Kiptopeke Hawkwatch
Tip of Virginia's Eastern Shore, Virginia, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 31, 2012
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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 21 1173 2858
Bald Eagle 8 109 191
Northern Harrier 0 296 496
Sharp-shinned Hawk 21 2098 2409
Cooper's Hawk 4 988 1347
Northern Goshawk 0 1 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 25 30
Broad-winged Hawk 0 114 274
Red-tailed Hawk 3 107 134
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 2 2
American Kestrel 4 1994 3622
Merlin 15 455 866
Peregrine Falcon 4 530 748
Unknown Accipiter 0 34 45
Unknown Buteo 0 2 2
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Falcon 0 4 8
Unknown Raptor 0 3 23
Swallow-tailed Kite 0 0 1
Total: 80 7935 13057
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Observation start time: 06:45:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 9.25 hours
Official Counter: Steve Kolbe
Observers: Brian Taber
Weather:
Sun today for the morning, then heavy clouds in the afternoon. Cooler
temperatures and strong winds out of the west/southwest.
Raptor Observations:
Migration was fairly slow today with just a trickle of birds.
One of many of the species in the area, a male Merlin captured a Tree
Swallow directly above the hawk blind and proceeded to pluck and devour it
(for over 15 minutes!) on the close "T" pole.
Non-raptor Observations:
720 Pine Siskins were counting moving south today!
Other highlights included 13 Common Loons.
Predictions:
West winds tomorrow with similar temps and some sun.
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Report submitted by Brian Taber (Taberzz@xxxxxxx)
Kiptopeke State Park information may be found at:
www.cvwo.org
