Observation start time: 08:30:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 6.5 hours
Official Counter: John Weeks
Observers: John Weeks, Steve Tysz
Weather: AM: mostly sunny with cirrus clouds. PM: Mostly cloudy, with stratus filling in from the west. Wind WNW 5-7 mph in the morning, shifting to W 3-5 mph in the afternoon. Temperature 37-42 F.
Raptor Observations: The morning saw a decent flight, taking advantage of the WNW winds; the shift to W winds after noon led to an abrupt drop in activity. I arrived (for the second day in a row) too late to see an adult Golden Eagle, but stayed late enough to get excellent looks at two light-morph Rough-legged Hawks and a tardy juvenile Broad-winged Hawk. The first RLHA, a juvenile, flew right over my head, disappeared in the trees on the west side of the hill, then returned to hover-hunt, kestrel-fashion, the south field. When it dropped out of sight again, I turned to scan the north horizon, where -- lo and behold -- the second Rough-leg was hover-hunting half a mile away. Meanwhile, the juvie Broad-wing passed high overhead directly above me. Wow. Not counted as migrants: 2 Black Vultures, adult Bald Eagle.
Non-raptor Observations: Canada Geese (ca. 620 in ten skeins), Mourning Doves (9), Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Blue Jays (2), American Crows (41), Common Ravens (4), Tufted Titmouse, Eastern Bluebirds (10 in one flock), American Robins (6), American Goldfinch, Dark-eyed Juncos (3). ======================================================================== Report submitted by John Weeks (<aerie.john...>)
