Observation start time: 06:15:00 Observation end time: 16:15:00 Total observation time: 10 hours
Official Counter: David Brown
Observers: Dede Johnston, Frank Rohrbacher, Ian Teaell, Jim Meyers, Joanne Dintzis, Joe Swertinski, Kent Raymond, Kim Steininger, Maddie Martin, Mike Fowles
Visitors: 20, including Jim and Joanne from Cromwell Valley Park
Weather: Mostly cloudy at sunrise quickly becoming sunny with few clouds in the midday and increasing clouds again in the last hour. Moderate to strong WNW winds all day following the passage of a cold front overnight. High 58F.
Raptor Observations: A steady migration and good amount of overall raptor activity including some really nice looks. The blue skies made spotting difficult, but it seemed that the strong winds were keeping most migrants low anyway and few were seen overhead.
A moderate vulture flight with 85 Turkey Vultures and 11 Black Vultures migrating. One Osprey distant in the notch. Excellent Bald Eagle activity with 24 migrating and individuals seen on the horizon the entire day. Unfortunately no Golden Eagles. Four harriers including an adult male. Twelve sharpies braving the winds but only three Coops.
A moderate Buteo flight with 18 red-shoulders and 13 red-tails. One Merlin migrating and another giving some nice looks as it cruised around hunting.
Non-raptor Observations: 510 Canada Geese, 5 Common Loons, Belted Kingfisher, 25 Fish Crows, 2 Common Ravens, Horned Lark, 15 Tree Swallows, 870 Cedar Waxwings, 5 Purple Finches, 40 Pine Siskins, 5 Rusty Blackbirds, 8,100+ Common Grackles, no monarchs. https://ebird.org/checklist/S408795115
Predictions: TOMORROW: Mainly sunny. High 59F. Winds WNW shifting WSW at 10-15mph. Overall similar to today with winds perhaps a slightly less favorable direction and slightly weaker. Should be a good amount of raptor activity with the moderate winds. Totals at other hawk watches were quite low today with fewer Golden Eagles being reported than perhaps would be expected for the conditions on this date, so maybe this front didn't get the hawks on the move much. Expect moderate migration.
MONDAY: Partly cloudy. High near 60F. Winds WNW at 10-20mph. Similar to today but more clouds to help spot. Expect moderate to good migration.
TUESDAY: Some morning clouds then mainly sunny. High 64F. Winds WSW at 10-15mph. Expect moderate migration. ======================================================================== Report submitted by David Brown (<davidebrownpa...>) Ashland Nature Center information may be found at: www.delnature.org
