Today's semi-cool east winds started today off on a rainy note. Early morning showers flooded the skies as rain-drenched Peregrine Falcons and Osprey migrated through. In addition to these hardy raptors were numerous monarchs taking flight throughout the steady downpour. It was a bizarrely fascinating sight to behold!
By mid-morning the rain had cleared, although the steady east winds persisted. Scattered lines of Peregrine Falcons and Merlins cleared the tree tops, each of them heading west as they looked for the safest way to fly off of Cape May Point. Trickles of American Kestrels formed and one kettle of FIVE Peregrine Falcons was observed. The falcon flight today was wonderful, and it was topped with a diverse array of other bird life migrating through.
From sunrise on, Yellow-rumped Warblers cut through the skies in astounding numbers. Their stout bodies and sporadically-fluttery wingbeats put one heck of a show that brought smiles to everyone at the hawkwatching platform. Not a single raptor scan went by where we didn't see Yellow-rumped Warblers. Periodically throughout most days at the hawkwatch, a local Cooper's Hawk or two hunt among the nearby bushes that line the pond and trails. Every time a Cooper's Hawk dove into the vegetation today, dozens of Yellow-rumped Warblers would explode up and out of their shelters. By closing time today over 12,000 of these amazing little gems had been counted at the Cape May Hawkwatch. See you at the hawkwatch!
 |
| Yellow-rumped Warblers filled the skies all day long! |
 |
Eastern Meadowlark flying in front of two distant Yellow-rumped Warblers.
Note the prominent white outer tail feathers, to separate this bird from a Western Meadowlark. |
 |
| A handsome male American Kestrel soars overhead. Look at those "Christmas lights!" |
 |
| Flock of Wood Ducks |
 |
| One of the thousands of Yellow-rumped Warblers that flew by today. |
 |
| Today's totals. Click on the image for a larger view |
No comments:
Post a Comment