Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Jerry McWilliams
Observers: Don Snyder, Jim Baxter, Ken Felix
Visitors: Ken Felix helped with the count all day. Roger Donn, Jim Baxter and his grandson David, and Don Snyder assisted with the count for a while. Visitors included my wife Linda, Mark Lethaby, Jim Flynn, Brian Pardini, Julie Leonard, and about seven other people.
Weather: Variably cloudy and cool with a steady SSW all day
Raptor Observations: A rather productive day for this early in the season, but not surprised because of several days in a row with north wind. With the south wind birds were kept close to the lake. Birds were flying at all heights with TVs being the predominant raptor counted. Red-shouldered and Red-tailed Hawks moved through in singles and small groups throughout the day. Bald Eagles made a very good showing, but it becomes more difficult these days to determine which ones are migrants and which ones are local birds. Highlights today included a Northern Goshawk and a Rough-legged Hawk.
Non-raptor Observations: Small flocks of blackbirds and robins moving NE. Highlight was three Sandhill Cranes. Other birds noted were Great Blue Heron 1, Gull species 25, Red-bellied Woodpecker 1, American Crow 65, Canada Goose 4, Mourning Dove 6, and Eastern Meadowlark 1.
Predictions: Continued relatively mild, but with rain showers. If there are breaks in the rain, there may be some birds moving, but it doesn't look promising.
Jerry McWilliamsErie, Erie County, <Pa.jerrymcw...>
