Observation start time: 09:15:00 Observation end time: 14:45:00 Total observation time: 5.5 hours
Official Counter: Craig Jackson
Observers: Bill Shapiro
Weather: Moderate to strong (3-2) W winds with early gusts up to 21 km/hr diminishing to about 8 km/hr toward the end of the watch. Cloud cover -- 90-95-75% Watch started out mostly cirrus with cumulus clouds in the NW horizon. Turned to a mix of cirrus and cumulus before the cirrus broke up into mackerel sky followed by cirrocumulus with small Patches of blue sky. Temperature - went from 13-14-10� C
Raptor Observations: Small number of migrants but good quality with at least 3 migrating eagles, one being an adult or near-adult Golden. Notes below:
Sighting of Adult Golden Eagle from Pinnacle Rock � November 10, 2026
Bill Shapiro and I had decided to leave the Rock at 2:30. Just as we were preparing to leave, Bill spotted a bird through his Zeiss binoculars ([Power x Field]) that he initially believed to be a Turkey Vulture, based on its apparent size, dihedral wing posture, and lack of flapping.
When I spotted the bird in my binoculars (Nikon 10x42), I felt it was not a Turkey Vulture because the overall shape seemed incorrect. Rather than switching to my scope and risking losing the bird, I continued tracking it with my binoculars. The tail was noticeably wider and shorter than that of a Turkey Vulture, and the head appeared distinctly hawk-like rather than short. Additionally, the bird did not rock its wings as it flew.
As I watched the bird flying it appeared to be all dark with no noticeable markings. Flying toward the southwest, it then turned and began flying toward us presenting a view of its underside as it hung in the air momentarily. Again there were no light areas on the bird or any other visible markings as it was silhouetted against a background of clouds. This time I avoided the temptation to take a photo (although I probably should have) before it turned and flew away and then turned to fly off at a lower attitude toward the southwest. We followed it for a while before it seemed to "drop below the trees." The bird was viewed by me for several minutes and longer by Bill.
Reasons for ID as Golden Eagle adult: Despite having very broad wings, they did not appear to be plank-like, and the bird flew with a slight dihedral, both being unlike a Bald Eagle. Additionally, the absence of any light markings and the hawk-like (smaller projection) of its bill also eliminate Bald Eagle. Despite viewing the bird for an extended amount of time, neither one of us saw any particular color, light areas, or any other visible markings on the bird. [When discussing this lack of markings after the bird had left, Bill said while he had been originally convinced the bird had been a Turkey Vulture, he had vainly looked for the light underside, but had been unable to see it]. The lack of any light areas or markings points to this being an adult or possibly near adult Golden Eagle.
Non-raptor Observations: an interesting parasitic wasp (species to be determined
Predictions: Moderate to strong winds from the west should continue, so we may have more migrants ======================================================================== Report submitted by Craig Jackson (<crleja1949...>)
