Hawk Watch Friday November 5, 2010

Another slow-ish day at the Hawk Watch platform (not nearly as slow as yesterday thank goodness!) with only 119 migrants, most of which were Sharp-shinned Hawks and Northern Harriers. Lucy the leucistic Red-tailed Hawk (yes, we named her Lucy) was seen once again today foraging very close to the platform providing amazing views. Another raptor highlight was an adult Bald Eagle that had a transmitter on its back. I wonder where the bird came from?

There have been a few slow days in a row so I'm hoping tomorrow's North/NNW winds produce a good number of birds.

Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 05, 2010
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Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0             85            261
Turkey Vulture               0            720           1810
Osprey                       3             11           4541
Bald Eagle                   3             30            439
Northern Harrier            21            305           1936
Sharp-shinned Hawk          60            926          18733
Cooper's Hawk                7            218           3903
Northern Goshawk             0              4              6
Red-shouldered Hawk          5            109            223
Broad-winged Hawk            1              6           1213
Red-tailed Hawk              9            660           1242
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0             12             20
American Kestrel             0             24           5585
Merlin                       9             32           2205
Peregrine Falcon             1             10           1379
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:                     119           3152          43497
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Observation start time: 06:30:00 
Observation end   time: 16:00:00 
Total observation time: 9.5 hours

Official Counter:        Melissa Roach

Observers:        

Weather:
Moderate Westnorthwest winds for the first half of the day becoming West
for the remainder.  Overcast skies for the majority of the day becoming
mostly sunny by late afternoon.

Raptor Observations:
Slower movement today with respectable numbers of Sharp-shinned Hawks and
Northern Harriers.

Non-raptor Observations:
1 Red-necked Grebe, 1 Great Cormorant, 1 Baltimore Oriole, 2 Bufflehead, 2
Wilson's Snipe, 6 Cave Swallows, 1 Stilt Sandpiper, 1 Pectoral Sandpiper

Predictions:
Light to moderate North winds becoming NNW by noon with clear skies.