Hawkwatch 18 October 2015

Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 18, 2015
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Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                4             56             65
Turkey Vulture               0            340            470
Osprey                      15            518           3255
Bald Eagle                  10            104            286
Northern Harrier            54            246            460
Sharp-shinned Hawk         255           5452           7860
Cooper's Hawk              166           2595           3295
Northern Goshawk             0              0              0
Red-shouldered Hawk         14             33             37
Broad-winged Hawk           10            133            266
Red-tailed Hawk             48            164            200
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 1              6              6
American Kestrel            24            600           2145
Merlin                      32            388            986
Peregrine Falcon             2            172            378
Unknown Accipiter            0              6              8
Unknown Buteo                0              0              2
Unknown Falcon               0              0              3
Unknown Eagle                0              0              0
Unknown Raptor               0              0              1
Swainson's Hawk              1              2              2
Zone-tailed Hawk             0              0              1

Total:                     636          10815          19726
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Observation start time: 06:00:00 
Observation end   time: 16:30:00 
Total observation time: 10.5 hours

Official Counter:        Cameron Cox

Observers:        

Weather:
Our first cold day with temps starting in the high 30's and rising to the
low 50's. Winds were light out of the NW all day and there were excellent
high clouds.

Raptor Observations:
A Swainson's Hawk that moved very quickly through the airspace was the best
bird of the day but the seasons fifth Golden Eagle was far more
cooperative. We had our best day so far this season for harriers with 54.
Otherwise the flight was very high, spread out, and difficult to count.

Non-raptor Observations:
There was some movement of songbirds with groups of Rusty Blackbirds,
American Pipits, and a few Eastern Bluebirds moving soon after dawn, but
overall the number of passerines was not on par with the shift in the
weather.

Predictions:
More west winds so there should be a few birds!
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Report submitted by Cameron Cox (Kumlieni@gmail.com)
Cape May information may be found at:
http://BirdCapeMay.org