Cape May Hawk Watch - 9 September 2012


Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 09, 2012
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Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0              0              0
Turkey Vulture               0              0              0
Osprey                     109            307            307
Bald Eagle                  21             26             26
Northern Harrier            34             63             63
Sharp-shinned Hawk          17             25             25
Cooper's Hawk               10             17             17
Northern Goshawk             0              0              0
Red-shouldered Hawk          0              0              0
Broad-winged Hawk            6              7              7
Red-tailed Hawk              0              0              0
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0              0              0
American Kestrel           268            427            427
Merlin                      30             72             72
Peregrine Falcon             5             18             18
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

Total:                     500            962            962
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Observation start time: 05:30:00 
Observation end   time: 16:00:00 
Total observation time: 10.5 hours

Official Counter:        Tom Reed

Observers:        

Weather:
Mostly cloudy at dawn, becoming progressively less cloudy throughout the
day as the front pulled away. Winds light out of the NE/N to start,
becoming stronger and shifting to NW by early-afternoon.

Raptor Observations:
A slow start was replaced mid-morning by a very high and dispersed flight
against a deep blue sky. The flight came down from outer space in the
afternoon as the winds shifted and increased. A little push of Kestrels
during the last few hours was a nice way to end the day. 

Non-raptor Observations:
Bay-breasted Warbler (1), Cape May Warbler (4), Dickcissel (1), Gull-billed
Tern (1), Black Tern (1), Common Nighthawk (5+), Blue-winged Teal (18)

Predictions:
More north winds tomorrow should bring a good flight.