Hi all,
The Bradbury Mountain Spring Hawkwatch has come to an end. Katrina spent two extra days at the summit in order to set an all-time record count. From a data analysis perspective, the "overtime" won't actually count - as the coverage period is the one variable we can easily control - but it makes for some good bragging rights!
Jeannette and I would like to thank Katrina for her hard work and dedication, and once again, thanks to our co-sponsor, Nikon Sport Optics. And thanks to a growing cadre of "regulars" who help to spot birds and field questions.
We'll see you next spring!
-Derek
Bradbury Mountain State Park
Pownal, Maine, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: May 17, 2013
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 1 1
Turkey Vulture 0 0 305
Osprey 0 36 529
Bald Eagle 0 18 75
Northern Harrier 0 13 137
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 142 798
Cooper's Hawk 1 9 85
Northern Goshawk 0 1 17
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 124
Broad-winged Hawk 7 178 1537
Red-tailed Hawk 0 6 305
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 2
Golden Eagle 0 0 1
American Kestrel 1 20 432
Merlin 0 12 82
Peregrine Falcon 0 4 9
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: 10 441 4483
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Observation start time: 09:30:00
Observation end time: 15:30:00
Total observation time: 6 hours
Official Counter: Katrina Fenton
Observers: Jeannette Lovitch
Visitors:
36.
Weather:
Beautiful weather today to end the season. Wind from the northwest pushed a
plentiful supply of cumulus across the sky out past the horizon. The sun
worked its way between the clouds to warm temperatures from the low 50s
into the upper 60s. Fresh, bright green glowed around and below the summit
as the landscape spring has come into its own.
Raptor Observations:
With only two birds needed to reach the record, the countdown was on. A
Broad-winged Hawk found just enough lift to gain some headway against the
morning's wind, and the record was tied. An hour passed with no birds, then
as the new hour began, an American Kestrel showed up out of the gap and
blew behind a pine, the 4475th migrant raptor of the spring. A few other
birds followed, and the day and season ended with three Broad-winged Hawks
rising overhead to vanish into a cloud.
Non-raptor Observations:
One final first-of-year bird found its way to Bradbury, a Magnolia Warbler
singing with abandon through the trees. The first SANDHILL CRANE since
early April came past the east side of the mountain, possibly a locally
breeding individual who was just wandering by. 102 species have been
observed at the hawkwatch this season, from warblers to shorebirds, to
owls, to waterfowl.
Non-raptor Migrants:
Double-crested Cormorant- 1 SANDHILL CRANE- 1
Chimney Swift- 8 Ruby-throated Hummingbird- 2
Tree Swallow- 9 Barn Swallow- 2 swallow sp.- 6
Yellow-rumped Warbler- 2 American Goldfinch- 2
Pine Siskin- 5 passerine sp.- 2
Predictions:
Thanks, everyone who had a part in the count this spring:
- to our sponsors, Freeport Wild Bird Supply and Nikon Sports Optics who
run and fund the site, thank you for having me back for another season
- to Bradbury Mountain State Park for hosting the project
- to all our wonderful volunteers for their time, snacks, and company,
this has been a record year because of you!
- to everyone who wandered up the mountain and let themselves leave amazed
by the spectacle of migration
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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
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