Kiptopeke Hawkwatch
Tip of Virginia's Eastern Shore, Virginia, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 17, 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 17 733 1892
Bald Eagle 4 76 194
Northern Harrier 13 199 337
Sharp-shinned Hawk 452 3193 7334
Cooper's Hawk 72 754 1422
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 1 5 6
Broad-winged Hawk 3 996 1292
Red-tailed Hawk 2 53 98
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 1
American Kestrel 133 1686 3738
Merlin 54 503 1210
Peregrine Falcon 15 341 654
Unknown Accipiter 0 4 18
Unknown Buteo 0 1 2
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Falcon 2 9 17
Unknown Raptor 11 22 41
Swainson's Hawk 0 0 1
Total: 779 8575 18257
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Observation start time: 07:00:00
Observation end time: 17:15:00
Total observation time: 10.25 hours
Official Counter: Kyle Wright
Observers:
Weather:
Big picture wise there don't seem to be much weather anywheres across the
mid atlantic or northeast. Locally winds were out of the west most of the
day, above 10mph for the first few hours of the count but dying to near
nothing for the last few hours. Some high clouds in the morning hours of
the count, becoming wispier and wispier as the afternoon progressed.
Raptor Observations:
The raptors were already flying strong when I showed up on the platform
this morning. The flight was high and spread out much of the day, and when
someone (I won't mention any names) started stealing my clouds around one
bird time, the numbers of birds detected dropped noticably.
Non-raptor Observations:
A genuine U.F.O. floated past the site headed east between 10:42 and 10:46
this morning... looked to be a shiny mylar balloon of sorts, but with
various bits and pieces sticking out the sides and trailing behind.
Something NOAA or another part of the government lost, or just a bit of
misplaced swamp gas? In less exciting news, another Common Nighthawk was
seen today, and the first Red-breasted Nuthatch of the season was heard.
Red-bellied Woodpeckers seemed to be on the move in good numbers, with over
two dozen seen. A few Eatern Meadowlarks were seen, as was a single Eastern
Bluebird, and a trickle of American Robins and Blue Jays were also noted.
Eastern Towhees and White-throated Sparrows could be heard throughout the
day, adding the the usual constant chorus of Northern Mockinbirds, Carolina
Wrens and Flickers. A Yellow-breasted Chat put on a nice show in the shrubs
right next to the platform, with no one but the hawk counter (who claims
not to care for tweety birds) there to appreciate it. About a thousand Tree
Swallows were also noted, with an estimated one hundred Northern
Rough-winged Swallows and about a dozen Barn Swallows mixed in, along with
a had full of Chimney Swifts for good measure.
Predictions:
Predicted sotheast winds should keep any birds headed south on the
peninsula low and righ over the platform, but this counter is not holding
his breath for a great flight tomorrow.
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Report submitted by Brian Taber (Taberzz@xxxxxxx)
Kiptopeke State Park information may be found at:
www.cvwo.org
