Observation start time: 06:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 10 hours
Official Counter: David Brown
Observers: Carolyn Holland, Kim Steininger, Lana Glass, Mike Fowles, Walt Blackwell
Visitors: 20
Weather: Clear skies to start with only a few small clouds for the morning. Cloud cover increased throughout the afternoon becoming mostly cloudy in the final hours. Moderate northeast winds shifted southeast and weakened. A little chilly in the morning but quite pleasant in the afternoon with a high in the mid-60s.
Raptor Observations: A moderate flight. Some nice looks at low raptors, but the majority of migrants were high altitude and spotting them was hard for much of the day when clouds were lacking.
Turkey Vultures were most numerous with 80. Four Ospreys was a good total for this date. Good Bald Eagle activity including ten migrants. Four harriers including three adult males. A moderate Accip flight with 34 sharpies and 12 Coops. We had a nice look at one sharpie stooping at the bird feeders. Eight Red-tailed Hawks including the first 'northern' of the season. Ten kestrels and two merlins.
Non-raptor Observations: 275 Canada Geese, 10 Common Mergansers, 2 Double-crested Cormorants, Belted Kingfisher, 75 American Crows (including one with some white feathers), Common Raven, Purple Finch, Pine Siskin, Lincoln's Sparrow, 3 Palm Warblers, 15 Yellow-rumped Warblers, 10 monarchs. https://ebird.org/checklist/S402611405
New species for season: Purple Finch
Predictions: TOMORROW: Cloudy skies during the morning followed by thunderstorms in the afternoon. Potential for severe thunderstorms. High 77F. Winds SSW at 10-15mph. An unfavorable wind and limited sunshine until the afternoon will probably result in a slow day for migration. With the current hourly forecast it seems we may get the full day in. Expect light to moderate migration.
SATURDAY: Cloudy early then mostly sunny. High 53F. Winds NNW at 10-20mph. Classic fall hawk watching conditions. Expect moderate to good migration.
SUNDAY: Mainly sunny. Widespread frost likely. High 59F. Winds NNE at 5-10mph. A good wind direction but fairly weak. Migrants will likely be high and difficult to spot against the blue skies. Expect moderate migration. ======================================================================== Report submitted by David Brown (<davidebrownpa...>) Ashland Nature Center information may be found at: www.delnature.org
