It was fairly quiet, with occasional raptors keeping the small fry on high alert, for a couple days.
The PEREGRINES & HARRIERS that stayed over Monday night moved out early and things remained mostly uneventful until this morning (Thursday, October 9th).
From sun-up through mid-day the island was ruled by PEREGRINES, with minor appearances by 2 EAGLES and a couple of HARRIERS.
In spite of a headwind freshening to 20 -25 knots, the falcons engaged in a lot of chasing and other interaction, including a spiral, foot-holding, tumble that Eagles could envy.
It was impossible to really sort out numbers with any confidence, with falcons arriving, departing, hunting, chasing and perching around the island. I did count 8 Peregrines that I could see at one moment.
Things went quiet again after noon. I only sighted Peregrines a couple times and one Harrier that hunted the island right up until dark.
FLICKERS have mostly disappeared with less than a dozen seen today.
Warblers have dropped a lot .... mostly Butter Butts, with some PALMS and other common species scattered about.
Also greatly reduced are GOLDFINCHES, with only a dozen or so spotted today.
WHITE THROATED SPARROWS are down but still easy to spot.
New today were a handful of CEDAR WAXWINGS, a couple PURPLE FINCHES and a couple pristine WHITE CROWNED SPARROWS.
BIRD OF THE DAY: A female YELLOW HEADED BLACKBIRD. It showed up just before sunset and was last seen diving for cover as the Harrier made a close pass. Fingers crossed that it won't move on tonight
From sun-up through mid-day the island was ruled by PEREGRINES, with minor appearances by 2 EAGLES and a couple of HARRIERS.
In spite of a headwind freshening to 20 -25 knots, the falcons engaged in a lot of chasing and other interaction, including a spiral, foot-holding, tumble that Eagles could envy.
It was impossible to really sort out numbers with any confidence, with falcons arriving, departing, hunting, chasing and perching around the island. I did count 8 Peregrines that I could see at one moment.
Things went quiet again after noon. I only sighted Peregrines a couple times and one Harrier that hunted the island right up until dark.
FLICKERS have mostly disappeared with less than a dozen seen today.
Warblers have dropped a lot .... mostly Butter Butts, with some PALMS and other common species scattered about.
Also greatly reduced are GOLDFINCHES, with only a dozen or so spotted today.
WHITE THROATED SPARROWS are down but still easy to spot.
New today were a handful of CEDAR WAXWINGS, a couple PURPLE FINCHES and a couple pristine WHITE CROWNED SPARROWS.
BIRD OF THE DAY: A female YELLOW HEADED BLACKBIRD. It showed up just before sunset and was last seen diving for cover as the Harrier made a close pass. Fingers crossed that it won't move on tonight
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