Hawk Watch Wednesday November 2, 2011

Well, it is clear to me that that month of November has arrived. It's significantly colder (why, yes, I am wearing 3 pant layers these days) and most raptor activity occurs from late morning to just after midday now. Buteos (Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawks) have replaced falcons. Osprey numbers are dwindling. It is, however, rarity month!! In fact, we were treated to a very nice rarity today: a White-winged Dove zipped right over the platform and proceeded to land in a scrub about 50 ft from the platform providing awesome scope views. Who knows what other goodies will show up throughout the month.

Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 02, 2011
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Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0              0             49
Turkey Vulture               0              0            408
Osprey                       9             10           2619
Bald Eagle                   8              8            380
Northern Harrier             6              9            645
Sharp-shinned Hawk          76            109          14628
Cooper's Hawk               13             22           2832
Northern Goshawk             0              0              0
Red-shouldered Hawk         14             18            147
Broad-winged Hawk            3              3            989
Red-tailed Hawk             27             40            320
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0              0              5
American Kestrel             1              2           5226
Merlin                       1              3           1595
Peregrine Falcon             4              5           1063
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              0              6

Total:                     162            229          30912
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Observation start time: 06:30:00 
Observation end   time: 15:00:00 
Total observation time: 8.5 hours

Official Counter:        Melissa Roach

Observers:        

Weather:
Light North then Northeast winds until noon then the winds suddenly
switched to South-southwest for the remaining 3 hours.  Not a cloud the
entire day.

Raptor Observations:
A fairly good movement midday but with very little wind and no clouds,
birds got very high very fast.  

Non-raptor Observations:
1 White-winged Dove flew right over the platform then perched in nearby
bush, 2 Parasitic Jaegers, 1 Red-throated Loon, 10 Brant, 1 Red-breasted
Nuthatch, 2 Eurasion Wigeons continuing on the pond, Lincoln's Sparrow

Predictions:
Tomorrow holds very little promise with Southwest winds called for all day
long.
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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/