Hawkwatch, 1 September 2016

Today marks the first day of the 2016 Cape May Hawkwatch! Morning showers and variable winds made for sightings that kept us on our toes. As the upcoming months progress we’ll experience the migration of a magnitude of bird species.

Osprey are one of the key players in the game of raptor migration here at Cape May. Migrants today include 11 Osprey in addition to 1 Broad-winged Hawk, 1 Northern Harrier, 2 Bald Eagles, 4 American Kestrels, 2 Merlin, and 2 Peregrine Falcons. A few of the non-raptors included 22 Bobolink, 2 Indigo Buntings, and a dapper Northern Waterthrush. Five monarchs were seen flying past the platform as well.


This dark Parasitic Jaeger flew around and over the platform several times today!


A juvenile Bonaparte's Gull (right) feeds near a juvenile Laughing Gull (left)

Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for mostly sunny skies accompanied with steady winds out of the north. Bring on the birds. Bring your friends. Hope to see you soon at the hawkwatching platform!

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