The raptor flights have been quite busy between Saturday and today. Over five thousand raptors have flown over the Cape May Hawk Watch in this short time frame!
Impressive movements of Sharp-shinned Hawks are making themselves known. Sky-high kettles of this accipiter species have been observed with with many Cooper's Hawks intermingled throughout. The numbers of Sharp-shinned Hawks seems quite low this fall, but with the help of quickly approaching cold fronts from the northwest, we may be in luck for a healthy season. A total of 696 Sharp-shinned Hawks were tallied today alone. They often make significant movements in the Cape May area during cool northwest winds, which were present today.
Songbirds continue to rush into and through the area as well. We've had some exciting migrations of Red-bellied Woodpeckers and Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers recently. On Saturday not one, not two, but nine Yellow-billed Cuckoos flew past the platform! A beautiful Dickcissel as well as several White-crowned Sparrows have been seen feeding below the hawk watch platform for several days.
Today was a special day, in that we surpassed the entire total raptor count from last fall! As of this afternoon, 31,209 have been counted migrating past the Cape May Hawk Watch since the beginning of last month. And the count continues...
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| Immature Bald Eagle |
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| Kettle of beautiful Broad-winged Hawks |
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| Juvenile Broad-winged Hawk |
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| Juvenile Northern Harrier flying among Laughing Gulls and a Monarch |
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| One of the nine (unexpected) Yellow-billed Cuckoos that flew by on Saturday! |
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| Saturday's totals. |
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| Sunday's Totals. |
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| Monday's Totals. |
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| Today's Totals. |
The forecast is calling for cool temps and northwest winds, especially between Wednesday evening and throughout much of Thursday. Tomorrow (Wednesday) should produce a fun day of raptor migration. Bring your binoculars and get ready to scan the skies!
Cheers and good hawkwatching,
Erik Bruhnke
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