Hawkwatch - Friday, September 14, 2018

Today's flight of raptors was packed with Merlin! Cape May is renowned for late-day flights of Merlin, and that is exactly what happened this evening. Mid-day Osprey soared through the air, some flying low and some flying high. The highways of migration were all over the place following today's east winds.

The air cooled. The winds continued, but died down slightly. The day's flight was coming to a close as dark chocolate-toned falcons sheared over the trees. Their shallow yet powerful wingbeats took hold, racing swiftly after murmurations of Tree Swallows.

One of the beautiful features about falcons, especially Merlin and Peregrine Falcons, is that they can cut through the winds with ease. The "unfavorable" winds out of the east didn't stand a chance against the stealthy profile of the Merlin. Watching them dart through the air is a spectacle to behold. You have to see it to believe it!

Merlin carrying a snack!

Today's count.

Good hawkwatching,
Erik Bruhnke