[Maine-birds] Fw: HSR: Bradbury Mountain State Park (31 Mar 2013) 49 Raptors

 

Bradbury Mountain State Park
Pownal, Maine, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 31, 2013
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Species            Day's Count    Month Total  Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0              0              0
Turkey Vulture              6            190            190
Osprey                      1              2              2
Bald Eagle                  4            34            34
Northern Harrier            2              6              6
Sharp-shinned Hawk          9            29            29
Cooper's Hawk                1            19            19
Northern Goshawk            0            13            13
Red-shouldered Hawk        11            75            75
Broad-winged Hawk            0              0              0
Red-tailed Hawk            11            177            177
Rough-legged Hawk            0              2              2
Golden Eagle                0              1              1
American Kestrel            1              2              2
Merlin                      1              3              3
Peregrine Falcon            0              0              0
Unknown Accipiter            0              4              4
Unknown Buteo                1              3              3
Unknown Falcon              0              0              0
Unknown Eagle                0              0              0
Unknown Raptor              1            11            11

Total:                      49            571            571
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end  time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 8 hours

Official Counter:        Derek Lovitch, Jeannette Lovitch

Observers:        Alan McKelvy, Derek Lovitch, Julie Krasne, Ken Klapper,
                  Kristen Lindquist, Leon Mooney, Noah Gibb, Zane Baker

Visitors:
61 visitors (defined as those specifically coming to the hawkwatch - minus
observers or engaging in extended conversation with one or more of the
hawkwatchers) among well over 150 people on the summit over the course of
teh day.

A special thanks to Ken Klapper today for acting as our Interpretive
Naturalist for most of the day, answering questions and assisting
hawkwatching greenhorns. 

Between Ken's interpretation and Zane Baker's remarkable hawk-spotting
skills, all I had to do was fill in the data sheets! With a lot of
hawkwatchers and casual visitors at the summit in the first half of the
day, it sure felt like our little project is gaining the social and
visitation momentum to continue for a long time.


Weather:
Clear skies and very light winds quickly gave way to an increasingly thick
deck of high clouds and moderate southerly winds.  While light southerly
winds are excellent for great flights at our site, once they get over
10-15mph, the flight often shuts off.  Coming straight towards us off of
the ocean, southerly winds not only chill the hawkwatchers but reduce or
negate thermal development.  With the early season dominated by buteos and
Turkey Vultures, south winds are not very welcome (later, more powered
fliers such as accipiters, Osprey, and falcons can result in good counts on
southerly winds).

Raptor Observations:
Local Bald Eagles once again put on quite a show, including a few very low
passes that were quite the crowd-pleasers for the multitudes of families
visiting the summit on Easter Sunday.  A couple of exceptionally tiny
canine visitors today likely had a little bit of a start.

An adult Northern Goshawk appeared from behind us and cruised over to the
ridge of Little Bradbury where it momentarily performed a little
displaying.  It stayed in view for almost 10 minutes, coming up again to
display to the right of Hedgehog Mountain. 

Non-raptor Observations:
36 Species seen or heard from the summit today included FOY Double-crested
Cormorants, and a growing diversity of migrants.

Other species deemed migrating:
475 blackbird sp.
367 Canada Geese
223 waterbird sp.
118 Common Grackles
32 American Robins
20 Common Mergansers
15 Red-winged Blackbirds
15 passerine sp.
12 Horned Larks
8 American Black Ducks
7 Great Blue Herons
6 European Starlings
2 Double-crested Cormorants
1 Mallard
1 Common Loon
1 Killdeer
1 Tree Swallow
1 Eastern Bluebird
1 Brown-headed Cowbird
1 Common Redpoll

Predictions:
Low clouds and drizzle delayed the opening of today's count.  With a little
bit of clearing and only light-moderate west winds, we might see a little
bit of movement before showers return with an afternoon cold front. 
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Report submitted by Jeannette Lovitch (freeportwildbird@yahoo.com)
Bradbury Mountain State Park information may be found at:
www.freeportwildbirdsupply.com/hawkwatch.asp