Hawk Watch Wednesday November 30, 2011

And that's the ballgame! The last day of the Hawk Watch was actually pretty good. The sun was shining for most of the day, I counted over 60 birds, and there was plenty of good company.

It's true that the count this fall was quite a bit lower than last year's, and the platform didn't see any mega rarities but I'm still leaving the upper deck with a happy heart. Sure, we didn't get a gos this year (total bummer) but we had a great season for Swainson's Hawks! Yes, the weather gods were NOT on our side this season (so much South wind and not enough Northwest), but it was relatively mild (I never even pulled out my sleeping bag!). We still had a solid number of migrants this year and lots of other birds to keep visitors entertained. I feel so lucky to have been one small part of this fall season at Cape May, and I would like to thank everyone who came out to enjoy the birds and pay me a visit. The season would be nothing if it weren't for your smiling and helpful faces (no matter how many cool birds were around!). Thanks again for yet another great fall in good ol Cape May :D

Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 30, 2011
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Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                7             31             80
Turkey Vulture              20            240            648
Osprey                       0             20           2629
Bald Eagle                   3             53            425
Northern Harrier             2            187            823
Sharp-shinned Hawk          19            617          15136
Cooper's Hawk                5            119           2929
Northern Goshawk             0              0              0
Red-shouldered Hawk          1            135            264
Broad-winged Hawk            0              5            991
Red-tailed Hawk              7            275            555
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0              1              6
American Kestrel             0             27           5251
Merlin                       1             10           1602
Peregrine Falcon             0             25           1083
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:                      65           1745          32428
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Observation start time: 07:00:00
Observation end   time: 15:00:00
Total observation time: 8 hours

Official Counter:        Melissa Roach

Observers:       

Weather:
Moderate to heavy Southwest then West winds throughout the day with mostly
clear skies becoming dark and overcast around 1.

Raptor Observations:
A pretty decent day for the end of November dominated by vultures and
Sharp-shins.

Non-raptor Observations:


Predictions:
No predictions because the count is DONEZO!
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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/