Well, that's the ballgame. Or at least as far as the 2010 Cape May Hawk Count is concerned. The raptor count today was a whopping 5, and fittingly enough all were the trademark species of our Hawkwatch: Sharp-shinned Hawk. Other than that the continuing adult female Northern Harrier made two appearances, as did an adult Bald Eagle which buzzed Bunker Pond at eye level. There was only one non-raptor event worth noting today, and that was the incredible Northern Gannet extravaganza going on just offshore. Throughout the day Gannets were plunge-diving across the horizon with reckless abandon, and by the afternoon there were dozens, if not hundreds, of them strewn across the surface of the water resting (including some quite close to shore). Also of note were 2 young Great Cormorants, a Purple Finch, 2 American Pipits, 2 Blue-winged Teals, 29 Hooded Mergansers, 11 White-winged Scoters, 2 Bonaparte's Gulls, and a Forster's Tern.
With the season over, a little bit of a look back seems appropriate, starting with a brief re-cap. The overall number of Raptors counted (47,542) was the highest total since 2006, and the 2nd highest of this Millennium. Basically every raptor species was counted in higher numbers than the recent averages (not to be mistaken with the historical averages). Rough-legged Hawk, Swainson's Hawk, and Mississippi Kite were all misses, although none of them are expected in any numbers, let alone every season necessarily. Over 500 Bald Eagles were counted (breaking the season record set just last year), which makes this one of only a few counts with that distinction, Golden Eagles had one of the highest counts on record here, and Black Vultures were counted in close to record (for this location) numbers. Northern Goshawks had an excellent year, with almost 30 tallied, including an adult/2nd year-type bird which was a pretty awesome sight. Much of the Raptor increase likely had to do with the great weather pattern we had (in terms of bringing raptors to the coast) rather than increasing raptor populations across the board.
However, increased raptor numbers aside, the thing that really made this year so excellent were the people who frequented the platform throughout the season. In fact here's a little rag-tag homage just thrown together on short notice:
Melissa on day #2. Note the mostly empty platform, beneath what is presumably a sky mostly devoid of raptors.
A special shout out goes to Steve Bauer, who parked himself on the platform almost every single day for the entire season. His raptor ID (and people) skills were a welcome addition to the daily goings on at the hawkwatch. The knowledge of and experience with raptors he brought helped out immensely, and I know I speak for Melissa as well when I send out a BIG "Thank you" to Steve.
Tom Johnson, Morning Flight counter by day (...or, rather, morning), hawk instructor by nigh...afternoon. Tom's excellent skills and ready wit brought great fun to the platform, especially as he counted a modified diurnal morning flight from the platform many mornings in November.
Scott Whittle (he of the excellent Tuesday Photography Walks) enraptured with an obviously exciting high raptor flight. I believe he was convinced to take a nap on the platform just in case something really good flew by. Or maybe he's just in a food coma from all the goodies on the bench above his head.
Introducing (once again) our primary Hawk Counter. Here Melissa Roach is pretty clearly trying to cope with a very light (read: nonexistent) September "flight" on South winds.
Then again, more often than not this year this was the sight: people looking at/for many raptors in the air around the point. Here, in addition to Melissa, Steve Bauer, and Tom Johnson, are Mark Garland and some of our amazing seasonal staff: Ashley Green, Jenny Howard, Alyssia Church, and Tiffany Kersten
Should we look at the hawks, or the Dickcissel and Clay-colored Sparrows? Obviously you'll get a different answer depending on who you ask. And of course, if you ask the people who choose "hawk," which hawk they're looking at you'll get even more answers. Included here, in the background between Michael O'Brien and Richard Crossley (they chose the Sparrow), is Tom Parsons, the most consistent visitor to the platform, bar none.
Although, something that is almost always associated with the cold fronts that bring good movements of birds to Cape May id rain. Of course, a little rain doesn't put a damper on our count, as Melissa shows here.
Of course, just because the counter isn't taking shelter doesn't mean others (such as the two young Toms pictured here: Johnson and Reed) won't take advantage of an out of the wind and rain spot during a brief downpour. 
And yes on an occasion or two we even had to take shelter in the south pavilion to continue the count. The indefatigable Tony Leukering, possibly the best around at spotting (and identifying) hawks against a cloudless blue sky, was always ready with the most up-to-the-minute weather updates to tell us when to retreat, and then when it was safe to return to the open air of the platform.
And lest we forget what strange and funny things rain brings us at the Hawkwatch, I refer you to the above.
And more birders looking at birds. In fact, the primary hawk counters from each of the last two years are here doing what they do best.
Even the counter over at the Cape Henlopen State Park Hawkwatch just across the Delaware Bay from us, Forrest Rowland, made it over to our side of the Bay for a day as it got colder...
...and colder.
Some non-birders certainly enjoyed the dropping temperatures for a bit though.
Here hawkwatch regular Marc Breslow (yes those are shorts he's wearing on November 30), amazing world-class naturalist Mark Garland, and Steve Bauer enjoy the last day of the count season this afternoon. (In addition to being a great naturalist, Mark also makes some killer homemade bread)
And it wouldn't be a complete summary of the season without mentioning the official unofficial Hawkwatch mascot (and energetic Associate Naturalist) Scott Whittle's Border Terrier (although it's still up for debate as to who actually owns who): Monkey.
And without further ado, here are the season totals:
Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 30, 2010
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 345 521
Turkey Vulture 0 1546 2636
Osprey 0 46 4576
Bald Eagle 0 97 506
Northern Harrier 0 754 2385
Sharp-shinned Hawk 5 2156 19963
Cooper's Hawk 0 421 4106
Northern Goshawk 0 24 26
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 329 443
Broad-winged Hawk 0 19 1226
Red-tailed Hawk 0 1225 1807
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 19 27
American Kestrel 0 90 5651
Merlin 0 79 2252
Peregrine Falcon 0 46 1415
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0
Unknown Buteo 0 0 0
Unknown Falcon 0 1 2
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 0 0
Total: 5 7197 47542
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Observation start time: 07:00:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 9 hours
Official Counter: Doug Gochfeld
Observers:
Visitors:
Arthur Nelson, Don Freiday, Marc Breslow, Steve Bauer, Mark Garland, Scott
Whittle, Chris Vogel, Tony Leukering, Melissa Roach, Michael O'Brien,
Louise Zemaitis.
Weather:
SE Winds and Overcast all day.
Raptor Observations:
Local adult Bald Eagle.
Non-raptor Observations:
2 Great Cormorants, 2 American Pipits, Hundreds upon hundreds of Northern
Gannets going ballistic, 11 White-winged Scoters, Purple Finch.
Predictions:
0 migratory raptors will be counted. Miserable weather tomorrow followed by
potential for a good raptor flight Thursday. Unfortunately none will be
officially counted then either, as today was the last day of the official
count period.
Location: Cape Island--CMPSP--Hawkwatch Platform (CMBO hawkwatch)
Observation date: 11/30/10
Notes: SE Winds and overcast skies.
Number of species: 60
Canada Goose X
Mute Swan X
Gadwall X
American Wigeon 75
American Black Duck X
Mallard X
Blue-winged Teal 2
Northern Shoveler 14
Northern Pintail 4
Green-winged Teal 135
Surf Scoter X
White-winged Scoter 11
Black Scoter X
Hooded Merganser 29
Red-breasted Merganser 6
Ruddy Duck 4
Northern Gannet 750
Double-crested Cormorant 10
Great Cormorant 2
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 1
Black Vulture 2
Turkey Vulture 5
Bald Eagle 1
Northern Harrier 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 5
Cooper's Hawk 1
Greater Yellowlegs 14
Bonaparte's Gull 2
Laughing Gull 1
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull X
Forster's Tern 1
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) X
Blue Jay X
American Crow X
Carolina Chickadee 4
Tufted Titmouse X
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
Carolina Wren X
Golden-crowned Kinglet 1
American Robin X
Northern Mockingbird 3
European Starling X
American Pipit 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 5
Song Sparrow X
White-throated Sparrow X
Dark-eyed Junco 2
Northern Cardinal X
Red-winged Blackbird X
Common Grackle 12
Brown-headed Cowbird X
Purple Finch 1
House Finch 4
American Goldfinch 145
House Sparrow X
The young beastie (mentioned right above) during its very brief stay on the beach.
