Bradbury Mountain State ParkPownal, Maine, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: May 08, 2017 |
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 511 |
| Osprey | 0 | 21 | 333 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 5 | 75 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 6 | 178 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 1 | 88 | 587 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 0 | 4 | 64 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 1 | 125 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 51 | 1354 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 8 | 169 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 8 | 426 |
| Merlin | 0 | 9 | 53 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 1 | 7 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 4 | 32 |
| Total: | 1 | 208 | 3938 |
| Observation start time: | 07:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 15:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 4.25 hours |
| Official Counter | Zane Baker |
| Observers: | |
Visitors:5 people came by today.
Weather:There was clear visibility and very calm air when I arrived at the summit this morning. The only blue sky I could see was well offshore to the southeast. Small rain showers could be seen over some of the surrounding towns. By 10am visibility had started to deteriorate as a larger rain storm moved towards the mountain. It looked like it was going to pass momentarily but instead persisted for the next two hours. At noon, with rain still coming down, the radar not looking good, and zero birds for the day I packed up and headed down, hoping to salvage a couple hours in the afternoon. Each time I was about to go back up, rain started falling again. By 2:45 I had enough and went back up despite some light showers. The sun was close to breaking free a couple of times but the rain won out. Shortly after I restarted the count, more rain and a little hail started to fall. There was a brief period of only a few drops before the clouds really unloaded their cargo. Even though it was comfortably warm, I didn't see the point in waiting this one out. I won't tell you how I really feel about today.
Raptor Observations:A female Blackburnian Warbler dropped into the Juniper bushes located just off to my right. I watched it as it plucked food from all over the bush. In a flash, the Blackburnian made a hasty getaway towards the trees, making alarm calls as she fled. I looked up to see an immature Sharp-shinned Hawk cruise by and perch in an Oak Tree on the summit, only to quickly take flight and continue north. This is not the first time a songbird has alerted hawkwatchers to a raptor.
Non-raptor Observations:There was a little activity around the summit for the first half hour or so of the count. Bird sound and most other ambient noises all but disappeared not long into the count period. I watched a Black-and-white Warbler, and Black-throated Green Warbler move through the trees surrounding the summit, leapfrogging their way in a semicircle around me.
Predictions:Tomorrow is forecast to be a mix of clouds and sun with more scattered showers possible in the afternoon. Winds should be very light from the northeast. Temperatures may climb to the mid 50s. Or we'll wake up to a foot of snow, I don't know. I'm hoping for the best, plus a rarity or two. Who's with me?
Report submitted by Jeannette Lovitch (
freeportwildbird@yahoo.com)
Bradbury Mountain State Park information may be found at:
www.freeportwildbirdsupply.com/hawkwatch.asp 
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