Hawkwatch 20 September 2015

Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 20, 2015
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Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0              7              7
Turkey Vulture               1            116            116
Osprey                     117           2219           2219
Bald Eagle                   6            162            162
Northern Harrier            16            171            171
Sharp-shinned Hawk         133           1127           1127
Cooper's Hawk               86            479            479
Northern Goshawk             0              0              0
Red-shouldered Hawk          0              3              3
Broad-winged Hawk            5            117            117
Red-tailed Hawk              2             24             24
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0              0              0
American Kestrel           107           1139           1139
Merlin                     117            346            346
Peregrine Falcon            13             82             82
Unknown Accipiter            0              2              2
Unknown Buteo                0              2              2
Unknown Falcon               0              3              3
Unknown Eagle                0              0              0
Unknown Raptor               0              1              1

Total:                     603           6000           6000
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Observation start time: 05:45:00 
Observation end   time: 16:00:00 
Total observation time: 10.25 hours

Official Counter:        Cameron Cox

Observers:        

Weather:
Calm and muggy in the morning giving way to cooler temps and a moderate
north wind as a small, dry font moved through midmorning. Cloud cover was
nearly complete for much of the day. 

Raptor Observations:
There was a solid but not outstanding flight of small falcons and Osprey as
well as a fair number of Sharpies and Coops. The flight really didn't get
started until nearly 1100 and was done by 1500 so most birds came in a
compressed tie period. We had a good bit of the Cape May milling effect at
the beginning of the flight with accips high overhead moving between
several different kettles but not really going anywhere. Fortunately most
other species were moving through reasonably quickly  

Non-raptor Observations:
Since the front moved through in the morning there was no songbird flight
overnight so there is little to report. A near adult Northern Gannet was
seen way out on the bay, a first for the hawkwatch platform this fall.

Predictions:
The wind swings around northeast for several days setting up the
possibility of a good movement of falcons and Osprey.  
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Report submitted by Cameron Cox (Kumlieni@gmail.com)
Cape May information may be found at:
http://BirdCapeMay.org