[Maine-birds] Fw: HSR: Bradbury Mountain State Park (07 May 2013) 39 Raptors

Bradbury Mountain State Park
Pownal, Maine, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: May 07, 2013
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Species            Day's Count    Month Total  Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0              0              0
Turkey Vulture              0              0            305
Osprey                      2            15            508
Bald Eagle                  0              2            59
Northern Harrier            2              5            129
Sharp-shinned Hawk          24            67            723
Cooper's Hawk                3              7            83
Northern Goshawk            0              1            17
Red-shouldered Hawk          0              0            124
Broad-winged Hawk            6            58          1417
Red-tailed Hawk              0              2            301
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              2
Golden Eagle                0              0              1
American Kestrel            1            14            426
Merlin                      1              4            74
Peregrine Falcon            0              1              6
Unknown Accipiter            0              0              4
Unknown Buteo                0              0              6
Unknown Falcon              0              0              4
Unknown Eagle                0              0              0
Unknown Raptor              0              1            30

Total:                      39            177          4219
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Observation start time: 09:15:00
Observation end  time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 6.75 hours

Official Counter:        Derek Lovitch, Jeannette Lovitch

Observers:        Don Thompson

Visitors:
10


Weather:
Dense fog delayed the start of the count, but it cleared rapidly after
10:00am EDT.  A very light SSW through early afternoon gave way to a
moderate seabreeze yet again.  After the last bit of marine stratus burned
off, the skies were once again completely devoid of clouds.

Raptor Observations:
While just a trickle of birds passed the mountain on the SSW breeze that
started the day, most birds were tallied in the S winds during the last few
hours of the day - the opposite of what we usually expect!

Non-raptor Observations:
35 species were seen and/or heard from the summit today, including a battle
royale between three male Blue-headed Vireos working on territorial
delineations.

Other species deemed migrating:
7 Barn Swallows
4 Tree Swallows
1 Yellow-rumped Warbler

Predictions:
Tomorrow is intriguing.  The massive ridge of high pressure caught up in an
"Omega Block" is finally going to give way after 12 days, and move out to
sea.  A large, but weakening area of low pressure that has been across the
Southeast will gradually make its way up the coast. Between the two
systems, a SSE breeze is expected, with increasing clouds.  We welcome
clouds as a backdrop to spot some birds for a change, but SSE is usually
not overly productive.  However, will birds be moving ahead of the
approaching low?  If the fog burns off soon enough, and we get a little
diurnal heating and a decent period of light winds, I would expect a little
push of birds.  Much-needed rain may begin to arrive by the end of the
count.
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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