Observation start time: 06:30:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 9.5 hours
Official Counter: David Brown
Observers: Joe Francis, Joe Sebastiani, Joe Swertinski, Kent Raymond, Kim Steininger, Lana Glass, Sally O'Byrne, Samir Saadeh
Visitors: 18
Weather: Overcast becoming partly sunny. Moderate northeasterly winds. A bit chilly in the morning!
Raptor Observations: A steady, moderate flight throughout the day. A great variety of raptors with all species that are expected on this date. The flight was a mix of low and high altitude, but we had some nice looks at both resident and migrating raptors.
Seven Ospreys brought the season total to a tie with the entire 2022 season as the highest total since 2021. Excellent Bald Eagle activity with 19 migrating.
Ten harriers was the second best flight of the season. Moderate Accip flights with 38 sharpies and 12 Coops. Only 13 broad-wings, perhaps a sign that the easterly component to the wind is pushing them west of us.
A handful of red-shoulders and red-tails. A juvenile red-shoulder perched in a tree next to the hawk watch for a few minutes until a juvenile Cooper's Hawk landed nearby then chased it away.
Only the second falcon trifecta of the season with 30 kestrels, 5 Merlins (season high), and an adult peregrine. A Merlin dove close and came back up with a common green darner.
Non-raptor Observations: 86 Canada Geese, 5 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 3 Double-crested Cormorants, 300+ Blue Jays, 2 Common Ravens, 125 Cedar Waxwings, Pine Warbler, American Lady, 46 monarchs. https://ebird.org/checklist/S395619361
New species for season: Lesser Black-backed Gull
Predictions: TOMORROW: Partly to mostly cloudy. High 67F. Winds NE at 10-20mph. Overall similar to today and I would expect similar results.
FRIDAY: Mostly cloudy. High 73F. Winds NNE at 10-20mph. Similar again.
SATURDAY: Overcast with showers at times. High 64F. Winds N at 10-20mph. Good winds, but the gloominess may hold back the flight. ======================================================================== Report submitted by David Brown (<davidebrownpa...>) Ashland Nature Center information may be found at: www.delnature.org
