Kiptopeke Hawkwatch
Tip of Virginia's Eastern Shore, Virginia, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 06, 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 46 545 1704
Bald Eagle 7 31 149
Northern Harrier 28 120 258
Sharp-shinned Hawk 236 1096 5237
Cooper's Hawk 122 337 1005
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 1 1 2
Broad-winged Hawk 236 707 1003
Red-tailed Hawk 19 29 74
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 1
American Kestrel 271 930 2982
Merlin 77 213 920
Peregrine Falcon 27 108 421
Unknown Accipiter 0 1 15
Unknown Buteo 0 0 1
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Falcon 0 6 14
Unknown Raptor 0 9 28
Swainson's Hawk 0 0 1
Total: 1070 4133 13815
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Observation start time: 06:45:00
Observation end time: 17:30:00
Total observation time: 10.75 hours
Official Counter: Bob Anderson, Kyle Wright
Observers:
Visitors:
Three groups of fifth graders from the Kiptopeke Elementary School visited
the platform in the morning, being treated to a talk on migrating raptors
and up close looks at a few recently banded birds brought up from the
blind. Long after their departure, as we entered the day's tenth hour of
counting the previously "semi rowdy" gang of regualars became downright
rowdy, but still fun, perhaps making for a bird or two being missed as
everyone on the platform was laughing too hard. It has been requested (and
I've been offered money) not to go into further details, but, you want to
have fun and see hawks? Come to Kiptopeke!
Weather:
Blue skies and east/northeast winds, the latter gusting to about 15mph
midday but light in the morning and late afternoon.
Raptor Observations:
Non-raptor Observations:
An Eastern Towhee calling for the first few hours of the count, and
reminding the counter that the species was left off yesterday's report as
the first of the season from the platform. Two Common Loons were noted
today. Southbound Tree Swallow estimates were extrapolated based on five
minutes of counting for three hours of the day: seven to eight, eight to
nine, and noon to one. The estimates were 2280, 900, and 950 respectivly.
Straying from the avian sightings, 72 Monarchs were counted today, a few
dolphins were seen popping out of the bay west of the platform, and a green
flash was observed by the four individuals still milling about the platform
at sunset.
Predictions:
High pressure and northeast winds should make for about the same kind of
flight as was observed today.
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Report submitted by Brian Taber (Taberzz@xxxxxxx)
Kiptopeke State Park information may be found at:
www.cvwo.org
