Avalon Seawatch, November 24-30, 2012

Week 10 results:

Brant  57
Wood Duck  2
American Wigeon  6
American Black Duck  212
Mallard  15
Northern Shoveler  20
Northern Pintail  2
Green-winged Teal  325
Greater Scaup  32
Lesser Scaup  194
Scaup sp.  98
King Eider  1
Common Eider  10
Harlequin Duck  1
Surf Scoter  1900
White-winged Scoter  31
Black Scoter  5007
Dk-wing Scoter  2269
Scoter sp.  370
Long-tailed Duck  87
Bufflehead  238
Hooded Merganser  33
Red-breasted Merganser  121
Red-throated Loon  15241
Common Loon  78
Horned Grebe  17
Northern Gannet  466
Double-crested Cormorant  141
Great Cormorant  3
Great Blue Heron  4
Laughing Gull  16
Bonaparte's Gull  65
Ring-billed Gull  851
Herring Gull  302
Iceland Gull  13
Great Black-backed Gull  11
Forster's Tern  2
Black Skimmer  1
Razorbill  1

Total  28243

Cape May Hawk Watch - 30 November 2012


Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 30, 2012
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                4            141            202
Turkey Vulture              41           1170           1532
Osprey                       0             35           2770
Bald Eagle                   3             40            309
Northern Harrier             5            408           1307
Sharp-shinned Hawk          10           5624          19881
Cooper's Hawk                8            767           3617
Northern Goshawk             1             30             34
Red-shouldered Hawk         10            778            840
Broad-winged Hawk            0             12            678
Red-tailed Hawk             23           1927           2252
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0             19             19
American Kestrel             0            294           5626
Merlin                       0             96           1901
Peregrine Falcon             1             19           1161
Unknown Accipiter            0              0              0
Unknown Buteo                0              1              1
Unknown Falcon               0              0              0
Unknown Eagle                0              0              0
Unknown Raptor               0              0              0
Swainson's Hawk              0              1              3

Total:                     106          11362          42133
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 07:00:00 
Observation end   time: 15:30:00 
Total observation time: 8.5 hours

Official Counter:        Tom Reed

Observers:        

Visitors:
The top deck was filled with hawk watch regulars throughout much of the
day, and I think everyone had a great time.

This seems like a good time (and space) to offer my thanks to everyone who
visited and assisted with this year's hawk watch. I hope you enjoyed the
season as much as I did. 


Weather:
A chilly start, but warmed up nicely for the afternoon. Mainly sunny in the
AM, with increasing high clouds through the PM. Winds light from the W/SW
through early-PM, ending at SE.

Raptor Observations:
A fine flight for the last day of the season, with mixed kettles of
vultures, buteos and accipiters throughout the midday hours, a bay-crossing
Peregrine during the late-AM, and the year's final bird, a Bald Eagle
heading out to Delaware at 2:43pm.

Non-raptor Observations:
Red Crossbill (~40), Redhead (2), Cave Swallow (1), Tree Swallow (30), Palm
Warbler (1), Great Cormorant (1), White-winged Scoter (2), Forster's Tern
(7), Laughing Gull (5)

Predictions:
The weather for September 1, 2013 will hopefully involve northwest winds
and a friendly sky. 

Cape May Hawk Watch - 29 November 2012


Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 29, 2012
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture               11            137            198
Turkey Vulture             109           1129           1491
Osprey                       0             35           2770
Bald Eagle                   3             37            306
Northern Harrier             0            403           1302
Sharp-shinned Hawk           3           5614          19871
Cooper's Hawk                6            759           3609
Northern Goshawk             0             29             33
Red-shouldered Hawk          0            768            830
Broad-winged Hawk            0             12            678
Red-tailed Hawk             15           1904           2229
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0             19             19
American Kestrel             0            294           5626
Merlin                       0             96           1901
Peregrine Falcon             0             18           1160
Unknown Accipiter            0              0              0
Unknown Buteo                0              1              1
Unknown Falcon               0              0              0
Unknown Eagle                0              0              0
Unknown Raptor               0              0              0
Swainson's Hawk              0              1              3

Total:                     147          11256          42027
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 07:00:00 
Observation end   time: 15:30:00 
Total observation time: 8.5 hours

Official Counter:        Tom Reed

Observers:        

Weather:
A brisk morning, seasonable by noon. Mostly sunny skies throughout. Winds
from the WNW/W throughout; generally 5-10mph.

Raptor Observations:
A little surge of vultures today, along with three more Bald Eagles and a
handful of Red-tails.

Non-raptor Observations:
Black-and-white Warbler (1- quite late, a nice pick by G. Davis), Common
Redpoll (14), Red Crossbill (~80), White-winged Crossbill (8), American
Pipit (113), Ring-billed Gull (350+), Cackling Goose (1), Cave Swallow (3),
Gadwall (239)

Red Admiral (2), Common Green Darner (1)

Predictions:
Last day of the season-- sunny, a bit warmer, light SW winds.

Cape May Hawk Watch - 28 November 2012


Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 28, 2012
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                5            126            187
Turkey Vulture              35           1020           1382
Osprey                       0             35           2770
Bald Eagle                   1             34            303
Northern Harrier             1            403           1302
Sharp-shinned Hawk          17           5611          19868
Cooper's Hawk                3            753           3603
Northern Goshawk             0             29             33
Red-shouldered Hawk          3            768            830
Broad-winged Hawk            0             12            678
Red-tailed Hawk             23           1889           2214
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0             19             19
American Kestrel             0            294           5626
Merlin                       0             96           1901
Peregrine Falcon             0             18           1160
Unknown Accipiter            0              0              0
Unknown Buteo                0              1              1
Unknown Falcon               0              0              0
Unknown Eagle                0              0              0
Unknown Raptor               0              0              0
Swainson's Hawk              0              1              3

Total:                      88          11109          41880
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 07:00:00 
Observation end   time: 15:00:00 
Total observation time: 8 hours

Official Counter:        Pete Dunne

Cape May Hawk Watch - 27 November 2012


Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 27, 2012
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0            121            182
Turkey Vulture               0            985           1347
Osprey                       0             35           2770
Bald Eagle                   0             33            302
Northern Harrier             0            402           1301
Sharp-shinned Hawk           0           5594          19851
Cooper's Hawk                0            750           3600
Northern Goshawk             0             29             33
Red-shouldered Hawk          0            765            827
Broad-winged Hawk            0             12            678
Red-tailed Hawk              0           1866           2191
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0             19             19
American Kestrel             0            294           5626
Merlin                       0             96           1901
Peregrine Falcon             0             18           1160
Unknown Accipiter            0              0              0
Unknown Buteo                0              1              1
Unknown Falcon               0              0              0
Unknown Eagle                0              0              0
Unknown Raptor               0              0              0
Swainson's Hawk              0              1              3

Total:                       0          11021          41792
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 07:00:00 
Observation end   time: 15:00:00 
Total observation time: 1 hours

Official Counter:        Tom Reed

Observers:        

Weather:
Overcast with scattered showers to start, becoming a steady light rain
through the rest of the day. Only one hour of observation time.

Raptor Observations:


Non-raptor Observations:
Laughing Gull (1)

Predictions:
Cool and sunny, winds NW 10-15mph

Cape May Hawk Watch - 26 November 2012


Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 26, 2012
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0            121            182
Turkey Vulture               0            985           1347
Osprey                       0             35           2770
Bald Eagle                   0             33            302
Northern Harrier             0            402           1301
Sharp-shinned Hawk          14           5594          19851
Cooper's Hawk                7            750           3600
Northern Goshawk             0             29             33
Red-shouldered Hawk          0            765            827
Broad-winged Hawk            0             12            678
Red-tailed Hawk             34           1866           2191
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0             19             19
American Kestrel             0            294           5626
Merlin                       0             96           1901
Peregrine Falcon             0             18           1160
Unknown Accipiter            0              0              0
Unknown Buteo                0              1              1
Unknown Falcon               0              0              0
Unknown Eagle                0              0              0
Unknown Raptor               0              0              0
Swainson's Hawk              0              1              3

Total:                      55          11021          41792
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 07:00:00 
Observation end   time: 15:00:00 
Total observation time: 8 hours

Official Counter:        Vince Elia

Cape May Hawk Watch - 25 November 2012


Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 25, 2012
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0            121            182
Turkey Vulture               0            985           1347
Osprey                       1             35           2770
Bald Eagle                   2             33            302
Northern Harrier             2            402           1301
Sharp-shinned Hawk           1           5580          19837
Cooper's Hawk                0            743           3593
Northern Goshawk             0             29             33
Red-shouldered Hawk          1            765            827
Broad-winged Hawk            0             12            678
Red-tailed Hawk              5           1832           2157
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0             19             19
American Kestrel             0            294           5626
Merlin                       0             96           1901
Peregrine Falcon             0             18           1160
Unknown Accipiter            0              0              0
Unknown Buteo                0              1              1
Unknown Falcon               0              0              0
Unknown Eagle                0              0              0
Unknown Raptor               0              0              0
Swainson's Hawk              0              1              3

Total:                      12          10966          41737
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 07:00:00 
Observation end   time: 15:30:00 
Total observation time: 8.5 hours

Official Counter:        Tom Reed

Observers:        

Weather:
Cool with variable cloudiness. Winds from the W during the AM; WSW late.

Raptor Observations:
Zzzzzzz

Non-raptor Observations:
Ring-billed Gull (1,947), Red Crossbill (60+), White-winged Crossbill (5)

Predictions:
Perhaps more of the same

Cape May Hawk Watch - 24 November 2012


Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 24, 2012
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                3            121            182
Turkey Vulture              18            985           1347
Osprey                       0             34           2769
Bald Eagle                   0             31            300
Northern Harrier             3            400           1299
Sharp-shinned Hawk           0           5579          19836
Cooper's Hawk                1            743           3593
Northern Goshawk             0             29             33
Red-shouldered Hawk          0            764            826
Broad-winged Hawk            0             12            678
Red-tailed Hawk              3           1827           2152
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0             19             19
American Kestrel             0            294           5626
Merlin                       0             96           1901
Peregrine Falcon             0             18           1160
Unknown Accipiter            0              0              0
Unknown Buteo                0              1              1
Unknown Falcon               0              0              0
Unknown Eagle                0              0              0
Unknown Raptor               0              0              0
Swainson's Hawk              0              1              3

Total:                      28          10954          41725
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 07:00:00 
Observation end   time: 15:30:00 
Total observation time: 8.5 hours

Official Counter:        Tom Reed

Observers:        

Weather:
Cool and windy, with increasing cloudiness through the day. Winds from the
WNW during the morning, W during the afternoon. Generally 15-20mph
throughout, with gusts to 40mph. A few snow flurries between 2-3pm.

Raptor Observations:
Too much wind.

Non-raptor Observations:
Greater White-fronted Goose (1- apparent Greenland bird with a flock of
Canadas), Cave Swallow (165), Evening Grosbeak (1), Red Crossbill (5),
White-winged Crossbill (9), Blackpoll Warbler (1), Palm Warbler (1), Horned
Lark (1), Snow Bunting (2), Lesser Black-backed Gull (2)

Predictions:
Cool and sunny, with W winds around 15mph.

Avalon Seawatch, November 17 - 23, 2012

Week 9 results:

Brant  515
Tundra Swan  36
Wood Duck  3
American Wigeon  7
American Black Duck  42
Mallard  1
Northern Pintail  16
Green-winged Teal  376
Redhead  1
Greater Scaup  27
Lesser Scaup  15
Scaup sp.  65
Common Eider  23
Surf Scoter  1321
White-winged Scoter  41
Black Scoter  3902
Dk-wing Scoter  8105
Scoter sp.  110
Long-tailed Duck  6
Bufflehead  26
Common Goldeneye  1
Red-breasted Merganser  139
Red-throated Loon  2818
Common Loon  60
Horned Grebe  19
Northern Gannet  401
Brown Pelican  5
Double-crested Cormorant  647
Great Cormorant  4
Great Egret  7
Laughing Gull  12
Bonaparte's Gull  2
Ring-billed Gull  131
Herring Gull  130
Great Black-backed Gull  21
Black-legged Kittiwake  1
Forster's Tern  5
Royal Tern  15
Razorbill  1
Alcid, sp.  3

Total  19060