Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 9 hours
Official Counter: Ginny Halterman, Ian Teaell
Observers: David Brown, Joe Swertinski, Kim Steininger, Megan Kasprzak, Shannon Modla
Visitors: 10
Weather: Blue skies all day. A light to moderate NE wind. Temps starting just above freezing but becoming pleasant with a high around 60F.
Raptor Observations: Another excellent migration. Spotting was difficult at times with the blue skies. The first highlight of the day was at 9:45am clock time when the first GOLDEN EAGLE of the season (immature) was spotted out near the bump. It was being chased by corvids and went down behind the donut. A few minutes later it was spotted again to our right, still being chased by crows and ravens, as it came through low behind the trees.
If the morning shift started off well, the afternoon shift started off even better. At 12:35pm clock time a juvenile raptor soared up from the left side of Hunter's Field. As I scoped it against the fall foliage I tried to make it into a Cooper's Hawk, but the streaking and tail pattern weren't right. I tried to make it a Red-shouldered Hawk but it didn't have crescents. As it got above the horizon and started to glide and flap heading left all observers got on it. At this point it became clear it was an Accip and a large one. A Sharp-shinned Hawk took a few swipes at it and was dwarfed. It cut across behind the hawk watch and began to soar giving extensive scope views, although in poor light. At one point it soared with a Red-tailed Hawk and was nearly as large. The broad wings with bulging secondaries, mottled topside, extensive streaking down to the undertail coverts, and long tail with thin uneven wavy bands confirmed the identification of juvenile AMERICAN GOSHAWK! This was the first since 2022 (and second since 2016).
Turkey Vultures had another great flight today with 244 including groups of up to 50+. Moderate flights of other raptors including 24 sharpies, 11 Coops, 12 red-shoulders, and five kestrels.
Non-raptor Observations: 90 Canada Geese, American Herring Gull, 3 Common Loons, 2 Common Ravens, 6 Purple Finches, 2 Pine Siskins, 3 Dark-eyed Juncos, 6 Rusty Blackbirds, 6 monarchs. https://ebird.org/checklist/S403579567
New species for season: Rusty Blackbird, Dark-eyed Junco, Golden Eagle, American Goshawk
Predictions: TOMORROW: Mainly sunny. High 66F. Winds NNE at 5-10mph. Similar to today (but no promises of goldens and goshawks!) Expect moderate to good migration.
TUESDAY: Mainly sunny. High around 70F. Winds NNE at 10-15mph. Similar again but slightly stronger winds. Expect moderate to good migration.
WEDNESDAY: Sunny skies. High around 65F. Winds NNE at 10-15mph. Similar again. Expect moderate to good migration. ======================================================================== Report submitted by David Brown (<davidebrownpa...>) Ashland Nature Center information may be found at: www.delnature.org
