The Potomac Valley Audubon Society will sponsor a hawk-watching trip to Waggoner’s Gap in south central Pennsylvania, near Carlisle, on Sunday, Nov. 3. The trip will be led by local birding expert Sandy Sagalkin.

There is no fee, and anyone with an interest is welcome to participate. However, space will be limited to eight persons and pre-registration is required. To pre-register and get details about the time of departure and carpooling possibilities, contact Sandy at monsansagalkin@myactv.net or 240-291-6465.

The drive time to Waggoner’s Gap from the eastern panhandle is about two hours. The stay at the site will be about four to five hours.

Waggoner’s Gap is one of the best-known hawk-watching sites on the East coast. It began to attract regular visitors in the late 1930s, and hawk-migration data have been collected there since the early 1950s.

The trip is timed to catch the peak migration period for Red-tailed Hawks and Golden Eagles.

The site is basically a rock pile at the top of a 1,500-footridge. This offers excellent views but it also leaves visitors very exposed to the weather. Therefore, trip participants should be prepared for very cold temperatures-possibly in the 30s or 40s-and windy conditions and should dress for weather 15-20 degrees colder than forecast.

Participants should also pack a lunch and bring water as nothing is available at the site. They should also bring cushions to sit on, since there is limited space for folding chairs.

Loaner binoculars will be available for participants that do not have their own.