Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 18:00:00 Total observation time: 11 hours
Official Counter: Maili Waters
Observers: Alan Bloom, Bridget Watts, Cliff Dekdebrun, Daena Ford, Dominic Sherony, Jessie Barry, Mike Tetlow, Robin Morey, Roger Clark
Visitors: 30
Weather: Cloudy in the morning becoming mostly sunny in the afternoon. Scattered rain showers before 10am. Temps reached a high of 66F. Winds started out of the south, switching to west by the afternoon.
Raptor Observations: A fantastic day with just over 5,000 birds! It was the best day of the season so far for Turkey Vultures with a day total of 4,807. Sharp-shinned Hawks were the second most numerous migrant with a total of 173. Northern Harriers (38), American Kestrels (52), and Red-tailed Hawks (73) were also on the move. There were 6 Rough-legged Hawks in a nice range of plumages from light to dark morphs. While I was occupied counting vultures, another observer on the platform photographed a bird that on later inspection of the photo, proved to be a immature Golden Eagle!
Non-raptor Observations: It was a great day for non raptors as well. There were several new birds for the season including 4 Great Egrets, 1 Caspian Tern, 1 Chipping Sparrow, and 1 Purple Martin. Many flocks of Bonaparte's Gulls passed by throughout the morning. There was also a large movement of robins and blackbirds.
Predictions: Partly cloudy, high of 45F. Winds NW at 10-15mph. Although the wind direction isn't ideal, there will probably be some vulture movement. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Maili Waters (<mailirwaters...>) Braddock Bay information may be found at: http://www.bbrr.org/
