Cape May Hawk Watch - 20 September 2012


Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 20, 2012
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Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0              0              0
Turkey Vulture               0              7              7
Osprey                      81            784            784
Bald Eagle                   2             88             88
Northern Harrier             5            173            173
Sharp-shinned Hawk          93            792            792
Cooper's Hawk               14            192            192
Northern Goshawk             0              0              0
Red-shouldered Hawk          0              2              2
Broad-winged Hawk            4             84             84
Red-tailed Hawk              0             19             19
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0              0              0
American Kestrel            36           1453           1453
Merlin                      34            281            281
Peregrine Falcon            25             69             69
Unknown Accipiter            0              0              0
Unknown Buteo                0              0              0
Unknown Falcon               0              0              0
Unknown Eagle                0              0              0
Unknown Raptor               0              0              0

Total:                     294           3944           3944
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Observation start time: 05:30:00 
Observation end   time: 16:00:00 
Total observation time: 10.5 hours

Official Counter:        Tom Reed

Observers:        

Weather:
Seasonable with variable cloudiness throughout. Light N wind to start,
shifting to NE and E by the late AM; SE to S during the PM. Varying ceiling
heights throughout the day, with generally more coverage while winds were
stronger from the E/NE.


Raptor Observations:
Multiple flight lines/heights throughout the day. PM movement punctuated by
high, steady trickle of Osprey and Peregrines.

Non-raptor Observations:
A respectable morning flight included Red-bellied Woodpecker (4+), Cape May
Warbler (2), Magnolia Warbler (1), Purple Finch (4), Red-breasted Nuthatch
(~20), Bobolink (125+), and small numbers of other expected species.

Also- Common Nighthawk (4), Double-crested Cormorant (400+), Glossy Ibis
(~12), Bank Swallow (2), Purple Martin (6)

Predictions:
Warmer; SE winds