Hawkwatch, 26 October 2016

Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 26, 2016
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Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture               18             65             65
Turkey Vulture             154           1407           1541
Osprey                       8           1166           4213
Bald Eagle                  25            213            339
Northern Harrier            38            338            472
Sharp-shinned Hawk         449           9960          11782
Cooper's Hawk              201           2299           2526
Northern Goshawk             0              0              0
Red-shouldered Hawk         41            107            112
Broad-winged Hawk           18            315            438
Red-tailed Hawk            135            268            307
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 4              5              5
American Kestrel            15           1218           3357
Merlin                      22           1312           1816
Peregrine Falcon             8            711            937
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:                    1136          19384          27910
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Observation start time: 06:00:00 
Observation end   time: 16:30:00 
Total observation time: 10.5 hours

Official Counter:        Tom Reed

Observers:        

Weather:
Seasonably cool. Mostly sunny. Winds N/NNE 5-10mph during AM, becoming
NNW/NW 10-15mph during PM. Significant cloud cover arriving from the west
at conclusion of day. 

Raptor Observations:
Lighter winds helped produce the season's first significant buteo flight,
with numbers of RTHA and RSHA present during the AM. All 4 Golden Eagles
appeared during the first half of the day; the first 2 individuals crossed
Delaware Bay (at least 1 subsequently seen at Cape Henlopen). Good hit of
Cooper's Hawks during the midday hours; influx of Bald Eagles and Northern
Harriers during the PM. 

Non-raptor Observations:
Eurasian Wigeon (2), Parasitic Jaeger (3), Short-eared Owl (1), Barn
Swallow (1), Blackpoll Warbler (5), Pine Siskin (1)

Predictions:
Cloudy w/ chance of PM rain, 63ºF, winds SE 10-20mph