Hawkwatch, 11 October 2016

Yesterday was the first significant cold front of the season followed immediately by a fantastic push of raptors. Today's temperatures followed suit from yesterday's temperatures, bringing many raptors throughout the morning hours. The afternoon slowed down a little but brought us the first-of-the-season Golden Eagle!

This beautiful bird provided us with great looks that lasted for several minutes as it meandered below the high wispy clouds. Despite being a high-up speck, binocular views provided us with great views of the long tail, small head, and bulky wings with the tapered inner trailing edge. This Golden Eagle was a juvenile, hosting the gorgeous plumage of dark undersides throughout the belly and wing complimented with a core of white throughout the mid-wing. Juvenile Golden Eagles host a stunning tail as well consisting of a white base and black end. Keep your eyes out for these and other cold-weather birds as the season progresses. Right now migration is in full swing!



Red-bellied Woodpecker

One of THREE Red-headed Woodpeckers seen this morning.

Peregrine Falcon migrating past the lighthouse.

Juvenile Golden Eagle


Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 11, 2016
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Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0              9              9
Turkey Vulture              58            187            321
Osprey                       9            585           3632
Bald Eagle                  12             65            191
Northern Harrier            11            131            265
Sharp-shinned Hawk         201           4571           6393
Cooper's Hawk              101           1160           1387
Northern Goshawk             0              0              0
Red-shouldered Hawk          5             20             25
Broad-winged Hawk            2            205            328
Red-tailed Hawk              3             22             61
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 1              1              1
American Kestrel             4            713           2852
Merlin                      13            632           1136
Peregrine Falcon             1            498            724
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:                     421           8799          17325
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Observation start time: 05:45:00 
Observation end   time: 16:00:00 
Total observation time: 10.25 hours

Official Counter:        Erik Bruhnke

Observers:        

Weather:
Sunny skies, upper 50's, northeast winds.

Raptor Observations:
First Golden Eagle of the fall!! Juvenile bird.

Non-raptor Observations:
1 Wood Duck, 629 Double-crested Cormorant, 3 Red-headed Woodpecker, 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker, 7 Northern Flicker, 28 Blue Jay, 3 Cedar Waxwing, 2
Northern Rough-winged Swallow, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 2 Brown Creeper, 1
Eastern Bluebird, 3 American Pipit, 4 Purple Finch, 69 House Finch, 9
American Goldfinch, 33 Yellow-rumped Warbler, 1 Song Sparrow, 3
White-throated Sparrow.


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