Avalon Seawatch - December 15-22, 2012

Week 13 results:

Snow Goose  166
Brant  64
Canada Goose  494
Tundra Swan  5
Wood Duck  7
American Black Duck  18
Mallard  8
Northern Pintail  20
Green-winged Teal  16
Lesser Scaup  22
Scaup sp.  35
Common Eider  7
Surf Scoter  1,389
White-winged Scoter  79
Black Scoter  3,965
Dk-wing Scoter  748
Scoter sp.  271
Long-tailed Duck  388
Bufflehead  15
Common Goldeneye  5
Horned Merganser  4
Red-breasted Merganser  369
Red-throated Loon  2,245
Common Loon  52
Horned Grebe  1
Red-necked Grebe  1
Northern Gannet  1497
Double-crested Cormorant  9
Great Cormorant  2
Laughing Gull  4
Bonaparte's Gull  378
Ring-billed Gull  230
Herring Gull  289
Lesser Black-backed Gull  3
Great Black-backed Gull  10
Black-legged Kittiwake  3
Razorbill  70
Alcid sp.  38

Total  12,927

Avalon Seawatch - December 8-14, 2012

Week 12 results:

Snow Goose 41
Brant  20
Canada Goose  39
American Black Duck  10
Northern Shoveler  3
Northern Pintail  2
Green-winged Teal  31
Greater Scaup  4
Lesser Scaup  1
Scaup sp.  50
Aythya sp.  18
Common Eider  36
Surf Scoter  1,664
White-winged Scoter  89
Black Scoter  11,198
Dk-wing Scoter  4,047
Scoter sp.  1,338
Long-tailed Duck  198
Bufflehead  5
Red-breasted Merganser  100
Red-throated Loon  1,409
Common Loon  13
Horned Grebe  1
Northern Gannet  1,422
Double-crested Cormorant  4
Great Blue Heron  1
Bonaparte's Gull  31
Ring-billed Gull  137
Herring Gull  52
Great Black-backed Gull  2
Forster's Tern  10
Razorbill  5
Alcid, sp.  1

Total  21,983

Avalon Seawatch - December 1-7, 2012

Week 11 results:

Snow Goose  956
Brant  45
Canada Goose  236
American Wigeon  12
American Black Duck  211
Northern Pintail  14
Green-winged Teal  52
Greater Scaup  26
Lesser Scaup  22
Scaup sp.  18
Common Eider  13
Harlequin Duck  1
Surf Scoter  2661
White-winged Scoter  78
Black Scoter  16,341
Dk-wing Scoter  3,785
Scoter sp.  631
Long-tailed Duck  109
Bufflehead  7
Common Goldeneye  4
Red-breasted Merganser  216
Red-throated Loon  5,544
Common Loon  38
Horned Grebe  11
Northern Gannet  1804
Double-crested Cormorant  24
Great Cormorant  35
Great Blue Heron  7
Great Egret  4
Laughing Gull  11
Bonaparte's Gull  142
Ring-billed Gull  686
Herring Gull  339
Lesser Black-backed Gull  1
Great Black-backed Gull  50
Common Tern  1
Forster's Tern  100
Razorbill  7

Total  34,242

Avalon Seawatch, November 24-30, 2012

Week 10 results:

Brant  57
Wood Duck  2
American Wigeon  6
American Black Duck  212
Mallard  15
Northern Shoveler  20
Northern Pintail  2
Green-winged Teal  325
Greater Scaup  32
Lesser Scaup  194
Scaup sp.  98
King Eider  1
Common Eider  10
Harlequin Duck  1
Surf Scoter  1900
White-winged Scoter  31
Black Scoter  5007
Dk-wing Scoter  2269
Scoter sp.  370
Long-tailed Duck  87
Bufflehead  238
Hooded Merganser  33
Red-breasted Merganser  121
Red-throated Loon  15241
Common Loon  78
Horned Grebe  17
Northern Gannet  466
Double-crested Cormorant  141
Great Cormorant  3
Great Blue Heron  4
Laughing Gull  16
Bonaparte's Gull  65
Ring-billed Gull  851
Herring Gull  302
Iceland Gull  13
Great Black-backed Gull  11
Forster's Tern  2
Black Skimmer  1
Razorbill  1

Total  28243

Cape May Hawk Watch - 30 November 2012


Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 30, 2012
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                4            141            202
Turkey Vulture              41           1170           1532
Osprey                       0             35           2770
Bald Eagle                   3             40            309
Northern Harrier             5            408           1307
Sharp-shinned Hawk          10           5624          19881
Cooper's Hawk                8            767           3617
Northern Goshawk             1             30             34
Red-shouldered Hawk         10            778            840
Broad-winged Hawk            0             12            678
Red-tailed Hawk             23           1927           2252
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0             19             19
American Kestrel             0            294           5626
Merlin                       0             96           1901
Peregrine Falcon             1             19           1161
Unknown Accipiter            0              0              0
Unknown Buteo                0              1              1
Unknown Falcon               0              0              0
Unknown Eagle                0              0              0
Unknown Raptor               0              0              0
Swainson's Hawk              0              1              3

Total:                     106          11362          42133
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 07:00:00 
Observation end   time: 15:30:00 
Total observation time: 8.5 hours

Official Counter:        Tom Reed

Observers:        

Visitors:
The top deck was filled with hawk watch regulars throughout much of the
day, and I think everyone had a great time.

This seems like a good time (and space) to offer my thanks to everyone who
visited and assisted with this year's hawk watch. I hope you enjoyed the
season as much as I did. 


Weather:
A chilly start, but warmed up nicely for the afternoon. Mainly sunny in the
AM, with increasing high clouds through the PM. Winds light from the W/SW
through early-PM, ending at SE.

Raptor Observations:
A fine flight for the last day of the season, with mixed kettles of
vultures, buteos and accipiters throughout the midday hours, a bay-crossing
Peregrine during the late-AM, and the year's final bird, a Bald Eagle
heading out to Delaware at 2:43pm.

Non-raptor Observations:
Red Crossbill (~40), Redhead (2), Cave Swallow (1), Tree Swallow (30), Palm
Warbler (1), Great Cormorant (1), White-winged Scoter (2), Forster's Tern
(7), Laughing Gull (5)

Predictions:
The weather for September 1, 2013 will hopefully involve northwest winds
and a friendly sky. 

Cape May Hawk Watch - 29 November 2012


Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 29, 2012
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture               11            137            198
Turkey Vulture             109           1129           1491
Osprey                       0             35           2770
Bald Eagle                   3             37            306
Northern Harrier             0            403           1302
Sharp-shinned Hawk           3           5614          19871
Cooper's Hawk                6            759           3609
Northern Goshawk             0             29             33
Red-shouldered Hawk          0            768            830
Broad-winged Hawk            0             12            678
Red-tailed Hawk             15           1904           2229
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0             19             19
American Kestrel             0            294           5626
Merlin                       0             96           1901
Peregrine Falcon             0             18           1160
Unknown Accipiter            0              0              0
Unknown Buteo                0              1              1
Unknown Falcon               0              0              0
Unknown Eagle                0              0              0
Unknown Raptor               0              0              0
Swainson's Hawk              0              1              3

Total:                     147          11256          42027
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 07:00:00 
Observation end   time: 15:30:00 
Total observation time: 8.5 hours

Official Counter:        Tom Reed

Observers:        

Weather:
A brisk morning, seasonable by noon. Mostly sunny skies throughout. Winds
from the WNW/W throughout; generally 5-10mph.

Raptor Observations:
A little surge of vultures today, along with three more Bald Eagles and a
handful of Red-tails.

Non-raptor Observations:
Black-and-white Warbler (1- quite late, a nice pick by G. Davis), Common
Redpoll (14), Red Crossbill (~80), White-winged Crossbill (8), American
Pipit (113), Ring-billed Gull (350+), Cackling Goose (1), Cave Swallow (3),
Gadwall (239)

Red Admiral (2), Common Green Darner (1)

Predictions:
Last day of the season-- sunny, a bit warmer, light SW winds.

Cape May Hawk Watch - 28 November 2012


Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 28, 2012
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                5            126            187
Turkey Vulture              35           1020           1382
Osprey                       0             35           2770
Bald Eagle                   1             34            303
Northern Harrier             1            403           1302
Sharp-shinned Hawk          17           5611          19868
Cooper's Hawk                3            753           3603
Northern Goshawk             0             29             33
Red-shouldered Hawk          3            768            830
Broad-winged Hawk            0             12            678
Red-tailed Hawk             23           1889           2214
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0             19             19
American Kestrel             0            294           5626
Merlin                       0             96           1901
Peregrine Falcon             0             18           1160
Unknown Accipiter            0              0              0
Unknown Buteo                0              1              1
Unknown Falcon               0              0              0
Unknown Eagle                0              0              0
Unknown Raptor               0              0              0
Swainson's Hawk              0              1              3

Total:                      88          11109          41880
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 07:00:00 
Observation end   time: 15:00:00 
Total observation time: 8 hours

Official Counter:        Pete Dunne

Cape May Hawk Watch - 27 November 2012


Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 27, 2012
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0            121            182
Turkey Vulture               0            985           1347
Osprey                       0             35           2770
Bald Eagle                   0             33            302
Northern Harrier             0            402           1301
Sharp-shinned Hawk           0           5594          19851
Cooper's Hawk                0            750           3600
Northern Goshawk             0             29             33
Red-shouldered Hawk          0            765            827
Broad-winged Hawk            0             12            678
Red-tailed Hawk              0           1866           2191
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0             19             19
American Kestrel             0            294           5626
Merlin                       0             96           1901
Peregrine Falcon             0             18           1160
Unknown Accipiter            0              0              0
Unknown Buteo                0              1              1
Unknown Falcon               0              0              0
Unknown Eagle                0              0              0
Unknown Raptor               0              0              0
Swainson's Hawk              0              1              3

Total:                       0          11021          41792
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 07:00:00 
Observation end   time: 15:00:00 
Total observation time: 1 hours

Official Counter:        Tom Reed

Observers:        

Weather:
Overcast with scattered showers to start, becoming a steady light rain
through the rest of the day. Only one hour of observation time.

Raptor Observations:


Non-raptor Observations:
Laughing Gull (1)

Predictions:
Cool and sunny, winds NW 10-15mph

Cape May Hawk Watch - 26 November 2012


Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 26, 2012
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0            121            182
Turkey Vulture               0            985           1347
Osprey                       0             35           2770
Bald Eagle                   0             33            302
Northern Harrier             0            402           1301
Sharp-shinned Hawk          14           5594          19851
Cooper's Hawk                7            750           3600
Northern Goshawk             0             29             33
Red-shouldered Hawk          0            765            827
Broad-winged Hawk            0             12            678
Red-tailed Hawk             34           1866           2191
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0             19             19
American Kestrel             0            294           5626
Merlin                       0             96           1901
Peregrine Falcon             0             18           1160
Unknown Accipiter            0              0              0
Unknown Buteo                0              1              1
Unknown Falcon               0              0              0
Unknown Eagle                0              0              0
Unknown Raptor               0              0              0
Swainson's Hawk              0              1              3

Total:                      55          11021          41792
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 07:00:00 
Observation end   time: 15:00:00 
Total observation time: 8 hours

Official Counter:        Vince Elia

Cape May Hawk Watch - 25 November 2012


Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 25, 2012
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0            121            182
Turkey Vulture               0            985           1347
Osprey                       1             35           2770
Bald Eagle                   2             33            302
Northern Harrier             2            402           1301
Sharp-shinned Hawk           1           5580          19837
Cooper's Hawk                0            743           3593
Northern Goshawk             0             29             33
Red-shouldered Hawk          1            765            827
Broad-winged Hawk            0             12            678
Red-tailed Hawk              5           1832           2157
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0             19             19
American Kestrel             0            294           5626
Merlin                       0             96           1901
Peregrine Falcon             0             18           1160
Unknown Accipiter            0              0              0
Unknown Buteo                0              1              1
Unknown Falcon               0              0              0
Unknown Eagle                0              0              0
Unknown Raptor               0              0              0
Swainson's Hawk              0              1              3

Total:                      12          10966          41737
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 07:00:00 
Observation end   time: 15:30:00 
Total observation time: 8.5 hours

Official Counter:        Tom Reed

Observers:        

Weather:
Cool with variable cloudiness. Winds from the W during the AM; WSW late.

Raptor Observations:
Zzzzzzz

Non-raptor Observations:
Ring-billed Gull (1,947), Red Crossbill (60+), White-winged Crossbill (5)

Predictions:
Perhaps more of the same

Cape May Hawk Watch - 24 November 2012


Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 24, 2012
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                3            121            182
Turkey Vulture              18            985           1347
Osprey                       0             34           2769
Bald Eagle                   0             31            300
Northern Harrier             3            400           1299
Sharp-shinned Hawk           0           5579          19836
Cooper's Hawk                1            743           3593
Northern Goshawk             0             29             33
Red-shouldered Hawk          0            764            826
Broad-winged Hawk            0             12            678
Red-tailed Hawk              3           1827           2152
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0             19             19
American Kestrel             0            294           5626
Merlin                       0             96           1901
Peregrine Falcon             0             18           1160
Unknown Accipiter            0              0              0
Unknown Buteo                0              1              1
Unknown Falcon               0              0              0
Unknown Eagle                0              0              0
Unknown Raptor               0              0              0
Swainson's Hawk              0              1              3

Total:                      28          10954          41725
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 07:00:00 
Observation end   time: 15:30:00 
Total observation time: 8.5 hours

Official Counter:        Tom Reed

Observers:        

Weather:
Cool and windy, with increasing cloudiness through the day. Winds from the
WNW during the morning, W during the afternoon. Generally 15-20mph
throughout, with gusts to 40mph. A few snow flurries between 2-3pm.

Raptor Observations:
Too much wind.

Non-raptor Observations:
Greater White-fronted Goose (1- apparent Greenland bird with a flock of
Canadas), Cave Swallow (165), Evening Grosbeak (1), Red Crossbill (5),
White-winged Crossbill (9), Blackpoll Warbler (1), Palm Warbler (1), Horned
Lark (1), Snow Bunting (2), Lesser Black-backed Gull (2)

Predictions:
Cool and sunny, with W winds around 15mph.

Avalon Seawatch, November 17 - 23, 2012

Week 9 results:

Brant  515
Tundra Swan  36
Wood Duck  3
American Wigeon  7
American Black Duck  42
Mallard  1
Northern Pintail  16
Green-winged Teal  376
Redhead  1
Greater Scaup  27
Lesser Scaup  15
Scaup sp.  65
Common Eider  23
Surf Scoter  1321
White-winged Scoter  41
Black Scoter  3902
Dk-wing Scoter  8105
Scoter sp.  110
Long-tailed Duck  6
Bufflehead  26
Common Goldeneye  1
Red-breasted Merganser  139
Red-throated Loon  2818
Common Loon  60
Horned Grebe  19
Northern Gannet  401
Brown Pelican  5
Double-crested Cormorant  647
Great Cormorant  4
Great Egret  7
Laughing Gull  12
Bonaparte's Gull  2
Ring-billed Gull  131
Herring Gull  130
Great Black-backed Gull  21
Black-legged Kittiwake  1
Forster's Tern  5
Royal Tern  15
Razorbill  1
Alcid, sp.  3

Total  19060

Cape May Hawk Watch - 23 November 2012


Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 23, 2012
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0            118            179
Turkey Vulture               0            967           1329
Osprey                       0             34           2769
Bald Eagle                   0             31            300
Northern Harrier             0            397           1296
Sharp-shinned Hawk           0           5579          19836
Cooper's Hawk                0            742           3592
Northern Goshawk             0             29             33
Red-shouldered Hawk          0            764            826
Broad-winged Hawk            0             12            678
Red-tailed Hawk              0           1824           2149
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0             19             19
American Kestrel             0            294           5626
Merlin                       0             96           1901
Peregrine Falcon             0             18           1160
Unknown Accipiter            0              0              0
Unknown Buteo                0              1              1
Unknown Falcon               0              0              0
Unknown Eagle                0              0              0
Unknown Raptor               0              0              0
Swainson's Hawk              0              1              3

Total:                       0          10926          41697
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 07:00:00 
Observation end   time: 15:30:00 
Total observation time: 8.5 hours

Official Counter:        Tom Reed

Observers:        

Weather:
Mild and foggy for most of the day. Visibility 1km or less until 1pm,
followed by total clearing. Winds light and variable through the morning,
becoming SW and S by day's end.

Raptor Observations:
Goose egg. 

Non-raptor Observations:
Red Crossbill (3), Cave Swallow (12)

Common Green Darner (1), Monarch (1), Red Admiral (1)

Predictions:
A strong cold front is on its way overnight. 

Sunny, NW winds 25-30mph with gusts to 40. Might be a bit much. 

Cape May Hawk Watch - 22 November 2012


Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 22, 2012
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0            118            179
Turkey Vulture               0            967           1329
Osprey                       0             34           2769
Bald Eagle                   2             31            300
Northern Harrier             0            397           1296
Sharp-shinned Hawk          18           5579          19836
Cooper's Hawk               10            742           3592
Northern Goshawk             0             29             33
Red-shouldered Hawk          3            764            826
Broad-winged Hawk            0             12            678
Red-tailed Hawk             13           1824           2149
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0             19             19
American Kestrel             1            294           5626
Merlin                       0             95           1900
Peregrine Falcon             0             18           1160
Unknown Accipiter            0              0              0
Unknown Buteo                0              1              1
Unknown Falcon               0              0              0
Unknown Eagle                0              0              0
Unknown Raptor               0              0              0
Swainson's Hawk              0              1              3

Total:                      48          10926          41697
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 07:00:00 
Observation end   time: 15:00:00 
Total observation time: 8 hours

Official Counter:        Tom Reed

Observers:        

Weather:
Sunny and mild. Winds increasing through the day; NNE in the morning, ENE
in the afternoon.

Raptor Observations:
Another rather slow day.

Non-raptor Observations:
Red Crossbill (~50), White-winged Crossbill (5), Common Redpoll (2), Cave
Swallow (~70), Barn Swallow (2)

Common Green Darner (10+), Red Admiral (4), Monarch (9), Question Mark (3)

Predictions:
Sunny, mild, light S winds.

Cape May Hawk Watch - 21 November 2012


Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 21, 2012
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0            118            179
Turkey Vulture               0            967           1329
Osprey                       0             34           2769
Bald Eagle                   0             29            298
Northern Harrier             4            397           1296
Sharp-shinned Hawk          14           5561          19818
Cooper's Hawk                8            732           3582
Northern Goshawk             1             29             33
Red-shouldered Hawk          5            761            823
Broad-winged Hawk            0             12            678
Red-tailed Hawk             17           1811           2136
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0             19             19
American Kestrel             0            293           5625
Merlin                       0             95           1900
Peregrine Falcon             0             18           1160
Unknown Accipiter            0              0              0
Unknown Buteo                1              1              1
Unknown Falcon               0              0              0
Unknown Eagle                0              0              0
Unknown Raptor               0              0              0
Swainson's Hawk              0              1              3

Total:                      50          10878          41649
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 07:00:00 
Observation end   time: 15:30:00 
Total observation time: 8.5 hours

Official Counter:        Tom Reed

Observers:        

Weather:
Mostly sunny and seasonable. Winds from the N/NNE during the morning,
becoming NE/ENE and increasing through the afternoon.

Raptor Observations:
Another predictably slow day, though the unquestionable highlight was an
extremely intriguing buteo that passed by during the mid-morning and was
possibly a RTHA x SWHA hybrid. More details/photos to come.

Non-raptor Observations:
Cave Swallow (70), Barn Swallow (3), Northern Rough-winged Swallow (2), Red
Crossbill (~55), White-winged Crossbil (~15), Common Redpoll (2),
Orange-crowned Warbler (1), Brown Pelican (1)

Red Bat (2), Monarch (6), Red Admiral (4), Question Mark (1), Common Green
Darner (2)

Predictions:
Mostly sunny, winds N ~10mph

Cape May Hawk Watch - 19 November 2012


Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 19, 2012
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0            118            179
Turkey Vulture               0            967           1329
Osprey                       0             34           2769
Bald Eagle                   0             29            298
Northern Harrier             0            393           1292
Sharp-shinned Hawk           2           5547          19804
Cooper's Hawk                1            724           3574
Northern Goshawk             1             28             32
Red-shouldered Hawk          1            756            818
Broad-winged Hawk            0             12            678
Red-tailed Hawk              1           1794           2119
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0             19             19
American Kestrel             0            293           5625
Merlin                       0             95           1900
Peregrine Falcon             0             18           1160
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              3

Total:                       6          10828          41599
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 06:45:00 
Observation end   time: 15:30:00 
Total observation time: 8.75 hours

Official Counter:        Vince Elia

Cape May Hawk Watch - 18 November 2012


Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 18, 2012
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0            118            179
Turkey Vulture               0            967           1329
Osprey                       1             34           2769
Bald Eagle                   0             29            298
Northern Harrier             8            393           1292
Sharp-shinned Hawk          24           5545          19802
Cooper's Hawk                7            723           3573
Northern Goshawk             1             27             31
Red-shouldered Hawk          7            755            817
Broad-winged Hawk            0             12            678
Red-tailed Hawk             17           1793           2118
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0             19             19
American Kestrel             1            293           5625
Merlin                       0             95           1900
Peregrine Falcon             0             18           1160
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              3

Total:                      66          10822          41593
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 06:45:00 
Observation end   time: 15:30:00 
Total observation time: 8.75 hours

Official Counter:        Tom Reed

Observers:        

Weather:
Breezy and mostly cloudy throughout. Winds from the NE for most of the day,
starting at 5-10mph early and increasing to 10-20mph late. 

Raptor Observations:
An AM-only flight, with not a whole lot going on.

Non-raptor Observations:
Black-legged Kittiwake (1), Cave Swallow (~175), Northern Rough-winged
Swallow (1), Barn Swallow (3), Cackling Goose (1), Red Crossbill (~70),
White-winged Crossbill (36), Common Redpoll (2), Snow Bunting (1), Horned
Lark (1), Pine Warbler (1)

Predictions:
More of the same

Cape May Hawk Watch - 17 November 2012


Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 17, 2012
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture               32            118            179
Turkey Vulture              21            967           1329
Osprey                       0             33           2768
Bald Eagle                   1             29            298
Northern Harrier             2            385           1284
Sharp-shinned Hawk          45           5521          19778
Cooper's Hawk               15            716           3566
Northern Goshawk             1             26             30
Red-shouldered Hawk         16            748            810
Broad-winged Hawk            0             12            678
Red-tailed Hawk             41           1776           2101
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 1             19             19
American Kestrel             1            292           5624
Merlin                       0             95           1900
Peregrine Falcon             0             18           1160
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              3

Total:                     176          10756          41527
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 06:45:00 
Observation end   time: 16:00:00 
Total observation time: 9.25 hours

Official Counter:        Tom Reed

Observers:        

Weather:
Cool with increasing clouds during the afternoon. Winds light out of the N
to start; becoming NE and increasing by late-AM, then sustained 10-15mph
with 25+mph gusts for the afternoon.

Raptor Observations:
A light but interesting flight, highlighted by singles of NOGO and GOEA.
The strong afternoon winds knocked out the flight a bit early.

Non-raptor Observations:
Cave Swallow (200+!), Northern Rough-winged Swallow (1), Barn Swallow (4),
Red Crossbill (24), White-winged Crossbill (6), Horned Lark (1), Snow
Bunting (1), Pine Warbler (1)

Predictions:
Sunny with a moderate NE breeze.

Avalon Seawatch, November 10 - 16, 2012

Week 8 results:

Brant  185
American Wigeon  36
American Black Duck  66
Mallard  12
Northern Shoveler  19
Northern Pintail  23
Green-winged Teal  392
Redhead  1
Ring-necked Duck  1
Greater Scaup  66
Lesser Scaup  116
Scaup sp.  55
Common Eider  3
Surf Scoter  2942
White-winged Scoter  37
Black Scoter  4523
Dk-wing Scoter  2967
Scoter sp.  1710
Long-tailed Duck  28
Bufflehead  48
Hooded Merganser  1
Red-breasted Merganser  127
Ruddy Duck  17
Red-throated Loon  2104
Common Loon  57
Horned Grebe  30
Northern Gannet  1192
Brown Pelican  2
Double-crested Cormorant  1752
Great Cormorant  3
Great Blue Heron  4
Laughing Gull  69
Ring-billed Gull  150
Herring Gull  201
Great Black-backed Gull  51
Forster's Tern  28
Royal Tern  24
Parasitic Jaeger  1
Razorbill  1

Total  19044

Cape May Hawk Watch - 16 November 2012


Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 16, 2012
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0             86            147
Turkey Vulture               0            946           1308
Osprey                       0             33           2768
Bald Eagle                   0             28            297
Northern Harrier             1            383           1282
Sharp-shinned Hawk          83           5476          19733
Cooper's Hawk               39            701           3551
Northern Goshawk             1             25             29
Red-shouldered Hawk         11            732            794
Broad-winged Hawk            0             12            678
Red-tailed Hawk             25           1735           2060
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0             18             18
American Kestrel             0            291           5623
Merlin                       1             95           1900
Peregrine Falcon             0             18           1160
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              3

Total:                     161          10580          41351
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 06:45:00 
Observation end   time: 16:00:00 
Total observation time: 9.25 hours

Official Counter:        Tom Reed

Observers:        

Weather:
Cool with decreasing cloudiness, particularly during the afternoon. Winds
light from the NE, shifting to N by late-morning.

Raptor Observations:
A bit more active than yesterday, with most activity limited to the
10am-12pm timeframe.

Non-raptor Observations:
http://ebird.org/ebird/nj/view/checklist?subID=S12054777

Cave Swallow (145), Cliff Swallow (2), Barn Swallow (5), Northern
Rough-winged Swallow (1), Common Redpoll (3), White-winged Crossbill (120),
Red Crossbill (105), Evening Grosbeak (1), Great Cormorant (1),
White-rumped Sandpiper (1), Horned Lark (1), Orange-crowned Warbler (1),
Pine Warbler (1)

Predictions:
Mostly sunny with a light N wind

Cape May Hawk Watch - 15 November 2012


Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 15, 2012
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0             86            147
Turkey Vulture               0            946           1308
Osprey                       0             33           2768
Bald Eagle                   1             28            297
Northern Harrier             8            382           1281
Sharp-shinned Hawk          18           5393          19650
Cooper's Hawk                8            662           3512
Northern Goshawk             0             24             28
Red-shouldered Hawk          5            721            783
Broad-winged Hawk            0             12            678
Red-tailed Hawk              8           1710           2035
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0             18             18
American Kestrel             0            291           5623
Merlin                       0             94           1899
Peregrine Falcon             0             18           1160
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              3

Total:                      48          10419          41190
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 06:45:00 
Observation end   time: 15:30:00 
Total observation time: 8.75 hours

Official Counter:        Tom Reed

Observers:        

Weather:
Cool, raw and overcast. A light/moderate NE breeze throughout.

Raptor Observations:
A quiet day.

Non-raptor Observations:
http://ebird.org/ebird/nj/view/checklist?subID=S12048281

Common Redpoll (2), White-winged Crossbill (81), Red Crossbill (24), Cave
Swallow (7), Northern Rough-winged Swallow (1), Barn Swallow (4), Horned
Lark (3), Great Cormorant (4)

Predictions:
Cool, with gradual clearing throughout the day. Light north winds.

Cape May Hawk Watch - 14 November 2012


Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 14, 2012
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture               13             86            147
Turkey Vulture              89            946           1308
Osprey                       1             33           2768
Bald Eagle                   0             27            296
Northern Harrier            12            374           1273
Sharp-shinned Hawk         134           5375          19632
Cooper's Hawk               52            654           3504
Northern Goshawk             2             24             28
Red-shouldered Hawk         39            716            778
Broad-winged Hawk            0             12            678
Red-tailed Hawk             52           1702           2027
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 1             18             18
American Kestrel             4            291           5623
Merlin                       1             94           1899
Peregrine Falcon             0             18           1160
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              3

Total:                     400          10371          41142
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 06:45:00 
Observation end   time: 16:00:00 
Total observation time: 9.25 hours

Official Counter:        Tom Reed

Observers:        

Weather:
Cool and sunny throughout. Winds from the north during most of the day,
starting 10-15mph and gradually decreasing. Winds shifted to northeast at
3:00pm, and increased again to 10-15mph.

Raptor Observations:
A decently diverse flight for the date, with most activity occurring
between 8am-12pm. The season's 18th Golden Eagle appeared at 11:20am and
was on its way to Delaware by 11:25am.

Non-raptor Observations:
White-winged Crossbill (9), Red Crossbill (19), Evening Grosbeak (1), Cave
Swallow (15), Northern Rough-winged Swallow (1), Barn Swallow (4), American
Pipit (410), Rusty Blackbird (12), Horned Lark (1), Lesser Black-backed
Gull (1), 

Predictions:
Cool, partly sunny, winds NE ~10mph

Cape May Hawk Watch - 13 November 2012


Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 13, 2012
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                6             73            134
Turkey Vulture              15            857           1219
Osprey                       0             32           2767
Bald Eagle                   0             27            296
Northern Harrier             0            362           1261
Sharp-shinned Hawk           7           5241          19498
Cooper's Hawk                0            602           3452
Northern Goshawk             0             22             26
Red-shouldered Hawk          1            677            739
Broad-winged Hawk            0             12            678
Red-tailed Hawk              2           1650           1975
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0             17             17
American Kestrel             7            287           5619
Merlin                       3             93           1898
Peregrine Falcon             0             18           1160
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              3

Total:                      41           9971          40742
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 07:00:00 
Observation end   time: 15:00:00 
Total observation time: 4 hours

Official Counter:        Pete Dunne

Cape May Hawk Watch - 12 November 2012


Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 12, 2012
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0             67            128
Turkey Vulture               0            842           1204
Osprey                       0             32           2767
Bald Eagle                   0             27            296
Northern Harrier             0            362           1261
Sharp-shinned Hawk           0           5234          19491
Cooper's Hawk                0            602           3452
Northern Goshawk             0             22             26
Red-shouldered Hawk          0            676            738
Broad-winged Hawk            0             12            678
Red-tailed Hawk              0           1648           1973
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0             17             17
American Kestrel             0            280           5612
Merlin                       0             90           1895
Peregrine Falcon             0             18           1160
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              3

Total:                       0           9930          40701
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 06:30:00 
Observation end   time: 15:30:00 
Total observation time: 9 hours

Official Counter:        Vince Elia

Cape May Hawk Watch - 11 November 2012


Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 11, 2012
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0             67            128
Turkey Vulture               0            842           1204
Osprey                       0             32           2767
Bald Eagle                   0             27            296
Northern Harrier             3            362           1261
Sharp-shinned Hawk          18           5234          19491
Cooper's Hawk                4            602           3452
Northern Goshawk             0             22             26
Red-shouldered Hawk          2            676            738
Broad-winged Hawk            0             12            678
Red-tailed Hawk              1           1648           1973
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0             17             17
American Kestrel             0            280           5612
Merlin                       0             90           1895
Peregrine Falcon             0             18           1160
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              3

Total:                      28           9930          40701
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 06:30:00 
Observation end   time: 16:00:00 
Total observation time: 9.5 hours

Official Counter:        Tom Reed

Observers:        

Weather:
Mild and sunny. Moderate southerly breeze. 

Raptor Observations:
Zzzzzzzz

Non-raptor Observations:
White-winged Crossbill (22), Red Crossbill (13), Barn Swallow (3)

Predictions:
More of the same.

Cape May Hawk Watch - 10 November 2012


Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 10, 2012
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0             67            128
Turkey Vulture               0            842           1204
Osprey                       0             32           2767
Bald Eagle                   0             27            296
Northern Harrier             8            359           1258
Sharp-shinned Hawk          60           5216          19473
Cooper's Hawk               18            598           3448
Northern Goshawk             0             22             26
Red-shouldered Hawk         30            674            736
Broad-winged Hawk            0             12            678
Red-tailed Hawk             18           1647           1972
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0             17             17
American Kestrel             1            280           5612
Merlin                       1             90           1895
Peregrine Falcon             0             18           1160
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              3

Total:                     136           9902          40673
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 06:30:00 
Observation end   time: 16:00:00 
Total observation time: 9.5 hours

Official Counter:        Tom Reed

Observers:        

Weather:
Mild and generally sunny. Winds very light and variable to start, becoming
~5mph from the SW by mid-morning and shifting to SE by day's end. 

Raptor Observations:
A condensed midday movement, consisting primarily of SSHA, RSHA and RTHA. 

Non-raptor Observations:
Evening Grosbeak (6), White-winged Crossbill (31), Red Crossbill (2),
Clay-colored Sparrow (1), Cave Swallow (2), Barn Swallow (4), Snow Bunting
(11), Purple Finch (30+), House Finch (150+), American Pipit (100+),
Eastern Meadowlark (14), Eastern Bluebird (40+), Rusty Blackbird (4),
Bonaparte's Gull (1), Royal Tern (7)

Predictions:
Sunny, mild, light south winds.

Avalon Seawatch, November 3 - 9, 2012

Week 7 results:

Snow Goose  1
Brant  589
Canada Goose  29
Wood Duck  202
American Wigeon  5
American Black Duck  222
Mallard  13
Northern Pintail  16
Green-winged Teal  494
Greater Scaup  61
Lesser Scaup  27
Scaup sp.  96
King Eider  1
Common Eider  1
Surf Scoter  8442
White-winged Scoter  40
Black Scoter  16361
Dk-wing Scoter  14797
Scoter sp.  2093
Long-tailed Duck  27
Bufflehead  64
Hooded Merganser  4
Red-breasted Merganser  57
Red-throated Loon  962
Common Loon  159
Horned Grebe  9
Northern Gannet  7315
Brown Pelican  14
Double-crested Cormorant  13808
Great Cormorant  2
Great Blue Heron  18
Great Egret  52
Snowy Egret  9
Laughing Gull  485
Bonaparte's Gull  9
Ring-billed Gull  723
Herring Gull  129
Great Black-backed Gull  28
Black-legged Kittiwake  3
Caspian Tern  3
Forster's Tern  228
Royal Tern  36
Parasitic Jaeger  3

Total  67637

Cape May Hawk Watch - 9 November 2012


Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 09, 2012
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0             67            128
Turkey Vulture              17            842           1204
Osprey                       1             32           2767
Bald Eagle                   0             27            296
Northern Harrier            42            351           1250
Sharp-shinned Hawk         210           5156          19413
Cooper's Hawk               39            580           3430
Northern Goshawk             1             22             26
Red-shouldered Hawk         20            644            706
Broad-winged Hawk            0             12            678
Red-tailed Hawk             67           1629           1954
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0             17             17
American Kestrel            13            279           5611
Merlin                       3             89           1894
Peregrine Falcon             0             18           1160
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              3

Total:                     413           9766          40537
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 06:30:00 
Observation end   time: 16:00:00 
Total observation time: 9.5 hours

Official Counter:        Tom Reed

Observers:        

Weather:
Cool and sunny. Winds from the NW throughout; 10-20mph in the morning,
5-10mph in the afternoon.

Raptor Observations:
Slow but steady through much of the day, with SSHA again leading the way,
along with a small midday pulse of buteos and a scattering of NOHA
throughout. Today's NOGO put on a great show, briefly soaring low over the
platform.

Non-raptor Observations:
Western Kingbird (1), Lapland Longspur (1), Eurasian Wigeon (1), Red
Crossbill (3), White-winged Crossbill (5+), Cave Swallow (7), Cliff Swallow
(1), Barn Swallow (3), Blackpoll Warbler (1), Lesser Black-backed Gull (1),
Rusty Blackbird (20+)

Predictions:
Sunny, warmer. Light NW winds.

Cape May Hawk Watch - 8 November 2012


Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 08, 2012
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0             67            128
Turkey Vulture               0            825           1187
Osprey                       0             31           2766
Bald Eagle                   1             27            296
Northern Harrier            13            309           1208
Sharp-shinned Hawk         145           4946          19203
Cooper's Hawk               34            541           3391
Northern Goshawk             2             21             25
Red-shouldered Hawk          6            624            686
Broad-winged Hawk            0             12            678
Red-tailed Hawk             59           1562           1887
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0             17             17
American Kestrel            12            266           5598
Merlin                       5             86           1891
Peregrine Falcon             1             18           1160
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              3

Total:                     278           9353          40124
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 06:30:00 
Observation end   time: 16:00:00 
Total observation time: 9.5 hours

Official Counter:        Tom Reed

Observers:        

Weather:
Chilly with decreasing clouds and increasing winds, particularly during the
afternoon. Winds from the NW throughout, generally 10-15mph during the
morning; 15-25mph during the afternoon, with 30+mph gusts.

Raptor Observations:
Things were slow to get going with the morning overcast, and just never
really improved from there. Even as skies cleared during the afternoon,
gusty winds seemed to stamp out any hopes of a steady flight. 

Non-raptor Observations:
Black-headed Gull (1- adult w/ flock of Ring-billed Gulls), Evening
Grosbeak (45), White-winged Crossbill (90), Red Crossbill (8), Cave Swallow
(1), Barn Swallow (2), Pine Siskin (1,200), American Goldfinch (1,500),
American Pipit (225), Purple Finch (350), Horned Lark (2), Blackpoll
Warbler (3), White-rumped Sandpiper (2), Pectoral Sandpiper (1), Lesser
Black-backed Gull (6)

Predictions:
Sunny and breezy; winds from the NW.

Cape May Hawk Watch - 7 November 2012

No count was conducted today, as a nor'easter brought daylong rain and snow to Cape May.

Cape May Hawk Watch - 6 November 2012


Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 06, 2012
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture               11             67            128
Turkey Vulture             119            825           1187
Osprey                       2             31           2766
Bald Eagle                   4             26            295
Northern Harrier            42            296           1195
Sharp-shinned Hawk         270           4801          19058
Cooper's Hawk              152            507           3357
Northern Goshawk             3             19             23
Red-shouldered Hawk         77            618            680
Broad-winged Hawk            1             12            678
Red-tailed Hawk            344           1503           1828
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0             17             17
American Kestrel             7            254           5586
Merlin                       2             81           1886
Peregrine Falcon             3             17           1159
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              3

Total:                    1037           9075          39846
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 06:00:00 
Observation end   time: 15:00:00 
Total observation time: 9 hours

Official Counter:        Pete Dunne

Observers:        

Weather:
Cold and breezy with variable cloudiness. Winds from the NNE/NE/ENE.

Raptor Observations:
Remarkably, the sixth straight November day with 1,000+ birds. 

Non-raptor Observations:


Predictions:
Nor'easter.

Cape May Hawk Watch - 5 November 2012


Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 05, 2012
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture               14             56            117
Turkey Vulture             355            706           1068
Osprey                       2             29           2764
Bald Eagle                   5             22            291
Northern Harrier            25            254           1153
Sharp-shinned Hawk         493           4531          18788
Cooper's Hawk               55            355           3205
Northern Goshawk             2             16             20
Red-shouldered Hawk        263            541            603
Broad-winged Hawk            2             11            677
Red-tailed Hawk            613           1159           1484
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0             17             17
American Kestrel            13            247           5579
Merlin                       4             79           1884
Peregrine Falcon             1             14           1156
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              1              3

Total:                    1848           8038          38809
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 06:30:00 
Observation end   time: 16:00:00 
Total observation time: 9.58 hours

Official Counter:        Vince Elia

Observers:        

Weather:
Cool with decreasing cloudiness through the day. Winds from the north
~10mph. 

Raptor Observations:
*New single-day Red-shouldered Hawk record (Again!)

The day was highlighted by a fantastic late-morning push of buteos, with
the peak hour (10-11am) featuring 399 RTHA and 157 RSHA! Things slowed down
considerably in the afternoon, but the season's third SWHA (an
intermediate-type imm) appeared during the 1pm hour.

Non-raptor Observations:


Predictions:
Cool, mix of sun/clouds, N to NE winds.

Cape May Hawk Watch - 4 November 2012


Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 04, 2012
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture               25             42            103
Turkey Vulture             209            351            713
Osprey                       3             27           2762
Bald Eagle                   6             17            286
Northern Harrier            60            229           1128
Sharp-shinned Hawk         919           4038          18295
Cooper's Hawk               64            300           3150
Northern Goshawk             9             14             18
Red-shouldered Hawk        233            278            340
Broad-winged Hawk            5              9            675
Red-tailed Hawk            428            546            871
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                14             17             17
American Kestrel            38            234           5566
Merlin                       2             75           1880
Peregrine Falcon             3             13           1155
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              2

Total:                    2018           6190          36961
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 06:30:00 
Observation end   time: 16:30:00 
Total observation time: 10 hours

Official Counter:        Tom Reed

Observers:        

Weather:
Cool and breezy. Skies mainly overcast for the AM, becoming partly sunny by
mid-afternoon. Winds from the NNW/NW throughout.

Raptor Observations:
*New single-day Red-shouldered Hawk record
*Tied single-day Golden Eagle record

A great day. SSHA started flying early and peaked by mid-morning. Buteos
also started early, with two distinct flight lines westbound from Cape May
City. We broke the daily RSHA mark at 1300, with peak hours of 43 birds
(1000-1100 and 1200-1300).

The day's first GOEA appeared at 0909, and at least one was recorded for
each of the next six hours. NOGO were also recorded in six consecutive
hours, with a handful of great looks through the day. 

Non-raptor Observations:
A smaller but still appreciable songbird flight, including: American Robin
(12,000), Red-winged Blackbird (4,500+), Yellow-rumped Warbler (700+),
Eastern Bluebird (150+), American Pipit (50+), Rusty Blackbird (20),
Eastern Meadowlark (20)

Other highlights: Evening Grosbeak (4), White-winged Crossbill (40+),
Cattle Egret (1), Blackpoll Warbler (4), Northern Parula (1), Clay-colored
Sparrow (2)

Predictions:
Cool, sunny, winds NW 10-15mph.

Cape May Hawk Watch - 3 November 2012


Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 03, 2012
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture               17             17             78
Turkey Vulture             117            142            504
Osprey                       2             24           2759
Bald Eagle                   6             11            280
Northern Harrier           111            169           1068
Sharp-shinned Hawk         909           3119          17376
Cooper's Hawk               54            236           3086
Northern Goshawk             4              5              9
Red-shouldered Hawk         25             45            107
Broad-winged Hawk            1              4            670
Red-tailed Hawk             85            118            443
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 1              3              3
American Kestrel           127            196           5528
Merlin                      23             73           1878
Peregrine Falcon             3             10           1152
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              2

Total:                    1485           4172          34943
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 06:15:00 
Observation end   time: 16:00:00 
Total observation time: 9.67 hours

Official Counter:        Tom Reed

Observers:        

Weather:
Cool, breezy and overcast. Winds from the NW at 10-20mph throughout, with
gusts to 30+.

Raptor Observations:
A third straight 1,000+ bird day to open November, with SSHA again leading
the way. The 127 AMKE today must represent one of the biggest ever November
flights here. The third GOEA of the season showed up at 11am (EDT), and 111
NOHA represents a high count for the season. 

Non-raptor Observations:
Full list from today is available here-- http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S11955177

A truly fantastic all-around Cape May day, with highlights including an
essentially uncountable flight of American Robins, loads of other
short-distance passerines, a FRANKLIN'S GULL, 80+ White-winged Crossbills,
5 Red Crossbills, Cackling Goose, Snow Bunting, Lincoln's Sparrow, and
White-rumped Sandpiper. 

Predictions:
Mostly sunny(?), still cool, winds NW 10-15mph.

Avalon Seawatch, October 27 - November 2, 2012

Week 6 results:

Brant  234
Canada Goose  25
Wood Duck  57
American Wigeon  6
American Black Duck  13
Mallard  2
Blue-winged Teal 1
Northern Pintail  42
Green-winged Teal  320
Greater Scaup  27
Lesser Scaup  16
Scaup sp.  24
Surf Scoter  3484
White-winged Scoter  15
Black Scoter  5373
Dk-wing Scoter  381
Scoter sp.  252
Long-tailed Duck  13
Bufflehead  51
Red-breasted Merganser  26
Red-throated Loon  13
Common Loon  66
Northern Gannet  1172
Brown Pelican  6
Double-crested Cormorant  4216
Great Cormorant  3
Great Blue Heron  14
Laughing Gull  351
Bonaparte's Gull  2
Ring-billed Gull  342
Herring Gull  78
Great Black-backed Gull  20
Black-legged Kittiwake  1
Caspian Tern  7
Common Tern  1
Forster's Tern  300
Royal Tern  37
Black Skimmer  150
Parasitic Jaeger  2

Total  17143

No counts were conducted on October 28th - 31st due to Hurricane/Superstorm Sandy.

Morning Flight - 2012 Season Overview

The 2012 Morning Flight season came swiftly to a close as Hurricane Sandy barreled down on New Jersey, negating the final four count days.  Thus, the season ran from 8/16 through 10/27 and included a total of 73 count days.  In all, we amassed 192,814 individual birds of 93 species (and a single hybrid warbler).  This amounts to the 5th-highest season total on record, which just so happens to fall smack in the middle of the ten count years (2003-2012).

Five species this year were new to Morning Flight: White-winged Dove (1), Swainson's Thrush (3), Kentucky Warbler (1), Mourning Warbler (1), and White-throated Sparrow (1).  Additionally, twelve species set single-season high counts: Yellow-billed Cuckoo (7), Belted Kingfisher (30), Red-bellied Woodpecker (234), Empidonax sp. (24), Eastern Phoebe (126), Red-eyed Vireo (399), Red-breasted Nuthatch (3255)!, White-breasted Nuthatch (66), Cedar Waxwing (9559), Blackpoll Warbler (2445), Common Yellowthroat (15), and Pine Siskin (3782). 

Of these, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Red- and White-breasted Nuthatch, Cedar Waxwing, and Pine Siskin are particularly noteworthy.  The previous Red-bellied Woodpecker high count was a mere 91 birds in 2004.  Nearly as many Red-breasted Nuthatches flew this year (3255) as had been registered in the previous nine years combined (3676), which included some then notable flights.  Only 84 White-breasted Nuthatches had been tallied for the prior nine years, making this year's count (66) all the more remarkable.  Cedar Waxwings (9559) more than doubled their season average (4141), smashing the next highest yearly mark (6774 in 2005).  And Pine Siskins (3782) completely obliterated any prior year at Morning Flight; the cumulative total from the previous nine years had amounted to only 1238. 

A few other high counts are worth mentioning.  Ruby-throated Hummingbird (179), Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (497), Northern Parula (2305), Northern Waterthrush (916), and Indigo Bunting (364) all put in great showings.  Tennessee Warblers (148) also had a stellar year, more than doubling their average (68).  On the flip side, a number of species flew in below-average numbers this fall.  For whatever reason, very few Ruby-crowned Kinglets (111) were registered this year, far below the average (319).  Likewise, Blue-winged Warbler (3), Black-throated Blue Warbler (486), and Prothonotary Warbler (2) were also rarer than usual.  But perhaps most notably, this was the worst year on record for Dickcissel (14), less than half the average (33).  See here for a visual representation of their expected local patterns of occurrence.  After 10 Dickcissels through 9/11, only 4 were detected the remainder of the season.  Lastly, Chipping Sparrow and Dark-eyed Junco flights are notoriously variable at Morning Flight, with this year's figures falling at the low end of both spectrums.       

Warblers make up the bulk of the Morning Flight count (110,000+ individuals); however, only a handful of species flew in excess of 1000 individuals: Yellow-rumped Warbler (74,564), American Redstart (3372), Blackpoll Warbler (2445), Northern Parula (2305), and Palm Warbler (1915).  In all, 33 warbler species and one hybrid ("Brewster's" Warbler) were registered, with only two legitimate misses: Orange-crowned Warbler and Cerulean Warbler.  Interestingly, Connecticut Warbler ended up tied for 18th alongside Ovenbird when ranking warblers in terms of abundance - nearly in the middle of the pack.  This year's 25 Connecticut Warblers approached the season high count (31 in 2011).     

The nature of morning flight at Cape May is that the bulk of some season totals can be accounted for in a relative few days.  Most days have light to moderate flights, but when a big flight happens, it can be an unforgettable experience.  For example: 34% of this fall's Northern Flickers flew on 9/24 (744), 64% of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers on 8/16 (316), 42% of Yellow-rumped Warblers on 10/21 (31,117), 44% of Blackpoll Warblers on 9/29 (1068), and 67% of Baltimore Orioles on 8/29 (174). 

Finally, some of the other notable single day flights include 50 Red-bellied Woodpeckers on 10/5, 427 Red-breasted Nuthatches on 10/5, 374 Red-breasted Nuthatches on 8/29, 22 White-breasted Nuthatches on 10/21, 140 Northern Waterthrushes on 9/6, 75 Indigo Buntings on 10/1, and 1129 Pine Siskins on 10/7.


Format for 2012 cumulative species list:

A "*" denotes a species that is new to Morning Flight (2003-2012); a "+" denotes a species that flew in numbers greater than 25% above the Morning Flight average; and a "-" denotes a species that flew in numbers less than 25% below the Morning Flight average.  And since warbler taxonomy was recently shuffled to the point of being nearly unrecognizable, I decided to organize the warblers from most abundant to least abundant in the following list.

Species - 2012 season total (morning flight average) || high count and date || first through last dates

* White-winged Dove – 1 (0) || 1 on 8/20
   Mourning Dove – 526 (not enough data) || 97 on 10/23 || 8/22 – 10/27
   Yellow-billed Cuckoo – 7 (0) || 1 each on seven days || 8/29 – 10/13
+ Ruby-throated Hummingbird – 179 (94) || 14 on 8/20 || 8/16 – 9/24
+ Belted Kingfisher – 30 (not enough data) || 4 on 8/20 and 10/3 || 8/16 – 10/23
+ Red-headed Woodpecker – 7 (4) || 1 each on seven days || 9/7 – 10/4
+ Red-bellied Woodpecker – 234 (42) || 50 on 10/5 || 8/22 – 10/27
   Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – 66 (87) || 9 on 9/30 || 9/25 – 10/20
   Downy Woodpecker –  4 (5) || 2 on 9/27 and 10/5 || 9/27 – 10/5
   Hairy Woodpecker – 1 (1) || 1 on 10/5
   Northern Flicker – 2170 (2806) || 744 on 9/24 || 9/10 – 10/25
   Olive-sided Flycatcher – 1 (1) || 1 on 8/29
+ Eastern Wood-Pewee – 41 (31) || 5 on 9/29 and 9/30 || 8/29 – 10/9
   Least Flycatcher – 1 (1) || 1 on 8/16
– Alder Flycatcher – 0 (1)
   “Traill’s” Flycatcher – 1 (0) || 1 on 8/28
+ Empidonax sp. – 24 (10) || 4 on 8/16 and 9/7 || 8/16 – 10/8
+ Eastern Phoebe – 126 (46) || 48 on 10/5 || 9/11 – 10/23
   Great Crested Flycatcher – 1 (1) || 1 on 8/19
– Western Kingbird – 0 (1)
– Eastern Kingbird – 403 (2029) || 77 on 9/9 || 8/16 – 9/24
   Yellow-throated Vireo – 1 (0) || 1 on 9/30
   Blue-headed Vireo – 8 (8) || 2 on 10/23 || 9/24 – 10/27
– Warbling Vireo – 2 (5) || 1 on 8/18 and 8/24
   Philadelphia Vireo – 5 (4) || 1 each on five days ||
+ Red-eyed Vireo – 399 (247) || 62 on 9/24 || 8/22 – 10/21
+ Horned Lark – 6 (4) || 2 on 10/15 and 10/20 || 10/15 – 10/23
+ Red-breasted Nuthatch – 3255 (408) || 427 on 10/5 || 8/19 – 10/27
+ White-breasted Nuthatch – 66 (9) || 22 on 10/21 || 9/24 – 10/24
+ Brown Creeper – 37 (7) || 12 on 10/17 || 10/5 – 10/24
   Golden-crowned Kinglet – 230 (252) || 62 on 10/22 || 9/30 – 10/24
– Ruby-crowned Kinglet – 111 (319) || 20 on 10/5 || 9/16 – 10/23
   kinglet sp. – 26 (71) || 5 on 10/23 || 10/1 – 10/23
+ Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – 497 (316) || 313 on 8/16 || 8/16 – 10/5
   Eastern Bluebird – 12 (not enough data) || 6 on 10/20 || 10/18 – 10/25
   Veery – 2 (2) || 1 each on 9/6 and 9/11 || 9/6 – 9/11
* Swainson’s Thrush – 3 (0) || 2 on 9/30 || 9/17 – 9/30
Catharus sp. – 6 (3) || 4 on 10/5 || 10/1 – 10/17
– American Robin – 51,977 (69,459) || 12,365 on 10/25 || 8/16 – 10/27
   Northern Mockingbird – 22 (20) || 4 on 8/16 || 8/16 – 10/2
   American Pipit – 163 (134) || 32 on 10/17 || 9/24 – 10/27
+ Cedar Waxwing – 9559 (4141) || 1235 on 10/24 || 8/16 – 10/27
===================================================
– Yellow-rumped Warbler – 74,564 (109,323) || 31,117 on 10/21 || 8/16 – 10/27
   warbler sp. – 26,230 (20,147) || 7809 on 10/5 || 8/16 – 10/25
   American Redstart – 3372 (3705) || 726 on 9/6 || 8/16 – 10/16
+ Blackpoll Warbler – 2445 (1462) || 1068 on 9/29 || 8/29 – 10/27
+ Northern Parula2305 (1630) || 298 on 9/10 || 8/23 – 10/23
– Palm Warbler – 1915 (3083) || 389 on 10/5 || 9/2 – 10/27
+ Northern Waterthrush916 (703) || 140 on 9/6 || 8/16 – 10/12
   Black-and-white Warbler – 551 (481) || 56 on 9/10 and 9/24 || 8/16 – 10/25
– Black-throated Blue Warbler – 486 (711) || 88 on 9/30 || 8/22 – 10/23
   Yellow Warbler – 435 (424) || 53 on 8/30 || 8/16 – 10/11
   Black-throated Green Warbler – 157 (162) || 67 on 10/5 || 8/16 – 10/17
   “Baypoll” Warbler – 154 (131) || 109 on 10/5 || 9/7 – 10/5
+ Tennessee Warbler – 148 (68) || 23 on 9/17 || 8/29 – 10/24
Cape May Warbler – 110 (171) || 20 on 9/10 || 8/25 – 10/21
   Magnolia Warbler – 93 (115) || 10 on 9/24, 9/29, 10/5 || 8/29 – 10/21
   Nashville Warbler – 64 (70) || 15 on 10/5 || 8/29 – 10/21
   Chestnut-sided Warbler – 60 (51) || 15 on 8/29 || 8/19 – 9/30
   Prairie Warbler – 43 (43) || 5 on 8/19 and 8/30 || 8/16 – 10/5
– Blackburnian Warbler – 36 (52) || 5 on 8/16 || 8/16 – 10/5
+ Connecticut Warbler – 25 (19) || 7 on 9/30 || 9/7 – 10/8
   Ovenbird – 25 (24) || 4 on 9/30 || 8/17 – 10/12
   Pine Warbler – 23 (24) || 3 on 9/16 and 9/24 || 8/19 – 10/21
– Bay-breasted Warbler – 19 (27) || 4 on 10/5 || 9/6 – 10/6
+ Common Yellowthroat – 15 (1) || 8 on 9/30 || 9/6 – 10/21
   Tennessee/Nashville Warbler – 11 (not enough data) || 6 on 10/7 || 10/7 – 10/23
+ Worm-eating Warbler – 10 (6) || 2 on 8/22 || 8/16 – 9/16
+ Louisiana Waterthrush – 7 (3) || 3 on 8/17 || 8/16 – 9/6
– Wilson’s Warbler – 5 (8) || 1 each on five days || 8/19 – 9/30
   Canada Warbler – 5 (6) || 1 each on five days || 8/16 – 9/17
– Blue-winged Warbler – 3 (12) || 1 on 8/17, 8/29, and 9/6 || 8/17 – 9/6
– Prothonotary Warbler – 2 (6) || 1 on 8/20 and 8/25 || 8/20 – 8/25
   Golden-winged/“Brewster’s” Warbler – 2 (0) || 1 each on 8/29 and 9/6 || 8/29 – 9/6
   Golden-winged Warbler – 1 (1) || 1 on 8/25
+ “Brewster’s” Warbler – 1 (0) || 1 on 8/29
   Hooded Warbler – 1 (1) || 1 on 8/29
   Yellow-throated Warbler – 1 (1) || 1 on 8/16
* Mourning Warbler – 1 (0) || 1 on 9/30
* Kentucky Warbler – 1 (0) || 1 on 9/8         
– Orange-crowned Warbler – 0 (1)
– Cerulean Warbler – 0 (1)
====================================================
+ Summer Tanager – 4 (2) || 3 on 9/16 || 8/29 – 9/16
   Scarlet Tanager – 94 (87) || 25 on 9/24 || 8/29 – 10/8
– Chipping Sparrow – 82 (653) || 18 on 10/23 || 9/16 – 10/25
   Clay-colored Sparrow – 4 (5) || 1 each on four days || 8/27 – 10/21
+ Field Sparrow – 2 (1) || 1 each on 10/5 and 10/27 || 10/5 – 10/27
   Vesper Sparrow – 1 (1) || 1 on 10/25
   Lark Sparrow – 2 (2) || 2 on 8/29
Savannah Sparrow – 104 (149) || 28 on 10/5 || 9/17 – 10/25
* White-throated Sparrow – 1 (0) || 1 on 10/16
– White-crowned Sparrow – 0 (2)
   sparrow sp. – 6 (231) || 6 on 10/23
– Dark-eyed Junco – 105 (969) || 37 on 10/23 || 9/24 – 10/25
   Rose-breasted Grosbeak – 47 (38) || 12 on 9/30 || 8/30 – 10/8
+ Blue Grosbeak – 30 (19) || 6 on 8/16 || 8/16 – 10/8
+ Indigo Bunting – 364 (194) || 75 on 10/1 || 8/16 – 10/12
– Dickcissel – 14 (33) || 2 each on 8/17, 8/29, and 9/11 || 8/17 – 10/25
– Bobolink – 2642 (3707) || 727 on 9/1 || 8/16 – 10/9
   Eastern Meadowlark – 228 (284) || 42 on 10/23 || 10/3 – 10/27
   Rusty Blackbird – 122 (136) || 84 on 10/23 || 10/5 – 10/25
   Boat-tailed Grackle – 53 (45) || 43 on 10/5 || 10/2 – 10/14
   Orchard Oriole – 4 (6) || 1 each on four days || 8/16 – 9/9
   Baltimore Oriole – 260 (525) || 174 on 8/29 || 8/16 – 10/8
   Purple Finch – 475 (420) || 78 on 10/11 || 8/29 – 10/27
   House Finch – 515 (not enough data) || 180 on 10/24 || 8/20 – 10/27
+ Pine Siskin – 3782 (138) || 1129 on 10/7 || 9/30 – 10/27
   House Sparrow – 131 (not enough data) || 49 on 8/22 || 8/21 – 10/25

Total = 192,814

Cape May Hawk Watch - 2 November 2012


Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 02, 2012
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0              0             61
Turkey Vulture               3             25            387
Osprey                      15             22           2757
Bald Eagle                   3              5            274
Northern Harrier            30             58            957
Sharp-shinned Hawk        1191           2210          16467
Cooper's Hawk               90            182           3032
Northern Goshawk             0              1              5
Red-shouldered Hawk         16             20             82
Broad-winged Hawk            1              3            669
Red-tailed Hawk             30             33            358
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 1              2              2
American Kestrel            59             69           5401
Merlin                      37             50           1855
Peregrine Falcon             4              7           1149
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              2

Total:                    1480           2687          33458
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 06:15:00 
Observation end   time: 16:00:00 
Total observation time: 9.67 hours

Official Counter:        Tom Reed

Observers:        

Weather:
Cool, breezy and mostly cloudy. Winds from the W/WNW throughout, 10-20mph.
Scattered showers during the last two hours. 

Raptor Observations:
Another good SSHA flight, with numbers building through the early
afternoon. Also a decent number of AMKE for the date. The season's 2nd GOEA
appeared with yesterday's bird at 11:36am (EDT). 

Non-raptor Observations:
Another spectacular AM songbird flight-- American Robin (75,000++?), Cedar
Waxwing (3,000+), Yellow-rumped Warbler (900+), Eastern Bluebird (400+),
Purple Finch (150+), Pine Siskin (1500+), White-winged Crossbill (2),
Evening Grosbeak (1), Indigo Bunting (1), House Finch (350+), Red-winged
Blackbird (~2,000), Tennessee Warbler (1), Blackpoll Warbler (5), Eastern
Meadowlark (15)

Also-- Cave Swallow (4), Barn Swallow (2), Chimney Swift (2+), Lesser
Black-backed Gull (1), possible Ross's Goose (1)



Predictions:
Continued cool with more sunshine. Winds from the NW, 10-15mph.