Hawkwatch, 26 September 2016

Sustained south winds persisted from early morning onward. Much of the hawk flight was low and streamlined. It is truly breathtaking to witness how sleekly-built raptors like Merlin and Peregrine Falcon can shear through headwinds with ease.

A juvenile Cooper's Hawk soars in front of a female American Kestrel.

Juvenile Peregrine Falcon. Just look at the vertical streaks in addition to the light blue feet and cere (base of the bill).

Juvenile Sharp-shinned Hawk.

Two Eurasian Wigeon were seen within Bunker Pond yesterday. Here is one of them flying alongside two American Wigeon.

The day's bird totals.

Morning Flight, 26 September 2016

The flight-effect of the last 5 days finally slowed down a bit today.  93 Northern Flickers flew at all heights and vectors, casting many interesting looks.  Smaller numbers today also meant lower diversity, but it was the second day in a row with Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (2), and the apparent arrival of new passage migrant mimids: Gray Catbird (6) and Brown Thrasher (5).  The nocturnal migration of these creatures is quite shrouded in mystery compared to most eastern songbirds because they don't call at night during migration and only "do morning flight" through undergrowth, and across smaller open gaps, in punctuated bursts, it seems.

Here's from today:
http://www.trektellen.org/count/view/1746/20160926

Hawkwatch, 24-25 September 2016

The past two days have been jam-packed with raptors and songbirds, and we haven't even made it into October! Throughout the fall cool fronts often create sparks of impressive bird migration. Northern Flicker numbers are increasing as this cool front progresses. On Saturday we had an impressive push of Osprey and Great Blue Heron throughout the late evening hours.

Northern Flicker

First-of-the-fall White-crowned Sparrow!

A Palm Warbler checks out the hawkwatching platform.

Merlin nearly catching a Tree Swallow.

Saturday's bird totals.

Sunday's bird totals.

Morning Flight, 25 September 2016

Hip Hop Hooray!  It was another terrific northeast wind flight-day at Morning Flight Project! We're now going on the last 5 days producing significant morning flights with Friday being a little lower in magnitude than the other four mornings.  It's exciting to see so many astounded and enthralled faces new and old up there; a good flight, I think to be, is humbling, memorable, and fun, and a huge flight is just life-changing.

Today was very close in numbers and diversity to these last days (745 northbound warblers of 21 species) and had a decidedly early-October feel given the occurrence of a few species to indicate this like: 1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker,1 Brown Creeper, 7 American Pipit, 4 Purple Finch, and 1 Rusty Blackbird. 

60 total landbird species were counted throughout the morning, just like both an Alder Fly and a new one, White-throated Sparrow shot through the walnuts and over the phragmites with just a few minutes before the close of the 4th hour, and when very little avian life was present, let alone showing signs of continued migratory behavior for most of that period.

North-swooping Northern Flickers stole some of the show to the order of 223 of them. Ten Red-bellied Woodpeckers jazzed it up, and I'm out of cliché descriptors by the time we add an adult-type Red-headed Woodpecker, a "Yellow-shafted" Flicker that had red-orange chromatic abnormality in the center of the flight feathers, 37 Red-breasted Nuthatches, and 20 Red-eyed Vireos.  

The southbound birds entered on today's count likely represent individuals that turned around after reaching the north edge of the dike impoundment or beyond (except Blue Jay, Fish Crow, European Starling, and the blackbirds, to the south).

Warblers were quick, often direct, and half in shade and half in full light, which experiencially pulsed from extremely challenging to outstandingly delightful.  50 Blackpoll, 220 Palm, 23 Cape May, 17 Black-and-white Warblers, 122 Northern Parula, 55 American Redstart, and 17 Northern Waterthrush, were the majority of the flight I detected, along with 178 warbler sp. 

Here's a list:
http://www.trektellen.org/count/view/1746/20160925

Morning Flight, 23-24 September 2016

Two more good days at the peak of the neotropical migrant season continue to build into the season's data.  Yesterday,165 northbound warblers of 15 species including Connecticut and Wilson's and a Red-headed Woodpecker were nice highlights.

Today was cloudy, cool, and interesting because it was all about the warblers.  774 out of the 975 birds counted total (including some raptors and waterbirds) were northbound warblers.  They broke out into 19 species with 228 mostly being higher and counted as "spuhs" or warbler sp.  154 Palm Warbler, 127 Northern Parula, 94 American Redstart, a whopping 52 Cape May Warbler, and 37 Blackpoll Warbler rounded down the numbers highlights.  Eastern Phoebe and American Pipit were new for the season. 

Friday, 23 Sept 2016
http://www.trektellen.org/count/view/1746/20160923

Saturday, 24 Sept 2016
http://www.trektellen.org/count/view/1746/20160924

Hawkwatch, 21-22 September 2016

The past two days have been great at the hawkwatch. Wednesday started out with thousands of Tree Swallows filling the air in addition to some water-dwelling Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins, all seen from the platform. We had 531 raptors migrate through on Thursday. See you at the count!

Male American Kestrel. Note his trailing edge of white "Christmas lights."

A gorgeous Cape May Warbler checks out the platform.

Northern Flicker migrating over the lighthouse.

Wednesday's flight.

Thursday's flight.

Morning Flight, 22 September 2016

There was a fantabulous morning flight again for the second day in a row!

Flying today were 502 northbound warblers of 19 species in about 3 hours, compared to yesterday with 523 northbound warblers of 20 species in 4 hours.  The main difference today was that the sun was out on the horizon at dawn (something the clouds have foiled about 35/39 days so far this season!) and it died down today much earlier.  However during yesterday's 4th hour the major movers were Cape May and Palm Warblers, known for later morning flying in the fall.  

Wind forecasting alone would prove ineffective in predicting this prominent fall flight/arrival this morning.  The radar backed the story up, in full, this time and the conditions were awesome this morning!  More early sun meant better looks at pattern and coloration of the birds.  Many still did fly into the northeast-ish wind like yesterday, but we also got treated to a well-lit and active western flightline today.  

The many highlights include: 2 Eastern Wood-Pewee, 30 Red-eyed Vireo, 83 American Redstart beaten out by 95 Northern Parula (can happen in second half of September), beaten out still by 112 Palm Warbler ("mid-autumn" for warblers is here folks!), 3 Bay-breasted Warbler, and 17 Indigo Bunting. 

http://www.trektellen.org/count/view/1746/20160922

Morning Flight, 21 September 2016

Birds just had to move last night, after perhaps being bottled up and still facing the storm parked to our south.  It was an action-packed and difficult-to-count flight this morning as many birds favored flying into the northeast headwind, and as a result were relatively distant and poorly-lit. Many birds, however flew close by and plenty were perching and resting as well today.

21 species of warblers of ~500 individuals counted were a great highlight!
Check out the full list here:
http://www.trektellen.org/count/view/1746/20160921

Hawkwatch, 20 September 2016

The day's flight was steady and relaxing. The raptors almost seemed to take turns crossing the horizon on their journey south. We still had numerous raptors passing through despite the east winds! A stunning Cape May Warbler perched beautifully for everyone on the platform to see and Tree Swallows filled the air.

Cape May Warbler

Great Egret (left) and Snowy Egret (right)

Tree Swallows feeding on bay berries.

Totals from today.

Morning Flight, 20 September 2016

Although a full cold front didn't push through after a conveniently-timed >2 inches of rain touched down yesterday mid-morning through the rest of the day, enough of a migratory pulse was sent coastward to be picked up at the morning flight count.  

22 Northern Parula and 15 Blackpoll Warblers led the northbound charge along with 12 other warbler spp. (multiple species) such as Tennessee, Blackburnian, and Yellow-rumped. A lone Cape May Warbler hopped treetops south just like yesterday.  Two Least Flycatcher was at least a little unexpected.  Bobolinks numbered 71/13 north/south.  It turned out to be avery very productive morning to 18 visitors from 5 different countries (Canada, Spain/Gibraltar, Finland, United Kingdom, and of course the USA!) Thanks to Interpretive Naturalist Jessie for manning the Morning Flight platform this AM. 

http://www.trektellen.org/count/view/1746/20160920

Morning Flight, 19 September 2016

What I say yesterday? 'Today was slow'? Yeah, OK, well today was slower than slow, the slowest day for morning flight for the season.  But that does not mean it wasn't a good day birding!?  What!? No Morning Flight!?  Yeah, you heard me.  It was STILL good!  

What I mean is BAM, a big, young Peregrine Falcon, and fall can give you a super still, close-minded shot of it screaming by. 

Waiting for something else to disturb the blue-ish white and gray sheets of incoming pluvial enrichment, Solitary Sandpiper skating away across the bay. 

The Cape May (cape may warbler) was to the south today, but thought better of a full sweep across the hopeful dreary to alight in the highest canopy to the west I could see.  

Talk of these and many other things is something I can only thank the great folks who come to Morning Flight to experience the enchanting varieties of perception through birding.

(Give me a break, I said it was a slow day)

And here's the list:

http://www.trektellen.org/count/view/1746/20160919

Hawkwatch, 18 September 2016

Yesterday's flight of birds moved through just before the storm. Southeast and east winds made for a slower day of migration however great views of birds took place during every hour of the count. Low-flying Turkey Vultures patrolled around the edges of Bunker Pond. It was fun to study the red-headed adults compared to the gray-headed juveniles. 

One of the biggest highlights of the day was spotting and photographing an Osprey which was wearing an antenna! After doing some follow-up research I found out that this was the same Osprey (named Daphne) that we documented over the Cape May hawkwatching platform on September 12th. She was equipped with the antenna in Newfoundland, Canada last month. 

Osprey wearing a tracking antenna.

Beautiful adult Turkey Vulture. They help keep our roads clean!

The day's totals.

Morning Flight, 18 September 2016

Tooodaaayyy wwwaasss sssllooowww (today was slow). 'Nuff said? Well, even though no legitimate flight was happening it was very special to witness the group of YOUNG BIRDERS who traveled from within New Jersey, and farther afield to join the greats, Richard Crossley and Michael O'Brien, on a birding weekend in Cape May. Nature Center of Cape May educator, Sam Wilson has been pivotal for encouraging and unifying young birders and was also there to graciously host our younger naturalist visitors and their parents. 

It may have been a steamy, still morning but my senses were freshened to see the youth and leading birders of the future get to explore Higbee Beach

Hawkwatch, 17 September 2016

East winds had nothing on this beautiful day. Typically west and northwest winds are thought of as the conditions that really bring the raptors to Cape May on a large scale. West winds that lead into trailing winds from the north can also be quite ornithologically thrilling.  It wasn't a crazy busy day nor was it a day of too few raptors; it was an easy going day of birds and great raptor study both up close and at a distance. Bald Eagles and Osprey were seen flying overhead as several Merlin zipped low inland and over the dunes. A few warblers flew overhead too!

Magnolia Warbler

Nashville Warbler

Today's totals.

Morning Flight, 16-17 September 2016

Here's the fix on the last two days.  Winds haven't been ideal, but perhaps you just can't stop some migration flow when the calendar says it's the middle of September and neotropical migrants should be at their overall peak in numbers and diversity through the mid-Atlantic region.  

Friday, Sept. 16, seemed to follow this logic where Tom Reed counted a small but significant showing of 401 individual landbirds of 43 species in migration.  There was a really nice showing of 'neotropicals' with 159 warblers of 17 species. Two Philadelphia Vireos were counted, along with the season's first Ruby-crowned Kinglet. 

http://www.trektellen.org/count/view/1746/20160916

Today, the 17th, held very little in the way of morning flight.  Most of the 36 warblers, including 10 Palm and 6 Northern Waterthrush flew back and forth from the southern to northern ends of the west side (that's where we watch from) of the dredge spoil that is the illustrious Higbee Dike.

http://www.trektellen.org/count/view/1746/20160917

We're looking out for Monday to be a very fine migration day, with rain potentially impending to make for a more- or less-heavy migration day than a clear day might produce. 

Hawkwatch, 16 September 2016

East winds made for a high-flying day for most raptors. Despite the conditions we still had great views of low-flying raptors too! Our second Red-shouldered Hawk of the season took place today as did numerous Bald Eagles passing through.  Mid-day visitors were treated to the spectacle of a Bald Eagle pursuing an Osprey in hopes of a meal. After several minutes of zig-zaggin the Osprey dropped the fish and the Bald Eagle had a meal to go! It was a great day to be out hawkwatching.

Immature Turkey Vulture. Adults have red heads while young have gray heads.

One of the Monarchs seen flying past the platform today was tagged!

Osprey releasing its fish to the Bald Eagle.

Today's totals.

Morning Flight, 12-15 September 2016

Mid-month, and now thats one month fully behind us at the 2016 Morning Flight Project.  It has been a great one with very few truly slow days. See the link at the bottom for the summary totals so far this year with peak occurrences and species time range, thanks to our partner Trektellen.org!

12 Sept 2016
-light NE wind, few clouds-
A nice flight with a robust diversity of the typical seasonal Morning Flight species plus a little raptor flight. 490 northbound warblers of 20 species including 2 Connecticut Warblers. Also, the first Warbling Vireo and second Purple Finch of the year. 83 northbound American Goldfinch was also the first prominent push for the little "potato chips".
http://www.trektellen.org/count/view/1746/20160912

13 Sept 2016
-light SE wind, warm-
A much slower day than the 12th, but with some fun stuff like Common Loon, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, and Eastern Wood-Pewee.
http://www.trektellen.org/count/view/1746/20160913

14 Sept 2016
-light SSW wind-
Ughh, now today is even slower with 59 individual landbirds counted total.
http://www.trektellen.org/count/view/1746/20160914

15 Sept 2016
First-off, A million Thanks to HUGH SIMMONS for having a little fun for us all while he ably whacked down phragmites atop the Higbee Dike that were threatening to obscure the next good look at a Wilson's Warbler or Common Yellowthroat, hopping and sneaking their way by.  Your work, Hugh, looks great and is appreciated by future Morning Flight visitors.

-strong NE wind, many low clouds, cool and fall-feeling-
This was a little bit of a surprise 'sleeper' flight that swept down the NE coast. A really nice and challenging day with 1 Connecticut Warbler and 23 Cape May Warbler among 16 species. 
http://www.trektellen.org/count/view/1746/20160915

Here is what the season looks like so far:
http://www.trektellen.org/site/totals/1746/2016

Hawkwatch, 15 September 2016

Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 15, 2016
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0              0              0
Turkey Vulture               2             38             38
Osprey                     334           1609           1609
Bald Eagle                   9             54             54
Northern Harrier             7             69             69
Sharp-shinned Hawk          47            484            484
Cooper's Hawk               12            126            126
Northern Goshawk             0              0              0
Red-shouldered Hawk          0              1              1
Broad-winged Hawk            3             43             43
Red-tailed Hawk              1             16             16
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0              0              0
American Kestrel           142           1387           1387
Merlin                      56            193            193
Peregrine Falcon             6             44             44
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:                     619           4064           4064
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 05:30:00 
Observation end   time: 16:00:00 
Total observation time: 10.5 hours

Official Counter:        Tom Reed

Observers:        

Weather:
Seasonable, post-front. Heavy overcast during AM, becoming mostly clear by
mid-PM. Winds NE becoming E, 15-20mph throughout. 

Raptor Observations:
Another good flight day for Osprey, punctuated by an impressive lift-off
during the early-AM. Best day so far for Merlin; a few pulses of Kestrels
and Sharp-shins. 

Non-raptor Observations:
Wood Duck (2), Northern Pintail (5), Great Blue Heron (66), Common
Nighthawk (3), Purple Martin (21), Blackpoll Warbler (2), Yellow-rumped
Warbler (1), Savannah Sparrow (1), Bobolink (275), Monarch (43). 

Predictions:
Sunny, 74ºF, winds E 10-15mph 

Hawkwatch, 14 September 2016

Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 14, 2016
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0              0              0
Turkey Vulture              29             36             36
Osprey                     319           1275           1275
Bald Eagle                   5             45             45
Northern Harrier             6             62             62
Sharp-shinned Hawk          43            437            437
Cooper's Hawk               34            114            114
Northern Goshawk             0              0              0
Red-shouldered Hawk          1              1              1
Broad-winged Hawk           16             40             40
Red-tailed Hawk              4             15             15
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0              0              0
American Kestrel            74           1245           1245
Merlin                      23            137            137
Peregrine Falcon             3             38             38
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:                     557           3445           3445
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 05:30:00 
Observation end   time: 16:00:00 
Total observation time: 10.5 hours

Official Counter:        Tom Reed

Observers:        

Weather:
Unseasonably mild and sunny. Winds SW 5-10mph during the AM, becoming W/NW
during the midday hours before easing back to S by end of day. 

Raptor Observations:
A strong movement of Osprey, particularly during the midday hours when up
to 25 were in view at once and groups of 6-8 birds were regularly exiting
SW toward Delaware. The midday's brief W/NW winds also brought in some
accipiters and falcons, plus an early Red-shouldered Hawk. 

Non-raptor Observations:
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (1), Northern Pintail (2), American Wigeon (3),
Solitary Sandpiper (1), Stilt Sandpiper (2), Ruby-throated Hummingbird (7),
Blackpoll Warbler (1), Cloudless Sulphur (50+), Black Saddlebags (3000+)

Predictions:
Mostly cloudy, 72ºF, winds NE 15-20mph 

Hawkwatch, 12-13 September 2016

The past two days of hawkwatching have been quite eventful. Less-than-prime winds out of the southeast have have shifted some of the migration high and a little to the west on Monday and Tuesday but that didn't stop the viewers from having a delightful time. Monday morning started out with a bang...

I got to the platform about 20 minutes to sunrise. The eastern skies were mottled in cloud wisps of dark orange, pink, and violet, gradually becoming illuminated as the morning minutes progressed. I took a glance up in the sky upon my arrival and saw silhouettes flapping above me in the deep lavender sky. The banana peel-like wingbeats and elongated tails instantly meant American Kestrels. How special it was to see these birds taking off and migrating before true sunrise. They must have flown to the area during the late evening before, following Sunday's big American Kestrel movement. By sunrise I had tallied 33 American Kestrels throughout the skies. Most were flying overhead heading east while a flurry of other kestrels attempted to get the highest perch around the lighthouse.

American Kestrels flying around the top of the Cape May Lighthouse. Digiscoped.

Raptors streamed by as the morning progressed. Osprey made their own flight lines as Merlin and American Kestrels took the lower-flying route. One Osprey flying by (carrying a fish) had an antenna on its back. Low and behold this Osprey was equipped with the antenna earlier this year in Newfoundland, Canada! 

Osprey flying by with a tracking antenna on her back.

Belted Kingfisher migrating by the platform.

 

The big push of Red-tailed Hawks is yet to come... 

A beautiful juvenile Red-tailed Hawk is shown here.

Monday's totals (above)

Tuesday's totals (above)

Hawkwatch, 11 September 2016

Today started off on a special note with Bobolinks (once again) pouring through the skies. The largest flock seen migrating overhead consisted of 325 Bobolink, many of them vocalizing while on the go.. By closing time today 1,891 Bobolinks had been seen from the Cape May hawkwatching platform. But that's not all...

Bobolinks migrating overhead.

Osprey fly around daily, many of them clenching recently-caught fish within their talons. Sometimes the Bald Eagles eye up the Osprey's fish in search of an easy meal. Bald Eagles were seen chasing Osprey numerous times today. Having Bunker Pond in front of the platform provides these fish-eating raptors with plenty of food. Sometimes aerial maneuvers are enough to allow Osprey to flee from a Bald Eagle, however sometimes Bald Eagles outwit the Osprey and get the Osprey to release the fish! A Bald Eagle (below) was about to get the recently-released fish that the Osprey dropped. A Turkey Vulture is shown in the upper left corner of the picture.

Raptor Drama.

By mid-morning the winds had turned to northwest, sustained throughout the entire afternoon. American Kestrels put on another spectacular show of migration too. "Lines" of up to 12 American Kestrels at a time were observed streaming along the horizon. Merlins and Sharp-shinned Hawks mingled with them throughout the flight. Tomorrow could be another good day of migration following today's cool and dry northwest winds! I just heard a few chip notes of migrating birds through my window while typing this... See you at the platform tomorrow!

Today's birds.

Morning Flight, 1-11 September 2016

A wonderful "Jupiter" sunrise from this morning

Photo by: Glen Davis

Let's catch up on the action during the first third of September.  There's only been one bona fide cold front during this period (Sept, 2) but a light to moderate movement of songbirds has been noticeable every one of the days.  

Here's the day-to-day, play-by-play:

1 Sept, 

-hot with light W wind-

Very slow with only 13 birds of any type counted, although 2/13 were an Ovenbird and a Worm-eating Warbler.

http://www.trektellen.org/count/view/1746/20160901

2 Sept

-cool with strong NNE wind-

For warblers and Red-breasted Nuthatch, our Big Morning of the season, thus far. 1,489 warblers of 18 species, including 1,021 American Redstart and 95 Northern Parula. Add to that 71 "little nert nert" nuthatches and a great variety of other migrants like Eastern Wood-Pewee, Tennessee, Cape May, Blackburnian, Blackpoll, and Black-throated Green Warblers, Scarlet Tanager, and Dickcissel-- well counted by Tom Reed.

http://www.trektellen.org/count/view/1746/20160902

3 Sept

-warm, but very strong ENE wind-

A much slower but interesting day with 90% fewer warblers than the previous day. The birds were zipping and darting chaotically in the heavy wind.  An awesome highlight was a WESTERN KINGBIRD that briefly perched in the trees just south of the Higbee Dike.

http://www.trektellen.org/count/view/1746/20160903

4 Sept

-more weak frontal activity with a strong (15 mph) NE wind-

Over 250 warblers of 16 species, including Blue-winged Warbler.

http://www.trektellen.org/count/view/1746/20160904

5 Sept

-similar to previous day-

Warbler numbers dropping a little from the day before to about 200 individuals.  218 Cedar Waxwings and the first Connecticut Warbler for the season at Morning Flight. 

http://www.trektellen.org/count/view/1746/20160905

6 Sept

-cool with moderate NNW wind, but Tropical Storm Hermine seemed to put a damper on regional migration-

Moderate numbers of decent variety (742 individuals of 32 species) including the season's first Bay-breasted Warbler and Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

http://www.trektellen.org/count/view/1746/20160906

7 Sept

-moderate NW winds, but TS Hermine was still potentially interfering with coastal passage migration-

A nice count of 107 Baltimore Orioles, also Wilson's Warbler.

http://www.trektellen.org/count/view/1746/20160907

8 Sept

-light SW winds with some fog-

~600 birds of 42 "landbird species" including Alder Flycatcher.  An adult Least Tern was a fairly late record as well.

http://www.trektellen.org/count/view/1746/20160908

9 Sept

-warm with light SW wind-

A slow day.... 31 American Robin was a nice count, along with Dickcissel.  Counted by Tom Reed

http://www.trektellen.org/count/view/1746/20160909

10 Sept

-warm with light S-SW wind, lots of mid-altitude cloud cover-

Something was in that thick air that morning, with the awesome "ochraceous" outrageousness of 6,301 SOUTHBOUND BOBOLINK.  At least 150 flocks numbering 10-200 flew a steady stream south and were a joy to see and enumerate.  If the same flight had occurred under clear skies then the search of the "Binks" in the sky wouldve been quite the challenge!

http://www.trektellen.org/count/view/1746/20160910

11 Sept

-light SW wind-

Bobolinks tempering down to 717 southbound.  What's interesting is that Bobolink numbers at the Hawkwatch today are already higher than the total there yesterday.  Morning Flight must've had Bobolinks on a more western flightline on Sept, 10.

http://www.trektellen.org/count/view/1746/20160911

Hawkwatch, 10 September 2016

Today's south winds made for fun flights of birds. The raptor migration came through at a slower rate, most likely due to the headwinds that these large birds encountered. Even with the strong headwinds there were non-raptors which had other plans in the Cape May area. This morning's sky was filled with Bobolinks. Their soft soft "ping" call notes were heard as their golden-yellow bellies were seen from below. A total of 1265 Bobolinks were tallied migrating by the hawkwatching platform today. A total of 24 migrating raptors were tallied today.

Bobolinks flying by.

 Today's totals.

Winds are expected to come out of the west by mid-morning followed with northwest winds throughout the rest of the day. It will be exciting to see what birds move through the skies tomorrow as this cool front passes. See you at the platform!

Hawkwatch, 9 September 2016

Today's warm conditions didn't stop us from having a great time atop the hawkwatching platform. Numerous sightings of overhead Osprey delighted us. Peregrine Falcons and Merlin checked Bunker Pond for meals as these strong-winged raptors migrated by. Northern Harriers patrolled the beaches with their beautiful bounding wingbeats.

Bunker pond's water level is quite low this fall which has made for great shorebird habitat. An uncommon-for-the-area Wilson's Phalarope (shown below) made a brief appearance. The top center bird is the Wilson's Phalarope. The next two birds clockwise from the phalarope are Stilt Sandpipers. The other four individuals in the photo are Lesser Yellowlegs.

A total of 37 migrating raptors were tallied today from the hawkwatching platform. Below is a compilation of all of the birds seen migrating past the hawkwatching platform today.

Hawkwatch 3-6 September 2016

The past few days of the hawkwatch have been filled with great winds and varying skies. The recent tropical storm affected our shoreline considerably less than had been planned. The prevailing post-front winds have left many raptors north of us with a tail wind.

Yesterday's (September 6th) flight of raptors left us in awe. Shortly after daybreak American Kestrels and Osprey were flapping over the horizon. As the northwest winds continued throughout the day broken streams of American Kestrels formed to the north and west. On three different occasions a total of 8 kestrels were seen in a single binocular view! A total of 471 American Kestrels were counted yesterday. It's so great to see the force of raptor migration taking place.

American Kestrels are declining through a considerable portion of their range. Choosing organically-grown groceries and planting native plants in our yards (big and small) can help American Kestrels as this species feeds on large insects like dragonflies which benefit from native plants. Do you have native plants in your yard?

We saw a few American Kestrels eating on the wing as they brought their dragonfly-filled talons up to their beaks while flying by. There are many days to come with kestrels and so many other raptors. This fall's raptor migration is just beginning... Stop on by the hawkwatch platform and see what is flying through the beautiful skies of Cape May!

Below is the day count for September 6, 2016

American Kestrel at daybreak. Look at those beautiful colors and sharp wings!

Hawkwatch, 2 September 2016

The second day of the 2016 Cape May Hawkwatch was highlighted with an early morning flight of songbirds, raptors throughout the day, and beautiful skies of scattered clouds. North winds gave migrants a tailwind which made for a bird-filled day of scanning the skies.

Juvenile Cooper's Hawk flying overhead. 

This Silver-haired Bat stopped by for a rest today.

The first-of-the-fall migrating Red-tailed Hawks and Cooper's Hawks were seen riding thermals throughout the day. Visitors were treated to great views of Bald Eagles, both immature and adult-plumaged birds. Daily raptor tallies include 5 Red-tailed Hawks, 5 Broad-winged Hawks, 8 Sharp-shinned Hawks, 9 Cooper's Hawks, 1 Northern Harrier, 14 American Kestrel, 5 Merlin, 2 Peregrine, and 57 Osprey.

Hawkwatch, 1 September 2016

Today marks the first day of the 2016 Cape May Hawkwatch! Morning showers and variable winds made for sightings that kept us on our toes. As the upcoming months progress we’ll experience the migration of a magnitude of bird species.

Osprey are one of the key players in the game of raptor migration here at Cape May. Migrants today include 11 Osprey in addition to 1 Broad-winged Hawk, 1 Northern Harrier, 2 Bald Eagles, 4 American Kestrels, 2 Merlin, and 2 Peregrine Falcons. A few of the non-raptors included 22 Bobolink, 2 Indigo Buntings, and a dapper Northern Waterthrush. Five monarchs were seen flying past the platform as well.

This dark Parasitic Jaeger flew around and over the platform several times today!

A juvenile Bonaparte's Gull (right) feeds near a juvenile Laughing Gull (left)

Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for mostly sunny skies accompanied with steady winds out of the north. Bring on the birds. Bring your friends. Hope to see you soon at the hawkwatching platform!

Morning Flight, 28-31 August 2016

One of the past four days has been a significant Morning Flight.  From the radar there has been some migration evident every night this week but yesterday there were enough locally migrating songbirds and heavier wind to produce the best flight of the season, thus far. Over 500 warblers of 13 species were counted-- making for a spectacular day, especially for August! 

http://www.trektellen.org/count/view/1746/20160830