Hawk Watch Count 11-30-2008

Official Observer: Seth Cutright

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0            109            173
Turkey Vulture               0            625           1071
Osprey                       0             21           1010
Bald Eagle                   0             36            285
Northern Harrier             0             82            613
Sharp-shinned Hawk           0            512          10931
Cooper's Hawk                0            287           4454
Northern Goshawk             0              4              6
Red-shouldered Hawk          0            163            227
Broad-winged Hawk            0              2            528
Red-tailed Hawk              0            478            737
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              1
Golden Eagle                 0             17             25
American Kestrel             0             29           3021
Merlin                       0              9           1263
Peregrine Falcon             0              9           1409
Unknown Accipiter            0              0              0
Unknown Buteo                0              0              0
Unknown Falcon               0              0              0
Unknown Eagle                0              0              0
Unknown Raptor               0              0              1
Mississippi Kite             0              0              2
Swallow-tailed Kite          0              0              1
Swainson's Hawk              0              0              3

Total:                       0           2383          25761


Non-raptor Observations:
Around 2,000 Snow Geese flew over the hawk count area.  Two large flocks at
around 700 birds each came together to make a large flock.  They went over
the parking lot together and then flew around past the lighthouse.  They
then flew off to the North, North-East.  Then for the rest of the day I saw
a number of smaller flocks going past. 

Since this is the last official count day I would just like to thank a few
people.  First thanks to Vince Elia and CMBO for the chance to count here.
It has been a great time.  Then I would like to thank all of the local Cape
May birders that have been so nice to me, helped me out, and made me feel
welcome here.  A big thanks also goes out to all of the Interpretive
Naturalist, Lizzie Condon, Ashley Green, Jon Kauffman, and Melissa Roach,
who did a great job at the hawk watch.  Then to the other people I got to
know and live with, Sam Galick, Morning Flight Counter, Erin Cord, Monarch
Intern, and Sean Fitzgerald, Sea Watch Counter, it was great to get to know
you guys, and you are good friends.  Last but not least a big thanks goes
out to Swing Counter, Dan Berard.  Thanks for helping count the count, and
learning the count here with me.  The count has been fun with you Dan. 

Here are just a few notes on the totals of the official season. We counted
over 25,000 raptors this season.  A new single day high count on 10
November of 14 Golden Eagles was recorded.  Over 10,000 Sharp-shinned Hawks
were recorded, and over 1400 Peregrine Falcons.  Another highlight was the
first ever Swallow-tailed Kite counted from the hawk watch platform.  I
will do another blog post about all of the other totals and other notes
from this season.  I will also keep posting the new un-official count
totals and notes for the next two weeks.