Hawk Watch Friday October 28, 2011

It was a really fun day at the platform with a good movement of birds and diversity. Sharp-shined Hawks dominated the count but we also saw a smattering of other species such as a flyover immature Golden Eagle, another dark morph Swainson's Hawk (this one missing an outer primary) and great views of a Short-eared Owl trying to evade harassing crows.

Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 28, 2011
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Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0             34             49
Turkey Vulture              30            362            383
Osprey                      11           1241           2588
Bald Eagle                   3            236            361
Northern Harrier            10            444            615
Sharp-shinned Hawk         276          10643          14314
Cooper's Hawk               40           2297           2781
Northern Goshawk             0              0              0
Red-shouldered Hawk         11             70             79
Broad-winged Hawk            0            906            985
Red-tailed Hawk             24            196            239
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 1              3              3
American Kestrel             5           3007           5217
Merlin                       0            819           1577
Peregrine Falcon             5            523           1052
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              1              4              6

Total:                     417          20785          30249
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Observation start time: 06:15:00 
Observation end   time: 15:30:00 
Total observation time: 9.25 hours

Official Counter:        Melissa Roach

Observers:        

Weather:
Strong North then Northeast winds throughout the day with mostly cloudy
(eventually overcast) skies.  Crappy visibility.

Raptor Observations:
A good movement of birds for the first part of the day with good diversity.
 We had lots of Sharp-shins, good numbers of Turkey Vultures, Cooper's
Hawks, and a smattering of other species (ie. American Kestrels,
Peregrines, 1 Golden Eagle, 1 dark morph Swainson's Hawk  missing an outer
primary so I believe it to be a different one than before).

Non-raptor Observations:
1 Short-eared Owl
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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/