Today it was the Raptors' turn to be the stars of the show after the incredible once in a decade (or more) land-bird experience that took place this weekend. Starting before sunrise and stretching through almost the entire day there were lots of raptors moving. There were dozens of Sharp-shinned Hawks and some Northern Harriers in view pre-dawn, and shortly thereafter the Vulture and Buteo liftoff took place and the flight got awesome. Red-tailed Hawks were moving in excellent numbers all day, and more than once there were kettles containing 20+ Red-tailed Hawks. Red-shouldered Hawks put in a good showing early before tapering off in a big way for the second half of the count period.
The stars of the show, however, were the Turkey Vultures, Northern Harriers, and Golden Eagles. Turkey Vultures were moving big time, with many going out over the water and never returning. Northern Harriers were migrating in excellent numbers all day, with 41 tallied in the second to last hour. It was a rare event today when you looked out there and didn't see a Harrier. Of course, the greatest excitement was one that involved only 11 individuals...but they were all juvenile Golden Eagles! This is apparently the second highest single day total for this species at the Cape May Point State Park Hawkwatch. We have already counted 19 Goldens this season, which is halfway to the all-time season high of 38.
One of the earlier in the day juvenile Golden Eagles that passed directly over the platform. The two Golden Eagles that passed by on either side of this one took 20 and then 22 minutes to cross the Delaware Bay and get to Cape Henlopen.
The good number of Song Sparrows on Cape Island has been reduced by at least one thanks to this Merlin (with a soon-to-be-full crop) which came by the platform during the four o'clock hour. Tony was quick enough to get this photo from the parking lot as it motored by.Non-raptor highlights were as follows: 6 Cave Swallows, 1 Cattle Egret, 1 Tundra Swan, 2 Redhead, 2 Long-billed Dowitchers, 3 Pectoral Sandpipers, Short-eared Owl, Pine Warbler.
Hawkcount list with complete eBird list below:
Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 01, 2010
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 60 60 209
Turkey Vulture 503 503 1484
Osprey 5 5 4530
Bald Eagle 18 18 421
Northern Harrier 189 189 1727
Sharp-shinned Hawk 480 480 17853
Cooper's Hawk 117 117 3729
Northern Goshawk 0 0 2
Red-shouldered Hawk 60 60 166
Broad-winged Hawk 4 4 1210
Red-tailed Hawk 371 371 909
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 11 11 17
American Kestrel 14 14 5517
Merlin 11 11 2167
Peregrine Falcon 4 4 1365
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: 1847 1847 41307
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Observation start time: 06:15:00
Observation end time: 16:30:00
Total observation time: 10.25 hours
Official Counter: Doug Gochfeld
Observers:
Weather:
Clear skies, light to medium NW or N wind all day.
Raptor Observations:
Excellent Buteo, Eagle, and Vulture flight. Accipiters still moving in
numbers. 11 (!!) Golden Eagles.
Non-raptor Observations:
Short-eared Owl, 100+ Pine Siskins, Purple Finches,dozens of Eastern
Bluebirds, Pine Warbler, 20 Brant, 2 Redhead (female-types flying off
Lighthouse Pond), 15-20 American Pipits. 2 Eurasian Wigeons are on
Lighthouse Pond.
Predictions:
Sunny, light-medium North winds shifting to NNE late.
Location: Cape Island--CMPSP--Hawkwatch Platform (CMBO hawkwatch)
Observation date: 11/1/10
Number of species: 85
Brant 20
Canada Goose X
Mute Swan 6
Tundra Swan 1
Wood Duck 12
Gadwall X
American Wigeon X
American Black Duck X
Mallard X
Blue-winged Teal X
Northern Shoveler X
Northern Pintail X
Green-winged Teal X
Redhead 2
Ring-necked Duck 14
Surf Scoter X
Black Scoter X
Ruddy Duck X
Red-throated Loon 3
Common Loon 4
Pied-billed Grebe 4
Northern Gannet X
Double-crested Cormorant X
Great Blue Heron 10
Great Egret 3
Cattle Egret 1
Black Vulture 60
Turkey Vulture 503
Osprey 5
Bald Eagle 18
Northern Harrier 189
Sharp-shinned Hawk 480
Cooper's Hawk 117
Red-shouldered Hawk 60
Broad-winged Hawk 4
Red-tailed Hawk 371
Golden Eagle 11
American Kestrel 14
Merlin 11
Peregrine Falcon 4
American Coot 10
Semipalmated Plover X
Killdeer 3
Greater Yellowlegs 6
Pectoral Sandpiper 3
Long-billed Dowitcher 2
Laughing Gull X
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull X
Royal Tern X
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Short-eared Owl 1
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 25
Blue Jay X
American Crow X
Fish Crow X
Cave Swallow 6
Red-breasted Nuthatch 3
Carolina Wren 3
Eastern Bluebird 50
American Robin X
Northern Mockingbird 6
European Starling X
American Pipit 18
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) X
Pine Warbler 1
Savannah Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow X
Swamp Sparrow X
White-throated Sparrow 5
White-crowned Sparrow 4
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) X
Northern Cardinal X
Red-winged Blackbird 3000
Rusty Blackbird 15
Brown-headed Cowbird 45
Purple Finch 25
House Finch X
Pine Siskin 125
American Goldfinch X
House Sparrow X
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