Hawk Watch Wednesday October 20, 2010

It was a slow, wet day on the Hawk Watch platform yesterday with migrating hawks few and far between. The scattered showers early on soon became a constant rain and, even though I held out as long as I could, eventually drove me into the pavilion for the last hour.

Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 20, 2010
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Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0             69            115
Turkey Vulture               0            475            673
Osprey                       6           1698           4439
Bald Eagle                   0            179            355
Northern Harrier            11            654           1125
Sharp-shinned Hawk          44           8626          13846
Cooper's Hawk                4           2296           3180
Northern Goshawk             0              1              1
Red-shouldered Hawk          0             51             56
Broad-winged Hawk            0            731           1184
Red-tailed Hawk              0            192            331
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0              1              1
American Kestrel             3           2004           4803
Merlin                      26           1030           1851
Peregrine Falcon             9            922           1199
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:                     103          18929          33160
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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:
Calm to very light NNE winds throughout the day with scattered showers
becoming steady rain.

Raptor Observations:
Small bit of movement early on (mostly Sharp-shinneds and Northern
Harriers) slowing down considerably around midday due to rain.

Non-raptor Observations:
Impressive Scoter movement offshore; numerous Northern Gannets; 3 Wilson's
Snipe; 10 Common Loon; good number of Pine Siskin; Clay-colored Sparrow; 2
White-crowned Sparrow; Dickcissel

Predictions:
Mostly sunny with moderate SW winds becoming stronger throughout the day
and turning to West by late afternoon.