A gorgeous Swainson's Hawk. It happened today, and it was memorable and amazing. This prairie-nesting buteo is a rare visitor to the east coast, and we've been hoping for one to show up all fall. They are seen almost every year as a rarity in Cape May, but are not expected during most individual visits to the Cape May Hawkwatch platform.
The Swainson's Hawks' structure is unique among North American buteos. Their wings are long, pointed at the tip, and have a graceful curvature when seen in a flap. They hold their wings in a dihedral (V-shape) when soaring, and glide with long "hands" flared back from the mid-wing while streaming through the air. Swainson's Hawks are also quite long-tailed among the buteos, showing off their tails from nearly all angles. Their wingbeats are fluid and pumping, almost like a Northern Harrier but with a different cadence. All-together, it was an exciting experience to witness this bird flapping over The Cape May Meadows heading west, seen for about a minute all together, before exiting out of view.
Every raptor is beautiful and deserves to be savored. That's one of the best things about the Cape May Hawkwatch and hawkwatches near and far. These locations are an opportunity to study the raptors that migrate by. The more we watch them, the better we understand them and the deeper we appreciate their beauty. The Swainson's Hawk that was seen today marks the 5th buteo species at the hawkwatch this fall, and the 19th raptor species (including vultures and owls) that we've tallied since September 1st.
West winds are on the horizon... See you at the hawkwatch!
 |
| Swainson's Hawk showing off those lengthy, elongated wings. |
 |
| Swainson's Hawk taking a moment to glide between flaps. |
 |
Red-tailed Hawk.
This bird may have some abieticola (northern race) lineage within its past, as it is showing golden-orange hues throughout the frontside among robust & bold field marks.
|
 |
| Clay-colored Sparrow, an uncommon late fall visitor in Cape May. |
 |
| Orange-crowned warbler |
 |
| Today's totals. Click to view a larger image. |
No comments:
Post a Comment