2010. Here I was thinking that the most significance this number would have this year is that it is...well...this year. Well, now this particular number has even more meaning on the Hawkwatch platform, since that's how many diurnal raptors were counted today. Of course, 2,010 is just a number, and today can't be done justice by simply boiling it down to four digits. The day started with a wickedly strong north wind that was expected to drop the flight down to a reasonable level. Instead the wind died down and the flight got absolutely stratospheric for the middle portion of the day.
Sharp-shinned Hawks filled the sky over Cape May Point for several hours, but they were to be a mere footnote this day. At around 2:30 PM the wind shifted to the NW and picked up in speed. All of a sudden the afternoon Falcon flight was underway and lines of American Kestrels were streaming overhead as Merlins terrorized the fauna of Cape May. They were zooming around with Dragonflies in their talons, or dive-bombing Ospreys and Crows. Nothing in the air was safe from their wrath, and this of course delighted those remaining on the platform.
Oh, and by the way, the Hudsonian Godwit (now named "Stumpy") was hanging around for most of the day around Bunker Pond. It hung tough through many Merlin strafing runs, although it eventually re-located to the Meadows and then eventually out of sight to the NW. Hopefully it returns tomorrow. Other avian highlights were a Golden-Plover (presumably American) with a flock of Black-bellied Plovers flying around the Meadows, 2 flyover Dickcissels, a juvenile Tricolored Heron, 4 Common Nighthawks, an adult Long-billed Dowitcher, and close flyover immature Great Cormorant.
American Kestrels were the second most numerous, but probably the most cooperative, raptor today...
although Merlins certainly stole the show. Here's one checking out all of us on the deck as it came in right overhead. Maybe it saw a dragonfly behind us...
...or maybe it had something bigger and juicier on its mind. Here Tony Leukering caught the Hudsonian Godwit in an uncharacteristic pose as a Merlin barreled through the shorebirds on Bunker Pond.
This Northern Harrier entertained all in attendance by hovering and hunting over the Marsh directly in front of the platform at nearly point blank range.
There is still debate about what species of bird this leg belonged to, but it seems to be some species of waterfowl. Of course with the diversity of waterfowl around Cape May Point right now that leaves several possibilities. (photo copyright Doug Gochfeld).
Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 20, 2010
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 4 4
Turkey Vulture 25 163 163
Osprey 106 2202 2202
Bald Eagle 9 153 153
Northern Harrier 46 287 287
Sharp-shinned Hawk 917 2779 2779
Cooper's Hawk 97 634 634
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 5 5
Broad-winged Hawk 4 426 426
Red-tailed Hawk 28 130 130
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 561 2277 2277
Merlin 214 565 565
Peregrine Falcon 3 28 28
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: 2010 9653 9653
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Observation start time: 05:45:00
Observation end time: 16:45:00
Total observation time: 11 hours
Official Counter: Doug Gochfeld
Observers:
Weather:
North winds started strong for the first couple of hours before lightening
up, and then shifting to NW at around 2:30 PM. 0% Cloud cover all day.
Raptor Observations:
Extremely high mixed flight through the middle of the day, then the small
Falcon flight picked up and was strong through the end.
Non-raptor Observations:
Hudsonian Godwit, American (presumed) Golden-Plover, 2 flyover Dickcissels,
Tricolored Heron, Long-billed Dowitcher, Common Nighthawks.
Predictions:
Light NE winds early, shifting E and then SE before Noon. Probably some
early residual from today's flight and then it will taper off.
Location: Cape Island--CMPSP--Hawkwatch Platform (CMBO hawkwatch)
Observation date: 9/20/10
Notes: Cloudless day. Variable north winds, shifting to NW ~2:30 PM.
Number of species: 86
Canada Goose X
Mute Swan 7
Wood Duck 2
Gadwall X
American Wigeon 20
Mallard X
Blue-winged Teal 20
Northern Shoveler 7
Northern Pintail 2
Green-winged Teal 20
Common Loon 1 HIGH flyover
Double-crested Cormorant 125
Great Cormorant 1 Very close flyby
Great Blue Heron 2
Great Egret 7
Snowy Egret 1
Tricolored Heron 1
Glossy Ibis 1
Black Vulture 8
Turkey Vulture 30
Osprey 106
Bald Eagle 11
Northern Harrier 46
Sharp-shinned Hawk 917
Cooper's Hawk 97
Broad-winged Hawk 4
Red-tailed Hawk 28
American Kestrel 561
Merlin 214
Peregrine Falcon 3
Black-bellied Plover 12
American Golden-Plover 1 w/ BBPLs over Meadows
Semipalmated Plover 1
Killdeer 2
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Solitary Sandpiper 1
Greater Yellowlegs 1
Lesser Yellowlegs 12
Hudsonian Godwit 1
Red Knot 1 w/ BBPLs over Meadows
Semipalmated Sandpiper 4
Least Sandpiper 43
Pectoral Sandpiper 6
Stilt Sandpiper 2
Short-billed Dowitcher 7
Long-billed Dowitcher 1
Laughing Gull X
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1 3rd/4th cycle
Great Black-backed Gull X
Forster's Tern 8
Royal Tern 100
Black Skimmer 200
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Common Nighthawk 4
Chimney Swift 3
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Belted Kingfisher 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 15
Blue Jay X
American Crow X
Fish Crow X
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 1
Tree Swallow 10000
Barn Swallow 50
Cliff Swallow 1
American Robin 4
Gray Catbird X
Northern Mockingbird X
European Starling X
Northern Parula 2
Yellow Warbler 4
Prairie Warbler 1
Palm Warbler (Western) 20
American Redstart 8
Northern Waterthrush 2
Common Yellowthroat 5
Northern Cardinal X
Indigo Bunting 1
Dickcissel 2
Bobolink 125
Red-winged Blackbird X
American Goldfinch X
House Sparrow X
Northern Flickers came through in big numbers today - 416 zipped by the Dike, and over 1000 were counted along the bayshore in Villas (Tom Johnson, Higbee Beach).
