Hawkwatch, September 14 2015

Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 14, 2015
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Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0              0              0
Turkey Vulture               8             33             33
Osprey                     191           1182           1182
Bald Eagle                  46            104            104
Northern Harrier             5             65             65
Sharp-shinned Hawk          62            197            197
Cooper's Hawk                8             72             72
Northern Goshawk             0              0              0
Red-shouldered Hawk          0              2              2
Broad-winged Hawk            4             23             23
Red-tailed Hawk              2              5              5
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0              0              0
American Kestrel           287            687            687
Merlin                      29            140            140
Peregrine Falcon             6             25             25
Unknown Accipiter            0              2              2
Unknown Buteo                0              0              0
Unknown Falcon               0              3              3
Unknown Eagle                0              0              0
Unknown Raptor               0              1              1

Total:                     648           2541           2541
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Observation start time: 05:15:00 
Observation end   time: 16:30:00 
Total observation time: 11.25 hours

Official Counter:        Cameron Cox

Observers:        

Weather:
Strong west to northwest wind in the morning, slackening but still fairly
strong in the afternoon. Clear or nearly clear blue skies all day.  Cooler
than recent days but even when the front pushed through it did not alter
the temps drastically like a strong front would have.

Raptor Observations:
The flight started remarkably light considering the winds an for much of
the morning only Kestrels and Osprey were on the move. In the late morning
things really started to cook and Bald Eagles began whipping by at a pace
that ade me think we might eclipse the single day Bald Eagle record of 50
but we ended the day the a very respectable total 46, but failed to beat
the record. 

Non-raptor Observations:
A Western Kingbird flew right past the platform. Additionally three
Dickcissels flew over the platform in the morning. Unfortunately, while our
Morning Flight count recorded a once in a generation or better flight of
warblers, over 56,000, almost none were observed at the hawkwatch platform.
 

Predictions:
Light northwest winds are projected and the hawk flight is likely to be
good to very good.
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Report submitted by Cameron Cox (Kumlieni@gmail.com)
Cape May information may be found at:
http://BirdCapeMay.org