Hawk Watch Sunday October 24, 2010

Unfortunately, it was a pretty uneventful day at the Hawk Watch platform. There was a good movement of birds around midday, but that push came to a screeching halt in the afternoon. It's a good thing we can see the ocean from the top deck because the amazing scoter show kept me awake.

Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 24, 2010
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Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0             81            127
Turkey Vulture              19            643            841
Osprey                       5           1749           4490
Bald Eagle                   3            209            385
Northern Harrier            24            790           1261
Sharp-shinned Hawk         255          10204          15424
Cooper's Hawk               36           2481           3365
Northern Goshawk             0              1              1
Red-shouldered Hawk          1             55             60
Broad-winged Hawk            0            748           1201
Red-tailed Hawk              4            251            390
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0              3              3
American Kestrel            12           2317           5116
Merlin                      15           1189           2010
Peregrine Falcon             9            963           1240
Unknown Accipiter            0              0              0
Unknown Buteo                0              0              0
Unknown Falcon               0              0              1
Unknown Eagle                0              0              0
Unknown Raptor               0              0              0

Total:                     383          21684          35915
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Observation start time: 06:15:00 
Observation end   time: 16:00:00 
Total observation time: 9.75 hours

Official Counter:        Melissa Roach

Observers:        

Weather:
Light SSW winds becoming SW with partly cloudy skies becoming overcast by
late afternoon.

Raptor Observations:
A decent movement of birds today, especially around midday.  The count was
dominated by Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawks along with good numbers of
Northern Harriers as well.  

Non-raptor Observations:
7 Common Loons, 7 Eastern Meadowlarks, Eastern Bluebird, 5 White-crowned
Sparrows, 6 American Pipits, Pine Siskin, 1 Blackpoll

Predictions:
Variable South winds forecasted for tomorrow with isolated thunderstorms in
the afternoon.  Migration will most likely be slow.