Hawk Watch Friday October 16, 2009

Finally we have internet back up at the seasonal staff house, after about 10 days down. The hawk watch was pretty interesting today, although it wasn't really related to the raptor movement. Earlier in the day a Hudsonian Godwit (found by Pete Dunne) treated those who were quick to a close view as it flew over the South Pavilion. Other birds present at times through the day were 5-6 Parasitic Jaegers, 2 Northern Gannets, an American Bittern, Cape May Warbler, American Pipits, and 4 Glossy Ibis
(I'm sure I'm missing something). We also watched two Laughing Gulls grab an unfortunate Warbler-sized passerine in the afternon after what was almost certainly an arduous and nearly succesful journey by the victim. Also great were 4 extremely cooperative White-crowned Sparrows found by Michael O'Brien at the south edge of the parking lot, which had multipled to 6 (2 adults, 4 juveniles) by 4:00 PM.

Hawkcount data will be posted a bit later.
Location: Cape Island--Cape May Point SP--CMBO Hawk Watch
Observation date: 10/16/09
Notes: Light Rain, NE winds
Number of species: 70

Brant (Atlantic) 35
Canada Goose X
Mute Swan X
Gadwall 4
American Wigeon 10
Mallard 12
Blue-winged Teal 2
Northern Shoveler 4
Northern Pintail 1
Green-winged Teal 15
Ring-necked Duck 3
Surf Scoter 40
Black Scoter 500
Red-throated Loon 3
Pied-billed Grebe 6
Northern Gannet 2
Double-crested Cormorant 100
American Bittern 1
Great Blue Heron 3
Black-crowned Night-Heron 1
Turkey Vulture 8
Osprey 7
Northern Harrier 5
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
American Kestrel 4
Merlin 9
Peregrine Falcon 3
American Coot 10
Killdeer 8
Lesser Yellowlegs 1
Ruddy Turnstone 1
Sanderling 15
Dunlin 30
Laughing Gull X
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull X
Caspian Tern 2
Common Tern 1
Forster's Tern 40
Royal Tern 20
Black Skimmer 3
Parasitic Jaeger 5
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Blue Jay X
American Crow X
Fish Crow X
Tree Swallow 400
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 2
Cliff Swallow 6
Carolina Wren 4
Golden-crowned Kinglet 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 6
American Robin 2
Northern Mockingbird X
European Starling X
Cedar Waxwing 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 30
Palm Warbler (Western) 3
Palm Warbler (Yellow) 5
Blackpoll Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 2
Savannah Sparrow 2
Song Sparrow 5
Swamp Sparrow 4
White-throated Sparrow 1
White-crowned Sparrow 6
Northern Cardinal X