Sunday, November 24, 2012
Strong WNW winds today at Derby Hill, 30-40 MPH from 7 AM thru 4 PM. Highlights
were 1 juvenile Black-legged Kittiwake, 1 adult Little Gull, 1 first-winter and
1 adult Iceland Gull and 1 juvenile Pomarine Jaeger. Lots of gulls on the move
(finally!) and a variety of winter ducks.
Brant 2
Canada Goose 140
Tundra Swan 7
Gadwall 12
American Wigeon 2
American Black Duck 9
Mallard 8
Northern Pintail 5
Greater Scaup 37
Lesser Scaup 6
Surf Scoter 1
White-winged Scoter 36
Black Scoter 30
Long-tailed Duck 920
Bufflehead 18
Common Goldeneye 29
Red-breasted Merganser 200
Red-throated Loon 1
Common Loon 24
Horned Grebe 8
Bald Eagle 3
Black-legged Kittiwake 1
Bonaparte’s Gull 144
Little Gull 1
Ring-billed Gull 5200
Herring Gull 700
Iceland Gull 2
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 1
Report by Bill Purcell
Monday, October 15, 2012
A few waterfowl on the move at Derby Hill today on 15-20 MPH west winds.
Brant 425 – 6 flocks
American Black Duck 69
Mallard 9
Northern Pintail 34
Greater Scaup 1
Surf Scoter 1
White-winged Scoter 35
Common Loon 9
Peregrine Falcon 1
small shorebirds 3, very white but very distant, likely Red Phalaropes or
Sanderlings
Report by Bill Purcell
Friday, October 12, 2012
At Derby Hill on Friday morning there was a good Brant flight and lots of
Pintail for the second consecutive day. The wind swung from NW 25+ MPH to N 15
MPH over 3 hours from 7-10 AM and by 9:30 the waterfowl was mostly swirling
about without new birds coming in.
Brant 4140
Canada Goose 55
American Wigeon 57
American Black Duck 139
Mallard 110
Northern Pintail 436
Green-winged Teal 14
Surf Scoter 29
White-winged Scoter 17
Black Scoter 2
Red-breasted Merganser 62
Report by Bill Purcell
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Winds were strong at Derby Hill today, WNW at 20-25+ MPH but we did not see much
of a flight by the time Kevin McGann and I left at 4 PM. There was little in the
way of waterfowl and the highlights were a Lesser Black-backed Gull and a
Forster’s Tern, both first-winter birds. Selected species:
American Wigeon 7
Mallard 12
Northern Pintail 17
Lesser Scaup 3
Common Merganser 5
Red-breasted Merganser 16
Common Loon 4
Bonaparte’s Gull 4
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1
Caspian Tern 9
Common Tern 3 +2 small terns too distant to identify
Forster’s Tern 1
American Kestrel 1
Report by Bill Purcell
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Tom Carrolan and I spent 5 hours at Derby Hill watching the summer dispersal
flight on pre-frontal condtions. Nearly all the birds listed below were
juveniles with a handful of 1 year old birds mixed in. In addition there was 1
Osprey flying south with a fish and another Osprey moving west to east. Osprey
are generally not part of the dispersal flight. There were the usual Turkey
Vultures as well with almost as many moving west as were moving east. The
flight:
Bald Eagle 19
Northern Harrier 1
Cooper’s Hawk 2
Broad-winged Hawk 11
Red-tailed Hawk 123
Report by Bill Purcell
Monday, June 18, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 0 6
Turkey Vulture 0 0 15032
Osprey 1 6 562
Bald Eagle 3 50 589
Northern Harrier 0 1 366
Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 1 3834
Cooper’s Hawk 0 1 362
Northern Goshawk 0 2 17
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 388
Broad-winged Hawk 2 138 25945
Red-tailed Hawk 4 19 3437
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 123
Golden Eagle 0 0 72
American Kestrel 0 1 201
Merlin 0 0 42
Peregrine Falcon 0 0 21
Swainson’s Hawk 1 1 4
Swallow-tailed Kite 0 0 1
Total: 11 220 51249
Weather
SSE winds at 15+ but a small trough had passed and there was rain and heavy
clouds to our west.
Raptor Observations
Few raptors but the light-morph Swainson’s was often in view for about 2
hours as it soared over the lookout before returning to hunt in the
hayfields to the south which were being cut today. Tom Carrolan likely had
the bird at 9 AM EST but it was behind the lookout and never quite gave a
“clinching look”.
Report submitted by Bill Purcell
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 0 6
Turkey Vulture 0 0 15032
Osprey 2 5 561
Bald Eagle 28 47 586
Northern Harrier 0 1 366
Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 1 3834
Cooper’s Hawk 0 1 362
Northern Goshawk 0 2 17
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 388
Broad-winged Hawk 9 136 25943
Red-tailed Hawk 6 15 3433
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 123
Golden Eagle 0 0 72
American Kestrel 1 1 201
Merlin 0 0 42
Peregrine Falcon 0 0 21
Swainson’s Hawk 0 0 3
Swallow-tailed Kite 0 0 1
Total: 46 209 51238
Weather
South winds gusting to 20+ knots and some high clouds.
Raptor Observations
Bald Eagle numbers were nice but there were few juvenile Broad-wings today.
Non-raptor Observations
Small groups of Cedar Waxwings (up to 8) moving throughout the day; 2
Indigo Buntings.
Predictions
South winds should continue.
Report submitted by Bill Purcell
Monday, June 11, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 0 6
Turkey Vulture 0 0 15032
Osprey 3 3 559
Bald Eagle 19 19 558
Northern Harrier 1 1 366
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 1 3834
Cooper’s Hawk 1 1 362
Northern Goshawk 2 2 17
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 388
Broad-winged Hawk 127 127 25934
Red-tailed Hawk 9 9 3427
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 123
Golden Eagle 0 0 72
American Kestrel 0 0 200
Merlin 0 0 42
Peregrine Falcon 0 0 21
Swainson’s Hawk 0 0 3
Swallow-tailed Kite 0 0 1
Total: 163 163 51192
Weather
SSE to S winds at 10-16 mph thru the day. Lots of blue sky early, clouds in the PM helped. This was the first day in June with any significant south
winds.
Raptor Observations
Goshawks in June (both immatures of course) were the highlight. The first
was high with broad secondaries and a long thick tail. The second was low
and a bit confusing at first since it had some primary molt. The gos did
have a heavily streaked body and a tawny bar on the upper-wing coverts.
Report submitted by Bill Purcell
Derby Hill 2012 Season Recap
Happy Memorial Day Weekend everyones! With me actually taking three consecutive days off for the first time in a few months, it would seem
a good opportunity to recap the 2012 season. Of course a full summary will be mailed out to supporters in the Derby Hill Newsletter later this
fall, with copies of the newsletter available to the general public at Derb the following spring, but what follows should hold readers over until those future dates. As some readers are well aware, I have already evacuated the site and taken a new job for the University of Hawai’i, working with endangered seabirds on the Island of Kaua’i; woe
is me. The official end to the Derby Hill hawk count comes on May 31st, though non-breeding raptors will likely continue to trickle through well into June, along with later migrating non raptors
including Common Nighthawk, Olive-sided Flycatcher, and even a handful of warbler species.
2012 was an amazing season at Derby Hill, with just over 50,000 raptors of 18 species being counted as migrants, both numbers above
historical averages and the latter figure marking only the second time in 34 years of standardized counting that over 17 species have been recorded. Much of this amazing flight can be attributed to May, with
the nearly 22,000 birds recorded that month making for the highest May
count ever, besting the previous month record of 18,279 from 1982.
The big May highlights all came in the first week of the month, the
biggest of those highlights being me getting to yell “SWALLOW-TAILED
KITE OVER FOUR” on May 4th after spotting the extremely long-winged
southern raptor coming in from the west at about 12:20 EST. For all
present on the Don Barnes Memorial Lookout this date, including
myself, David Wheeler, Pete Davidson, Bill Purcell, and Mr. Wheeler’s
father, enjoying a healthy dose of beginner’s luck, this was a
sighting we will never forget. (And, as stated in a previous posting
to the site, even our illustrious former counter Gerry Smith got a
brief look at the bird through his windshield in the parking lot
across the street, thanks to Bill Purcell’s booming voice alerting him
that it was time to get off the phone and look up from the lap top
computer screen.)
I was told the Kite passed directly overhead, low and slow, though it
seemed to me to have disappeared in a flash, not quite affording the
looks and careful study of such a rarity we all dream about; then
again, the bird was in a decent sized kettle of Broad-wingeds, and as
the official counter, I had to make sure each one of those birds was
clicked, and that no other rarities were sneaking by undetected. In
fact, in the noon to one hour on May 4th, some 1969 other raptors were
counted as migrants, with the day’s total tally being 4030 birds,
seemingly high numbers in and of themselves, until that is we put them
next to some stats from the previous day. May third had started out
with the site socked in by thick fog; the count had been given up on
at two, with only four hours of coverage and 115 birds counted. The
weather and birds had other plans however, with the fog lifting at
about 2:15, and the birds started coming through by the thousands!
1822 birds were tallied between two-thirty and three, and an
impressive 6827 birds were counted from three to four, me doing
everything I could to keep up with the flight, and my good friend
David Wheeler doing everything he could to keep me semi sane, focused,
and missing as little as might be possible for one counter on such
flight conditions. By the end of that day, some 9497 individuals had
been tallied. Continuing to work backwards, May 2nd had been no slouch
either, with the Broad-wingeds moving through in slightly lower
numbers, but season high counts for Osprey (137) Sharpie (664) Harrier
(33) and Bald Eagle (39).
Per usual, non raptors abounded at Derby Hill in May 2012 as well,
with highlights including a Pacific Loon on May 6, which, pending
NYSARC’s deliberations, should be the first officially accepted record
of the species for Oswego County, and the seventh of the month saw the
peak Blue Jay count for the season with 2600 estimated to have flown
by. May 9th saw 111 species of ornithid documented at the site by
myself and David Wheeler, including 20 species of Warbler and 10
species of Sparrow, with May 12th producing some 23 species of Warbler
by this single observer (Central Park, McGee Marsh, even Point Peele
or Long Point really don’t have much on a good Derby Hill day in the
spring). The species list on the twelfth included such lake shore half
hearties as Prothonotary, Worm-eating, and Orange-crowned Warblers. In
the non-ornithid realm, the twelfth also saw a bird festival hosted at
Derby Hill a new initiative of Onondaga Audubon Society to
hopefully become an annual event in coming years. The event appeared to have been a
success, with many new visitors to Derby Hill getting some decent
looks at migrating Bald Eagles overhead, breeding warblers in the
hedgerows, and a number of birding related vendors and concessionaires
set up on tables and in tents atop the Hill.
May was of course not the only month with all kinds of happenings at
Derby Hill in 2012. April is traditionally thought of as the peak
month for raptor migration, though the big push of Broad-wingeds came
in the last month of counting in 2012 instead of the middle one.
Nonetheless, April did see five days of quadruple digit counts,
including two spectacular south lookout flights early in the month on
the 2nd and 4th. It was commented (or lamented) by many a regular that
we really need boom/bust cycles in the weather to induce good hawk
flights: a couple of days of poor weather backing birds up followed by
a single day of south winds ahead of a powerful front will make for a
big push of birds. Such things never really materialized in March or
April of 2012. An incredible 20 days in March saw at least some winds
with a southerly component, with an unprecedented 24 days seeing part
or all of the count being conducted from the north lookout. Despite
these statistics, the counts for March were overall relatively light,
with Red-shouldereds, Red-taileds, and Rough-leggeds in particular
being missed. The counts for the latter two species, in addition to
Northern Harriers and Northern Goshawks, likely suffered due to the
warm winter, with these less facultative migrants simply not needing
to come south in the fall of 2011, and therefore back north past Derb
in the spring of 2012. Indeed, all five of these species saw near all
time low counts, though it is likely only the Red-shouldered Hawk that
is suffering a severe population decline. Low counts for the other
four species are likely wholly weather induced.
The 388 Red-shouldered Hawks tallied at Derby Hill in 2012 marks a
slight uptick form the 2010 and 2011 all time low counts, but still
figures to be not only the fourth lowest count for the species on the
books, but also one of only four counts for the species below 500
birds. Extremely interesting is the high proportion of 35% of aged
individuals being last year’s hatched birds. More speculation on the
meaning of that stat to come in our afore mentioned newsletter, or if
you can’t wait till then, feel free to email me for more details on
anything you’ve seen on this blog at krw at derbyhill dot org.
As for Red-tailed Hawks, while the sheer numbers of ‘tails in 2012 did
disappoint (3408 being the second lightest count for this species in
the history of Derby Hill, and one of only four years were the count
came shy of 4,000 birds, the other years being 2007, 2010, and 2011),
there were a number of notable individuals. Most interesting was a
Harlan’s type bird seen from the north lookout on 26 March. Four dark
and one dark or rufous morph birds were seen: one on 13 March, two on
27 March, one on 2 April, and one on 13 April. Two Krider’s types were
seen, one each on 4 and 19 April. Additionally, upwards of a dozen
light morph birds were observed to have traditionally calurus like
traits, most of these passing in the last week of March and first half
of April. Whether these birds were (1) genuinely of the B.j. calurus
subspecies, (2) B.j. borealis birds showing more variation than books
will give them credit for, or (3) individuals belonging to the
illusive if not entirely hypothetical B.j. abeiticola, we will never
know.
Also in the Buteo genera, three Swainson’s Hawks were tallied. The
first was likely over the north lookout, though it was seen from the
south lookout amidst the spread out flight on April 2, and the other
two (on May 2 and May 9) were out over the Lake, seen from the north
lookout, and not identified until they were “behind” us, or to the
northeast. Suffice to say, none were overly amazing looks, but in
addition to these handsome, long winged, long distance migrants being
one of this counter’s favourite raptors, the three are significant in
being the first time in Derby history that more than two have been
tallied in a single spring. Those other South American wintering
Buteos, the Broad-winged Hawks, had an amazing year in 2012. The
season total to date of 25,542 figures to be the sixth highest in 34
years of standardized monitoring, and more interestingly is the first
time since 1985 the count has topped 24,000 individuals.
Despite low counts in some species, others had record and near record
years in 2012. Both Vultures broke all kinds of records. Blacks had
their earliest arrival date ever on the 15th of March, and had a
record high count with six recorded as migrants and a seventh west
bound bird noted but not counted under our standardized protocol. A
pair of Turkey Vultures on the 22nd of February tied the early date
for the site for that species, and the season count of over 15,000
individuals blows away the previous season high of 13,250 in 2009,
also a Kyle Wright as official counter year; don’t wanna think about
what that says about my age or choice of deodorant. Lastly, the
incredible flight of 2731 individuals (including a single hour with
1215 birds clicked) on 28 March marks a new single day record, besting
the previous record flight, also from 2009, by 60 individuals.
The other big birds had a good year too. Neither Eagle came close to
the 2011 record counts, but Balds had their second best counts ever at
the site with 465 tallied to date, and the 72 Golden Eagles tallied in
2012 figures to be the fifth highest count for the species at Derb
behind 2011, 2000, 2008 and 2003. Ospreys too had an above average
year: 543 thus far in 2012 relative to a historical average of 427.
Much of this species’ above average flight can be attributed to the 2
May flight of 137 birds. While far off the record single day flight of
201 individuals back in 1990, the 2 May 2012 flight is the tenth best
in Derby Hill history, and only the twelfth single day that three
digits worth of Ospreys have been tallied.
In the Falcon department, Peregrines are having a record tying year,
with the 21 tallied to date matching the previous record for the site
from 2008 (and we still have a few days to break that record – keep
your fingers crossed). The 200 Kestrels tallied to date is shy of both
the previous ten year and the historical 33 year averages for the
species of 256 and 397 respectively. I do not know how many end of
season reports I have written for how many sites where I drone on
about declining Kestrel numbers; while Peregrine Falcon and Bald Eagle
numbers from Derb and other hawkwatch sites are evidence of the
success of the Endangered Species Act and the ban on DDT in the United
States, Kestrel numbers are indicators to us that not all is well with
the natural world and some of the organisms we share this planet with.
As stated about 2,000 words ago, it has been an amazing season! Many
birds this season would not have been tallied without the help of a
number of individuals. I would like to thank Bill Purcell for standing
in as official counter since my departure ten days ago, and on a few
other occasions throughout the season, granting me a day off here and
there to rest the eyes and restore the sanity. David Wheeler was also
invaluable in keeping the moral up and spotting two of those Black
Vultures before I got on them, in addition to a number of other birds
I might have otherwise missed. Of course we (as an organization)
cannot overlook the efforts of Judy Thurber, from organizing work
parties to clean the chair shed and garage, to tidying the porch and
making the F.G. Scheider Memorial garden more welcoming to visitors:
our sincerest thanks Judy! A number of other individuals gave their
time and energies to aide me in spotting and identifying birds, help
with visitor orientation, and provide good conversation on a slow day
or two. No room to list all of you of course, but you know who you
are, and I offer my sincerest thanks for your efforts!
Remember, Derby Hill Bird Observatory, a sanctuary of Onondaga Audubon
Society, is open to the public year round, and each season has a
different vibe and collection of flora and fauna to awe and amaze.
While a development committee is seeking additional funding resources,
Derby Hill for the time being is fully visitor and supporter donation
funded, so if you appreciate the site and all it has to offer, please
do find it in you to give whatever you can afford! This amazing site
and institution has the potential to continue to grow and put more
people in touch with the wonders of our natural world right in our own
backyards, in addition to hopefully continuing to build on our
knowledge of raptor ecology and migration, but none of this is
possible without your donations (and no, I do not have any intentions
of working for NPR in a future life).
I have hopes that all the readers of this blog can continue to enjoy
Derby Hill Bird Observatory for seasons and years to come, and hope
the 2013 hawk flight will be even more spectacular for all present
than 2012 has been. It’s been fun, aloha and mahalo!
Kyle Wright
2012 Derby Hill Bird Observatory Staff Ornithologist
Memorial Day Weekend
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 0 6
Turkey Vulture 0 1676 15032
Osprey 0 399 556
Bald Eagle 3 381 539
Northern Harrier 0 124 365
Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 1643 3833
Cooper’s Hawk 0 21 361
Northern Goshawk 0 3 15
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 6 388
Broad-winged Hawk 12 17391 25807
Red-tailed Hawk 0 459 3418
Rough-legged Hawk 0 6 123
Golden Eagle 0 9 72
American Kestrel 0 39 200
Merlin 0 14 42
Peregrine Falcon 0 6 21
Swainson’s Hawk 0 2 3
Swallow-tailed Kite 0 1 1
Total: 15 22337 51029
Weather
For the second day the lake breeze strengthened and the clouds decreased by
the afternoon.
Non-raptor Observations
1 Common Loon
Predictions
End of the “Official Season”. Observers will still be at the North Lookout
on days with south winds as northbound migration continues into July.
Dispersal flights and birds pushed along the lake shore occur on south
winds from August into November (and further?).
Report submitted by Bill Purcell
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 0 6
Turkey Vulture 0 1676 15032
Osprey 0 399 556
Bald Eagle 4 378 536
Northern Harrier 0 124 365
Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 1643 3833
Cooper’s Hawk 0 21 361
Northern Goshawk 0 3 15
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 6 388
Broad-winged Hawk 21 17379 25795
Red-tailed Hawk 0 459 3418
Rough-legged Hawk 0 6 123
Golden Eagle 0 9 72
American Kestrel 0 39 200
Merlin 0 14 42
Peregrine Falcon 0 6 21
Swainson’s Hawk 0 2 3
Swallow-tailed Kite 0 1 1
Total: 25 22322 51014
Weather
West winds following a cold front quickly became NW as the lake breeze
piled on. Sky was clear blue by noon EST.
Non-raptor Observations
Yellow-billed Cuckoo called several times over the last hour.
Report submitted by Bill Purcell
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 0 6
Turkey Vulture 0 1676 15032
Osprey 0 399 556
Bald Eagle 19 374 532
Northern Harrier 2 124 365
Sharp-shinned Hawk 3 1643 3833
Cooper’s Hawk 0 21 361
Northern Goshawk 0 3 15
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 6 388
Broad-winged Hawk 100 17358 25774
Red-tailed Hawk 0 459 3418
Rough-legged Hawk 0 6 123
Golden Eagle 0 9 72
American Kestrel 0 39 200
Merlin 0 14 42
Peregrine Falcon 0 6 21
Swainson’s Hawk 0 2 3
Swallow-tailed Kite 0 1 1
Total: 124 22297 50989
Weather
Warm with southwest wind early, thunderstorms in the afternoon.
Report submitted by Bill Purcell
Monday, May 28, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 0 6
Turkey Vulture 0 1676 15032
Osprey 13 399 556
Bald Eagle 44 355 513
Northern Harrier 1 122 363
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 1640 3830
Cooper’s Hawk 0 21 361
Northern Goshawk 0 3 15
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 6 388
Broad-winged Hawk 125 17258 25674
Red-tailed Hawk 7 459 3418
Rough-legged Hawk 0 6 123
Golden Eagle 0 9 72
American Kestrel 0 39 200
Merlin 0 14 42
Peregrine Falcon 0 6 21
Swainson’s Hawk 0 2 3
Swallow-tailed Kite 0 1 1
Total: 191 22173 50865
Weather
Rain for most of the first two hours with skies quickly clearing and
temperature reaching 30º C. in mid afternoon. Moderate south winds held
through the day.
Raptor Observations
It took a long time for birds to start flying and 75% of the flight came
past in the last full hour, 3-4 PM EST. The 44 Bald Eagles are the new
daily high for the year.
Predictions
Southerly winds with rain might produce a flight in the gaps between
rainfall.
Report submitted by Bill Purcell
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 0 6
Turkey Vulture 3 1676 15032
Osprey 0 386 543
Bald Eagle 4 311 469
Northern Harrier 0 121 362
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 1639 3829
Cooper’s Hawk 0 21 361
Northern Goshawk 0 3 15
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 6 388
Broad-winged Hawk 7 17133 25549
Red-tailed Hawk 3 452 3411
Rough-legged Hawk 0 6 123
Golden Eagle 0 9 72
American Kestrel 0 39 200
Merlin 0 14 42
Peregrine Falcon 0 6 21
Swainson’s Hawk 0 2 3
Swallow-tailed Kite 0 1 1
Total: 18 21982 50674
Weather
Lake breeze and blue skies
Report submitted by Bill Purcell
Kite to Kite
Contributed by Gerry Smith
On May 5th 2012 when Bill Purcell yelled “Swallow-tailed Kite”, I looked up from the south lookout parking lot to experience a Derby Hill Déjà vu moment. As this kite lofted at the top of a Broad-winged Hawk boil my mind flashed back thirty six years to the first of its species that graced Derby Hill on 16 April 1976. In 1976 16 April was Good Friday and the day began with a heavy fog blanketing the north lookout. In those days there was no daily hawk count and many days lacked any observer coverage. On the 16th gradually a few observers arrived including Dave and Janet Muir and Bill and Larry Holland. Thick fog is unusual along Lake Ontario in spring and it seemed reluctant to lift. Glenn and Betty Perrigo from Rochester arrived then departed for a cup of coffee. As we waited patiently, patience being a great Derby Hill virtue, hoping for an early Broad-winged flight, the fog began to stir with a stiffening but still light southerly wind. A couple of Sharp-shinned Hawk appeared low through the haze giving hope of a flight. In those dark days of the DDT era, with unnaturally low raptor populations, any migration was a treat.
All present were hoping for an eagle, any eagle, as one-two eagles in a day made a successful Derby visit. Little did we suspect the rarity of the day would be far more unusual than any eagle. Soon after the haze had lifted and the wood line to the west became visible a couple more hawks appeared. I remember looking at the first Broad-wing of the day when I heard Bill Holland, age 16 at that point, utter” What kind of swallow is this?”. Bill was a good young birder who undoubtedly knew it was not a swallow but was reluctant, with 4 adult birders present, to identify the bird. As I swung my binoculars to the southwest they filled with the image of a Swallow-tailed Kite coming directly at us slightly above eye level gradually gaining altitude. Outside of screaming SWALLOW-TAILED KITE I do not recall what else was said and probably from the standpoint of decorum that is a good thing. The bird lofted and moved slowly to the east over a period of four to five minutes giving us all great looks. It is interesting to note that the 2012 bird also was in view for several minutes. Even though only 2 individuals of this species have passed over DHBO a total of 10-15 minutes of observation time has been possible. The Perrigos missed the bird by three minutes making their coffee extremely costly. For the rest of us Derby’s first Swallow-tailed Kite is a great birding memory. Of the five observers present on 16 April 1976 Larry Holland is no longer with us, but I am sure the other four all remember that first bird fondly. My only current concern is the realization, that if the time interval between Swallow-tailed Kites at DHBO remains 36 years/3 weeks, it may be a real challenge for me to be present for the next one!
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 0 6
Turkey Vulture 0 1673 15029
Osprey 0 386 543
Bald Eagle 0 307 465
Northern Harrier 0 121 362
Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 1638 3828
Cooper’s Hawk 0 21 361
Northern Goshawk 0 3 15
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 6 388
Broad-winged Hawk 4 17126 25542
Red-tailed Hawk 4 449 3408
Rough-legged Hawk 0 6 123
Golden Eagle 0 9 72
American Kestrel 0 39 200
Merlin 0 14 42
Peregrine Falcon 0 6 21
Swainson’s Hawk 0 2 3
Swallow-tailed Kite 0 1 1
Total: 8 21964 50656
Weather
Early light west wind went to a 6 MPH lake breeze
Predictions
East winds early becoming calm (read: lake breeze). At this time of year
few raptors are moving on anything other than south winds.
Report submitted by Bill Purcell
Friday, May 25, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 0 6
Turkey Vulture 72 1673 15029
Osprey 10 386 543
Bald Eagle 33 307 465
Northern Harrier 5 121 362
Sharp-shinned Hawk 8 1638 3828
Cooper’s Hawk 0 21 361
Northern Goshawk 0 3 15
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 6 388
Broad-winged Hawk 606 17122 25538
Red-tailed Hawk 23 445 3404
Rough-legged Hawk 0 6 123
Golden Eagle 0 9 72
American Kestrel 0 39 200
Merlin 0 14 42
Peregrine Falcon 0 6 21
Swainson’s Hawk 0 2 3
Swallow-tailed Kite 0 1 1
Total: 757 21956 50648
Weather
Strong southerly winds through the day and enough clouds to make viewing a
little easier. Another nice juvenile Broad-wing flight and what has now
become the usual 30 or so Bald Eagles in late May on good winds.
Non-raptor Observations
Great Egret, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher and Wilson’s
Warbler. Small numbers of Redstarts and Blackpolls flying over.
Report submitted by Bill Purcell
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 0 6
Turkey Vulture 20 1601 14957
Osprey 10 376 533
Bald Eagle 14 274 432
Northern Harrier 2 116 357
Sharp-shinned Hawk 10 1630 3820
Cooper’s Hawk 0 21 361
Northern Goshawk 1 3 15
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 6 388
Broad-winged Hawk 255 16516 24932
Red-tailed Hawk 4 422 3381
Rough-legged Hawk 0 6 123
Golden Eagle 0 9 72
American Kestrel 0 39 200
Merlin 1 14 42
Peregrine Falcon 0 6 21
Swainson’s Hawk 0 2 3
Swallow-tailed Kite 0 1 1
Total: 317 21199 49891
Weather
Good SSE winds through the day and nice clouds for background.
Raptor Observations
A Black Vulture came from behind us and headed west so it’s not included in
the count. Another late season N. Goshawk and a Merlin were the highlights
while the Broad-wings came past in small numbers throughout the day. Thanks
to Gerry Smith for covering the last half hour.
Non-raptor Observations
600+ Cedar Waxwings
Report submitted by Bill Purcell
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Weather
Clear blue skies and north wind building to 8 MPH.
Raptor Observations
No hawks in 2 hours and any migration today would have been well south of
the watch.
Predictions
Prediction is for strong south winds on Thursday and continuing into Friday
Report submitted by Bill Purcell
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 0 6
Turkey Vulture 59 1581 14937
Osprey 5 366 523
Bald Eagle 26 260 418
Northern Harrier 0 114 355
Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 1620 3810
Cooper’s Hawk 0 21 361
Northern Goshawk 0 2 14
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 6 388
Broad-winged Hawk 546 16261 24677
Red-tailed Hawk 20 418 3377
Rough-legged Hawk 1 6 123
Golden Eagle 0 9 72
American Kestrel 0 39 200
Merlin 0 13 41
Peregrine Falcon 0 6 21
Swainson’s Hawk 0 2 3
Swallow-tailed Kite 0 1 1
Total: 659 20882 49574
Weather
Light south winds through 12 EST and then the lake breeze battle started
with the lake winning by 1 PM EST. Lots of high clouds, otherwise I would
have missed a lot of birds.
Raptor Observations
A nice juvenile Broad-wing flight and a juvenile Rough-legged Hawk at 1150
EST.
Report submitted by Bill Purcell
Monday, May 21, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 0 6
Turkey Vulture 253 1522 14878
Osprey 11 361 518
Bald Eagle 15 234 392
Northern Harrier 3 114 355
Sharp-shinned Hawk 8 1618 3808
Cooper’s Hawk 1 21 361
Northern Goshawk 2 2 14
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 6 388
Broad-winged Hawk 173 15715 24131
Red-tailed Hawk 22 398 3357
Rough-legged Hawk 0 5 122
Golden Eagle 1 9 72
American Kestrel 1 39 200
Merlin 0 13 41
Peregrine Falcon 0 6 21
Swainson’s Hawk 0 2 3
Swallow-tailed Kite 0 1 1
Total: 490 20223 48915
Weather
Warm with southeast winds until 3 PM EST when a band of rain hit and the
temperature dropped. Few clouds for the first 4 hours today.
Raptor Observations
A nice flight highlighted by a juvenile Golden Eagle at 2:35 PM and 2
immature N. Goshawks. The second Gos was the last bird for the day, coming
through some light rain.
Report submitted by Bill Purcell
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 0 6
Turkey Vulture 38 1269 14625
Osprey 9 350 507
Bald Eagle 21 219 377
Northern Harrier 1 111 352
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 1610 3800
Cooper’s Hawk 0 20 360
Northern Goshawk 0 0 12
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 6 388
Broad-winged Hawk 49 15542 23958
Red-tailed Hawk 6 376 3335
Rough-legged Hawk 0 5 122
Golden Eagle 0 8 71
American Kestrel 0 38 199
Merlin 0 13 41
Peregrine Falcon 0 6 21
Swainson’s Hawk 0 2 3
Swallow-tailed Kite 0 1 1
Total: 125 19733 48425
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 0 6
Turkey Vulture 28 1231 14587
Osprey 2 341 498
Bald Eagle 2 198 356
Northern Harrier 0 110 351
Sharp-shinned Hawk 6 1609 3799
Cooper’s Hawk 0 20 360
Northern Goshawk 0 0 12
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 6 388
Broad-winged Hawk 3 15493 23909
Red-tailed Hawk 0 370 3329
Rough-legged Hawk 0 5 122
Golden Eagle 0 8 71
American Kestrel 0 38 199
Merlin 1 13 41
Peregrine Falcon 0 6 21
Swainson’s Hawk 0 2 3
Swallow-tailed Kite 0 1 1
Total: 42 19608 48300
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Friday, May 18, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 0 6
Turkey Vulture 25 1203 14559
Osprey 1 339 496
Bald Eagle 0 196 354
Northern Harrier 1 110 351
Sharp-shinned Hawk 4 1603 3793
Cooper’s Hawk 0 20 360
Northern Goshawk 0 0 12
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 6 388
Broad-winged Hawk 2 15490 23906
Red-tailed Hawk 0 370 3329
Rough-legged Hawk 0 5 122
Golden Eagle 0 8 71
American Kestrel 0 38 199
Merlin 0 12 40
Peregrine Falcon 0 6 21
Swainson’s Hawk 0 2 3
Swallow-tailed Kite 0 1 1
Total: 33 19566 48258
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 0 6
Turkey Vulture 34 1178 14534
Osprey 4 338 495
Bald Eagle 6 196 354
Northern Harrier 0 109 350
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 1599 3789
Cooper’s Hawk 0 20 360
Northern Goshawk 0 0 12
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 6 388
Broad-winged Hawk 33 15488 23904
Red-tailed Hawk 5 370 3329
Rough-legged Hawk 0 5 122
Golden Eagle 0 8 71
American Kestrel 0 38 199
Merlin 0 12 40
Peregrine Falcon 0 6 21
Swainson’s Hawk 0 2 3
Swallow-tailed Kite 0 1 1
Total: 83 19533 48225
Weather
Moderate NW winds and clear blue sky.
Predictions:
Right now, the story for the next 3 days looks like light south winds in
the morning giving way to a lake breeze.
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 0 6
Turkey Vulture 11 1144 14500
Osprey 0 334 491
Bald Eagle 1 190 348
Northern Harrier 2 109 350
Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 1598 3788
Cooper’s Hawk 0 20 360
Northern Goshawk 0 0 12
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 6 388
Broad-winged Hawk 24 15455 23871
Red-tailed Hawk 1 365 3324
Rough-legged Hawk 0 5 122
Golden Eagle 0 8 71
American Kestrel 0 38 199
Merlin 0 12 40
Peregrine Falcon 0 6 21
Swainson’s Hawk 0 2 3
Swallow-tailed Kite 0 1 1
Total: 39 19450 48142
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 0 6
Turkey Vulture 72 1133 14489
Osprey 4 334 491
Bald Eagle 4 189 347
Northern Harrier 1 107 348
Sharp-shinned Hawk 3 1598 3788
Cooper’s Hawk 0 20 360
Northern Goshawk 0 0 12
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 6 388
Broad-winged Hawk 132 15431 23847
Red-tailed Hawk 10 364 3323
Rough-legged Hawk 0 5 122
Golden Eagle 0 8 71
American Kestrel 1 38 199
Merlin 1 12 40
Peregrine Falcon 0 6 21
Swainson’s Hawk 0 2 3
Swallow-tailed Kite 0 1 1
Total: 228 19411 48103
Weather
Mostly cloudy with temperatures from eighteen to twenty-one c. Light
southeast wind in the morning, with a surface level lake breeze kicking in
around ten-thirty, while winds up where the birds were flying seemed to
continue to push them up to the lakeshore if not out over the lake.
Raptor Observations
Birds were high… really high… like almost too high…
Non-raptor Observations
Thirteen species of Warbler, including Hooded, Wilson’s, Tennessee,
Chestnut-sided, Bay-breasted, Blackpoll, and Cape May. Avian highlight of
the day, however, were about 1200 Brant in three-ish flocks headed north
between twelve-forty and one o’clock bird time (that’s one-forty to two
daylight savings time).
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Monday, May 14, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 0 6
Turkey Vulture 146 1061 14417
Osprey 10 330 487
Bald Eagle 37 185 343
Northern Harrier 7 106 347
Sharp-shinned Hawk 28 1595 3785
Cooper’s Hawk 2 20 360
Northern Goshawk 0 0 12
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 6 388
Broad-winged Hawk 387 15299 23715
Red-tailed Hawk 34 354 3313
Rough-legged Hawk 2 5 122
Golden Eagle 0 8 71
American Kestrel 0 37 198
Merlin 0 11 39
Peregrine Falcon 0 6 21
Swainson’s Hawk 0 2 3
Swallow-tailed Kite 0 1 1
Total: 653 19183 47875
Weather
Light south winds gave way to a lake breeze at 12:30 EST.
Non-raptor Observations
Cape May, Bay-breasted and Blackpoll Warblers in the spruce trees at the
north lookout. Black-billed Cuckoo called several times.
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 0 6
Turkey Vulture 4 915 14271
Osprey 1 320 477
Bald Eagle 4 148 306
Northern Harrier 1 99 340
Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 1567 3757
Cooper’s Hawk 0 18 358
Northern Goshawk 0 0 12
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 6 388
Broad-winged Hawk 33 14912 23328
Red-tailed Hawk 6 320 3279
Rough-legged Hawk 0 3 120
Golden Eagle 0 8 71
American Kestrel 1 37 198
Merlin 0 11 39
Peregrine Falcon 0 6 21
Swainson’s Hawk 0 2 3
Swallow-tailed Kite 0 1 1
Total: 50 18530 47222
Non-raptor Observations
Not really feeling 100% of myself, so did not get out to do the hedgerows this a.m., but warblers seen/heard during the count from the south lookout and about the north lookout while filling the feeders included Tennessee,
Nashville, Palm, Yellow-rumped, Yellow, Common Yellowthroat, Ovenbird, Cape
May, Bay-breasted, American Redstart, and Blackpoll… not bad for not
hardly trying…
also, accidentally slipping my mind and not ending up in the report for 12
May, about 700 bluejays flew by in the first three hours of counting (while
still at the north lookout)…
Predictions
Should be good along the lakeshore for a moderate to major passerine fallout
in the a.m. because (a) the weather looks cooperative overnight and (b) per
murphy’s law, I won’t be here… hawk flight tomorrow will likely again be
less than stellar, but should still be stuffs on the move…
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 0 6
Turkey Vulture 179 911 14267
Osprey 3 319 476
Bald Eagle 18 144 302
Northern Harrier 6 98 339
Sharp-shinned Hawk 8 1567 3757
Cooper’s Hawk 0 18 358
Northern Goshawk 0 0 12
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 6 388
Broad-winged Hawk 138 14879 23295
Red-tailed Hawk 9 314 3273
Rough-legged Hawk 0 3 120
Golden Eagle 0 8 71
American Kestrel 3 36 197
Merlin 0 11 39
Peregrine Falcon 1 6 21
Swainson’s Hawk 0 2 3
Swallow-tailed Kite 0 1 1
Total: 365 18480 47172
Weather
Mostly clear, with a few high stratus clouds working their ways in as the day went on (and some srtonger cirrus clouds on the horizon at count’s
end). Light south winds in the early morning, but had given way to a lake
breeze by 9:30 bird time, with the breeze increasing in strength to gusts
around 12mph for the afternoon. Temperatures hovering around 18 to 21c
most of the count period.
Raptor Observations
Super high, super spread out flight, over half the b-dubs not remotely
naked eye birds. More eagles seen from the north lookout after I (and the
official count) had departed for the south lookout, but more b-dubs, t.v.s,
and other birds prone to drift at the south lookout… half in one, six
dozen in the other type of flight, and sorry to all whom it may offend,
b-dubs seemed more important than eagles in my mind today.
Non-raptor Observations
A two hour a.m. walk, staring around five bird time, revealed 23 species of
warbler, including Prothonotary, Worm-eating, Orange-crowned, and
Blue-winged. Species diversity outside of the warblers was a bit lacking,
with some big misses in the Sparrows and Vireos among other places, with
the walk ultimately producing 72 species of passerine and near passerine.
Other highlights included first of season (for the site anyways) Eastern
Wood-peewee and Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Later combined lists between myself
and partner in crime David Wheeler had yielded 106 species of bird for the
property for the day, additional highlights including Sora, Indigo Bunting,
and a 24th species of Warbler: Cape May. Also, because I like counting them
for no particular or scientific reason whatsoever, two Common Loons were
seen migrating north from the south lookout.
Predictions
More light west winds, likely giving way to a northwest lake breeze, but a
few more clouds predicted, even though I see nothing but blue as I look out
the window writing this at about seven bird time on Sunday morning….
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Friday, May 11, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 0 6
Turkey Vulture 3 732 14088
Osprey 1 316 473
Bald Eagle 6 126 284
Northern Harrier 2 92 333
Sharp-shinned Hawk 3 1559 3749
Cooper’s Hawk 0 18 358
Northern Goshawk 0 0 12
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 6 388
Broad-winged Hawk 17 14741 23157
Red-tailed Hawk 4 305 3264
Rough-legged Hawk 0 3 120
Golden Eagle 0 8 71
American Kestrel 0 33 194
Merlin 1 11 39
Peregrine Falcon 0 5 20
Swainson’s Hawk 0 2 3
Swallow-tailed Kite 0 1 1
Total: 37 18115 46807
Weather
Winds from the west and westnorthwest, towards the end of the count gusting above 20mph. Other than that, clear blue skies (fortunately the birds
weren’t too high) and temperatures ranging from nine to thirteen c.
Raptor Observations
Who would have thunk a decade or three ago that on an off wind day like
today Bald Eagle would be the second most numerous of eight species seen
and counted as migrants? And as long as we’re talking about Bald Eagles,
can I tell you one of today’s birds was not following the rules laid out
in the books! The body and upperwing and underwing coverts were entirely
dark, with an nearly immaculately white tail with a thin dark terminal band
and a smudgy/mottled off white head. Sounds decent for a subadult three
bird, right? Catch was that nearly half, or at least upwards of one third
of the secondaries and inner primaries were retained juvenile feathers (and
I can only assume the outer primaries were also retained juv, although that
gets harder to see with the spread fingers on a not supper close bird). So,
subadult three bird with retarded primary and secondary molt, or subadult
one or two bird with extremely advanced body molt, or at least adult ish
hormones floating around an making feathers come in in colors a lot older
than they should be? And why would the tail be so advanced but not the
other flight feathers? A mystery wrapped in an enigma for sure!
Predictions
Clear skies and southwest winds overnight could make for a bit of a
passerine fallout in the morning, but west winds predicted for the day,
likely not pushing a huge swath of birds up to the lake shore… but…
rumor has it there is a bird festival of sorts here tomorrow? and one of
the blurbs being circulated says (and I quote) “…of course, the star
performers, hawks and vultures, will be gracing the skies”. Well, we can
hope the planners of this festival/writer(s) of the blurb will prove to be
better predictors of tomorrow’s flight than I? Blurb goes on to say
“Join us on and find out how much fun hawk watching can
be.” hmmm…
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Thursday, May 10, 2012
No hawks were observed
Wednesday, May 09, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 0 6
Turkey Vulture 40 729 14085
Osprey 30 315 472
Bald Eagle 19 120 278
Northern Harrier 4 90 331
Sharp-shinned Hawk 74 1556 3746
Cooper’s Hawk 4 18 358
Northern Goshawk 0 0 12
Red-shouldered Hawk 1 6 388
Broad-winged Hawk 97 14724 23140
Red-tailed Hawk 15 301 3260
Rough-legged Hawk 0 3 120
Golden Eagle 0 8 71
American Kestrel 1 33 194
Merlin 0 10 38
Peregrine Falcon 2 5 20
Swainson’s Hawk 1 2 3
Swallow-tailed Kite 0 1 1
Total: 292 18078 46770
Weather
Haze for the first half hour of the count, with light rain from about 9:55 to 10:30ish bird time. Other than that, mostly cloudy with temperatures around eighteen to twenty centigrade and light winds from the south
southwest shifting to west northwest by count’s end.
Raptor Observations
A slightly lighter count than some days earlier this month, and most birds
were painfully high, but any day with 19 Balds and 2 Peregrines at Derb
should not be scoffed at, and of course, Swainson’s Hawk number three for
the season. Not much of a look, with the bird high and out over the lake,
but notable not only in being a Swainson’s Hawk, but also in that there
have never been more than two Swainson’s recorded in a single season at
Derb.
Non-raptor Observations
Despite the non visitor friendly hawk flight, a great day for birding about
Derby Hill. An hour and forty-five minute walk through the fields and back
woods starting at about five after six daylight savings time this morning
produced 68 species of passerine and near passerine (honestly without
trying too hard). My friend and/or partner in crime (depending on one’s
perspective) David Wheeler showed up there after, and between the two of
us, by the end of the day we had 111 species of bird on or above the
property, including 20 species of warbler. (As an aside, why could OAS
Birdathon not have been today, but, after a statement like that, I suppose
I need to plug the event, so, Birdathon, Saturday May 19th, 2012, have fun
birding and support Onondaga Audubon, everyone wins! See
https://onondagaaudubon.com/birdathon/ for more details!)
Back to today’s birds, not gonna list all 111 species, but highlights
include both Pretty-winged Warblers in addition to Canada, Bay-breasted,
and Cape May, four species of Vireo including first of season for the site
Red-eyed, first of season Common Tern over the lake, Northern Shovelers, 10
species of Sparrow (including Towhee and Junco), and fly by Sandhill Crane
and Red-headed Woodpecker.
Included in the ten Sparrows was a singing Grasshopper Sparrow, the fourth
time I’ve heard the species from the property this spring, and the third
time that they (or it) have been/has been singing from one area on one of
the neighbor’s properties. Given their scarceness as a migrant on the
Lake Ontario Shore, it makes me wonder if one is trying to hold territory.
Habitat ain’t quite ideal, but, still makes me wonder.
Two Common Loons noted migrating today, and lastly worth mentioning is the
day’s count of 1330 Blue Jays.
Predictions
West winds and a chance of rain… again not ideal for pushing birds up to
the south shore of Lake Ontario, and, while today had yesterday’s rain
backing up birds and maybe making for a slightly more better flight,
tomorrow will have no such component working for it, and will likely be a
slightly slower day.
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
No count conducted today
Weather
Rain & Fog all day 😦
Non-raptor Observations
Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and White-crowned Sparrows were the most glamorous of the twenty or twenty-five ish species at the feeders, but it was so wet, I did not get around to doing much birding other than looking out the windows today….
Predictions
West winds, chance of rain/t-storms in the p.m. … not the best for a great flight, but, likely a touch bit better than today?
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Monday,May 07, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 0 6
Turkey Vulture 225 689 14045
Osprey 9 285 442
Bald Eagle 11 101 259
Northern Harrier 6 86 327
Sharp-shinned Hawk 122 1482 3672
Cooper’s Hawk 5 14 354
Northern Goshawk 0 0 12
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 5 387
Broad-winged Hawk 93 14627 23043
Red-tailed Hawk 44 286 3245
Rough-legged Hawk 1 3 120
Golden Eagle 0 8 71
American Kestrel 0 32 193
Merlin 0 10 38
Peregrine Falcon 0 3 18
Swainson’s Hawk 0 1 2
Swallow-tailed Kite 0 1 1
Total: 519 17786 46478
Weather
Partly cloudy becoming mostly cloudy. Surface level winds out of the southeast becoming east southeast, with temperatures climbing to a mid day
high of twenty-four celsius at eleven thirty bird time. Lake breeze kicked
in around twelve fifteen, with temperatures dropping to about seventeen,
but stronger winds (gusting above fifteen) picked up out of the south
southwest starting around two fifteen.
Non-raptor Observations
Morning woods walk was (again) slow, with the only first of season for the
site being Scarlet Tanager, and only eight species of warbler noted. A
noticeable diurnal migration of passerines during the count, however, with
conservatively 2600 Blue Jays and at least 35 Baltimore Orioles, plus one
Orchard Oriole picked out overhead. All six common Swallows noted, and
seven migrating Common Loons were seen. The season’s first Great Egret was
seen headed east this afternoon, and a Great Egret (I want to assume the
same one) was seen headed west about forty-five minutes later, settling
down in Sage Creek Marsh at the foot of the Hill.
Predictions
rain… heavy rain… moderate south winds, but heavy rain… (and for any
of you thinking of a passerine fallout in the morning, it’s raining here
now (7:43pm edt), is raining to our southwest (where nocturnal migrants
would be taking off from) and it will be raining most of the night) maybe a
day for the counter to catch up on everything else in life currently being
neglected? or just to catch up on the sleep? hmmm….
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Sunday, May 06, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 0 6
Turkey Vulture 2 464 13820
Osprey 6 276 433
Bald Eagle 8 90 248
Northern Harrier 3 80 321
Sharp-shinned Hawk 15 1360 3550
Cooper’s Hawk 1 9 349
Northern Goshawk 0 0 12
Red-shouldered Hawk 1 5 387
Broad-winged Hawk 5 14534 22950
Red-tailed Hawk 12 242 3201
Rough-legged Hawk 0 2 119
Golden Eagle 0 8 71
American Kestrel 1 32 193
Merlin 0 10 38
Peregrine Falcon 0 3 18
Swainson’s Hawk 0 1 2
Swallow-tailed Kite 0 1 1
Total: 54 17267 45959
Weather
High pressure with clear blue skies and winds from the north northwest shifting to northwest, gusting above fifteen mph. Temperatures ranging from
twelve to fifteen celsius.
Raptor Observations
Slow day, but not unexpected. Three immature (less than one year old/no
prebasic molt commenced) Balds’ one worn and faded and presumably summer
2011 hatched, one fresh and chocolaty colored and presumably winter
2011/2012 hatched, and the third, well, you don’t expect me to see this
kind of detail on every bird, do you? Also, one of the “local” Turkey
Vultures was distinctly dark headed, but with symmetrical primary molt with
P4 being about 2/3rds of the way grown in and P5 being barely out of the
shaft (yes, it was close enough and slow enough to count the primaries).
Only saw the bird from below, and could not see any active molt fronts or
molt limits in the secondaries (and it goes without saying, I hope, that if
I could not see any molt limits, I could not speculate on whether the
secondaries had all been replaced, or none had been replaced, of if it was
some mixture of both with the limits being so subtle from below that I was
not seeing them). Long story short, I have no idea how old the bird was,
but seemed to be some interesting if not inherently conflicting details to
note.
Non-raptor Observations
Only one notable non-raptor, but it was a good one! Only one loon seen
migrating today: a small billed, small footed/closed toed thing, flying
with the head about at the horizontal (not below it), and one large, long
head it was with a dark throat and a grey, almost white nape. My opinion?
Pacific Loon (though it might be tricky to rule out Arctic outside of range
criteria, if one is of the ilk that Arctic is a separate species anyways).
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Saturday, May 05, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 0 6
Turkey Vulture 28 462 13818
Osprey 2 270 427
Bald Eagle 4 82 240
Northern Harrier 0 77 318
Sharp-shinned Hawk 12 1345 3535
Cooper’s Hawk 0 8 348
Northern Goshawk 0 0 12
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 4 386
Broad-winged Hawk 10 14529 22945
Red-tailed Hawk 1 230 3189
Rough-legged Hawk 0 2 119
Golden Eagle 0 8 71
American Kestrel 0 31 192
Merlin 1 10 38
Peregrine Falcon 0 3 18
Swainson’s Hawk 0 1 2
Swallow-tailed Kite 0 1 1
Total: 58 17213 45905
Weather
Partly cloudy skies with north northeast shifting to north northwest winds, gusting above 15mph, temps around 12 or 13 c.
Raptor Observations
Low sharpies cutting into the wind at the north lookout, b-dubs and
vultures drifting inland at the south lookout, bald eagles, well, trash
birds were everywheres… where is a counter to count from on a day like
today, and relative to the last few days, is his/her/their presence and the
birds he/she/they counted even statistically significant?
Non-raptor Observations
A walk about the property this morning (before the count started) revealed
66 non raptor species of bird, with highlights being a wilson’s warbler,
about 175 yellow-rumped warblers, and 11 other warbler species, four
species of flycatcher, six species of swallow, about 50 chimney swifts, and
about 25 baltimore orioles.
Predictions
Raptors should be about like today; non raptors, probably a lot slower than
today.
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Friday, May 04, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 0 6
Turkey Vulture 134 434 13790
Osprey 45 268 425
Bald Eagle 24 78 236
Northern Harrier 11 77 318
Sharp-shinned Hawk 251 1333 3523
Cooper’s Hawk 1 8 348
Northern Goshawk 0 0 12
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 4 386
Broad-winged Hawk 3482 14519 22935
Red-tailed Hawk 54 229 3188
Rough-legged Hawk 2 2 119
Golden Eagle 0 8 71
American Kestrel 7 31 192
Merlin 1 9 37
Peregrine Falcon 0 3 18
Swainson’s Hawk 0 1 2
Swallow-tailed Kite 1 1 1
Total: 4030 17155 45847
Weather
Low cloud ceiling most of the day, though the sun did start to break through around 15:30 bird time. Temperatures ranging from twelve to nineteen Celsius with winds mostly from the west northwest.
Raptor Observations
Woohoo, what a day, took three official counters and broke (or as I might
like to think burned through) a fourth clicker for the season. (Started out
the season with eight; hawkcounters everywhere be warned these things do go
bad and can goof up your data. Our continued frustrations with the clickers
will soon be documented in the yet to be released NYTimes best seller
“Zen and the Art of Clicker Maintenance”.)
Birds were spread out, but staying reasonably low with the low cloud
ceiling. The obvious big news of the day was counter number two yelling
“SWALLOW-TAILED KITE, SWALLOW-TAILED KITE OVER FOUR” at around
twelve-twenty bird time (need I say because, there was a Swallow-tailed
Kite in the air); the bird passed the site at twelve-twenty-one. The Kite
was the second Swallow-tailed in Derby Hill history, with the first being
recorded on April 16 1976, before the Onondaga Audubon Society official
counter era had commenced.
Almost as exciting, though perhaps less obvious to a casual observer (or
maybe, less obvious to anyone who does not read the old Derby Hill Reports
and Newsletters as bedtime stories to all their little plush animal friends
each night) is the fact that today”s flight brings the month total to
17,155 birds, making for the third highest May count in Derby Hill’s
History behind 1982 (18, 279 birds) and 1980 (18,041). Unlike May 1980 and
May 1982, however, May 2012 still has 27 days to go. Kinda crazy.
Non-raptor Observations
Good numbers of Warbler species and individuals around, though I did not
get a complete list from all parties and persons about Derb today. Five
Common Loons migrating (for whatever that’s worth), also migrating
Baltimore Orioles and Kingbirds (Eastern of course) all seen from the south
lookout. Hearing all kinds of nocturnal flight calls out the window as I
write this at about eleven in the p.m.
Predictions
North winds for the weekend will not make for flights like we saw the last
three days, but, as I said above, hearing all kinds of stuffs out the
window right now despite the wind direction, so, maybe some more songbirds
falling out early in the a.m.?
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Thursday, May 03, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 0 6
Turkey Vulture 266 300 13656
Osprey 80 223 380
Bald Eagle 15 54 212
Northern Harrier 28 66 307
Sharp-shinned Hawk 399 1082 3272
Cooper’s Hawk 4 7 347
Northern Goshawk 0 0 12
Red-shouldered Hawk 3 4 386
Broad-winged Hawk 8447 11037 19453
Red-tailed Hawk 109 175 3134
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 117
Golden Eagle 4 8 71
American Kestrel 9 24 185
Merlin 3 8 36
Peregrine Falcon 0 3 18
Swainson’s Hawk 0 1 2
Total: 9497 13125 41817
Weather
Moderate fog in the morning, with light and variable winds all day… Fog
lifted and patchy blue skies started appearing around two-fifteen bird
time.
Raptor Observations
Counting birds in and out of the fog for a few hours, and had quit the
count at two bird time, beyond disappointed in what had looked the day
before to have been a good day. (And reports of hundreds of birds to the
south from Church Road to Downtown Mexico, all places the official counter
cannot count from, did not help the frail ego.) As soon as the fog lifted
and the clouds gave way to patchy sun the birds started flying: 1822 birds
between two-thirty and three and 6827 between three and four.
Special ultra super mega thanks to David Wheeler for getting me through
the day and through the flight, hopefully without too much being missed???
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 0 6
Turkey Vulture 34 34 13390
Osprey 137 143 300
Bald Eagle 39 39 197
Northern Harrier 33 38 279
Sharp-shinned Hawk 664 683 2873
Cooper’s Hawk 3 3 343
Northern Goshawk 0 0 12
Red-shouldered Hawk 1 1 383
Broad-winged Hawk 2471 2590 11006
Red-tailed Hawk 64 66 3025
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 117
Golden Eagle 4 4 67
American Kestrel 14 15 176
Merlin 1 5 33
Peregrine Falcon 3 3 18
Swainson’s Hawk 1 1 2
Total: 3472 3628 32320
To all my squirrelfriends who so enjoy vicariously birding Derby Hill through the magic of email, oneidabirds, and the Onondaga Audubon Society website (OnondagaAudubon.com), I again lack the time and energy to enter all the hourly bird and weather data necessary to generate the hawkcount dot org reports, but suffice to say Wednesday’s flight, while not an epic mega flight by any stretch of the imagination, was one of the best to date for the season, with high counts for the season (thus far) for Sharp-shinned Hawk (664), Osprey (137), Bald Eagle (39) and Broad-winged Hawk (2471). The Osprey flight in particular, while nowhere near the 1990 record flight of 201 birds, is the tenth highest single day Osprey flight in Derby Hill history, and only the twelfth single day to see three digits worth of Ospreys. Also of note on Wednesday was the season’s second Swainson’s Hawk, interestingly just like 2011 exactly thirty days/one month after the season’s first. The bird appeared to be a lighter side of dark-ish/darker side of intermediate/rufus-ish 2011 hatched individual. It is also worth mentioning that while only fourteen species were officially documented by the site’s official counter, there were reputable reports of 16 species of raptor migrating past Derby Hill today.
In the non raptor domain, Wednesday was again decent. Overall numbers
were lighter than they were on Tuesday, but there was some new species
diversity. Eight Warbler species were noted, highlights including
Blue-winged and a first of season for the site Northern Waterthrush.
Other first of seasons for the site included Warbling Vireo, at least
three definitive plumaged male Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, and mini
flights of five individuals each of Baltimore Oriole and Eastern
Kingbird. Blue Jays were again on the move in noticeable but not
amazing numbers, maybe five or six hundred over the course of the day.
As for today, Thursday 3 May, I am just back from an early morning
walk about the property, with highlights including Great Crested
Flycatcher and Grasshopper Sparrow. Clearly a new influx of birds,
with the woods and hedgerows being loaded with Song, White-throated,
White-crowned, and Chipping Sparrows, and today appears the first day
of the season where the dominant Warbler species in Yellow, not
Yellow-rumped. Don’t know what predicted light west winds will do
for a raptor flight (did someone say lake breeze), but the bubble of
warm air across much of the northeast and Ohio River Valley should
keep birds moving, and, Swallow-tailed Kite at Hamburg Hawkwatch
yesterday… just sayin’…
Kyle Wright
Derby Hill Bird Observatory Staff Ornithologist
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
We may be looking at another lag of a day or three for the official hawkcount dot org report for Derby Hill, so here’s a quick email to hold over those desperate to know what was going on at the Hill on May first. About 156 Raptors total, interestingly with about 117 of those birds passing between three and three-thirty bird time. While the raptor flight was (again) underwhelming, it was one of the
best days of the season thus far for non raptors. I really did have every intention to be hitting the hedge rows within a half hour of sunrise, but when I looked at all the work on my plate, and all the
cold rain outside the window, I opted to stay a few more hours in front of the computer. There was a visible icterid flight right outside the window from sunrise to about nine bird time, with an estimated 10,000 birds flying by at this late date in the season. Mostly Cowbirds, with Red-wingeds being second most numerous, and as expected, most of the Red-wingeds were female types or 2011 hatched
males (very few definitive plumaged males). Rusties and Grackles were also mixed in, and there were a few flocks of Bobolinks as well. There was also a decent Swallow flight in the morning and again for the last few hours of daylight, with conservatively 700 individuals of all six expected species being seen, the majority being Tree and Barn, with
only a few Bank and Cliff mixed in.
Seven species of warblers were heard from the north lookout while
counting from the car for the first few hours. Someone whose name
starts with “Davi…” and ends with “…eeler” might have
pulled me first out of the car and then away from the count for an
hour and fifteen minutes to walk the hedgerows midday. Highlights for
the entire day with estimated numbers of individuals for randomly
selected species include Blue-grey Gnatcatcher, a non-singing
Empidonax Flycatcher (for which I can’t state a species as David
insisted it was Least despite the bird obviously being a Traill’s,
Nashville Warbler(2), Blue-winged Warbler(1… or at least a
Pretty-winged Warbler doing Blue-winged song), Yellow-rumped
Warbler(75), Black-throated-green Warbler(3), Black-and-white
Warbler(2), Yellow Warbler(2), Ovenbird(1), Blackburnian Warbler(1),
and both versions of Palm Warbler(20). Also about 50 White-throated
Sparrows, about 20 each of Field and White-crowned, and an
undetermined number of Chipping and Song Sparrows. Both Kinglets
around, as was one Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, and two Ruby-throated
Hummingbirds were seen at the feeder.
Also of note, within a few minutes of David Wheeler dragging me out
of the car (oopps, I guess I just made him less than anonymous), I
spotted two small dark ducks flying east over the Lake. Could not get
my friend on the birds, but there is little doubt in my mind that the
pair were anything other than Harlequins.
Tomorrow looks even better for both hawks and other birds; hope to
see a few of you on the Hill!
Kyle Wright
Derby Hill Bird Observatory Staff Ornithologist
Monday, Apr 30, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 3 6
Turkey Vulture 36 5423 13356
Osprey 16 145 157
Bald Eagle 4 98 158
Northern Harrier 8 149 241
Sharp-shinned Hawk 85 1913 2190
Cooper’s Hawk 1 123 340
Northern Goshawk 1 5 12
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 39 382
Broad-winged Hawk 277 8416 8416
Red-tailed Hawk 22 1137 2959
Rough-legged Hawk 0 10 117
Golden Eagle 0 28 63
American Kestrel 1 78 161
Merlin 1 18 28
Peregrine Falcon 2 10 15
Swainson’s Hawk 0 1 1
Total: 457 17658 28692
Weather
Light south southeast winds, becoming variable around ten thirty as a lake breeze tried to kick in, and going to pure north northwest by noon thirty.
Temperatures from eight to twelve celsius, with high stratus clouds covering seventy-five to one hundred percent of the sky.
Raptor Observations
Derby Hill Bird Observatory, a sanctuary of the Onondaga Audubon Society,
is pleased to announce that we will be fielding a candidate for the The
Birds Are Too Damn High party in the next gubernatorial race. (Okay, I know
I sort of need the Board of Directors’ approval to make a statement like
that, but, regulars know how we roll at the Derb.)
Non-raptor Observations
237 Blue Jays counted flying east while at the north lookout (7:45 to
1:00). About five Common Loons noted, and, a flyover Robert O. Link (you
can call him Bob) from the north lookout in the morning, with a second
Bobolink heard singing from the fields behind the south lookout in the
afternoon.
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 1 3 6
Turkey Vulture 25 5387 13320
Osprey 3 129 141
Bald Eagle 7 94 154
Northern Harrier 2 141 233
Sharp-shinned Hawk 24 1828 2105
Cooper’s Hawk 0 122 339
Northern Goshawk 0 4 11
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 39 382
Broad-winged Hawk 283 8139 8139
Red-tailed Hawk 15 1115 2937
Rough-legged Hawk 0 10 117
Golden Eagle 2 28 63
American Kestrel 0 77 160
Merlin 0 17 27
Swainson’s Hawk 0 1 1
Total: 362 17201 28235
Weather
Clear, blue skies… northwest winds gusting to fifteen mph… temperatures
from six to nine celsius….
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Saturday, Apr 28, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 2 5
Turkey Vulture 33 5362 13295
Osprey 18 126 138
Bald Eagle 12 87 147
Northern Harrier 3 139 231
Sharp-shinned Hawk 87 1804 2081
Cooper’s Hawk 2 122 339
Northern Goshawk 0 4 11
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 39 382
Broad-winged Hawk 2019 7856 7856
Red-tailed Hawk 39 1100 2922
Rough-legged Hawk 0 10 117
Golden Eagle 1 26 61
American Kestrel 1 77 160
Merlin 0 17 27
Peregrine Falcon 2 8 13
Swainson’s Hawk 0 1 1
Total: 2220 16839 27873
Weather
Northwest winds, at times three to five miles per hour, other times gusting
above fifteen. Seasonably chilly, with temperatures ranging from two to six
celsius. A seemingly near perfect hawkwatching sky, with plenty of
milky-white stratus clouds all day, but with enough variation to say things
like “the bird is crossing the white finger… into the blue hole…
across the grey whispies…” and so on.
Raptor Observations
Quite the flight for off winds, but, given that we’re a good 5,000
Broad-wingeds shy of where we should be at this time of year, I guess the
flight was not too surprising… birds gotta move, and today’s was as
good weather to do it in as anything earlier in the week. Good thing there
were clouds, with some birds getting a bit higher than I would like them to
be. I feel better about minimizing the percentage of missed birds today
than I have other days this season, but it was still a spread out flight,
and interestingly, I noticed a number of Broad-wingeds over the village of
Mexico (some six miles south) on the morning coffee run, and another one of
our regulars from Mexico proper commented that he had birds downtown this
morning as well, so, long story short, a lot of stuff likely snuck by today
well south of us across a broad fronted flight line.
Also of note was the day’s last Bald Eagle, and extremely dark bird of
less than one year in age, much darker than anything I would have guessed
to have been wearing feathers in the sun exposed to fade for ten-ish
months. The bird passed well to the south, so we could not see the wear and
tear and nicks or alternately- the freshness of the outer primaries,
but, I would like to venture a guess that this bird was the first of this
season’s model of winter hatched Florida birds. We have already seen a
few winter 2010-2011 hatched pseudo-austral migrants this spring (with molt
and wear and fade criterion getting a bit trickier for deciphering summer
versus winter hatched birds that are too much older than a year and a
half). For a bit of perspective, the first fresh plumaged (winter hatched)
juvenile bird seen in 2009 was on 29 April (and if 2009 seems a random year
to compare to, it is the only other year in Derb’s history for which I
know of specific data being collected on winter hatched versus summer
hatched Baldies).
Non-raptor Observations
One Sandhill Crane, about fifteen Common Loons, and did anyone bother to
look at or listen for passerines today, because I know I didn’t…
Predictions
Stronger northwest winds predicted, no respectable flights to our west on
Saturday, Sunday could be slow and cold 😦
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Friday, April 27 – No count conducted today.
Weather
….blustery northwest winds (gusting above 25mph)… a little light snow,
but mostly unseasonably chilly northwest winds….
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 2 5
Turkey Vulture 13 5329 13262
Osprey 12 108 120
Bald Eagle 8 75 135
Northern Harrier 7 136 228
Sharp-shinned Hawk 336 1717 1994
Cooper’s Hawk 4 120 337
Northern Goshawk 1 4 11
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 39 382
Broad-winged Hawk 2297 5837 5837
Red-tailed Hawk 19 1061 2883
Rough-legged Hawk 0 10 117
Golden Eagle 3 25 60
American Kestrel 1 76 159
Merlin 0 17 27
Peregrine Falcon 1 6 11
Swainson’s Hawk 0 1 1
Total: 2706 14619 25653
Weather
Almost as close to an ideal weather map as we’ve had all year, but still not quite perfect for a mega flight. A low moving east just to our north,
with a front passing at about four bird time. Winds were out of the south southeast most of the day. The catch was that the low was a bit closer than we like, resulting in no wedge between a warm and a cold front, with the
warmer temperatures that one would have experienced a few hundred miles
south of the low not coming to fruition at Derb, and a very small window of
ideal flying conditions to get birds going in. Today’s weather probably
just cleaned out any birds already along the southern lakeshore, but likely
did not inspire a push of birds all the way up from the Ohio River Valley.
Also, being so close to the low, the frontal passage was not super well
defined, and, the low was not the strongest or most organized thing in the
world either, with drizzle having started at Derby Hill around one-thirty
bird time. (An astute observer/reader will note that the count ended a half
hour before the actual frontal passage; what does that tell you?)
Raptor Observations
South/southeast winds kept the birds low and slow, great for
visitors/observers, but… but… and not to be perpetually complaining or
playing the victim (although I do it so well)… it was a fairly spread out
flight, with birds passing out over the water (to the north) and well south
of the third field (to the south). A defined flight line never really
developed for the day, with the birds meandering and zig-zagging north and
south as they made their ways east, being blow out over the water, then
working to get back inland, etc etc etc. The result of this kind of flight
is that this counter felt he had to count literally as birds were
overhead/crossing the finish line instead of trying to keep a little ways
out in front to give one’s self time if they fall behind before birds
disappear behind you. I know a strict protocol would never dream of
counting a bird before it crossed the finish line, but, with three
consecutive 600+ bird hours, one shouldn’t be counting things overhead
unless they’re behind and frazzled. Point of the long story being that (too
many) birds were (again/sigh/woe is us) missed, and is it even worth
mentioning that some peon in the background (no names… David…) was
(jokingly) instigating with below the belt comments that if he had been
counting, we would have had over 3,000 b-dubs today????
Predictions
Northwest winds from fifteen to twenty mph, chance of rain and snow… not
the best of weather for a hawk flight at Derby Hill. I know that cleanup
flights can occur, but, will this counter really feel masochistic enough to
cover Friday???
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 2 5
Turkey Vulture 2 5316 13249
Osprey 6 96 108
Bald Eagle 5 67 127
Northern Harrier 0 129 221
Sharp-shinned Hawk 33 1381 1658
Cooper’s Hawk 1 116 333
Northern Goshawk 0 3 10
Red-shouldered Hawk 1 39 382
Broad-winged Hawk 166 3540 3540
Red-tailed Hawk 7 1042 2864
Rough-legged Hawk 0 10 117
Golden Eagle 0 22 57
American Kestrel 1 75 158
Merlin 1 17 27
Peregrine Falcon 0 5 10
Swainson’s Hawk 0 1 1
Total: 225 11913 22947
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 2 5
Turkey Vulture 3 5314 13247
Osprey 3 90 102
Bald Eagle 4 62 122
Northern Harrier 3 129 221
Sharp-shinned Hawk 8 1348 1625
Cooper’s Hawk 1 115 332
Northern Goshawk 0 3 10
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 38 381
Broad-winged Hawk 41 3374 3374
Red-tailed Hawk 10 1035 2857
Rough-legged Hawk 1 10 117
Golden Eagle 0 22 57
American Kestrel 0 74 157
Merlin 0 16 26
Peregrine Falcon 0 5 10
Swainson’s Hawk 0 1 1
Total: 74 11688 22722
Weather
The western most leftovers of yesterday’s noreaster were trying to reorganize as a low centered a few hundred kilometers to the west northwest. (Okay, maybe a low consciously trying to reorganize is a bit anthropomorphagenic, but, work with me here.) Winds from the southwest
gusting above fifteen mph, with temperatures ranging from two to six celsius. Also, bands of rain, drizzle, sleet and hail moving through the area much of the day.
Raptor Observations
Well, I was expecting a bit of a flight of “certain birds” like Harriers,
Kestrels, Ospreys, and even Sharpies, and ended up with the two most
counted species of the day being Buteos, go figure eh? Birds moving right
through the rain, less so though the sleet and hail, although interestingly
the last fourty-five minutes or so of the count were precipitation free,
and only one bird was counted in that period.
Winds were right to push anything wanting to move up to the lake shore
today, but what kind of bird would want to move in today’s precipitation
and temperatures? One assumes this to be more hormone driven migration (aka
gotta get to that breeding territory to stake it and a partner out as mine,
again, no anthropomorphizing), and indeed all aged Red-taileds today were
adult type birds. The day’s only Cooper’s Hawk, on the other hand, was
one of last year’s models, and two of the Bald Eagles were summer 2011
hatched birds with a third being a summer 2010 hatched bird and the fourth
being completely unaged through the heavy rain on the windshield of the car
(goes without saying I was counting from the car today). Two of the three
Harriers were also 2011 hatched, while the rest of today’s species were
unaged. Suffice to say so many non-breeders on the move is curious, but, as
I’ve said before and will say again: (a) the birds don’t read the same
books I do and (b) why try to make a (predictable) science out of
migration.
Non-raptor Observations
Thirty-three Common Loons observed migrating during the six hours of
counting, with another half dozen or so seen out the window of the cottage
after the count had ended. A walk about the property this morning was
somewhat disappointing, with new influxes of Yellow-rumped Warblers (~50
individuals) and White-throated Sparrows (~100) noted, but (very) little
species diversity overall. A Wood Thrush alarm note was heard during the
count (from inside the car, through the rain, testifying to how loud the
little birds can be), and after the count was over, Field and Fox Sparrows
were noted at the feeder, bringing the sparrow species total by mid
afternoon up to 8 (including Junco and Towhee, excluding House and what
I’m about to write about in the next sentence). The avian highlight of
the day, however, was seen from the car on one of the neighbours’
properties along Sage Creek Drive returning from a coffee break at Dunkin
Donuts around 8:15 this morning: a pair of Lapland Longspurs. Seems quite
late for the species to me, but at least one other respected area birder
whom I chatted with (wont drop any names like David or Wheeler) seemed to
think this was not an absurdly late date.
An evening walk about the property continued to underwhelm the counter
given the date, but added 2 new Sparrow species for the day, Swamp and
Grasshopper, the latter of which was a first of season for Derby and a bit
on the early side in the phenology of spring migration, though they have
already been noted in the region. Also noted on the evening walk were
Hermit Thrush and Sora.
Predictions
This disorganized low will remain just north of Derby for Wednesday, with
continued bands of mixed precipitation, and winds now from closer to due
westerly origins. West winds are not a hindrance to migration, but will not
push stuff right up to the lakeshore either, and, while birds are clearly
ready to fly through anything at this time of year (based on today’s
flight), excessive rain and other things falling from the sky in addition
to cooler than normal temperatures do not exactly encourage a big flight.
I’d guess we’re looking at something similar to or even lighter than
today’s flight, and keep in mind that even though you see four Bald
Eagles written up in the report, they are not seen under ideal viewing
conditions, and any counter is either gonna be cold wet and miserable or
hanging out in the car being antisocial. Not that I would ever want to
discourage anyone from coming up to Derby Hill, but tomorrow might not be
the best of days for a first time visitor.
(As an afterthought, I feel like a Turkey Vulture record tomorrow…
three birds off the all time season high of 13250 from 2009.)
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Monday, Apr 23, 2012
No count was conducted
Weather
Rain, drizzle, and even a bit of wet snow, all courtesy of a massive low moving up the Eastern Seaboard. Surface level winds from the east and
northeast, gusting above twenty mph, while upper level winds were bringing in moisture from the southeast. The only check of the thermometer that I made all day (at about eleven) found the mercury creeping up to the one degree mark (on the celsius side of course).
Non-raptor Observations
Despite any intentional pessimism I might have worked into yesterday’s prediction, I think I was still disappointed in the avian life gracing
Derby Hill today. (But the day is still young?) A new influx of White-throated Sparrows was quite obvious, and while warbler diversity was limited to just two species, one of those two was a first of season for Derby (if not the county and the region) Northern Parula, singing his little heart out in the cold and driving rain. But all in all, an unrewarding couple of hours spent walking the hedgerows in the rainsuit.
Predictions
The moisture that moved over us today will reorganize to the southwest and
move back over us again tomorrow, this time accompanied by moderate
southerly winds (sustained fifteen to twenty, gusting to near thirty
according to NWS). Again, not quite a fast enough moving system to really
drag in any great rarities, and probably a bit much rain for a proper hawk
count to be conducted, but, a southerly wind at this time of year
(regardless of the temps) something could show up for the hard core
birder…
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 2 5
Turkey Vulture 0 5311 13244
Osprey 0 87 99
Bald Eagle 0 58 118
Northern Harrier 0 126 218
Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 1340 1617
Cooper’s Hawk 0 114 331
Northern Goshawk 0 3 10
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 38 381
Broad-winged Hawk 0 3333 3333
Red-tailed Hawk 1 1025 2847
Rough-legged Hawk 0 9 116
Golden Eagle 0 22 57
American Kestrel 0 74 157
Merlin 0 16 26
Peregrine Falcon 0 5 10
Swainson’s Hawk 0 1 1
Total: 1 11614 22648
Visitors
Field trips scheduled weeks and months in advance always pick the best days to come on!
Weather
Northeast winds all day, increasing in strength as the day went on. Light
drizzle for most of the count period, with temperatures holding steady
around three celsius…
Raptor Observations
In light of the light flight of migrating raptors, let’s indulge some
babble on some other topic! There was one adult “local” Bald Eagle
noted coursing up and down the lakeshore in the morning. I would have
guessed based on a number of factors that I had two immature, one subadult
one, and two adult Bald Eagles frequenting the area in late March (all
ignored if not uncounted as migrants). The subadult one bird was pretty
distinctly marked, and the most frequently seen of the five, but I have not
seen it for a few weeks now, and believe I am also down to just one of the
previous year’s birds hanging around. I also see the adults far less
frequently, and have not seen two together for some time now. It seems like
I was seeing two together much later than I would expect a breeding pair to
have not been on eggs at this latitude, and the carrying of nesting
material observed on 2 April would indicate a (young) pair sort of setting
up shop and practicing but perhaps not breeding this year, but, the recent
apparent disappearance of the second adult bird does leave one quite
curious…
Non-raptor Observations
A walk up and down the hedge rows and down to Sage Creek Marsh from about
six to seven thirty bird time (before it had started raining) proved
reasonably productive. Highlights included first of season Wood Thrush and
Nashville Warbler. Also noted were Palm and Yellow-rumped Warblers, both
Kinglets (with Golden-crowned the more numerous today, which has not been
the case for the last week or so, further indicating a new influx of
birds), Brown Thrasher and Northern Mockingbird, multiple House Wrens, and
Blue-grey Gnatcatcher. Also a decent morning for Sparrows, with Fox, Swamp,
Song, Chipping, Field, White-throated and Savannah all noted, in addition
to Eastern Towhee and Dark-eyed Junco. Five species of Icterids also noted,
as were four species of Swallows.
Predictions
Rain all day with surface level winds from the east will likely make for no
hawk counting conducted on Monday. The rain is coming from a massive and
powerful low working its way up the eastern seaboard in a noreaster kind of
fashion. It is probably moving a bit slow to push any mega rarities ahead
of it or in it, but, you can bet I’ll be walking the hedge rows at any
sign of the rain slowing down tomorrow, and there’s also a shot I’ll be
in the car watching for any interesting flybys. Again, not a perfect system
for turning up tons of stuff (so I don’t want anyone showing up on the
Hill in miserable weather saying “but I thought you said/promised bla bla
bla”), but one should not always assume rain means no (good) birding,
regardless of wherevers you are.
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Saturday, April 21, 2012 – 0 Raptors were reported
Friday, April 20, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 2 5
Turkey Vulture 104 5311 13244
Osprey 7 87 99
Bald Eagle 6 58 118
Northern Harrier 0 126 218
Sharp-shinned Hawk 66 1340 1617
Cooper’s Hawk 2 114 331
Northern Goshawk 0 3 10
Red-shouldered Hawk 1 38 381
Broad-winged Hawk 136 3333 3333
Red-tailed Hawk 32 1024 2846
Rough-legged Hawk 0 9 116
Golden Eagle 1 22 57
American Kestrel 2 74 157
Merlin 0 16 26
Peregrine Falcon 0 5 10
Swainson’s Hawk 0 1 1
Total: 357 11613 22647
Raptor Observations
Day started out as it should have with a south southeast wind, but a light surface level lake breeze kicked in already by 8:30. Raptors were noted to
the south of the north lookout, so, with nothing overhead, the count moved south for a half hour starting at 9:30. We then received word that there were birds overhead at the north lookout, so moved back, and, long story
short, amidst all this moving the official counter managed to miss at least two and maybe four Golden Eagles, a Peregrine Falcon, and an undisclosed number of Broad-wingeds… ya just can’t win…
Even upon returning north, the flight seemed to putter out after about an
hour, again begging the questions of are there birds moving that we’re just
not seeing (too high, out over the lake, etc), or is there nothing left in
the proverbial pipeline after Monday’s flight? In any case we were all
shocked at the lack of birds on what should be good weather for this time
of year.
Non-raptor Observations
Pete brought donuts! Tastes good and healthy for you (at least I think
that’s what he said?) In other news, there was a mini mutiny among the
minions (how’s that for alliteration?); apparently some of them would now
like to be referred to as peons… this may be a more p.c. term?
Other observations? Three Common Loons, but in general, the observation of
the day was the lack of birds…
Predictions
Looks like we’re in for a few days of less than ideal weather and lower
than average bird numbers…
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 2 5
Turkey Vulture 108 5207 13140
Osprey 8 80 92
Bald Eagle 4 52 112
Northern Harrier 6 126 218
Sharp-shinned Hawk 103 1274 1551
Cooper’s Hawk 4 112 329
Northern Goshawk 0 3 10
Red-shouldered Hawk 3 37 380
Broad-winged Hawk 299 3197 3197
Red-tailed Hawk 32 992 2814
Rough-legged Hawk 1 9 116
Golden Eagle 1 21 56
American Kestrel 4 72 155
Merlin 1 16 26
Peregrine Falcon 0 5 10
Swainson’s Hawk 0 1 1
Total: 574 11256 22290
Weather
Variably but mostly cloudy skies, with temperatures from eight to twenty celsius. A light surface level south southeast breeze in the morning giving way to a north northwest lake breeze starting around eleven thirty bird time. Cloud motion, however, would indicate that upper level winds were out of the west southwest for the entirety of the day.
Raptor Observations
Another day with promising weather, but a less than amazing flight. Of
particular note is the fact that only 37 birds were counted after noon bird
time, begging the question did the flight get too high to see, go out over
the lake, go inland, were there just not birds in the pipeline to keep high
numbers up all day, or did the counter just stop paying attention in the
afternoon? (Well, let’s hope it’s not the last option.)
At least we can comment that the first Red-tail of the day was the
season’s second Krider’s type. The traditionally Great Plains breeding
variant, form, or subspecies (depending on which author one reads) has not
been noted at Derby Hill prior to this season since 2001, but in addition
to two birds in 2001, Krider’s Hawks were noted every year from 1994 to
1999 (with the pre 1994/G.Smith reports and data not being examined for the
sake of this write up). The data and reports reveal dates of passage for
seven of these birds (with no dates of passage readily available for the
1994 or 1996 birds). Of the seven, five were in the four day window from 5
to 8 April (along the same ilk as this season’s first Krider’s type on
4 April) while the 1995 bird was noted on 19 March and the 1998 bird was
the only to pass latter in the spring than today’s bird, being recorded
on 5 May. All this makes for a very small sample size to speculate anything
conclusive regarding the timing of vagrant Krider’s Hawk movement along
the south shore of Lake Ontario, but are interesting data to ponder no
less.
Non-raptor Observation
A slower day for non raptors than it was for raptors, with (believe it or
not) fewer passerines about this morning than there were last night. Three
Common Loons were noted migrating today, but one could tell birds were slow
and/or too high as a few of the minions were reciting all the questionable
puns about identifying the question mark/comma flutter bys that were
fluttering about the lawn.
Predictions
Friday would seem to have just as much potential as today did, with south
southeast winds predicted and a cold front moving in Friday night into
Saturday. Based on today’s lackluster flight, however, and generally low
counts reported from Lakeshore sites to our west and south west, I don’t
quite want to stick my neck out professing hopes of a four digit count…
it seems like the flight on Monday the 16th may have exhausted much of the
immediate supply of birds… woe is us…
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 2 5
Turkey Vulture 9 5099 13032
Osprey 4 72 84
Bald Eagle 2 48 108
Northern Harrier 3 120 212
Sharp-shinned Hawk 55 1171 1448
Cooper’s Hawk 2 108 325
Northern Goshawk 0 3 10
Red-shouldered Hawk 1 34 377
Broad-winged Hawk 160 2898 2898
Red-tailed Hawk 25 960 2782
Rough-legged Hawk 0 8 115
Golden Eagle 0 20 55
American Kestrel 0 68 151
Merlin 1 15 25
Peregrine Falcon 0 5 10
Swainson’s Hawk 0 1 1
Total: 263 10682 21716
Weather
North and north northwest winds with temperatures from four to seven
celsius. A good bit of milky stratus clouds blanketing much of the blue in
the morning, but mostly clearing by about noon thirty bird time.
Raptor Observations
Hormone driven migration on off winds; you know it’s late April at Derb
when you get a flight of 263 birds on winds like these (and after yesterday
this was no cleanup flight). Still a trickle of birds going through when I
quit early, but in the blue skies, with a flight that spread out and that
high, well, how much of it was I really even seeing? (Just look at the
B-dub totals for the three hours I had clouds overhead: 37, 51, and 63, and
the drop off after the clouds disappeared: 7 & 2 for the last two hours of
the count.)
Non-raptor Observations
13 migrating Common Loons during the 5 hours of counting from the south
lookout. Other signs of spring about the property throughout the day (with
approximate estimated numbers) in no particular order Eastern Towhee (10)
White-throated Sparrow (1) Song Sparrow (150) White-crowned Sparrow (1)
Savannah Sparrow (20) Vesper Sparrow (2) Field Sparrow (6) Dark-eyed Junco
(75) Chipping Sparrow (50) American Tree Sparrow (15) five species of
Swallow (including the first female Purple Martins of the season) Blue-grey
Gnatcatcher (an antebellum bird?) “Yellow” Palm Warbler (1) Pine
Warbler (6) Yellow-rumped Warbler (20) Ruby-crowned Kinglet (20) Brown
Thrasher (1, first of season up here for me anyways) five species of
icterid moving in small numbers and reportedly one semi-catatonic
hawkcounter (I did not see this specimen for myself, but I’m sure that
its presence on the site is responsible for my omitting a sighting or two
as I type this up at… what time is it, or do I really want to know)
Predictions
Thursday and Friday both boast predicted light southwest winds… light
means a lakebreeze could kick in and southwest means a tailwind making for
high birds and encouraging cutting the corner of the lake, aka poor viewing
conditions if we can see them at all, but, despite all that endearing
optimism, I do think we have a decent shot at four digit counts both days.
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 2 5
Turkey Vulture 7 5090 13023
Osprey 1 68 80
Bald Eagle 7 46 106
Northern Harrier 2 117 209
Sharp-shinned Hawk 39 1116 1393
Cooper’s Hawk 3 106 323
Northern Goshawk 0 3 10
Red-shouldered Hawk 1 33 376
Broad-winged Hawk 348 2738 2738
Red-tailed Hawk 29 935 2757
Rough-legged Hawk 0 8 115
Golden Eagle 0 20 55
American Kestrel 0 68 151
Merlin 0 14 24
Peregrine Falcon 1 5 10
Swainson’s Hawk 0 1 1
Total: 439 10419 21453
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Monday, April 16, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 2 5
Turkey Vulture 421 5083 13016
Osprey 19 67 79
Bald Eagle 14 39 99
Northern Harrier 24 115 207
Sharp-shinned Hawk 629 1077 1354
Cooper’s Hawk 32 103 320
Northern Goshawk 0 3 10
Red-shouldered Hawk 7 32 375
Broad-winged Hawk 2003 2390 2390
Red-tailed Hawk 225 906 2728
Rough-legged Hawk 2 8 115
Golden Eagle 10 20 55
American Kestrel 20 68 151
Merlin 2 14 24
Peregrine Falcon 0 4 9
Swainson’s Hawk 0 1 1
Total: 3431 9980 21014
Weather
A fairly powerful low spinning over Lake Superior, but with none of the associated fronts quite reaching us at Derb. Surface level winds from the
south and gusting to over twenty miles per hour for the last few hours of the count. Based on cloud movement and high altitude birds, I would guess upper level winds were more westerly in origin. Mostly cloudy at count’s
start and end, but a few hours mid day with mostly painfully blue skies, and oh, by the way, the mercury in the thermometer made it up to the thirty degree hash.
Raptor Observations
I believe Jay Carlisle’s line regarding a flight like today’s is
“DUDE, they’re specking out”. Seriously, many of today’s birds
were much higher than I remember being stated they could be in the
contract, and for those couple hours of mostly blue skies, we were missing
birds. (I mean, to give you some idea of what I was up against, I was
missing eagles today that my minions behind the scopes were picking up
on.)
The last “UR” of the day at 1642 bird time was likely a Mississippi Kite…
Predictions:
West winds with a predicted high in the lower to mid teens will not make
for another flight like today’s, but there should still be some birds
moving… two to five hundred ish if I had to put a number on it? Or maybe
one fifty to four hundred is more reasonable?
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 2 5
Turkey Vulture 15 4662 12595
Osprey 3 48 60
Bald Eagle 1 25 85
Northern Harrier 18 91 183
Sharp-shinned Hawk 197 448 725
Cooper’s Hawk 13 71 288
Northern Goshawk 0 3 10
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 25 368
Broad-winged Hawk 55 387 387
Red-tailed Hawk 11 681 2503
Rough-legged Hawk 1 6 113
Golden Eagle 0 10 45
American Kestrel 20 48 131
Merlin 5 12 22
Peregrine Falcon 0 4 9
Swainson’s Hawk 0 1 1
Total: 341 6549 17583
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 2 5
Turkey Vulture 130 4647 12580
Osprey 18 45 57
Bald Eagle 11 24 84
Northern Harrier 17 73 165
Sharp-shinned Hawk 138 251 528
Cooper’s Hawk 32 58 275
Northern Goshawk 1 3 10
Red-shouldered Hawk 3 25 368
Broad-winged Hawk 322 332 332
Red-tailed Hawk 87 670 2492
Rough-legged Hawk 0 5 112
Golden Eagle 6 10 45
American Kestrel 12 28 111
Merlin 6 7 17
Peregrine Falcon 3 4 9
Swainson’s Hawk 0 1 1
Total: 800 6208 17242
Weather
What started in the morning as a light southwest wind soon became lighter and variable in origins, with partly cloudy skies soon becoming mostly
cloudy and a brief bit of rain at about three bird time. Temperatures at count’s start were about six celsius, but worked their way up to a high of fourteen.
Raptor Observations
Some nice diversity and respectable numbers with the first real push of
Broad-wingeds for the season. At the same time, a painfully high flight
right from the start, and also a spread-out one, with birds over and south
of the south lookout, especially in the afternoon, and it was a toss up as
to which lookout to count from for the day. Good thing there were clouds,
or the count would have been half what it was.
Two of this afternoon’s Bald Eagles had subadult one/white belly one type
body plumage, but mostly retained juvenile flight feathers with active molt
fronts started at P1/S1. I interpret these birds to have been the first
(documented) Florida pseudo austral migrants of the season, the
primary/secondary molt pattern and secondarily the body plumage indicating
to me that they were hatched in winter of 2010-2011 (with a summer 2011
hatched bird being mostly juvenile plumaged with no molt in the primaries
or secondaries having commenced, and a summer 2010 hatched bird having
replaced about 1/3 to 1/2 of the secondaries already).
Non-raptor Observations
3 Sandhill Cranes, 20 Common Loons, 1 Red-throated Loon migrating during
the count period. The first big (relative term) push of Northern Flickers,
with 221 counted during the count period, and another 50 counted prior to
the official count’s start. Also notable (but not counted) movement of
American Goldfinch and Pine Siskins. Another incredible movement of Rusty
Blackbirds after the count’s official end, with an estimated 700 headed
east with a few hundred each of Common Grackles, Red-winged Blackbirds, and
Brown-headed Cowbirds.
A morning (pre count) walk through the hedgerows and woods revealed a
small influx of new passerines, with higher than previous numbers of Song,
White-throated, Chipping, and Savannah Sparrows, Juncos, both Kinglets, and
Creepers, and first of season for the site species like Pine Warbler,
Winter Wren, and Eastern Towhee (and forgive me for those sightings I
missed as I type this up at 11:30 at night (people/daylight savings time)
after over 12 hours in the field). A few, meaning less than a dozen,
Yellow-rumped Warblers seen/heard from the north lookout during the count,
but all in all, not the passerine movement that one would have
expected/hoped for given the date and Friday night’s weather.
The only other notable observation/sign of spring that comes to mind is
the movement of the picnic tables from a pile behind the shed to an upright
position atop the north lookout… thanks team!
Oh, and at least four Rough-winged Swallows, with the first of that
species being noted yesterday, and accidental… accidentally omitted from
that report.. mentally fried counter, sorry?
Predictions
South/southwest winds predicted for Sunday and Monday, which could be good
for pushing birds up to the lakeshore, but every time I look at the
forecast, they seem to diminish in strength (so I will not be looking at
the forecast anymores). Also a fourty to fifty percent chance of rain both
days, which could push birds ahead of it, or completely wash out any hopes
of a big flight. Can’t imagine there are enough Broad-wingeds in the
pipeline at this early date in the season to produce a four digit flight,
but, as regular readers are well aware, I’ve been wrong before.
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Friday, April 13, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 2 5
Turkey Vulture 52 4517 12450
Osprey 4 27 39
Bald Eagle 0 13 73
Northern Harrier 3 56 148
Sharp-shinned Hawk 7 113 390
Cooper’s Hawk 3 26 243
Northern Goshawk 0 2 9
Red-shouldered Hawk 2 22 365
Broad-winged Hawk 5 10 10
Red-tailed Hawk 46 583 2405
Rough-legged Hawk 0 5 112
Golden Eagle 1 4 39
American Kestrel 3 16 99
Merlin 0 1 11
Peregrine Falcon 0 1 6
Swainson’s Hawk 0 1 1
Total: 127 5408 16442
Raptor Observations
Another dark Red-tail’ at 1231 bird time, this one being a 2010 model with a painfully obvious (to a trained eye anyways) broken trailing edge to
the secondaries and subterminal band on the secondaries. Also another 2011 hatched Golden Eagle on off winds, causing the counter to throw up his hands (and gloves) and just give up on trying to understand migration (as a predictable science). As a side note, one of the minions (per usual I will not mention any names like Pete Davidson) invented a little dance parodying
the frustrated counter… you know it’s a slow day on the lookout when… all that I can say is that I feel so normal next to so many of our volunteers and “regulars” on the Hill… thanks gang!
Non-raptor Observations
7 Common loons, Common (okay, Wilson’s) Snipe winnowing along with the
Woodcocks from the south lookout after dark (don’t ask us why we were
still at the south lookout after dark), but all in all, a kinda slow day,
much slower than we, or at least I had been hoping for…
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 2 5
Turkey Vulture 54 4465 12398
Osprey 1 23 35
Bald Eagle 2 13 73
Northern Harrier 5 53 145
Sharp-shinned Hawk 3 106 383
Cooper’s Hawk 1 23 240
Northern Goshawk 0 2 9
Red-shouldered Hawk 2 20 363
Broad-winged Hawk 3 5 5
Red-tailed Hawk 35 537 2359
Rough-legged Hawk 0 5 112
Golden Eagle 2 3 38
American Kestrel 2 13 96
Merlin 0 1 11
Peregrine Falcon 0 1 6
Swainson’s Hawk 0 1 1
Total: 110 5281 16315
Weather
Mostly clear skies with winds from the north northwest and temperatures hovering between six and eight celsius.
Raptor Observations
Another light flight but with decent diversity. Some high birds, some birds appearing right overhead in the blue, which likely translates to a higher than usual portion of missed birds too.
An interesting (to this counter anyways) side note on select raptor ages
in the last nine days (4-12 April) of less than ideal flight conditions. Of
202 aged Red-tailed Hawks, only 6 were retaining mostly juvenile plumage
and therefore presumably hatched in 2011, the other 196 had undergone at
least one prebasic molt (even if incomplete). This type of ratio is to be
expected, as adult type birds have hormones driving their northbound spring
movements, with incentive to get to and stake out a breeding ground before
any conspecifics. Hormone crazed birds will migrate through less than ideal
weather for this reason, while younger birds with no intention of breeding
can wait for more ideal (and more energy efficient) weather to move in.
The Red-tail numbers support this theory nicely. Sharpies maybe slightly
less so, with 20 of 22 birds being adult type plumaged. Cooper’s Hawk and
Golden Eagle numbers get a bit more curious. For both of these species, we
are well past the peak of the adult movement, and one would be expecting at
this time of year a higher proportion of non breeding, juvenile (or in the
case of the eagles young subadult) plumaged birds, but in less than ideal
weather, I would not expect many non breeders to be moving at all. Of eight
aged Cooper’s Hawks in the nine days in question, four were definitive
plumaged while four were retaining mostly juvenile type feathers, and as
for the three Goldies, two were last year’s models with no replaced
remiges while the third had a few molt fronts just starting in the
primaries and secondaries with an entirely retained juvenile tail, which in
my mind translates to a 2010 hatched bird. My conventional wisdom would
have argued that I should not have seen any Golden Eagles at this time of
year on north and northwest winds, but there again, the birds don’t read
the same books I do.
For whatever it’s worth to the curious reader, across the nine days in
question, 22 Harriers were aged, with ten being adults and twelve being
last year’s models, but, there are all kinds of observer biases in
determining age (and sex) classes in Northern Harriers (grey, adult males
are far easier to i.d. at great distances than brown birds which could be
adult females or immature, and even amongst the brown birds, a thin winged
young male may be easier to pick out as its smaller size is tossed about in
the wind more than a, shall we say, hefty female, who is still unassignable
to an age class unless she gives a closer look in more better lighting for
plumage and molt limit details). Beyond this handicap, or at least added
variable to the data, in six seasons of full time counting at four
locations throughout the United States, I have observed that Harrier
migration makes absolutely no sense whatsoever… okay, maybe that’s a
bit of an exaggeration, but the species and the conditions they move on are
less conformative than other raptors, and the differential migration of the
age/sex classes in Harriers are far less cut and dry than many a book would
lead one to believe.
Non-raptor Observations
Pretty slow… one Common Loon noted, but pretty slow…
Predictions
Friday and Saturday could both be good, though for different reasons.
Friday’s forecast features light winds, a good bit of sun, and warmer
temperatures, all of which could conspire for some nice thermals getting
the birds on the move. For Saturday, the National Weather Service is
calling for south winds (our ideal tailwind pushing birds up to the
lakeshore) and also a chance of showers in the afternoon, which, if they
arrive as a decent line of rain instead of ho hum maybe I will maybe I wont
drizzle, there is the potential for a push migrants ahead of the precip.
Don’t think we’re quite far enough into the season for a big BW push,
and I’m assuming we’re past the big vulture number days for the season,
so I won’t promise any four digit counts, but both days should be better
than any given day over the last week if the forecasts hold.
As another aside, for those of us into subavian life, which is btw a more
p.c. term than hawkfood, I would venture that Friday night’s weather will
induce the first big push of nocturnally migrating passerines, hopefully
dumping a few of those early moving warblers, sparrows, and thrushes into
the hedgerows on Saturday morning. Don’t nobody hold me to that
prediction; I’m only a hawkcounter with no minors in meteorology, but,
just speculating…
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 2 5
Turkey Vulture 6 4411 12344
Osprey 0 22 34
Bald Eagle 0 11 71
Northern Harrier 1 48 140
Sharp-shinned Hawk 5 103 380
Cooper’s Hawk 2 22 239
Northern Goshawk 1 2 9
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 18 361
Broad-winged Hawk 0 2 2
Red-tailed Hawk 9 502 2324
Rough-legged Hawk 1 5 112
Golden Eagle 0 1 36
American Kestrel 0 11 94
Merlin 0 1 11
Peregrine Falcon 0 1 6
Swainson’s Hawk 0 1 1
Total: 25 5171 16205
Weather
Still on the backside of a decent sized low with mostly cloudy skies and a few brief spells of light drizzle. Winds out of the north northwest shifting to west with temperatures from five to eight celsius.
Raptor Observations
Decent diversity for such a light flight, but seemingly painfully slow for
this time of year…
Non-raptor Observations
Two first of season for the site passerines today: Hermit Thrush (seems
late for the first to be showing up) and Blue-headed Vireo (seems quite
early, especially given the lack of general movement over the last week).
Three Common Loons noted migrating, but all in all, just about as quite a
day in the sub-avian department as it was for the hawks, eagles, falcons,
and other real birds.
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
PS: Would have thought most land bird migration to have slowed down over the last few days (although as I write this and think about that statement, there was quite an influx of Swallows yesterday), but two Derby Hill first of season observations today (and unlike the swallows, both nocturnal migrants):
(1) Hermit Thrush, which undoubtedly do not overwinter too far from the site, and I have been quite surprised not to have seen or heard them prior to today.
(2) Blue-headed Vireo, which had me doing a double take (fortunately the bird sang and called multiple times, though I never saw it). Unlike the thrush, this strikes me as quite early. Full report for the day should hit your inboxes sometime in the next 36 hours, but with only 25 raptors counted as migrants, trust me, what’s written above are the highlights of the day.
Kyle Wright
Derby Hill Bird Observatory Staff Ornithologist
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 2 5
Turkey Vulture 57 4405 12338
Osprey 3 22 34
Bald Eagle 0 11 71
Northern Harrier 1 47 139
Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 98 375
Cooper’s Hawk 1 20 237
Northern Goshawk 0 1 8
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 18 361
Broad-winged Hawk 1 2 2
Red-tailed Hawk 3 493 2315
Rough-legged Hawk 0 4 111
Golden Eagle 0 1 36
American Kestrel 0 11 94
Merlin 0 1 11
Peregrine Falcon 0 1 6
Swainson’s Hawk 0 1 1
Total: 68 5146 16180
Weather
Overcast with west and northwest winds gusting to about thirty mph. Temperatures from five to eight celsius. Light drizzle starting around eleven-fifty, and continuing off and on for the rest of the afternoon.
Raptor Observations
Not a fun day to be the counter. Westerly winds made the local Turkey
Vultures fly like migrants. A part of me hated to quit early, knowing there
could be a push of (arbitrary number) sixty to one hundred birds between or
ahead of a line of rain, but could not fathom sitting out for another ten
bird hour either, and trying to pace myself to not be exhausted when we get
to those twelve hour, thousands of BW days we all know are just around the
corner.
Non-raptor Observations
About three hundred Tree Swallows out hawking insects in the drizzle as I
write this… Also about twenty Barn Swallows mixed in and at least four
Purple Martins. Also twenty Common Loons headed north and northwest in the
three and a half hours of counting, and two American Pipits also seen
overhead.
Predictions
May as well copy and paste the prediction from yesterday: northwest winds
and an 80% chance for precipitation on Wednesday, 30% chance of precip with
northerly winds for Thursday (all according to the National Weather Service
anyways). Still holding my breath for more agreeable weather (and birds) on
Friday.
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Monday, April 09, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 2 5
Turkey Vulture 29 4348 12281
Osprey 0 19 31
Bald Eagle 0 11 71
Northern Harrier 2 46 138
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 96 373
Cooper’s Hawk 0 19 236
Northern Goshawk 0 1 8
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 18 361
Broad-winged Hawk 0 1 1
Red-tailed Hawk 0 490 2312
Rough-legged Hawk 0 4 111
Golden Eagle 0 1 36
American Kestrel 0 11 94
Merlin 0 1 11
Peregrine Falcon 0 1 6
Swainson’s Hawk 0 1 1
Total: 33 5078 16112
Weather
A reasonably powerful low sinking to the east southeast over Maine/New Brunswick, with winds from the west northwest over Derby today, sustained above twenty mph for the count period and gusting to near fifty. A few brief (lasting less than five minutes) spats of sprinkles, with
temperatures around three celsius for most of the count, but warming up in the last two hours of the count and making it to a balmy seven by count’s end.
Non-raptor Observations
A mini lake watch while at the north lookout for the first two hours of the
count, with small flocks of Long-tailed Duck and Red-breasted Merg noted,
along with Derby’s first of season Caspian Tern (though they have been
seen last week from Sandy Pond, just a stone’s throw away as the tern
flies) and five dark-winged Scoter species of sorts. The real excitement of
the day was a second cycle gull that I would assume to have been Lesser
Black-backed. The bird was darker than similarly aged Herring Gulls, with a
much darker grey saddle and no visible pale area in the inner/middle
primaries from above or below. I suppose I can’t rule out an aberrant
Herring Gull or California Gull with the bird at a good distance out over
the lake and a look lasting only a few seconds, but feel reasonably
comfortable calling the bird a probable Lesser Black-backed anyways. Also
twelve Common Loons headed north… two from the north lookout and the
other ten from the south.
Predictions
Looks like moderate to strong west and northwest winds on the back side of
the low continue for the next two days… with the chance for precipitation
also continuing and, therefore, a continued chance of no count being
conducted. We’ll hope for a change in the weather and return to triple
(and quadruple?) digit flights starting on Friday-ish again… seems like
such a long ways away… sigh…
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Sunday, April 08, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 2 5
Turkey Vulture 232 4319 12252
Osprey 1 19 31
Bald Eagle 0 11 71
Northern Harrier 12 44 136
Sharp-shinned Hawk 18 95 372
Cooper’s Hawk 4 19 236
Northern Goshawk 0 1 8
Red-shouldered Hawk 5 18 361
Broad-winged Hawk 1 1 1
Red-tailed Hawk 83 490 2312
Rough-legged Hawk 0 4 111
Golden Eagle 1 1 36
American Kestrel 1 11 94
Merlin 0 1 11
Peregrine Falcon 0 1 6
Swainson’s Hawk 0 1 1
Total: 361 5045 16079
Weather
A weak occuluded/cold-ish front on the doorstep to the west, but with mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies over Derb today, and surface level winds out of the northwest shifting to north northeast shifting to north northwest shifting to nearly due west by count’s end.
Raptor Observations
First B-Dub’ of the season, a definitive plumaged bird a bit high but more
or less directly overhead at 11:27 bird time. The Broad-winged was just a
few minutes behind a low and slow Golden Eagle, only the third of last
year’s model seen thus far this season.
Other than that, not much to report raptor wise. Like many of the flights
over the last week, some of today’s birds were directly overhead, making
some visitors quite ecstatic relative to what we think of as a typical
south lookout flight, with distant birds seemingly well south of 104B, but,
it is worth noting that the recent flights have in reality been quite
spread out, with birds passing well to the north and well to the south,
making it easier for the counter to miss a quick moving bird or two, as the
counter must be scanning the entirety of the sky instead of focusing
scanning energies to the south (and thereby spending more time scanning
south behind binoculars, not as concerned that one will miss something
right overhead).
Non-raptor Observations
Derby Hill’s first of season Grey Catbird and (I think) Wilson’s (Common)
Snipe, both heard but not seen. Two Common Loons flying north (a seemingly
light number in this counter’s minds, given the football shaped birds’
alleged proclivity for moderate headwinds). Also of note, while less
directly quantitative, today was the first day this season I have seen more
than one Barn Swallow in the sky at one time (though I have no doubt that
the multiple sightings of the long tailed swallows over the last few days
have been of more than one individual).
….Just back from a quick post data entry evening walk about the Derby
Hill property. Not much of an Icterid flight going on as one might
expect for this time of year, but a high proportion of Rusties mixed
into the flocks and forming their own little flocks… I would put a
conservative estimate of 250 to 300 individuals of the Blackbird in
decline. I know that number is still little more than a drop in the
pond relative to counts of the species here decades ago, but I think
it is more Rusties than I can ever remember seeing in a day let alone
45 minutes in my 18 years of birding.
Perhaps this front coming in seems stronger to the ornithids than it
looks on the weather maps to the ornithologists?
Predictions
Moderate (gusting above 30mph) west and northwest winds with a decent
chance of rain for at least the next two days does not bode well for much
of a flight (and leaves the distinct possibility of no count being
conducted).
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Saturday, April 07, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 2 5
Turkey Vulture 346 4087 12020
Osprey 7 18 30
Bald Eagle 1 11 71
Northern Harrier 2 32 124
Sharp-shinned Hawk 6 77 354
Cooper’s Hawk 1 15 232
Northern Goshawk 0 1 8
Red-shouldered Hawk 1 13 356
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 30 407 2229
Rough-legged Hawk 0 4 111
Golden Eagle 0 0 35
American Kestrel 1 10 93
Merlin 0 1 11
Peregrine Falcon 0 1 6
Swainson’s Hawk 0 1 1
Total: 396 4684 15718
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Friday, April 06, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 2 5
Turkey Vulture 226 3741 11674
Osprey 3 11 23
Bald Eagle 1 10 70
Northern Harrier 3 30 122
Sharp-shinned Hawk 6 71 348
Cooper’s Hawk 0 14 231
Northern Goshawk 0 1 8
Red-shouldered Hawk 1 12 355
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 48 377 2199
Rough-legged Hawk 1 4 111
Golden Eagle 0 0 35
American Kestrel 0 9 92
Merlin 0 1 11
Peregrine Falcon 0 1 6
Swainson’s Hawk 0 1 1
Total: 289 4288 15322
Weather
Sunny with blue skies but chilly, with temperatures topping out at about five celsius. Winds from the north, gusting above twenty-five mph early in
the count, but mellowing to ten to fifteen mph and shifting to northwest and then nearly due west origins for the last two hours.
Non-raptor Observations
Another day that we failed to deploy the counter from its car… will get
back to hard core hawkwatching someday… maybe that “someday (when) my winds will come…” sigh…
Predictions
Northwest winds and blue skies all weekend… should be repeats of today
and yesterday, plus or minus a few birds, but I can pretty much guarantee
the flight of the century is not coming up any time soon…
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Thursday, April 05, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 2 5
Turkey Vulture 151 3515 11448
Osprey 2 8 20
Bald Eagle 1 9 69
Northern Harrier 1 27 119
Sharp-shinned Hawk 3 65 342
Cooper’s Hawk 3 14 231
Northern Goshawk 0 1 8
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 11 354
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 26 329 2151
Rough-legged Hawk 0 3 110
Golden Eagle 0 0 35
American Kestrel 0 9 92
Merlin 0 1 11
Peregrine Falcon 0 1 6
Swainson’s Hawk 0 1 1
Total: 187 3999 15033
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Wednesday, April 04, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 2 5
Turkey Vulture 1246 3364 11297
Osprey 2 6 18
Bald Eagle 3 8 68
Northern Harrier 13 26 118
Sharp-shinned Hawk 27 62 339
Cooper’s Hawk 2 11 228
Northern Goshawk 0 1 8
Red-shouldered Hawk 2 11 354
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 151 303 2125
Rough-legged Hawk 1 3 110
Golden Eagle 0 0 35
American Kestrel 4 9 92
Merlin 0 1 11
Peregrine Falcon 0 1 6
Swainson’s Hawk 0 1 1
Total: 1454 3812 14846
Weather
North and northnorthwest winds, with mostly to completely cloudy skies. Temperatures at count’s start of about eight celsius, and working their
way up to about ten mid day. A mini excuse for a cold front passed with rain from about two thirty to three fifteen bird time, with temperatures
afterwards having dropped to about four celsius. Also a brief (less than ten minute) spell of hail at about noon.
Raptor Observations
An adult Krider’s type Red-tail well observed at 11:32 bird time, making
for (if you believe in field identifiable subspecies without DNA work
having been done) four Red-tail subspecies seen in a window of ten days at
Derby Hill! Quite the petit bird next to some “normal” eastern
Red-tails, presumably making it a male, with no visible belly band or
patagial marks and extremely reduced commas on the outer underwing coverts.
The tail was pale enough to have passed for an extremely worn/sun faded
back-lit juvenile bird (which is what it was first assumed to be), but a
visible suspended molt front/molt limit in the middle primaries, making it
at least an after second year bird (as a bander might say). Much of the
back, however, seemed closer to “normal” color, which in conjunction
with the pale head sealed the deal in this counter’s mind that this was a
great plains bird, not just a leucistic eastern individual.
On an unrelated note, we decided during the eleven o’clock hour that
“UB” was the new 30… typing it up now, I’m not quite sure what that
means, but amidst all the vultures and ‘tails that hour, it seemed like
an important thing to make note of? I wonder of HMANA will ever ridicule or
chastise Derby Hill Bird Observatory for their hawkcounter getting too off
topic in their posts…
Non-raptor Observations
First Derby Hill Barn Swallow of the season at the North Lookout before
count’s start. Also another Sandhill Crane, one migrating Common Loon,
and about a dozen migrating Great Blue Herons.
Predictions
Would not have expected a quarter of the birds seen over the last three
days based on the northerly winds, so don’t really want to speculate on
Thursday’s flight possibilities, given the continued predicted northerly
origins to the wind (or should one say origins of the wind… hmm… so
long as we’re not Went with the Wind).
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Tuesday, April 03, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 2 5
Turkey Vulture 804 2118 10051
Osprey 0 4 16
Bald Eagle 2 5 65
Northern Harrier 9 13 105
Sharp-shinned Hawk 17 35 312
Cooper’s Hawk 3 9 226
Northern Goshawk 0 1 8
Red-shouldered Hawk 1 9 352
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 35 152 1974
Rough-legged Hawk 1 2 109
Golden Eagle 0 0 35
American Kestrel 3 5 88
Merlin 0 1 11
Peregrine Falcon 1 1 6
Swainson’s Hawk 0 1 1
Total: 876 2358 13392
Weather
High pressure, with clear skies at count’s start but stratus clouds moving in mid morning, becoming mostly cloudy by eleven bird time and remaining so the rest of the day. Light northwest winds, with temperatures around two celsius at count’s start and working their way up to about six.
Raptor Observations
Another strong flight on off winds at the south lookout, with many more
birds than should be flying based on conventional wisdom and comparisons to
historical numbers, but, when one removes Turkey Vultures from the
equation, today’s numbers drop to less than 100 birds, where one would
expect them to be on today’s weather based on historical numbers when
there were far fewer Turkey Vultures… so perhaps we just don’t
understand spring Vulture migration along a diversion line (not a leading
line) yet? (As far as I know, there are not Great Lake-like bodies of water
to our south where Vulture numbers have been this high in previous decades,
correct my amateur speculations if wrong?)
Another kind of spread out but not too high flight, today, more or less
turning off after one bird time, with less than one hundred birds passing
in the last two and a half hours of the count.
Non-raptor Observations
You know, cream cheese and sunblock can look surprisingly similar if one is
not paying close attention. (I suppose I should qualify after a statement
like that that no, I was not spreading sunblock on my bagel, but yes, I may
have been spreading cream cheese on my face.) You know your hawkcounter has
been in the sun too long when…
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Monday, April 02, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 2 2 5
Turkey Vulture 1314 1314 9247
Osprey 4 4 16
Bald Eagle 3 3 63
Northern Harrier 4 4 96
Sharp-shinned Hawk 18 18 295
Cooper’s Hawk 6 6 223
Northern Goshawk 1 1 8
Red-shouldered Hawk 8 8 351
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 117 117 1939
Rough-legged Hawk 1 1 108
Golden Eagle 0 0 35
American Kestrel 2 2 85
Merlin 1 1 11
Peregrine Falcon 0 0 5
Swainson’s Hawk 1 1 1
Total: 1482 1482 12516
Weather
Blue Skies with temperatures between three and eight celsius. Winds gusting to twenty mph, from the north northwest in the morning, shifting to
northwest midday and finally westerly origins for the last hour and a half of the count.
Raptor Observations
Another one of those evenings when I sit in front of the computer,
semi-cross eyed, still pulling the smeared zinc out of my ear with a q-tip,
and wondering where to begin the day’s writeup. A somewhat spread out
flight counted from the south lookout, but fortunately without birds
getting too high (a relative term, I know). Quite the flight for “off”
winds and after only a single day of rain to (proverbially) back birds up.
What was even more interesting was the push of birds well into the late
afternoon, with 417 of today’s vultures counted after three bird time
(that’s four daylight savings time), flying as though there were a front
coming in, though there is no such thing on the weather maps. Vultures
weren’t the only ones doing this, with today’s Sandhill passing at
about 4:24 bird time, and even the Swainson’s going by at 5:21 (don’t
tell me that bird thought it was headed for breeding grounds in a hurry,
and good luck finding oversized grasshoppers after tonight’s lows, crazy
thing that it was).
In no other particular order, some other notes on today’s raptors:
-Today’s fifth BV for the season represents a new season high for the
species at Derb.
-An uncounted adult Bald Eagle was seen this morning carrying nesting
material to the south east… seems late to still be putting a nest
together for a pair breeding at this latitude…
-Today’s second Bald Eagle was quite the unique individual, mostly
chocolate brown with white arm pits, colored just like a bird hatched less
than a year ago, but with all but about six secondaries replaced definitive
types (with the retained six juvy ss noticeably longer and
faded/trashed/worn to h***), and no (visible) retained inner or middle
primaries, making the bird a sub adult two, hatched back in 2009. Evidence
of the fact that colors lie with diet and hormones, molt limits, when
properly understood, do not.
-Another adult dark Red-tail at 11:54 (bird time of course).
-At least three of today’s adult light Red-tails had calurus-type tails,
with noticeable dark barring above the subterminal band on the tail.
-As for the real glamour bird of the day, well, a nice sighting late in
the day and low, but well to the north (at least over the third field if
not over the north lookout). A light bird, but hard to age at that
distance. At this time of year, any Swainson’s should be a juvenile,
presumably having wintered in Florida instead of South America. (Indeed,
all March record of this species at Derb were young of the last year,
though we cannot prove the wintering origins.) There was no visible bib on
today’s bird, but no visible streaking below either. The back was a
monochromatic dark grey, a color I’ve rarely seen on juvenile plumaged
birds that are usually more mottled above, and the primaries and
secondaries were quite dark, contrasting highly with the underwing coverts,
and again, much more contrasty than I’m used to seeing on a juvenile
bird.
Non-raptor Observations
A Rusty Blackbird in the morning, Savannah Sparrow giving a full song for
the first time this season, a Sandhill Crane… and I’m sure many other
wonderful things to write about if my brain weren’t so tiered…
Predictions
Yesterday I would have predicted tomorrow to be a better day than today,
with lighter winds of more westerly origins, but after today’s flight, I
just keep having to ask myself, is there really enough road kill out there
to support another couple hundred Turkey Vultures. This of course
translates to: are there birds in the pipeline still to come, but, 1400+
vultures at Hamburg today, and you know they didn’t all make it to Derb
by 5:30 tonight, and, btw, two Broad-wingeds at Ft Smallwood Park in
Maryland yesterday.
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Sunday, April 01, 2012
No count conducted today
Weather
… rain …
Predictions
North winds… headwind for migrating north… will keep birds away from the lake shore… yeay!!!
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 3 3
Turkey Vulture 127 7931 7933
Osprey 2 12 12
Bald Eagle 1 46 60
Northern Harrier 1 90 92
Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 277 277
Cooper’s Hawk 3 217 217
Northern Goshawk 0 7 7
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 342 343
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 2 1713 1822
Rough-legged Hawk 0 101 107
Golden Eagle 0 33 35
American Kestrel 3 82 83
Merlin 1 10 10
Peregrine Falcon 0 5 5
Total: 142 10896 11034
Weather
A wonky acting weak low sliding from west to east, and mostly to Derby Hill’s south. Winds out of the east southeast and east in the morning, shifting to northerly origins around one-thirty bird time. Overcast all day, with temperatures around freezing at count’s start, reaching a high of about six Celsius early afternoon.
Non-raptor Observations
A Saw-whet Owl (another or the same?) again imitating a truck in reverse
around 5:30 in the a.m. bird time during an early morning walk (hurray for
insomnia). Avian highlight of the day, however, was a nice looking Northern
Shrike (okay, what Shrike is not nice looking?) teed up in one of the trees
in the hedgerow west of the north lookout for a few minutes around 9:30
this morning. Not much else to report today, but did accidentally omit two
Common Loons from yesterday’s report… oopps…
Predictions
Forecast seems to change every time I look at it… was calling for south
winds, now calling for west with afternoon showers… could be a push of
birds ahead of the showers if they were already on the lakeshore to our
west, and any south component to the wind will improve things, but in
general, I have to say I am not holding my breath for a big flight… early
next week aint looking great either… we really have to do away with these
weak disorganized systems and start getting some well defined, powerful
fronts from the west and south to start concentrating the birds. I know I
should not be complaining after having just tallied the site’s second
ever (in 34 years) 10,000+ bird March, but I still cannot help but be
humming that old Disney tune “someday my winds will come… (and maybe
I think about the original lyrics every now and again too…)
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Friday, March 30, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 3 3
Turkey Vulture 580 7804 7806
Osprey 4 10 10
Bald Eagle 0 45 59
Northern Harrier 8 89 91
Sharp-shinned Hawk 8 275 275
Cooper’s Hawk 3 214 214
Northern Goshawk 0 7 7
Red-shouldered Hawk 8 342 343
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 95 1711 1820
Rough-legged Hawk 3 101 107
Golden Eagle 0 33 35
American Kestrel 1 79 80
Merlin 0 9 9
Peregrine Falcon 0 5 5
Total: 711 10754 10892
Weather
Clear skies and temperatures right at the freezing point at count’s start,
with skies becoming cloudier as the day went on and temperatures working
their way up to five celsius before falling back to two by count’s end.
Winds from the north and northwest, gusting to about fifteen mph.
Non-raptor Observations
A first of season for the site Savannah Sparrow tsipping behind the south
lookout (to tsip is a legit verb in the English language, right). Also a
flyover Sandhill Crane, and a few flyover Pipits, and most of the other
usual suspects…
Predictions
Trying to make sense out of the weather maps for the weekend, and feeling
like I’m failing, but, even when I do feel good about my predictions,
regular reader will note I can be dead wrong. Looks to be a low moving up
the Ohio River Valley, which we like, but looks to be pretty weak, and
potentially moving right over us instead of to our north, which we don’t
like. Winds predicted to be out of the east on Saturday, and out of the
south on Sunday, the latter of which we very much like, but also a chance
of rain both days, associated with weak, ill defined fronts, again, things
we don’t like. Not that the chance of rain for Wednesday last did not work
out well (try to keep track of them double negatives), but with all the
Vultures in the last five days, how many can be left? Is there really that
much roadkill (T.V. dinners) out there? Well, I’ll leave the reader to
figure out whether that leaves the glass half full or half empty… We’ll
know how the flights pan out by Sunday night ;-D
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 3 3
Turkey Vulture 4 7224 7226
Osprey 0 6 6
Bald Eagle 0 45 59
Northern Harrier 0 81 83
Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 267 267
Cooper’s Hawk 1 211 211
Northern Goshawk 0 7 7
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 334 335
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 0 1616 1725
Rough-legged Hawk 0 98 104
Golden Eagle 0 33 35
American Kestrel 0 78 79
Merlin 0 9 9
Peregrine Falcon 0 5 5
Total: 5 10043 10181
Weather
Light drizzle off and on with winds from the north gusting to near 20mph.
Raptor Observations
More “local” raptor species and individuals than migrants today… did we
exhaust the supply yesterday, or should we just blame the weather???
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 3 3
Turkey Vulture 2731 7220 7222
Osprey 2 6 6
Bald Eagle 1 45 59
Northern Harrier 15 81 83
Sharp-shinned Hawk 85 267 267
Cooper’s Hawk 22 210 210
Northern Goshawk 0 7 7
Red-shouldered Hawk 22 334 335
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 131 1616 1725
Rough-legged Hawk 8 98 104
Golden Eagle 1 33 35
American Kestrel 7 78 79
Merlin 1 9 9
Peregrine Falcon 0 5 5
Total: 3027 10038 10176
Weather
Quite the interesting weather map, with a low at the beginning of the day less than three hundred miles to our west, and less than one hundred miles
to the north by day’s end, with a warm front and cold front occluding overhead over the course of the day. That being said, site specific weather
included surface level winds out of the southeast in the morning, with little wind from about twelve fifteen to twelve fourty-five (bird time), after which a light to moderate wind out of the west kicked in. Temperatures started out around three celsius, reaching an early afternoon high of eighteen around noon thirty before dropping back to about twelve
for the last hour or so of the count.
Raptor Observations
Click-a-licious late March mega flight, with a new single day Turkey
Vulture record of 2731 birds, besting April 2nd 2009’s previous record by
60 birds. More impressive is the fact that over 950 of those birds passed
in a span of about 20 minutes, keeping that clicking finger busy! A
continued curiously high proportion of last year’s model of
Red-shouldered Hawks, with only three of today’s shoulders being
identified as definitive plumaged birds while twelve retained mostly
juvenile type feathers (and seven went unaged).
Non-raptor Observations
When I made it out of the house around 7:30 bird time, Mr. Smith informed
me that it was raining Robins… wasn’t that a Martha Wash song? About
3175 AMROs tallied for the day. (Non banders know AMRO stands for American
Robin, right?) Also the largest push to date of Great Blue Herons with 20
tallied headed north and/or east, and an impressive 93 Common Loons were
also counted headed north. No new species noted for the season, but both
Kinglets, Creeper, four species of finch, multiple Kingfishers, Tree
Swallows, yeah, it was a good day…
Predictions
North winds the next few days… won’t produce a flight like today’s,
but we are moving into a part of the season where stuff will be flying on
just about any winds… we’ll need horrendous weather to stop birds
unlike a few weeks ago when we needed near perfect weather to get birds
going. Based on my record for the last few days (wrong, wrong, and wronger)
I’m not going to make a more specific prediction than that!
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 3 3
Turkey Vulture 765 4489 4491
Osprey 1 4 4
Bald Eagle 3 44 58
Northern Harrier 2 66 68
Sharp-shinned Hawk 16 182 182
Cooper’s Hawk 9 188 188
Northern Goshawk 1 7 7
Red-shouldered Hawk 17 312 313
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 124 1485 1594
Rough-legged Hawk 0 90 96
Golden Eagle 2 32 34
American Kestrel 1 71 72
Merlin 0 8 8
Peregrine Falcon 0 5 5
Total: 943 7011 7149
Weather
Continued high pressure and cloudless to partly cloudy skies with winds out of the north averaging six to ten mph but gusting above fifteen.
Temperatures started off at about three below zero, celsius, but warmed up to about two above for the early afternoon.
Raptor Observations
Not a bad flight at all given the North winds and chilly temperatures, with
many birds passing right over the south lookout, and only a handful
appearing to be south of 104B. Two adult dark (morph) Red-tails, one at
11:01, the other at 12:31. While I am of the mentality that we have yet to
be convinced that dark B. j. borealis birds do not exist, the first of
today’s dark birds had a classic calurus (type) tail, with fine, broken,
dark bands extending about half way up the upper tail above the main
subterminal band. (And, not to spend too much time on the hairsplitting
soapbox, those of you who know me are also aware of the fact that I do not
believe in abeiticola, so I really do mean calurus (type) when I say
calurus (type).) The second dark bird did not allow looks for such
speculation on subspecies/types/origins, but a sexy bird to get a glimpse
at nonetheless.
On the slightly less sciencey side of things, it was speculated that
today’s Vultures were all wearing earbuds and listening to Sisters of
Mercy and other ’80s underground punk bands as they drifted overhead…
the kinds of “regulars” this place attracts… it’s a miracle that
I’m still as sane as I am!
Predictions
Given how wrong I’ve been the last two days, let’s not even speculate on
tomorrow…
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Monday, March 26, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 3 3
Turkey Vulture 690 3724 3726
Osprey 0 3 3
Bald Eagle 0 41 55
Northern Harrier 5 64 66
Sharp-shinned Hawk 16 166 166
Cooper’s Hawk 17 179 179
Northern Goshawk 1 6 6
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 295 296
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 5 1361 1470
Rough-legged Hawk 0 90 96
Golden Eagle 0 30 32
American Kestrel 6 70 71
Merlin 0 8 8
Peregrine Falcon 0 5 5
Total: 742 6068 6206
Weather
A relatively powerful James Bay High sinking in from the northwest. (Oh heck, next to the weather for the past week plus, any weather is
“relatively” powerful.) Winds out of the north shifting to north northwest, at times sustained above 25mph and gusting to over 45mph
(perfect fall Jaeger weather). Temperatures hovering around one or two below zero, celsius, but did manage to climb up to that freezing point by
count’s end.
Raptor Observations
Where to begin? I know I predicted little if any flight yesterday, and was
furthermore advised by powers that be to take today off (good thing I
don’t follow directions too well). Upon reading of Braddock Bay’s 1100+
Vultures yesterday between three and six in the afternoon, I had the
feeling my prediction might have been dead wrong, and based on what was
flying in the first fifteen minutes of counting today, I should have
started the count at least an hour earlier (oopps). It would appear the
wind was just east of north enough in origins that birds were able to both
tack directly into it and get a bit of an updraft off the drumlins lining
the shore of this section of Lake Ontario, although contrary to the former
half of that theory, the flight still continued after the shift to north
northwesterly wind origins around 1:45 bird time, and at least 5 (based on
plumage and molt limit criteria) Bald Eagles seemed to be
having a blast going back and forth (east and west) along the shoreline. A
visitor summed today’s movement up wonderfully (if not a touch bit
anthropomorphically) in saying “these Vultures must have one h*** of a
sweetheart to get home to if they’re moving in this kind of weather”.
Well, without one h*** of a sweetheart to keep me on the masochistic side
of normal however, I do have to admit most of today’s count was conducted
from inside a car parked atop the Hill…. that was one chilly wind for a
body already adjusted to May-like weather.
The numbers alone speak to a good flight (don’t know if one could/should
call it a clean up flight after yesterday’s miserable afternoon weather
at Derby, that apparently lifted for the last few hours of daylight at
Braddock). In the first 20 minutes of counting, a massive immature female
Goshawk came barreling through below eye level, almost oblivious to the 20+
mph sustained winds, and reminding this counter of how much fun
hawkwatching can be. (Dare I even say should be?) That sight may have left
me happy for the day, but an even bigger surprise was picked up on the
horizon around 11:40, passing the Hill to the south at about 11:42 (bird
time). While only 5 Red-tailed Hawks were recorded for the day, the 11:42
bird was a drop dead gorgeous adult Harlan’s (type) bird, complete with
marbled silver-blue-grey upper tail. A brief review indicates this to be
about the third Harlan’s (type) Red-tail documented in Derby’s history,
with the last one noted on March 28th of 1997. (We will be sure to double
check that stat for the annual Newsletter to be printed next fall.)
Slightly less exciting, but still well worth noting, was the day’s
second Northern Harrier, an apparent first basic male with no visible
retained juvenile primaries or secondaries, but two or four symmetrically
retained juvenile middle rectricies, somewhere around R3-R5 on both sides.
Not a pattern I can ever recall seeing on a Harrier, any banders want to
chime in?
Non-raptor Observations
Had the bedroom window open last night before the wind picked up and cold
temps set in, and heard a Saw-whet Owl imitating a truck in reverse within
about 45 minutes of sunset. Another Fish Crow was noted today, this one
seen next to a much larger American Crow and apparently migrating right
along with the rest of the feathered organisms overhead. Also noted
migrating, and even more surprisingly so than the hawks, were about 200
Tree Swallows… well, they were headed east, not north anyways. A few
hundred Robins, some migrating Flickers, a hand full of Pine Siskins and 40
or so Snow Geese in two small flocks about round out the avian highlights
of this strange and amazing day.
Predictions
After how dead wrong yesterday’s prediction for today was, I assume no
one to be reading this, but, weaker winds from the northwest on Tuesday
might allow for the counter venturing out of the car, but will likely not
produce much of a flight. Wednesday has potential, though, with a return to
double digit temperatures and winds predicted to be from the south (though
there is a pesky 50% chance of rain… so stay tuned… although I suppose
one does not tune in the medium through which they are receiving this
message… another colloquialism of days past, but I digress…).
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 3 3
Turkey Vulture 168 3034 3036
Osprey 0 3 3
Bald Eagle 0 41 55
Northern Harrier 6 59 61
Sharp-shinned Hawk 4 150 150
Cooper’s Hawk 1 162 162
Northern Goshawk 0 5 5
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 295 296
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 3 1356 1465
Rough-legged Hawk 0 90 96
Golden Eagle 0 30 32
American Kestrel 3 64 65
Merlin 1 8 8
Peregrine Falcon 0 5 5
Total: 186 5326 5464
Weather
Some light rain in the morning, pushing east/southeast by count’s start.
Surface level winds out of the south southeast for the first few hours of the count, shifting to westerly origins around noon bird time. A heavy fog
bank rolled in off the lake at about twelve-fifteen, with light drizzle starting about an hour later around one-fifteen. Temperatures for the day
staying strangely steady around seven (celsius).
Non-raptor Observations
At least one Fish Crow was heard somewhere to the south giving that
trademark double note, and might I have heard a Swamp Sparrow singing, or
was that just a really wacky Junco (or other trilling species)… ear is a
bit rustier than it should be, but…. hmm…. Oh well, at least I could
positively i.d. the Barred Owls hooting today…
Predictions
Monday’s forecast (according to the National Weather Service) is for
north winds above 20mph with a high of about 4c; Tuesday’s forecast is
for lighter winds still from the north with a high of about 1c… can I
tell you that neither bode well for spring hawk flights or hawk watching on
the southern Lake Ontario shoreline.
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 3 3
Turkey Vulture 115 2866 2868
Osprey 2 3 3
Bald Eagle 0 41 55
Northern Harrier 0 53 55
Sharp-shinned Hawk 6 146 146
Cooper’s Hawk 8 161 161
Northern Goshawk 0 5 5
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 295 296
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 9 1353 1462
Rough-legged Hawk 0 90 96
Golden Eagle 0 30 32
American Kestrel 17 61 62
Merlin 1 7 7
Peregrine Falcon 0 5 5
Total: 158 5140 5278
Weather
Overcast, with a brief bit of rain around 8:30, and off and on light rain
showers starting around 11:45 and continuing through the afternoon. Winds
out of the southeast at count’s start, shifting to east and gusting to near
twenty mph around one, then lightening again and returning to south
southeasterly origins by count’s end.
Raptor Observations
Vultures and Kestrels and the day’s one Merlin flying right through the
light rain. Not a huge volume of birds, but most everything was nice and
low (where it should be in this counter’s opinion).
Non-raptor Observations
A flock of about 20 Rusty Blackbirds headed west (yes, west) over the third
field around 6:15 (bird time) this morning (with the rest of the morning’s
normal eastbound Icterid flight, in my estimate, not topping 2,000 birds).
Other nice surprise/treat of the day was a Vesper Sparrow singing in the
small field behind/east of the North Lookout for a few minutes at the start
of the count.
Predictions
Sunday & Monday do not look good for a hawk flight (let alone a count being
conducted at all).
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Friday, March 23, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 3 3
Turkey Vulture 23 2751 2753
Osprey 0 1 1
Bald Eagle 1 41 55
Northern Harrier 1 53 55
Sharp-shinned Hawk 5 140 140
Cooper’s Hawk 3 153 153
Northern Goshawk 0 5 5
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 295 296
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 4 1344 1453
Rough-legged Hawk 0 90 96
Golden Eagle 0 30 32
American Kestrel 4 44 45
Merlin 0 6 6
Peregrine Falcon 1 5 5
Total: 42 4982 5120
Weather
No strong lows anywheres within a few hundred miles, with winds today out of the northeast, light in the morning and increasing in strength as the
day went on. A few brief moments of drizzle falling from mostly cloudy skies, with temperatures between eleven and eighteen celsius.
Raptor Observations
Slow day… either birds were not moving, or the north component to the
wind was blowing them further inland than our south lookout (but I want to
doubt the latter as the morning winds were not that strong, and with much
of the flight seen from the south lookout being to the north). The number
of birds, especially Vultures, seen at New York state count sites to our
west in the last week but not appearing here is a bit curious and
disturbing, and I have a funny feeling these birds are not hanging out
between here and Braddock Bay… Did they sneak by to the south? Cut the
corner of the lake for a few miles of flight out over water? Or were they
just too high overhead for the Derby counters and spotters to pick up
against blue skies? Well, despite today’s lack of volume, a decent bit of
diversity, and of course a record setting Peregrine the previous high
count for March for the species at Derby Hill was 4 birds in 2004.
Non-raptor Observations
The sixty or so Snow Geese seen today would hardly have been worth noting
two weeks ago, but the birds are still moving in small numbers through what
would have been the peak dates of passage a few years ago. Other than that,
no new migrants or notable numbers of birds arrived in the last few weeks,
just a slow day all around.
Predictions
Weekend is not looking great, with continued east-ish winds and cloudy
skies (good to spot birds against but bad for making thermals… some
hawkcounters are never happy). The only hope is that birds will be building
up in the proverbial pipeline over the next few days making for a big
flight sometime next week.
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 3 3
Turkey Vulture 406 2728 2730
Osprey 0 1 1
Bald Eagle 1 40 54
Northern Harrier 0 52 54
Sharp-shinned Hawk 11 135 135
Cooper’s Hawk 10 150 150
Northern Goshawk 0 5 5
Red-shouldered Hawk 7 295 296
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 50 1340 1449
Rough-legged Hawk 3 90 96
Golden Eagle 0 30 32
American Kestrel 3 40 41
Merlin 0 6 6
Peregrine Falcon 1 4 4
Total: 492 4940 5078
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 3 3
Turkey Vulture 243 2322 2324
Osprey 0 1 1
Bald Eagle 1 39 53
Northern Harrier 2 52 54
Sharp-shinned Hawk 13 124 124
Cooper’s Hawk 5 140 140
Northern Goshawk 0 5 5
Red-shouldered Hawk 12 288 289
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 61 1290 1399
Rough-legged Hawk 1 87 93
Golden Eagle 0 30 32
American Kestrel 1 37 38
Merlin 0 6 6
Peregrine Falcon 0 3 3
Total: 339 4448 4586
Weather
Clear blue skies, light southeast winds becoming calm, clear blue skies, an
unseasonably high high of 24c and clear blue skies…
Raptor Observations
Blue skies, high birds, invisible birds, counter quit early…
Non-raptor Observations
Both Kinglets and Fox Sparrow heard, Purple Finch, Tree Swallow, and
Phoebes all over the place, about a half dozen migrating Ravens and three
“local” birds as well, and Gerry Smith reported seeing a catatonic
hawkcounter… I didn’t see the later and don’t know who he could be
talking about as I was the only official counter today… hmmm…
Predictions
Weather looks about the same as today, but massive flight at Braddock Bay
today should get here tomorrow? (Emphasis on should, not will.)
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 3 3
Turkey Vulture 515 2079 2081
Osprey 1 1 1
Bald Eagle 1 38 52
Northern Harrier 1 50 52
Sharp-shinned Hawk 18 111 111
Cooper’s Hawk 8 135 135
Northern Goshawk 0 5 5
Red-shouldered Hawk 10 276 277
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 80 1229 1338
Rough-legged Hawk 7 86 92
Golden Eagle 2 30 32
American Kestrel 4 36 37
Merlin 0 6 6
Peregrine Falcon 1 3 3
Total: 650 4109 4247
Weather
A continued lack of anythings resembling a front anywheres east of the Mississippi. Here on the Hill, light winds from the south southeast and
blue skies in the morning, with some cumulous clouds forming and a lake breeze from the north northwest kicking in for the afternoon.
Raptor Observations
Turkey Vultures already lifting out of Mexico Point State Park when I
started the count, but the morning flight got way way way too high quickly,
and against a blue sky, well, not fun to be a counter, wondering what was
up there we weren’t seeing. Moved south mid day, and, for the fun of it,
counted from the old south lookout on the road side instead of the Don
Barnes lookout used since 2005… not quite sure what that does to the
data, but seems worth noting. Anywho, the flight got a bit lower in the
afternoon, but as is often the case with a lake breeze, was quite spread
out north to south. In other news, does anyone want to start placing bets
on when Red-shouldered Hawks will be extirpated from Eastern Canada? The
relative lack of that Buteo the last few days has been disturbing. Maybe we
can hope a big push is still to come, but if this keeps up, we are on track
to continue a disturbing downward trend for the species at the site over
the 30+ years of standardized counting.
Non-raptor Observations
You know someone’s been in the sun too long when you hear people singing
“I am the Whimbrel, ku ku ka chu”…
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Monday, March 19, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 3 3
Turkey Vulture 43 1564 1566
Osprey 0 0 0
Bald Eagle 0 37 51
Northern Harrier 2 49 51
Sharp-shinned Hawk 10 93 93
Cooper’s Hawk 6 127 127
Northern Goshawk 0 5 5
Red-shouldered Hawk 3 266 267
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 25 1149 1258
Rough-legged Hawk 9 79 85
Golden Eagle 0 28 30
American Kestrel 3 32 33
Merlin 0 6 6
Peregrine Falcon 0 2 2
Total: 102 3459 3597
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 3 3
Turkey Vulture 141 1521 1523
Osprey 0 0 0
Bald Eagle 7 37 51
Northern Harrier 11 47 49
Sharp-shinned Hawk 20 83 83
Cooper’s Hawk 17 121 121
Northern Goshawk 1 5 5
Red-shouldered Hawk 21 263 264
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 150 1124 1233
Rough-legged Hawk 25 70 76
Golden Eagle 8 28 30
American Kestrel 5 29 30
Merlin 3 6 6
Peregrine Falcon 1 2 2
Total: 412 3357 3495
Weather
Mostly clear skies, with clouds building in for the last hour or so of the count. Light winds from the south southeast in the morning, becoming calm
for the noon hour before a surface level lake breeze from the north kicked in around one bird time. Temperatures topping off at an unseasonably high
high of 23c.
Raptor Observations
Another flight that quickly got high against a blue sky, leaving the
counter wondering just how many birds were missed. Also not helping was the
spread out nature of the flight, with birds seen from the north lookout in
the morning out over the lake, right overhead, and down to the south, and
by the time the switch was made to the south lookout around 1:45 bird time,
birds were flying well south of rout 104b (in addition to right overhead).
Like yesterday, the number of young of last year Red-shoulders was
disturbingly high, today seeing more juvenile plumaged birds than
definitive plumaged birds for the species. By contrast, and perhaps a bit
more on track time wise, today saw the first juvenile plumaged birds of the
season for all three Accipiters. Also following up on yesterday’s notes, we
decided today that accipalicious would be a much more better hit single for
any pop artist than sharpalicious… but what will the music video be
like???
Predictions
Could be like today, maybe better, maybe worse… in all seriousness,
another day of light south winds, perhaps not able to hold off a lake
breeze, but, also predicted for tomorrow are clouds, yes, CLOUDS, hurray
for clouds! Could make for a few less thermals, perhaps inspiring a few
less birds to takeoff and head northeast, but should make birds easier to
spot, which has the dual effect of making the counter a bit less frustrated
and more personable too. Of course, the big question with so many
consecutive days of wonderful weather is: are there birds in the pipeline?
Well, a flight of 1000+ Vultures and about 100 other raptors at Ripley
today bodes well for us not having exhausted our supply of mid March
migrants.
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 1 3 3
Turkey Vulture 764 1380 1382
Osprey 0 0 0
Bald Eagle 4 30 44
Northern Harrier 8 36 38
Sharp-shinned Hawk 30 63 63
Cooper’s Hawk 43 104 104
Northern Goshawk 0 4 4
Red-shouldered Hawk 65 242 243
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 377 974 1083
Rough-legged Hawk 12 45 51
Golden Eagle 1 20 22
American Kestrel 10 24 25
Merlin 0 3 3
Peregrine Falcon 0 1 1
Total: 1318 2945 3083
Weather
Fog in the morning, lifting around 10:30 bird time. Clouds eventually diminished to some high stratus-ish things making for some milky patches
across what was otherwise and for all intensive purposes another one of those painful blue skies. Winds light out of the southeast most of the day,
becoming calm to still for the last few hours of the count. In fact, it was so still as I sat outside summing up the day’s totals that one could see
a perfect upsidedown reflection of the nuke out on the glassy flat lake…
so I guess the reflected image is that of a fusion reactor instead of a
fission version, or have I been in the sun too long?
Raptor Observations
When someone whose name might start with Davi… and end with …eeler (I
keep everything confidential in these reports, of course) showed up today
and said he thought it was going to be a thousand plus bird day, I told him
I thought he was crazy… guess that’s egg on my face, again. But in all
seriousness, what a flight for the 17th of March! Notes of interest and not
printed in the table above include the Rough-leg age/sex breakdown, with 9
of today’s birds being adult type males, and only one adult type female
and one juvenile plumaged bird (with the 12th bird being unaged and
unsexed). While I am still bracing myself for this being the lightest
Roughie year in the history of Derby Hill, the high percentage of adult
male birds does bode well for a flight continuing into April. Also of note
once again today was the breakdown of Red-shoulder ages, with only 31 birds
allowing a look to age by, but a remarkable 13 of those individuals (or
about 42%) being last year’s model/juvenile plumaged birds, an almost
appallingly high number for this early in the flight. In other less
scientific, but in my opinion equally raptor related observations, there
was talk today of petitioning Fergie to write a song entitled
“sharpalicious” see how far we get with that…
Non-raptor Observations
Another 23 or so Bohemian Waxwings, some Pine Siskins, about 100 Tree
Swallows, a few hundred Snow Geese, a probable Purple Finch heard, but
nothing overly out of the ordinary…
Predictions
Weather (temperature and wind) look good for both Sunday and Monday… if
there are any birds left in the area to move after today’s (crazy)
flight…
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Friday, March 16, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 2 2
Turkey Vulture 0 616 618
Osprey 0 0 0
Bald Eagle 0 26 40
Northern Harrier 2 28 30
Sharp-shinned Hawk 3 33 33
Cooper’s Hawk 0 61 61
Northern Goshawk 0 4 4
Red-shouldered Hawk 1 177 178
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 0 597 706
Rough-legged Hawk 0 33 39
Golden Eagle 0 19 21
American Kestrel 6 14 15
Merlin 0 3 3
Peregrine Falcon 0 1 1
Total: 12 1627 1765
Weather
A weak low over the area all day. Heavier rain in the morning, ending around
9:45 bird time. Fog, haze, mist, and off and on light drizzle the rest of
the morning and into early afternoon. Winds were light out of the south
southeast for the count period, with temperatures from 8 to 10c.
Raptor Observations
A few birds immediately in the wake of the heavier rain, but nothing raptor
wise flying except a local Bald Eagle after eleven bird time.
Non-raptor Observations
Bad day to be a hawkwatcher, but fun day to be a birder on the Hill.
Highlights included a Short-eared Owl, 9 Bohemian Waxwings, a few small
flocks of Redpolls and Pine Siskins, and about 3,000 Snow Geese. The
morning rain did not seem to hinder the passerine flight, with a few
thousand American Robins, and an estimated 40,000+ icterids, including at
least 40 Rusties.
Predictions
A light south / southeast wind is predicted, which sounds good at face
value, but there are two very important questions we will not know the
answer to until tomorrow. (1) will the wind be strong enough to hold off a
lake breeze, or will a chilly northerly wind develop mid day that pushes
birds away from the lake shore? (2) are there birds in the pipeline left to
migrate by the hill tomorrow? At this point, assuming there is stuff ready
to migrate in western New York and the upper Ohio River Valley, Sunday’s
weather does not look half bad either, with slightly stronger south winds
predicted.
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 2 2 2
Turkey Vulture 121 616 618
Osprey 0 0 0
Bald Eagle 0 26 40
Northern Harrier 5 26 28
Sharp-shinned Hawk 12 30 30
Cooper’s Hawk 8 61 61
Northern Goshawk 0 4 4
Red-shouldered Hawk 22 176 177
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 27 597 706
Rough-legged Hawk 0 33 39
Golden Eagle 0 19 21
American Kestrel 6 8 9
Merlin 0 3 3
Peregrine Falcon 0 1 1
Total: 203 1615 1753
Weather
Overcast in the morning, with some strong thunderstorms out over the lake. A brief burst of rain on the Hill from about ten to ten thirty, bird time. Surface level winds from the southeast and east southeast, with a lake breeze kicking in for the last hour of the count. The cloud cover also
started to break up around two bird time, with a virtually clear sky by count’s end. Early morning temperatures around seven celsius, working their way up to about eighteen in the afternoon, but dropping an astonishing seven degrees in less than an hour when the lake breeze kicked in.
Raptor Observations
Today’s Black Vultures set a new record early date for the species at
Derby Hill, besting the previous record from 2000 by four days. As an
aside, I do genuinely believe there to have been two individual Black
Vultures to have passed the site today, but irrespective and irregardless
of my own beliefs, according to our protocol, both birds passed the site
headed east (across the proverbial finish line) and no one was seen
doubling back. While rarities or glamour birds are often treated
differently here and at other sites, according to a repeatable protocol, we
should have, or rather did have to count today’s sightings as two birds.
On some other tangent, I do believe there have been at least a half dozen
non counted/non countable Bald Eagles to have “passed” the site headed
west this spring’s young birds with distinct plumage traits that I only
saw once headed the “wrong” way. If we are undercounting Bald Eagles,
and likely Red-taileds and Coops and Turkey Vultures and a few others as
well, in the interests of a repeatable protocol from year to year, well
then we have to potentially double count a bird or two by the same rules as
well, right? Ah hawkwatching… an art or a science???
Other than the little vultures, another day that was slower than I would
have expected for the wind direction, but I keep having to remind myself
that it is early and 1700+ birds by the middle of March is a great start to
the season. The morning rain may have hindered movement a little (only
seven birds counted before eleven bird time), but mostly, it’s just early
in the season and with a number of consecutive 200+ bird days there
aren’t things backed up and ready to go all at once to make for a 500 or
1000 bird day.
Non-raptor Observations
Spring continues to spring with noted migrants today including Killdeer
(30+), Eastern Bluebird (40+), Tree Swallow (40+), Icterids (30,000+),
American Robins (600+). Other (less spring like?) migrants included about
50 Pine Siskins and 30 Common Redpolls, with Snow Goose numbers reduced to
about 400 birds.
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 108 495 497
Osprey 0 0 0
Bald Eagle 1 26 40
Northern Harrier 0 21 23
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 18 18
Cooper’s Hawk 2 53 53
Northern Goshawk 0 4 4
Red-shouldered Hawk 3 154 155
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 14 570 679
Rough-legged Hawk 1 33 39
Golden Eagle 0 19 21
American Kestrel 0 2 3
Merlin 0 3 3
Peregrine Falcon 0 1 1
Total: 130 1412 1550
Weather
Some clouds in the morning, quickly dissipating to leave a sky that was way
too blue for most of the day. Winds out of the west northwest most of the
day, shifting to northerly origins for the last hour of the count, and
gusting midday above 15mph. Temperatures between 6 and 11 celsius.
Raptor Observations
Were Turkey Vultures the only ones migrating today, or just the only ones I
could see???
Predictions
Predicted winds out of the east and southeast should make for better
viewing of birds than today’s conditions, but, as I have been saying the
last day or two or three, there is always the supply question with these
kinds of systems (prolonged high pressure, above normal temperatures, and
south and west winds this early in the seaosn). The flight of 700+ birds at
Grimsby Ontario today does not bode well either… happy for them, but
there went 400 Red-tails and 120 ‘shoulders that will not pass Derb this
spring…
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 126 387 389
Osprey 0 0 0
Bald Eagle 2 25 39
Northern Harrier 1 21 23
Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 17 17
Cooper’s Hawk 3 51 51
Northern Goshawk 1 4 4
Red-shouldered Hawk 14 151 152
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 76 556 665
Rough-legged Hawk 1 32 38
Golden Eagle 1 19 21
American Kestrel 0 2 3
Merlin 1 3 3
Peregrine Falcon 1 1 1
Total: 231 1282 1420
Weather
A quick moving line of rain showers at about seven bird time this morning,
but dry for the count period with variably cloudy skies, sometimes near
100% overcast and other times almost 100% clear (painfully) blue skies.
Winds mostly out of the west with a stray gale from the northwest here and
southwest there, gusting above 15mph by the afternoon. Temperatures from 12
to 17 celsius.
Raptor Observations
A lot of high, painfully high, frustratingly high birds on today’s tail
winds. I almost wanted to go to the south lookout on the sometimes west
northwest winds, but every time I was about to pack up to go, a bird went
overhead. It goes without saying that more birds were counted when we had
clouds, and just had to wonder how many were missed against the blue skies
when they dominated. Nonetheless, some nice diversity, including the
season’s first Peregrine, I believe only the fourth record of the species
at Derb before March 15th (the others being in 2004, 2006, and 2009). Also
interesting to note is that of 9 Red-shouldered Hawks low enough to age
today, 4 were juvenile plumaged birds, not the ratio of juvenile to
definitive plumaged birds one would expect for this time of year. Lastly,
one of this morning’s juvenile plumaged Red-taileds (around 11:15 bird
time) appeared to be a rufus or dark morph bird, but was too high/too far
to the south/too backlit to be sure.
Non-raptor Observations
Another 9 Bohemian Waxwings this morning around 8:45 bird time… where on
earth are these birds coming from??? where are they going too??? Three
consecutive days of Bohemian Waxwings after a not so great winter for the
species on the east coast is quite curious to this counter. Also, about 30
Redpolls late morning, and the season’s third Sandhill Crane flying over a
bit lower than the raptors at about 3:15 bird time. A nice Crow flight
(2000+ birds I would venture), and another couple of Ravens, Killdeer,
Meadowlarks, Tree Swallows, one Belted Kingfisher, and so on… again, most
of the usual suspects, but a Snow Goose flight diminished to less than
1,000 birds.
Predictions
Continued west winds will make for another high flight, and while the winds
will not deter a flight, I cannot imagine that too many birds are still
ready to go in the proverbial pipeline after over 700 birds in the last
three days this early in the season.
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Monday, March 12, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 83 261 263
Osprey 0 0 0
Bald Eagle 2 23 37
Northern Harrier 3 20 22
Sharp-shinned Hawk 7 15 15
Cooper’s Hawk 14 48 48
Northern Goshawk 0 3 3
Red-shouldered Hawk 77 137 138
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 101 480 589
Rough-legged Hawk 1 31 37
Golden Eagle 0 18 20
American Kestrel 1 2 3
Merlin 1 2 2
Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0
Total: 293 1051 1189
Weather
Mostly overcast skies with light south southeast winds and an unseasonably
high high temperature of 19c.
Raptor Observations
A leucistic Red-tailed Hawk around noon thirty bird time, followed in the
next hour by a very suspicious bird that we could only agree to call a
“ub”… where’s a camera when ya need one… grrr… sigh…
Non-raptor Observations
Day started out with a flock of about 113 Bohemian Waxwings. Other
interesting flyovers/brief visitors included about 15 each White-winged
Crossbills and Pine Siskins and a group of four Snow Buntings. Two Tree
Swallows, about 20 Eastern Meadowlarks (at least I assume they were all
Eastern), one Belted Kingfisher and many of the other usual suspects in
typical numbers for the last few days…. Horned Larks and Snow Geese and
Common Ravens and Crows and various other Icterids and Robins and Bluebirds
and so on… oh, and first Eastern Phoebe of the season…
Predictions
Rain in the a.m. and west winds on the heels of two good days this early in
the season does not bode well for an amazing flight, but with a whole week
of seasonably warm weather, stuff should still be trickling through…
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 97 178 180
Osprey 0 0 0
Bald Eagle 2 21 35
Northern Harrier 1 17 19
Sharp-shinned Hawk 3 8 8
Cooper’s Hawk 7 34 34
Northern Goshawk 0 3 3
Red-shouldered Hawk 45 60 61
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 59 379 488
Rough-legged Hawk 0 30 36
Golden Eagle 2 18 20
American Kestrel 0 1 2
Merlin 0 1 1
Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0
Total: 220 758 896
Weather
Mostly clear skies, with temperatures right around freezing at the start of
the count, but quickly working their way up to about 13 celsius. A light
south wind in the morning, but shifted to westerly origins by about 10:30
bird time (that’s eleven thirty daylight savings times, now that the switch
has happened).
Raptor Observations
High birds against a blue sky means more than a few were undoubtedly
missed… if only that south wind forecast yesterday had held… sigh.
Some nice numbers nonetheless as we work our way into mid March, with
Red-shoulder and Turkey Vulture flights starting to ramp up. Also, today
saw the first noticeable push of young of last year Red-tails, with 9 of
the 45 Red-tails low enough to age retaining mostly juvenile plumage and
therefore presumably hatched in 2011.
Non-raptor Observations
Two Sandhill Cranes, about 14,000 Snow Geese, 17 Tundra Swans, one
Canvasback out on the lake, and 9 other species of ducks and geese noted.
About 15 Common Redpolls graced the area for a few seconds this morning,
and multiple Bohemian Waxwings were seen this afternoon (I think the final
estimate was somewhere in the neighborhood of 175 birds in about three
flocks?). Also at least two Common Ravens, with lighter numbers of Crows
and icterids than expected.
Predictions
Like today, the forecasts for Monday are calling for seasonably warm
temperatures and light south winds, but, also like today, I have this
terrible feeling that something of a lake breeze might kick in and shift
the winds to west or northwest origins. Based on numbers at Great Lake
sites to our west, there are plenty of birds in the pipeline and ready to
go, but, with no front coming in from the west and pushing them past Derby
Hill, I have no reason to think tomorrow will be that much better than
today was (but any 200+ bird day before the 15th of March is nothing to be
scoffed at for sure).
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Saturday, March 10, 2012
No raptors were reported.
Weather
A transitional weather day, as yesterday’s weak low and front continue to
clear out to the east, and high pressure begins to work in from the south.
Snow in the early morning hours, with winds out of the northeast. winds
from the north shifting to northwest for the count period, with light snow
flurries under overcast skies. A few breaks of sun in the late afternoon,
with winds shifting to west southwesterly origins after about 2:30.
Raptor Observations
One Turkey Vulture noted migrating after the count had ended, but for the
most part, the wind shift occured too late to induce any flight, with the
clouds, snow, and sub freezing temperatures not really helping.
Predictions
Sunday and Monday should be good with south winds and teperatures above ten
celsius presicted. (Let’s hope that prediction holds, and the wind doesn’t
go to westerly origins… not that I don’t trust the national weather
service, but, not going to fall on my own sword…)
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
Friday, March 9, 2012
Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 1 81 83
Osprey 0 0 0
Bald Eagle 3 19 33
Northern Harrier 1 16 18
Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 5 5
Cooper’s Hawk 1 27 27
Northern Goshawk 0 3 3
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 15 16
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 23 320 429
Rough-legged Hawk 1 30 36
Golden Eagle 1 16 18
American Kestrel 0 1 2
Merlin 0 1 1
Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0
Total: 31 538 676
Weather
A more typical March day for the morning, with northwest winds on the back
side of last night’s cold front and temperatures starting out just below
the freezing point and rising to a late morning high of three above zero,
celsius, before dropping off as a second weak cold/occluded-ish front moved
over the area. The second front brought snow, starting around eleven
fifteen and becoming heavier by noon thirty.
Raptor Observations
Flight line seemed to be north of the south lookout and south of the north
lookout, with birds likely missed from either site. I guess a bit of a
clean up flight after yesterday’s rain put stuff down, but also a nice
little push of birds at 11:30ish just as the snow started.
Non-raptor Observations
Eastern Meadowlarks have taken over the south lookout! Well, maybe not
really, but at least 4 males singing and displaying behind me this morning.
About 500 Crows and 1 Raven (American and Common respectively of course) on
the move, along with about a dozen Horned Larks and about a half dozen
Killdeer. Real excitement of the day, however, was a single Ross’s Goose
picked out of about 22,400 Snow Geese noted migrating in today’s 3.5
hours of coverage.
Predictions
Ummm… Is an accurate prediction really a part of my job description???
Report submitted by Kyle Wright
onondagaaudubon.com 