The light NE winds early on in the day made for a day where more waterbirds were moving than raptors. A handful of flocks of Great Egrets were seen moving over the ocean, as well as over 250 Double-crested Cormorants getting a little jump on their migrations. Ospreys and American Kestrels moved in very small numbers, but as the wind shifted around to the south through the day, the raptor flight became even more anemic.
Luckily, as usual in Cape May, the slow day was periodically interspersed with interesting non-raptor sightings, such as a flyby Baird's Sandpiper, at least 4 Tricolored Herons (always a nice species to see on Cape Island), and the unquestionable highlight of the day: a flyby White-winged Dove.
Luckily, as usual in Cape May, the slow day was periodically interspersed with interesting non-raptor sightings, such as a flyby Baird's Sandpiper, at least 4 Tricolored Herons (always a nice species to see on Cape Island), and the unquestionable highlight of the day: a flyby White-winged Dove.
Digi-binned shot of the White-winged Dove as it flew in front of the Lighthouse (copyright Doug Gochfeld)Tomorrow looks like another slow raptor day, but with SSW winds, maybe we'll get some more southern visitors to join the Black-bellied Whistling Ducks (4 continuing at the State Park), and the newly appeared Dove.
Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 06, 2010
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 0 22 22
Osprey 27 264 264
Bald Eagle 4 24 24
Northern Harrier 0 23 23
Sharp-shinned Hawk 4 30 30
Cooper's Hawk 4 24 24
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0
Broad-winged Hawk 0 3 3
Red-tailed Hawk 1 9 9
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 11 185 185
Merlin 2 7 7
Peregrine Falcon 1 2 2
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: 54 593 593
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Observation start time: 05:15:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 10.75 hours
Official Counter: Doug Gochfeld
Observers:
Weather:
Light NE Wind early, shifting east and then south.
Raptor Observations:
3 Ospreys crossed Delaware Bay in 21 minutes with a light ENE tailwind.
Non-raptor Observations:
White-winged Dove flyby, Baird's Sandpiper flyby, White-rumped Sandpiper, 4
Tricolored Herons, 5 juvenile Brown Pelicans, 825 Bobolinks. Great Egrets
migrating early.
Predictions:
SSW Winds, very few raptors expected to move.
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