Over 500 migrating raptors on a South wind? Yep, that's what happens when the month of September has been dominated by southerly winds. Birds just can't fight the itch anymore and start to head South...even if the winds are wrong. That's what we saw today. We had a very nice day at the platform with good showings of Sharp-shinned Hawks, American Kestrels, and Osprey. Peregrine Falcons also put on a great show for visitors today with just over 100 counted (first day over 100 this fall!). In fact, we were treated to great views of all 3 falcon species as many would fly right over the platform. We even had a Merlin zip just a few feet above visitors on the platfrom as it tried to snatch an American Goldfinch out of the air! Super cool.
A great shot of a banded female American Kestrel (photo by Tom Johnson).
Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 29, 2011
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 15 15
Turkey Vulture 0 21 21
Osprey 60 1148 1148
Bald Eagle 1 115 115
Northern Harrier 6 161 161
Sharp-shinned Hawk 170 2750 2750
Cooper's Hawk 19 397 397
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 7 7
Broad-winged Hawk 7 53 53
Red-tailed Hawk 0 43 43
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 115 1590 1590
Merlin 77 663 663
Peregrine Falcon 101 397 397
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0
Unknown Buteo 0 0 0
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 0 0
Swainson's Hawk 0 1 1
Total: 556 7361 7361
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Observation start time: 05:45:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 10.25 hours
Official Counter: Melissa Roach
Observers:
Weather:
Varying South winds throughout the day but becoming a steady
South-southwest wind for the last 3 hours. The first half of the day saw
overcast skies but blue sky finally made an appearance and the rest of the
day had partly cloudy skies.
Raptor Observations:
A very good movement of birds considering the steady South winds all day.
Sharp-shinneds and American Kestrels were the most numerous (as usual), but
Peregrines also put on a very nice show (especially in the afternoon).
Non-raptor Observations:
~2500 Double-crested Cormorants, 4 Common Loons, 4 Parasitic Jaegers, 1
Pomarine Jaeger, 3 Caspian Terns, 6 Black-bellied Plovers, 3 Stilt
Sandpipers, 2 Dunlin, 1 Eastern Phoebe
Predictions:
Similar to today's weather with light to moderate Southwest winds and a %30
chance of rain so I would expect a decent movement of birds tomorrow.
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Report submitted by Melissa Roach (roach.mc1@gmail.com)
Cape May Hawkwatch information may be found at:
http://www.njaudubon.org/Centers/CMBO/
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