Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Jen Lee
Observers:
Visitors: People checking out the valley views all day.
Weather: Mid 70s with mostly clear blue sky, light ESE winds.
Raptor Observations: Flight really started going around 9:30 (bird time) with 3 nice BW kettles (40, 45, 35). After the kettles, birds were streaming in small groups of 5-10 birds. Most birds were w very high all day, spotted with constant binocular scanning to find them. 1 adult & 1 imm. BE seemed to meander around the ridge all day. Saw them multiple times, looking like they were migrating, only to spot them backtracking or crossing the valleys, Adult followed by imm. every time. There were other BEs moving. Tough to discern between them at times. Tried best not to over count. 2 Peregrine's together.
Non-raptor Observations: I was expecting a light day. Glad I was so wrong! Strange loud BOOM heard at 10:28am from Big Valley side (sounded like an underground blast?). Other species: Flycatcher sp. (not a Phoebe), cedar wax, goldfinch, modo, c.wren, chickadees. Am.crow, rb.nut, downy, towhee, ravens, chim.swift, hummers. 26 Monarchs (they went up high too), 1 Yellow Swallowtail. Too many Lantern Flies. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Darrell Smith (<oleagleye...>)
