Hawk Watch Wednesday November 3, 2010

A slower day on the Hawk Watch platform with little raptor movement, especially in the afternoon when things really started to die down. Most birds were high and fairly far away so there weren't too many exceptional views. The banders did bring a juvenile Northern Goshawk to the platform in the afternoon which provided a nice treat for visitors.

Once again, the Tundra Swan was seen flying around the State Park a few times before landing briefly on Bunker Pond (and consequently being chased away by the Mute Swans). There was a dashing Hooded Merganser and a couple of striking Northern Pintail sitting on the pond today as well. In the late afternoon, a Long-eared Owl was briefly seen flying near the first plover pond as 4 crows harassed it.

Tomorrow's forecast is looking a little grim with rain predicted throughout the day.

Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 03, 2010
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Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture               12             85            261
Turkey Vulture              22            720           1810
Osprey                       2              8           4538
Bald Eagle                   2             27            436
Northern Harrier            19            284           1915
Sharp-shinned Hawk          59            866          18673
Cooper's Hawk               17            211           3896
Northern Goshawk             1              4              6
Red-shouldered Hawk          8            104            218
Broad-winged Hawk            0              5           1212
Red-tailed Hawk             19            651           1233
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0             12             20
American Kestrel             4             24           5585
Merlin                       8             22           2195
Peregrine Falcon             2              9           1378
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:                     175           3032          43377
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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:
Light and variable East winds for the first couple of hours becoming
light/moderate Southeast winds for the majority of the day.

Raptor Observations:
Light movement today with decent Sharp-shinned Hawks, Red-tailed Hawks, and
Northern Harriers.

Non-raptor Observations:
1 Hooded Merganser; 1 Tundra Swan; lots of Northern Gannet, Red-throated
Loons, and scoters; 1 Long-eared Owl being harassed by crows in the late
afternoon.

Predictions:
ENE winds early on becoming South in the afternoon and eventually West by
the end of the day.  Rain is expected.