Hawk Watch Tuesday October 5, 2010

Northwest winds promised birds today, and despite the overcast skies there was no rain, so they delivered. American Kestrels were moving in good numbers early, and Ospreys were migrating all day, including many moving well offshore to the south.

Off the data sheet there was a good movement of waterbirds, especially Double-crested Cormorants, Great Blue Herons, and Northern Gannets. The 5 expected species of Swallows were all tallied, and Tree Swallows were over the State Park in the thousands. Singles of Chimney Swift, Baltimore Oriole, and Common Tern are getting to be on the late side, and a Long-billed Dowitcher and around 40 Wilsons' Snipe flew by. After yesterday's excellent White-rumped Sandpiper flight only one flew by today.

The biggest spectacle of the evening was 291 Great Blue Herons lifting off from the State Park and heading south out over the water towards Delaware in groups of up to 40.

Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 05, 2010
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Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0              7             53
Turkey Vulture               6             29            227
Osprey                     171            658           3399
Bald Eagle                   5             35            211
Northern Harrier            30            117            588
Sharp-shinned Hawk         197           1057           6277
Cooper's Hawk               53            289           1173
Northern Goshawk             0              0              0
Red-shouldered Hawk          0              4              9
Broad-winged Hawk            4             88            541
Red-tailed Hawk              1             18            157
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0              0              0
American Kestrel           274            399           3198
Merlin                      88            464           1285
Peregrine Falcon            46            280            557
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:                     875           3445          17676
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Observation start time: 06:00:00 
Observation end   time: 16:00:00 
Total observation time: 10 hours

Official Counter:        Doug Gochfeld

Observers:        

Weather:
NW/WNW Winds, overcast.

Raptor Observations:
Good American Kestrel flight early, Ospreys moving all day.

Non-raptor Observations:
Heavy Heron and Cormorant migration. Lots of Wilson's Snipe, flyover
Long-billed Dowitcher, Northern Gannet numbers, 5 species of Swallow,
Chimney Swift, Baltimore Oriole.

Predictions:
W/WSW winds with clearing skies, should be some birds moving.