BIRDS OF PREY OBSERVED IN FALL MIGRATION ALONG THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS OF VIRGINIA
Notes and Illustrations to Assist Observers of the
Fall Migration of Hawks over the Blue Ridge Mountains
Notes by Paul Saunier, Jr.
Illustrations by J. B. May

Buteos | Accipiters | Harriers | Falcons
Notes for Charlottesville-Area Hawkwatchers
Recommended Hawk-watching Sites

Illustrations of harriers, accipiters and falcons are as they glide overhead at moderate speeds; others are shown in soaring configuration. All may spread tails in soaring and in fast glides hold their wingtips back and narrow their tails, greatly changing configuration. In most species, immature have brownish backs, brown and white streaked breasts, and faintly barred tails. Most reach adult plumage in second year, but eagles not until the fifth or sixth year. Numbers denote average wingspans in inches male (M) and female (F).

	Osprey M 55″ F 68″ brown above light below glides with wingtips down dark wrists top of head white
	Bald Eagle M 80″ F 85″ adult has white head and tail; immature blotchy brown
	Golden Eagle M 80″ F 87″ shades of brown immature shown has large white intermediate tailband
	Turkey Vulture M 70″ F 70″ dark brown and gray; often looks black; heavy flaps, soars with wingtips up
	Black Vulture M 57″ F 57″ adult has white wing patches below quick flaps short tail

BUTEOS

Stocky builds; usually circle and soar at intervals while migrating; glide at prey

	Red-Shouldered Hawk M 38″ F 45″ brown above patterned russet breast
	Rough-Legged Hawk M 50″ F 54″ hovers variable brown to black usually has white base to tail
	Broad-Winged Hawk M 35″ F 36″ brown above patterned russet breast wide outer tailbands
	Red-Tailed Hawk M 48″ F 52″ common resident brown above light breast tail russet above, light below

ACCIPITERS

Blue-gray above, patterned russet breasts;
flap and glide flight, overtakes prey

	Sharp-Shinned Hawk M 22″ F 25″ square tail
	Cooper’s Hawk M 28″ F 33″ round tail

HARRIER

Northern Harrier M 42″ F 49″ Only U.S. harrier; formerly known as “Marsh Hawk” hovers, soars with wingtips up; white rump male shown is two-tone gray with black wingtips; female brown above

FALCONS

Pointed wings, long tails, deep wing strokes, very fast

	American Kestrel M 21″ F 22″ Hovers; rufous tails; male has facial marks, male black bluish; female brownish
	Merlin M 24″ F 25″ light streaked breast; male bluish above; female brownish
	Peregrine M 40″ F 45″ blue-gray above, buffy breast

NOTES FOR CHARLOTTESVILLE-AREA HAWKWATCHERS

Each fall, thousands of hawks and other birds of prey migrate southward along the Blue Ridge en route from their nesting sites in the northern U.S. and Canada to winter food sources on the Gulf Coast or in Central America, sometimes traveling 300 miles a day. They usually include eight species of hawks (eagles are in the hawk family), harriers, ospreys, and three species of falcons. The largest numbers have historically been seen in mid-September near Rockfish Gap, the narrowest part of the Blue Ridge where Interstate 64 intersects the Blue Ridge Parkway. They include broadwinged-hawks (by far the most numerous), sharp-shinned hawks, northern harriers, American kestrels, ospreys, and bald eagles. The greatest variety of migrants usually pass through in the first week of October, when broadwing numbers rapidly decline but Cooper’s hawks, red-shouldered hawks, merlins and peregrines (two falcons), rough-legged hawks and golden eagles are also seen. Large non-migrating residents also in the air are turkey vultures, black vultures, ravens, crows, and red-tailed hawks; some non-resident vultures and many red-tails from farther north migrate southward over the area in the late fall. On several mid-September days in the 1980s and 90s more than 10,000 southbound raptors were counted by volunteer watchers stationed at the “Inn at Afton“, which overlooks Rockfish Gap. Some birds flew directly; others soared in spiral “kettles” of dozens to hundreds of birds climbing or drifting in thermal updrafts. (From the tops of kettles such migrants glide southward.)Weather greatly affects an observer’s chances of seeing these exciting birds perform. They tend to fly closer in the mornings and late afternoons of north-to-west winds, flying peak-to-peak or on the windward side of a ridge, where they glide on the “lift” made by wind pressing against the slope. Many experienced observers begin an expedition by checking conditions from the parking lot of the “Inn at Afton“. The height of the southbound birds and where they pass helps the observer determine whether to join the hospitable volunteer migrant-counters on the patio below the dining room or to move to one of the recommended lookout points (as described elsewhere in this brochure). Hawkwatchers should be equipped with water, snacks, hat and extra jacket for cold wind, folding chair or ground cloth, binoculars and patience. Binoculars (6-to-12 power) are a must. They enable observers to see colors and details otherwise lost, and beyond 2,000 feet even the silhouette of a medium-sized hawk is not recognizable to the naked eye.

RECOMMENDED HAWK-WATCHING SITES IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA

Rockfish Gap / Blue Ridge Parkway Watch from the northwest edge of the “Inn at Afton” parking lot by the barrier, farther west along the driveway, or from the lawn to the northeast below the dining room. If winds are light or easterly, try east-facing lookouts or high fields as far south as Wintergreen.Calf Mountain Overlook About 12 minutes north of Rockfish Gap on Skyline Drive, past Beagle Gap, the Calf Mountain Overlook has wider views than at most other lookouts, and hawks often pass closer than at other sites if the wind is north through west. Here hawks often make low passes at owl decoys watchers sometimes post on nearby private property. Excellent parking.

Calf Mountain and Bear Den Mountain At Beagle Gap, the Appalachian Trail (A-T) crosses Skyline Drive and passes through old cattle fences. From here, a 15-minute climbing walk north up the A-T and then west across an easily seen open stretch brings one to the open summit of Calf Mountain, with rocks to sit on, a spectacular view and usually good hawk-watching. A similar walk south up the A-T puts one atop Bear Den Mountain (an “antenna farm”) with several choices for various winds.

Loft Mountain A half-hour drive north from Calf Mountain, one can park in the restaurant lot at Loft Mountain and take a gentle 20-minute climbing walk east up the “Deadening Trail” to the rocky west watch point and the less attractive east watch point. Views from the west rock group can be spectacular.

Acknowledgments

This brochure was produced through volunteer efforts for the Ivy Creek Foundation.
Text by Paul Saunier, Jr.
Design by Dede Smith. September 1996