Have you witnessed the fall raptor migration? It’s one of our own local “greatest shows above the earth” that can be seen from the Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch. The Hawk Watch takes place every fall just above Waynesboro on top of Afton Mountain on the grounds of the old Inn at Afton. It is one of over 200 hawk watches in North America monitored by the Hawk Migration Association. Volunteers have been observing and recording migrating raptors for 50 years at the Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch. On average, over 20,000 hawks, eagles, and falcons cruise down the Blue Ridge Mountains every fall. Visitors can see many species migrating south, some soaring close overhead. Explore the Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch website to see photos and record-breaking season counts. Mark your 2026 calendar too – visit the Hawk Watch any day between August 15 and November 30 and let volunteer counters help you spot and identify these fast-moving birds of prey. So, whether it’s raptors, songbirds, or waterfowl, grab your binoculars and get outside to watch some of the many bird species that are heading south!
Photo of Migrating Peregrine Falcon taken at the Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch