Cape May Hawk Watch - 31 October 2012


Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 31, 2012
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Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0             50             61
Turkey Vulture               0            305            362
Osprey                      29           1165           2735
Bald Eagle                   2            124            269
Northern Harrier            13            617            899
Sharp-shinned Hawk         307          11623          14257
Cooper's Hawk               22           2335           2850
Northern Goshawk             0              3              4
Red-shouldered Hawk          1             59             62
Broad-winged Hawk            0            450            666
Red-tailed Hawk              4            298            325
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0              0              0
American Kestrel             5           2652           5332
Merlin                      21           1210           1805
Peregrine Falcon             5            829           1142
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
Swainson's Hawk              0              1              2

Total:                     409          21721          30771
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Observation start time: 06:30:00 
Observation end   time: 16:00:00 
Total observation time: 9.5 hours

Official Counter:        Tom Reed

Observers:        

Weather:
Cool and breezy, with variable cloudiness throughout. Some dramatic
backgrounds courtesy of the trailing edge of Sandy. Winds from the SW/WSW
throughout, 10-15mph.

Raptor Observations:
**Today's count was conducted from The Nature Conservancy's Cape May
Migratory Bird Refuge (South Cape May Meadows), on account of Cape May
Point State Park being closed due to hurricane clean-up. 

A steady trickle of SSHA, particularly during the midday hours. A
smattering of other critters.

Non-raptor Observations:
Cave Swallow (2), Cape May Warbler (1), Blackpoll Warbler (1), Vesper
Sparrow (1)

Predictions:
Cool with a 10-15mph west wind