Kiptopeke Hawkwatch
Tip of Virginia's Eastern Shore, Virginia, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 02, 2011
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 0 0 0
Osprey 121 215 1374
Bald Eagle 2 13 131
Northern Harrier 12 48 186
Sharp-shinned Hawk 102 410 4551
Cooper's Hawk 30 115 783
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 1
Broad-winged Hawk 20 54 350
Red-tailed Hawk 1 3 48
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 1
American Kestrel 87 355 2407
Merlin 9 61 768
Peregrine Falcon 5 22 335
Unknown Accipiter 0 1 15
Unknown Buteo 0 0 1
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Falcon 1 6 14
Unknown Raptor 1 2 21
Swainson's Hawk 0 0 1
Total: 391 1305 10987
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Observation start time: 06:45:00
Observation end time: 16:15:00
Total observation time: 9.5 hours
Official Counter: Kyle Wright
Observers:
Visitors:
The platform was dotted with much of the "normal" early October crowd...
though I hear we got some of us in trouble for the choice of adjectives in
the report the other day... Some people just know how to have fun!
Weather:
West winds regularly gusting above 15mph with temperatures topping out at
about 13.8c. Overcast most of the day, with a bit of light drizzle twice.
Raptor Observations:
Another day of many northbound (non countable) birds on the west side of
the peninsula, and many Ospreys well east of the platform making the
counter wonder how many smaller raptors were being missed...
Non-raptor Observations:
Easily 60+ northbound Flickers in the first two hours of the count, and a
few Tree Swallows headed south later in the day, probably not topping 1000
individuals. Two Monarchs also braving the winds.
Predictions:
Fasten your seatbelts kidz, another few days of strong west winds and
cooler temperatures are predicted, likely making for simmilar flights to
what was counted today. I am taking requests for the color morph of the
next Swainson's... just no guarantees on when (or if) the thing will
materialize.
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Report submitted by Brian Taber (Taberzz@xxxxxxx)
Kiptopeke State Park information may be found at:
www.cvwo.org