Date: 3/13/25 7:46 am From: p c <pcollinsca48...> Subject: [AZNMbirds] SEAZ: Tubac Hawk Watch - Ron Morriss Park, Tubac, AZ 03/12/25
SEAZ: Tubac Hawk Watch - Ron Morriss Park, Tubac, AZ 03/12/25
Season 13: Episode 0312 - “Days Like This"
TL;DR
Migrating Raptors
Common Black Hawk 43
Zone-tailed Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 12
Golden Eagle 2
Kestrel 3
Turkey Vulture 75
Black Vulture 1
Other Raptors
Short-tailed Hawk
Peregrine
Cooper’s Hawk
I awoke to the rare sound of rain drumming on my roof. I dozed off for a minute, then lightning struck. Rain. Clouds. There will be clouds today! I darted out of bed and drove to Tubac as fast as Peregrine chasing a swift. I arrived at 8:30 find almost too many clouds (never!). By 9:00 the passengers of 54 vehicles were milling about wondering what effect all these clouds would have on the flight. I authoritatively suggested a delayed liftoff for the Black Hawks. Only two Turkey Vultures ventured north before 10:00. Local Cooper’s Hawks did their best to distract restless birders. Someone called “Release the raptors”. I held fast.
Shortly after 10:00 our erudite Black Hawks checked their migration manual, verifying that an hour’s delay was sufficient for today’s weather conditions. The first 6 Black Hawks rose, mostly from the south. Spotters caught a few sneaking out north of the park. A Zonetail slipped by on the west side. Twenty-nine Turkey Vultures overwhelmed two brave Redtails making their move north.
The spotter with a scope in the back of my pickup truck called me over. She pointed to a small dark buteo north of the park, drifting south. We consulted. I suggested waiting. The dark buteo continued its slow approach. It crossed the north edge of the park. The Dark Morph Short-tailed Hawk show opening was announced. Enthralled birders lost track of time, their impatience a faded memory.
With the Shorttail showoff and a few Golden Eagles holding the crowd’s attention all but two of the remaining Black Hawks postponed their 11:00am departures.
At 13:00 a line of 7 Black Hawks crossed overhead transforming into a kettle north of the park. Six more where counted prompting HWI Counter #2 to note reaching the milestone of our first double digit Black Hawk Hour of the season. We counted Black Hawks every hour from 10:00 until our 5:30 close.
The group a White Pelicans barreled north at last continuing to their Canadian breeding grounds.
Late afternoon a Peregrine zipped by munching on a swallow, scattering feathers over the tall Cottonwood trees.
The Shorttail had several cameos throughout the day, mingling with Black Hawks and Vultures, trying to throw off our counts. A delightful but futile effort.
Counters ended the day tracking a dozen Black Hawks, listening to their calls as they shuttered their wings and dropped into the Cottonwoods along the river.
Packing, we speculated whether the 8 Black Hawks roosting to our south would chose to depart early on the morrow, avoiding the gathering storm.
