Observation start time: 11:00:00 Observation end time: 13:00:00 Total observation time: 2 hours
Official Counter: Devin Banning
Observers:
Visitors: None.
Weather: Weather initially looked bleak, heavy rain and even a few thunderstorms in the morning, but as the morning pressed on there was some clearing by the lake shore. Mike Ceci noted this clearing and got the word out. Winds were steady out of the S/SW, sometimes briefly shifting WSW before returning to SW. Interestingly, inland, the Parker Road windmill constantly showed winds out of the SE. Some showers missed the watch to the north and south, which may have stunted any potential flight.
Raptor Observations: Not much to be had. One migrant Osprey over Site 1. Four SS, one AK. Two local Bald Eagles headed east along the lake shore. One local Red-tailed Hawk.
Non-raptor Observations: Turkey Vultures again lazily wandered around. Much care had to be taken not to count birds that were simply doubling back over and over again. Some TVs did come through, concentrated over the 90 and points north.
Today was an astonishing day for non-raptors and non-vultures. 1720 Common Grackles were counted, and we definitely missed hundreds, 1594 Red-winged Blackbirds, 191 Brown-headed Cowbirds, our first Eastern Phoebe of the season, five Ring-necked Ducks on the now mostly drained Forsyth Pond, dozens of Robins, a nice flock of Horned Larks, Common Mergansers and Double-crested Cormorants, one Great Blue Heron, Two SANDHILL CRANES flying inland near the site of the proposed turbines, three species of gulls, including a couple dozen Bonaparte's Gulls, and incessantly singing Carolina Wren.
Predictions: Light rain and showers overnight stopping by sunrise. Cloudy and cold with a daytime high of 39F. A small but meaningful flight is likely. Winds out of the NW will likely push the flight line inland to sites 2 and 3. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Devin Banning (<devincban...>) Ripley Hawk Watch information may be found at: www.facebook.com/groups/3193820734258889/
