Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 6 hours
Official Counter: Jerry McWilliams
Observers: Jerry McWilliams, Julie Leonard, Roger Donn
Visitors: Julie Leonard assisted with the count for the first part of the count and Roger Donn assisted into the early afternoon. Lots of visitors including Heather and David from Akron, Ohio, Amy and Trip Bondi from Washington County, Pa., Mark Behr and his dad, and four of five others.
Weather: Mostly cloudy in the morning then overcast with some sun shining through the clouds in the afternoon. Strong SE winds becoming southerly in later. Unseasonably warm.
Raptor Observations: A decent TV flight with birds close to the lake but not holding a strong flight pattern. Largest group consisted of 48 birds. The strong wind and cloud cover kept them rather low throughout the day. It was a rather weak hawk flight with American Kestrels dominating the flight, especially later in the day. Highlight was an adult Golden Eagle flying low and to the west at 1437 hrs. about the time TVs began drifting back to the west.
Non-raptor Observations: Many eastbound American Robins, European Starling, Common Grackle, Canada Goose 17, Red-winged Blackbird, Mourning Dove, Rock Pigeon, Cedar Waxwing 20, Tree Swallow 1, and American Crow
Predictions: Rain in the morning with snow in the afternoon with rapidly falling temperatures. Not expecting a flight with these conditions.
Jerry McWilliams Erie, Erie County, Pa. <jerrymcw...>
