[Maine-birds] Fwd: Bradbury Mountain State Park (06 Apr 2023) 100 Raptors

Bradbury Mountain State Park
Pownal, Maine, USA

Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 06, 2023
Species	Day's Count	Month Total	Season Total
Black Vulture	0	0	0
Turkey Vulture	86	168	478
Osprey	0	9	9
Bald Eagle	0	2	39
Northern Harrier	6	17	41
Sharp-shinned Hawk	3	13	33
Cooper's Hawk	0	3	14
Northern Goshawk	0	0	0
Red-shouldered Hawk	0	6	39
Broad-winged Hawk	0	0	0
Red-tailed Hawk	0	6	57
Rough-legged Hawk	0	0	0
Golden Eagle	0	0	0
American Kestrel	5	28	36
Merlin	0	0	7
Peregrine Falcon	0	2	3
Unknown Accipiter	0	0	2
Unknown Buteo	0	0	0
Unknown Falcon	0	0	0
Unknown Eagle	0	0	0
Unknown Raptor	0	0	2
Total:	100	254	760

Observation start time:	11:00:00
Observation end time:	16:00:00
Total observation time:	4.75 hours
Official Counter	Zane Baker
Observers:	Dick Baker, Jeannette Lovitch

Visitors:
Jeannette met with about 10 students and teachers from the Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences for a lesson on birds of prey and hawk counting. There were some good questions and attentive pupils who came prepared with their own optics. A second school group of around 40 students also arrived unannounced which made for a bit of a crowded and hectic summit but everyone seemed to be having fun.

Weather:
Fog was too thick this morning to open the count on time. Jeannette opened at noon having met with a school group slightly earlier. Visibility was still poor but improving steadily. The fog retreated but the clouds remained until the final hour when a few rays of sun made it to the ground. Temps warmed significantly once the sun peaked out, reaching a high of 45 degrees. Winds remained light to mostly calm, from the SE predominantly.

Raptor Observations:
Birds were slow to get going without the help of a tailwind or thermals. A few minutes after the sun had come out the Turkey Vultures took to the skies, finding thermals starting to build. Many birds were in the air at once but they were moving out at a snails pace. Not a bad afternoon for Harriers today which never get old for me.

Non-raptor Observations:
Not many passerines today. Northbound birds include: 7 American Robins 6 Common Grackles 4 Great Blue Herons 4 American Black Ducks 4 Tree Swallows

Predictions:
Wind, again, or so they say. NW winds could get pretty strong and blustery. The sun ought to be shining which will help keep us warm, but I'm not thinking there will be much for lasting thermals if its really blowing. Temps look good and in the mid 40's.

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Report submitted by Jeannette Lovitch (freeportwildbird@yahoo.com)
Bradbury Mountain State Park information may be found at: www.freeportwildbirdsupply.com/bradbury-mountain-hawkwatch
More information at hawkcount.org: [Site Profile] [Day Summary] [Month Summary]

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