Unseasonably warm weather on Tussey Mountain. Fairly strong NW winds to
start the count at 12-19kph. The winds peaked at 20-28kph at 14:00.
Visibility was good for the entire count to Warrior’s Ridge. Mostly cloudy
skies for most of the count, although the sun did peak out a few times
around 14:00. Low temperature of 18C at 09:00 and a high of 25C at 14:00.
There was very light drizzle between 09:00 – 11:00. Never enough to don
raingear.
Raptor Notes
TV (34) OS 1 (10) BE 3 (61) RT 4 (172) GE 2 (136) AK 1 (18) UR 2 (13) Total
50 (786)
GE A 12:55, A 17:07
The flight got underway in the 10:00 hour with 15 TUVU migrating up Stone
Valley or high above Tussey Mountain. The 11:00 hour yielded some nice
diversity including the first GE of the day. The flight continued steadily
with TUVU leading the days flight. The last migrant of the day was another
GE, which I was happy Jacqui got to see.
All of the resident raptors were active today. The adult COHA was the first
detected at 10:12 flying S along Tussey over the cut. Shortly after it was
detected flying S along the powerline cut into Stone Valley. It briefly
performed its display flight before dropping down into the forest. At 12:14
it was again in the cut to the N of the OP performing its flight display
and doing a modified roller coaster display. I have never observed the COHA
doing a roller coaster display before so that was special. There were
several BAEA skirmishes over Stone Valley for good measure.
Non-raptor Notes
The warm winds brought new arrivals to the Tussey Mountain environs. There
were many songbirds moving out over Stone Valley that went unidentified. I
was surprised to see a GBHE and BEKI both fly over the mountain early in
the count. Shortly after I picked up what I thought to be a small falcon.
As they approached more closely, I realized I had two swifts. I also
enjoyed the FOSP visit just below me in the brambles. I was confused by the
call note most of the morning, but was able to finally get eyes on the
bird. No offense to their western counterparts, but the eastern Red variety
is a sharp bird.
duck sp. 10
Chimney Swift 2 y
Double-crested Cormorant 8
Great Blue Heron 1
Black Vulture 1
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1
Eastern Phoebe 1
American Crow 2
Common Raven 2
Black-capped Chickadee 2
Tree Swallow 2
Golden-crowned Kinglet 2
Eastern Bluebird 1
American Robin 2
House Finch 4
American Goldfinch 5
Fox Sparrow (Red) 2
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 5
Brown-headed Cowbird 12
Common Grackle 2
Visitors
Jacqui McKee
34 hikers
Next Day Forecast
Showers likely, mainly after 3pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70. Calm
wind becoming south 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is
60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
