Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration ObservatoryPeterborough, New Hampshire, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 27, 2016 |
Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Turkey Vulture | 35 | 74 | 74 |
Osprey | 4 | 202 | 202 |
Bald Eagle | 2 | 72 | 72 |
Northern Harrier | 2 | 40 | 40 |
Sharp-shinned Hawk | 8 | 655 | 655 |
Cooper's Hawk | 0 | 72 | 72 |
Northern Goshawk | 2 | 7 | 7 |
Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 20 | 20 |
Broad-winged Hawk | 242 | 10427 | 10427 |
Red-tailed Hawk | 1 | 14 | 14 |
Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Golden Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
American Kestrel | 0 | 98 | 98 |
Merlin | 1 | 51 | 51 |
Peregrine Falcon | 1 | 31 | 31 |
Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Unknown Falcon | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Unknown Raptor | 1 | 27 | 27 |
Total: | 299 | 11793 | 11793 |
Observation start time: | 09:15:00 |
Observation end time: | 16:30:00 |
Total observation time: | 7.25 hours |
Official Counter | Henry Walters |
Observers: | Helen Dalbeck, Michael Burgess, Nancy Lindberg, Paul Flynn, Tom Delaney |
Visitors:A former country-club caddie gave some good tips on the art of hitchhiking
during the slow morning hours. A great dane-mastiff on a long leash
appreciated a scratch behind the ears around noon. Cantankerous jays kept
up a rude banter ("Did you see the size of those paws?" "Try hitching a
ride with a mug like that!") all through the afternoon. 18 visitors.
Weather:Low clouds continued their post-debate coverage until nearly noon, when the
sun told them to stop knitting their brows and go play outside. Wonderful
high cumulus the rest of the afternoon. Hardly any wind.
Raptor Observations:An eye-level Northern Goshawk, tail fanned, made everything underneath her
look small. Broad-wings stole the show later on, including kettles of 64
and 51, the latter still sky-high after 5 pm. A kettle of 31 Turkey
Vultures, copying the hawk choreography to a T, took us by surprise. A
young harrier closed the show, flight feathers translucent in the late-day
sun.
Non-raptor Observations:Tennessee and Nashville Warblers battled it out for the same caterpillar in
a birch-top while the fog officiated. Northern Parula, Blue-headed Vireo
(3), Ruby-crowned Kinglet (4), Northern Flicker, and Canada Goose (skeins
of 18 and 24), the other notable migrants. White-throated Sparrows (8+)
gossipped in a whisper all day in front of the lookout. A snowshoe hare,
still decidedly brown, also made an appearance at the peak.
Predictions:A tough stretch of rain and east winds in the forecast for the next few
days, but there should be birds in the cracks between clouds, if we can
find any.
Report submitted by Henry Walters (
walter...@gmail.com)
Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory information may be found at:
www.nhaudubon.org