Hawk Watch Thursday September 16, 2010

I'm pretty sure my face got windburnt today. I don't know if you stepped outside today, but if you did, I'm sure you noticed the very strong gusts of wind (especially if you wandered over to the point). Not only were the winds persistently strong, they were coming from the wrong direction. That being said, it wasn't a horrible day at the platform. I managed to count 98 raptors (almost all before noon) and get some great looks at foraging Peregrines.

We also had a Marbled Godwit fly by early in the morning, a Spotted Sandpiper bopping around the shoreline, a Clay-colored Sparrow feeding with the flock of House Sparrows for a short time, and at least 200 Royal Terns migrating over Bunker Pond. Even though the weather was not ideal, it turned out to be a pretty good day.

Taken during yesterday's great flight, this photo depicts an immature Cooper's Hawk (left) with a Merlin (right) just after the Merlin had divebombed the accipiter (Tom Johnson).

Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 16, 2010
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Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0              0              0
Turkey Vulture               0            107            107
Osprey                      44           1704           1704
Bald Eagle                   0            112            112
Northern Harrier             2            140            140
Sharp-shinned Hawk          24            863            863
Cooper's Hawk                5            351            351
Northern Goshawk             0              0              0
Red-shouldered Hawk          0              5              5
Broad-winged Hawk            3            237            237
Red-tailed Hawk              0             73             73
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0              0              0
American Kestrel            15           1558           1558
Merlin                       3            217            217
Peregrine Falcon             2             12             12
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:                      98           5379           5379
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Observation start time: 05:45:00
Observation end   time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 10.25 hours

Official Counter:        Melissa Roach

Observers:      

Weather:
Very strong SE/S winds today with partly cloudy skies turning to overcast.

Raptor Observations:
Surprisingly decent movement considering the strong South winds.  Mostly
Osprey, Sharp-shinned, and American Kestrel.

Non-raptor Observations:
Marbled Godwit (flyby), Spotted Sandpiper, 200+ migrating Royal Terns,
Northern Pintail, Clay-colored Sparrow foraging with the House Sparrows

Predictions:
Strong West winds predicted for tomorrow so hopefully a better flight than
today but I'm not expecting large numbers.