For the past few years, we've been paying more attention to the finch flights
past the Kiptopeke Hawkwatch...the huge crossbill and finch season in 2012 saw
a new daily high for Purple Finches there of 80, which was slightly exceeded
last year with 86...but today's count by Eli Gross and crew was a remarkable
248!
A check of eBird farther north just now shows more reports, but so far nothing
like the Kiptopeke flight today. Last year's Purple Finch flight was a record
for the hawkwatch season, ending Nov 30, at 373. It looks like that will be
surpassed!
Brian Taber
Coastal VA Wildlife Observatory
