards Cumberland due to a newly discovered campground.  They were wondering if I'd like them to forward their counts.  I figured I'd do one better and make them official counters at CGHW.  So I'm pleased to announce that Brian, Jeanine, Meadow and Theo Ging-Wargo will be familiar faces at the watch.  This adventurous family of 4 will be happy to share some conversation with you up at the watch.  Stop by on the weekends and say hello to the new faces at CGHW.

After the Ging-Wargo's first weekend as counters, I decided to spend Monday, November 4th at the watch.  The day started out with nearly calm SW winds.  The first raptor of the day was a Red-Tailed hawk at 8:32.  The morning hours went by with a fair number of birds per hour.  The wind would periodically pick up to a blustery 6mph.  Several juvenile Bald Eagles flew by during the morning and 1 subadult BE coming through for the 1:00-2:00 hour.  The highlight of the day was the shift in winds from NE to SW to SE by Noon.  The wind speed increased a little and seemed to start the Golden Eagles coming through.  We had a total of 19 Golden Eagles, with the last bird of the day being a Golden at 4:38 (not long before dark).  RT's proved to be the predominant flyers for the day.  Here are some photos from the day...

Juv Bald Eagle

Sharp Shinned Hawk

Where's Waldo?  There's a Juv Bald Eagle in the center of this photo

Dark-eyed Junco

Black-capped Chickadee

American Goldfinch

Golden Eagle

Golden Eagle

Golden Eagle

Golden Eagle

Golden Eagle.. Wait what's this below? Hmmmm

a possible double Double-crested Cormorant dinner.  He doubled back,
took a look, but gave up easily.  He then continued back on his way south

Golden Eagle

Golden Eagle, the last bird of the day...