Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: David Brown
Observers: Joe Swertinski, Kim Steininger, Lana Glass, Walt Blackwell
Visitors: 7
Weather: Overcast with light easterly winds.
Raptor Observations: Slow for the first few hours with no wind or thermals to get the birds up. A nice push of Red-shouldered Hawks in the 10am hour that continued in pulses the rest of the day. Initially most were over the ridge to our left but a good number off to the right and overhead as the day went on. They were a mix of altitudes but spotting was fairly easy with the thick cloud cover. The final total for Red-shouldered Hawks was 84, the second highest of the season. Red-tailed Hawks were also moving with 19 counted. Turkey Vultures were slow to get going but a nice push in the last two hours brought the day total to 76. Small numbers of other expected migrants including two harriers. A local Merlin was the only falcon seen.
Non-raptor Observations: 150 Canada Geese, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, 12 Fish Crows, Common Raven, 10 Purple Finches, 3 Pine Siskins, 2 Fox Sparrows, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, no monarchs. https://ebird.org/checklist/S202489014
New species for season: Orange-crowned Warbler
Predictions: Tomorrow: A few passing clouds, otherwise sunny. High 57F. Winds NNW at 10-15mph. Good winds but tough spotting with the blue skies. Expect moderate migration.
Saturday: Sunny. High 62F. Winds NW at 10-20mph. Good winds again but tough spotting with the blue skies. Expect moderate migration.
Sunday: Mix of sun and clouds early, then cloudy. High 62F. Winds WNW at 5-10mph. Expect moderate migration. ======================================================================== Report submitted by David Brown (<davidebrownpa...>) Ashland Nature Center information may be found at: www.delnature.org
