Tussey Mountain Hawk Watch State College, Pennsylvania, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 31, 2025 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: AB
Observers:
Visitors: None
Hikers 2
Weather: SE winds for the start of the count at 6-11kph. By 09:00 the winds had shifted to the NW at 6-11kph for the remainder of the day’s effort. Visibility was superb in the morning to 32km after the rains late yesterday. By 14:00 after a few brief periods of drizzle there was enough moisture in Stone Valley that visibility was limited to Warrior’s Ridge. Mostly cloudy skies for the entire count with a few brief periods of bright sunshine breaking through. Low temperature of 16C at 09:00 and a high of 19C by 13:00. The temperature fluctuated quite a bit in the morning as the cold air mixed in from the N, but occasionally the wind would lull and warm air mixed in from Stone Valley. For a day that was forecast to have rain and significant thunderstorm potential it was surprising to only see light drizzle develop.
Raptor Observations: TV 5 (250) OS 1 (14) BE 1 (66) NH 1 (14) SS 1 (66) RT 3 (186) GE 1 (137) AK 1 (22) UB 1 (14) UR 1 (17) Total 16 (859)
GE Sub 12:07
I knew it would be a slow day once the winds shifted to the NW early in the count. Most of the flight occurred early in the day as migrants made use of the favorable winds and warmer temperatures. A grey ghost for the discerning hawk watcher appeared just N of the cut briefly as it glided north along Tussey Mountain. The straggler GE’s are always a surprise and in many ways more exciting than during peak migration in that you never know when one may appear. The light on this sub adult was really nice as it was very low on Leading Ridge soaring up to the cut. It was nice tracking the eagle in a spotting scope and getting good looks at the dark central tail feathers that bisect the white band. Watching it move N over Stone Valley made for a rewarding end to the month of March.
The Leading Ridge RTHA was on territory at 10:41. At 11:06 an adult RTHA flew S along the ridge with an immature in tow. The immature has some feathers molting in its tail which helps distinguish it from other migrating immature RT’s. At 13:17 there was a BE skirmish over Stone Valley. I also noted a OSPR taking repeated swipes at an adult BE low on Leading Ridge in the afternoon. The OSPR was doing enough damage the BE had to barrel roll twice to flash its talons upwards at its attacker.
Non-raptor Observations: There are now to FISP singing in the cut. One has moved uphill closer to the OP and I appreciate its serenade. Woodpeckers and sapsucker were all active again. AMCR were the corvid again to be hauling bread stuffs over the ridge from N to S with a partner in tow. The GCKI have been foraging with the BCCH near the OP. The GCKI are getting a little worked up and have exploded into their song as well. I turned around to see one foraging low in the bushes behind me and enjoyed seeing its beautiful golden crown. Such delicate little creatures.
Mourning Dove 4 Killdeer 1 Black Vulture 1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 1 Eastern Phoebe 1 Blue Jay 2 American Crow 5 Common Raven 1 Black-capped Chickadee 4 Tufted Titmouse 1 Tree Swallow 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet 2 White-breasted Nuthatch 2 Eastern Bluebird 2 American Pipit 1 House Finch 5 Pine Siskin 4 American Goldfinch 20 Field Sparrow 2 Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 11 Song Sparrow 1 Red-winged Blackbird 3 Brown-headed Cowbird 6 Common Grackle 4
Predictions: Sunny, with a high near 52. Northwest wind around 11 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Adam Richardson (<poecile.gambeli...>) Tussey Mountain Hawk Watch information may be found at: tusseymountainspringhawkwatch.org/
