Date: 4/5/24 6:25 pm From: Hawkcount.Org Reports <reports...> Subject: Chester County Hawk Watch & Migration Count at Chambers Lake (05 Apr 2024) 16 Raptors
Chester County Hawk Watch & Migration Count at Chambers Lake Wagontown, Pennsylvania, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 05, 2024 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Observation start time: 06:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 10 hours
Official Counter: Larry Lewis (Early Bird Nature Tours)
Observers: Kevin Fryberger
Visitors: CHESTER COUNTY HAWK WATCH & MIGRATION COUNT AT CHAMBERS LAKE <BR><BR> Visitors (1): <BR><BR> Thanks everyone, for coming to beautiful Chambers Lake! <BR><BR>
Raptor Observations: ----“Raptors” seen but deemed not to be migrating: 2-Bald Eagle, 2-Red-shouldered Hawk, 4-Red-tailed Hawk, and numerous Black (7) and Turkey Vultures (58). <BR><BR> ----Bald Eagle ages: 1 yr.-3; 2 yr.-1; 3 yr.-_; 4 yr.-1; adult-1 <BR><BR>
Non-raptor Observations: TODAY’S Bird Blog: [PLEASE NOTE: I send out a large weekly “blog/newsletter” detailing much more than these small daily recaps. This newsletter from EBNT, has our upcoming schedule and the County year bird list, etc. If you aren’t receiving it and would like to, kindly email me <earlybirdtours...> to be added. <BR><BR> This morning, I set my field office up at Chambers Lake for the Hawk Watch but quickly retreated to the van, forced in by light rain and a ferocious wind developing, reminiscent of March. A huge flock [150+] of Cormorants was instantly seen, many departing. I checked for a Neotropic, remembering last year, but they were all Double-crested. Last year’s Neotropic Cormorant was first noticed when I saw it in trees 1/3 of a mile away, disagreeing with the neighboring Double-crested. A flock of birds will often tolerate a different bird that doesn’t belong but they will let him know that he is different. In human terms, it’s analogous to “different bird,” Bill Burkert somehow getting invited to a classy party full of attractive, stylish, intelligent, funny, interesting, sophisticates – you know the beautiful people. They might tolerate him for a while, but with constant reminders, jabs, and taunts that he doesn’t belong – that he has not a single thing in common with them. [That’s got to go right into my top 10 bloggings of all time. Sorry buddy, but I got you! Have a sip of Cognac, puff on a good Cuban cigar, maybe shower off – in time, you’ll be fine. I was gonna pick you or Adam for this blogging session, either would have worked. I spared Adam – this time.] Something I had never seen before occurred over the lake today when an Osprey, without a fish, was harassed by a Raven. We are all familiar with their frequent battles with Bald Eagles but this was a new one for me. Later, I watched another Osprey attempt to drive off an immature Eagle which was soaring right with it, waiting to steal a meal. It worked. Must be tough being an Osprey – on many levels. At 10:30, Kendyl, my daughter, texted wanting to know if I felt the earthquake. I hadn’t but there was, in fact, a 4.8 earthquake centered in New Jersey. Kendyl felt it big-time up in her 22nd floor condo in Philadelphia where she was working. She heard the glasses rattling, too. Around noon, an adult Common Loon dropped in. This was quickly becoming an interesting day. <BR><BR> ---- Thanks to Frank Haas and his gracious generosity and support over the years, in his name and in the memory of his wife, Barbara. <BR><BR> ----ADDITIONAL BIRD HIGHLIGHTS: <BR><BR> Wood Ducks, Blue-winged Teal [my FOY], Ring-necked Ducks, Ruddy Ducks, Bufflehead, Common Mergansers, Pied-billed Grebes, Cormorants, Great Blue Herons, Ring-billed Gulls, Common Loon, Phoebes, Common Raven, Kingfisher, Towhees, Purple Martins, Barn Swallows, Rough-winged Swallows, and Yellow-rumped Warblers <BR><BR> ----OTHER WILDLIFE NOTED: Butterflies (0). Dragonflies (0). Reptiles & Amphibians (0). Mammals (1): Eastern Gray Squirrel. <BR><BR> ----EBNT’s “Walk with Nature” ™ Program Daily Tally with our Fitbits: This is a stationary watch, but if I stay stationary too long, I might tend to “bulk up.” Besides, I am ever so fortunate to be walking unaided, at all! Therefore, I keep moving (if you’ve been here, then you know that I pace endlessly….) - my Fitbit thanks me and its part of my “Walk with Nature” program. So, below are MY results at the watch for the day. Your totals could all be zero, if you choose to sit and relax. You are certainly welcome to take it easy….I simply choose not to, affording me a panoramic view of our entire sky and a bit of exercise. So come join our “Walk with Nature!” ™ Anyway, just for fun, here are my numbers at the site for today (join me, if you wish): Steps – 1,007, Miles – 0.43, Floors – 2 <BR><BR> ----“SEASON’S BIRD SPECIES LIST” – we are not just a Hawk Watch but conduct a migration tally from the site. The complete species list will be in our weekly email blog sent to those requesting it. Our tally board, on site, will feature an approximation (very rough, best “guestimate,” – searching for Hawks must remain our primary focus) for totals of each species seen for “The Watch” year. The overall list for the season from the watch will be part of the large weekly “blog,” if you’ve signed up for that at <earlybirdtours...> <BR><BR> TOTAL SPECIES – Identified from watch site: today: 55; this season: 85 <BR><BR> NEW SPECIES ADDED TODAY TO THIS YEAR’S “WATCH SPECIES LIST (2):” Blue-winged Teal and American Kestrel. <BR><BR> Contact: Larry Lewis ------- Early Bird Nature Tours(EBNT)---"Exciting & Fun Adventures in Nature"---63 S. Park Ave., Coatesville, PA 19320---484-340-SORA (7672)--Business Cell---email: <earlybirdtours...> "Group Birding - The Economical, Fun and Environmentally Friendly Way to Bird!"
Predictions: Tomorrow’s flight looks to be a partly cloudy day with moderate NW winds <BR><BR> . The Chester County Hawk Watch and Migration Count has been sponsored, in large part, by Frank Haas and in the memory of Barbara Haas. Membership in EBNT is requested. Please contact us at <earlybirdtours...> with questions or comments.
======================================================================== Report submitted by Larry Lewis (<earlybirdtours...>)
Site Description: The platform just left of the only boat ramp for Chambers Lake in the main parking lot, overlooking the lake to the north.
Directions to site: We set up in the main parking lot for the lake, on the platform just left of the only boat ramp. The Hawk Watch at Chambers Lake (as part of the Chester County Hawk Watch) operates daily, March 1 thru April 30 from 9am - 3 pm (unless counter is away leading a tour elsewhere). In fall the season is Sept. 1 thru Nov. 30,each day 9am-3pm. Please contact Larry at 484-340-7672 to confirm counter is present. This count welcomes all visitors to this fine habitat. When there are no hawks present, many birds still are. The lake holds numerous waterfowl species and the variable shoreline can produce incredible shorebirds.
Directions to hawk watch: From the Rt. 30 By-pass take the Rt. 82 exit north. Turn left at the first light(Rt. 340) and go 1.3 miles to Wagontown Rd. Turn Rt. on Wagontown Rd. and continue on this winding road for 1.8 miles (you will pass the Hibernia Park entrance on your right, the Chambers Lake parking lot, and Chambers Lake on your right). Pull off the road to the left and park safely at the end of the lake to visit the hawk watch. You will see us sitting on the dike near the road at the end of the lake.
