Hawksaloft.com | Peregrine Projects | N.E.Mac | nra
Hawksaloft.com | Peregrine Projects | N.E.Mac | nra
Welcome to our view of hawk watching at Mt. Wachusett State Reservation, Princeton MA, in north central Massachusetts. The panorama was created with our Agfa ePhoto 307 digital camera and Live Picture's PhotoVista 1.0 (automatically stitching together 10 images to make one view).
alt.Wachusett Mt., MA:
August: 8/19, 8/23-24, 8/26, 8/30 & 8/31 plus August totals.
September: 9/5-7, 9/9-10, 9/12-14, 9/16, 9/20, 9/21, Wild speculation.
October: 10/11-13, 10/18-19, 10/24, 10/26, 10/30.
November: 11/2, 11/5, 11/6, 11/10-12.
Cape May, NJ: 9/4/97, 9/14-15, 9/19, 9/26, 9/28, 9/29, 9/30, 9/30/10-1, 10/2, 10/2+, 10/4, 10/11, 10/20, Season Totals.
Kiptopeke, VA: Where is that again, Season Totals, 11/29, 11/19.
Cape May NJ: Season Totals Fall 97
Tom:
Here are the official totals for the 1997 hawk count at Cape May.
This season was average in comparison to the last four years except
the incredible number of Sharp-shinneds.
Season Total peak flight
BV - 369 29 -10/2
TV - 5,225 330 - 11/10
OS - 4,631 397 - 9/15
BE - 226 21 - 9/19
NH - 2,325 100 - 11/11
SS - 48,881 5,954 - 10/20
CH - 4,919 359 - 10/11
NG - 89 13 - 11/15
RS - 672 114 - 11/14
BW - 1,595 169 - 10/2
SW - 2 1 - 11/12, 11/24
RT - 3,528 291 - 11/11
GE - 18 4 - 11/16
AK - 8,038 1,056 - 9/26
ML - 2,428 248 - 9/29
PG - 1,791 291 - 10/7
TOT- 84,737 7,250 - 10/20
* record high count
--------------------
Kiptopeke VA: Where is that again...
Kiptopeke VA's hawk watch is conducted from Kiptopeke State Park a mile or so from
the southern tip of the Delmarva Peninsula [Delaware/Maryland/Virgina]. It's like Cape May
but on the next funnel south -- the Chesapeake Bay on one side; the Atlantic Ocean on
the other.
My excuse, this time, is we had just a little too much fun at our blowout, end of season,
hawk watch party last at the Samdahl's in the shadow of Mt. Wachusett MA. In addition to
the usual thirty plus partiers, we have a slide show and as usual it didn't have any
hint of hawks in it... well, usually. Last year we did herps and we had the Sonoran Desert
a couple of years ago [see www.hawksaloft.com/gallery/ for a taste of that one].
Last nite's show was presented by Joe Choiniere. He's been studying old growth forest on
Mt. Wachusett ever since the ski area [did we fail to tell you about the ski area?]
proposed expansion. Did we fail to mention the old growth forest before?? Well Joe discovered
a stand of 300 year old Red Oak/Yellow Birch/Shagbark Hickory/etc. right on the proposed ski run.
Joe has watched this locally significant find, turn into a forest system of statewide,
then regional and now continental importance as recently an old growth expert from Arkansas
pronounced this the best Red Oak old growth in the U.S.
And now, Joe's ski trail obstruction rings the mountain with our venerable elders.
BTW, these ancient ones are often under two feet in diameter. This "small" width is more
the rule for old growth than are the redwood-like monster trees we used to thinking about
as our images. Part of his slide show was a how-to on how to recognize this stuff
with a new "search image." Just like, "PEREGRINE!" Now we might shout, "OLD GROWTH!"
--------------------
Kiptopeke VA: Season Totals
Some specific day counts will be coming shortly but here's the 1997 season totals as of 10/20:
BV 800
TV 1684
OS 4929
BE 219
NH 894
SS 21411
CH 2052
NG 1
RS 18
BW 1449
SW 1
RT 360
GE 2
AK 9593
ML 2756
PG 1596
_____
47765
--------------------
Kiptopeke VA: 11/29/97 & Season
Tom,
Thought I'd write and send you the totals for the watch at Kiptopeke. The
last day of the watch was really fun--late Broad-wing, Goshawk, adult
shoulders and tails.
NOV 29th
bv- 24
tv- 331
os- 2
be- 4
nh- 11
ss- 51
ch- 11
ng- 1
rs- 7
bw- 1
rt- 37
pg- 2
total-482
Season Totals
bv- 1666
tv- 7370
os- 5113
be- 363*
nh- 1371
ss- 24137
ch- 2364
ng- 26*
rs- 182*
bw- 1469
sw- 2
rt- 1964
ge- 14
ak- 9766
ml- 2780*
pg- 1640*
total-60227
*record count
This season didn't turn out that bad after all. The late Goshawk flight was nice,
6 on Thanksgiving. I'll send you a copy of the report when its complete.
Thanks,
Brian Sullivan
[Note: Brian's been the professional counter there for the last 3 year, I think. TC]
--------------------
Subject: Kiptopeke VA: 11/19/97 + Season to Date
Date: 11/19/97 9:08 PM
To: HMANA Mailing List, BIRDHAWK@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU
Kiptopeke State Park is a few miles from the southern tip of the Delmarva
[Delaware/Maryland/Virginia] Peninsula. These numbers are not for internal
consumption; keep out of the reach of children.
11/19 Season
BV 88 1498
TV 588 5501
OS 2 5111
BE 4 341
NH 25 1282
SS 30 23944
CH 13 2329
NG 1 15
RS 7 157
BW 0 1466
SW 0 2
RT 129 1655
GE 1 14
AK 1 9763
ML 2 2780
PG 0 1636
_____ _____
891 57494
--------------------
Cape May NJ: 10/20/97
Monday, October 20th produced the 3rd largest SS flight in CMBO history.
On NW winds, over 7000 birds passed in one day. Season totals so far have exceeded 65K.
10/20/97
BV 17
TV 214
OS 28
BE 6
NH 20
SS 5954
CH 217
RS 13
BW 9
RT 64
AK 609
ML 92 [70 adult males]
PG 7
____
7250
--------------------
Cape May NJ: 10/11/97
Saturday, October 11th was a spectacular day at Cape May. The second highest day total
for the year and many one day peaks were set and many spp. registered their second highest
totals. In addition, the 50,000th hawk for the '97 season passed [a young sharpie...
just kidding: no way of knowing which bird was #50,000]. What a difference a little front makes.
10/11 SEASON PEAK
BV 5 146 29 10/2
TV 106 1642 166 10/7
OS 141 4231 397 9/15
BE 5 144 21 9/19
NH 80 1035 359 10/11
SS 2450 28110 2796 9/14
CH 359 2873 359 10/11
NG 0 2
RS 5 28 8 10/7
BW 57 1524 169 10/2
SW 0 0
RT 35 509 75 10/2
RL 0 0
GE 2 3 2 10/11
AK 207 6746 1056 9/26
ML 110 2081 248 9/29
PG 117 1580* 291* 10/7
____ _____ _____
3679 50126 3999 9/14
--------------------
Cape May NJ: 10/4/97
There were no highlights for Saturday 10/4/97... It was a lesser repeat of Friday
with south winds again and about the same numbers or fewer.
Here's the details for Friday, October 3rd:
BV 5
TV 36
OS 33
SS 122
CH 53
BW 7
RT 5
AK 29
ML 3
PG 29
____
335
--------------------
Cape May NJ: 10/2/97 & Year To Date
Today, Friday October 3rd was a poor day at Cape May: couple a hundred hawks and
maybe a dozen distant PG's on southwest to south winds. The dull details tomorrow.
Here are the figures for yesterday, Thursday 10/2/97. It was a fine day with great CH
flight and a nice flight of eagles.
10/2 TD
BV 29 118
TV 161 1120
OS 85 3506
BE 16 131
NH 76 805
SS 1718 20516
CH 314 1862
RS 4 14
BW 169 1339
RT 75 414
AK 83 5667
ML 26 1679
PG 35 754
____ ____
T 2791 37200
--------------------
Cape May NJ: 10/2/97
Today, Thursday, was a post frontal flight typical of many of our watches. The clouds are
key to seeing birds and today the clouds were mostly absent at midday. But the
early flight was impressive and with nearly 100 observers, some good stuff got caught.
Early [5-8 bird time], was great for SS with hours of 265, 596, and 311. After
9am DST, the numbers dwindled but the Cooper's took over. Cettles of Coopers,
a Cape May tradition spotted the sky till after 5pm.
It was also an Eagle day with about 15 Balds and the first Golden of the coastal
season. The BE's today came in juv. mostly, with white belly I, and Adult too.
The GE was a juv. and made a direct line across the bay from Cape May Meadows
at medium height.
The later than inland BW movement was on the move along with a smattering of
PG's & ML's. Black Vultures were in the sky on and off all day.
Highlights from 10/2/97... details tomorrow:
TV 150 approx. # for all
BE 15
SS 1700
CH 300
BW 150
GE 1
ML 25
PG 25
____
2800
--------------------
Cape May NJ: 9/30-10/1/97
Today, Wednesday October 1st, was a red letter day even with a rain delay
and conditions tomorrow expected to be cold and genuine fall/post frontal
weather. Two Bald Eagles, a sub adult and adult, took their time passing
first thing and it only got better. Sharpies ruled and covered the sky
most of the day interrupted by Kestrels. The domination of ML & PG ended
but today's numbers would still constitute a season elsewhere and many were point blank.
First Snow Geese today.
I stayed to the end [6:30pm] and here are the final numbers for Tuesday 9/30
and Wednesday 10/1 going out to West Virginia and beyond:
9/29 10/1
BV 1 14
TV 46 47
OS 240 140
BE 1 5
NH 5 38
SS 225 1212
CH 27 79
RS 0 2
BW 2 25
RT 2 9
AK 227 509
ML 200 79
PG 115 43
____ ____
T 1091 2002
--------------------
Cape May NJ: 9/30/97
Today, Tuesday 9/30 began with strong SW winds going NW but temps stayed up in
the low 70's. We're expecting cooler weather tomorrow. The pointy winged species
dominated again. The joke was that we're tired of falcon and we're ready for
some variety! It was just a joke.
Here are the strong finishers at 5pm... but the count continues, so final numbers tomorrow.
OS 200+
SS 200+
AK 220+
ML 180+
PG 110+
The winds kept these birds on the tree tops and many came in low and then swirled
by the platform just overhead... again.
Here's the final figures for yesterday, Monday 9/29/97. Season total for Cape May has
crossed the 30K mark. "Not bad for the end of September," glinted Pete Dunne, as we
leaned over the rail at the Cape May State Park railing.
9/29[Mon.]
BV 3
TV 64
OS 330
BE 1
NH 8
SS 160
CH 115
RS 1
RT 2
AK 241
ML 248
PG 137
___
T 1221
--------------------
Cape May NJ: 9/29/97
Again the highlights for today, Monday Sept 29th. The detailed count will be up tomorrow
as it isn't until dark that the count finishes and the numbers tallied.
Today, Monday was an incredible, red letter day -- to borrow a phrase from Maurice Broun's
Hawks Aloft book about Hawk Mt.
Rain ended predawn and the roaring SW winds went west, then WNW and at noon NW and continued
to post speeds of 20 mph + from the NW until we burned out around 5pm. The flight literally
consisted of three species... OS, ML & PG!
While there were a few dozen Sharpies and Kestrels plus the odd CH, TV, and single digit
counts [probably] for NH, the big three came in as follows... rough numbers:
OS 300
ML 250
PG 130
The winds kept these birds on the tree tops and many came in low and then swirled by the
platform just overhead. Most looks were great; many spectacular. We're here through the
weekend but if we don't see another bird till then, the trip will be remembered all winter long.
Sunday, 9/28's rain-shortened count.
Here's the final figures for yesterday, Sunday 9/28/97:
9/28[Sun.]
TV 4
OS 38
NH 7
SS 65
CH 3
RT 1
AK 12
ML 49
PG 46
___
T 225
--------------------
Cape May NJ: 9/28/97
Sunday, 9/28's count ended at midday with rain arriving from the south. It's expected to
continue thru midmorning Monday as a low tracks north and moves off shore. After an early
push of sharpies and Osprey, the SE wind strengthened and the flight turned to PG's and
Merlins mostly. Another few dozen PG's were observed. Detailed numbers will be up tomorrow.
Here's the count for yesterday, Saturday 9/27/97:
9/27[Sat.]
BV 5
TV 8
OS 104
BE 1
NH 41
SS 1099
CH 147
RS 2
BW 81
RT 22
AK 80
ML 74
PG 197
___
T 1934
--------------------
Cape May NJ: 9/26/97 & YTD
While I'm reporting sort of old news, I can first relay that today [Sat. Sept 27th]
brought OVER 150 PEREGRINE FALCONS by the platform. One "kettle" consisted of 7 PG's.
There was various intra- and interspecies activity. I'll get the final figures for 9/27
on Sunday and send them out plus give you the highlights of Sunday. The watch continues
to nearly sunset, starting predawn, and then it takes the observer a while to tally everything
up thus the delay of a day. Sorry.
Numbers of SS and OS mostly were good in the morning on NE winds but the Peregrine show
heated up as the winds went SE into an approaching front out of the southeast US.
9/26 YTD
BV 7 66
TV 79 717
OS 97 3463
BE 9 125
NH 55 630
SS 1199 14997
CH 141 1266
NG 1 2
RS 0 5
BW 37 1066
RT 25 303
AK 1056 4512
ML 83 1003
PG 45 181
____ ____
T 2830 27,723
--------------------
Cape May NJ: 9/19/97
RELAY OF INFO... [ALL CAP INSERTS FROM TC]
9/19 saw 21 Bald Eagles (Cape May daily record is 24 set on 9/24/96).
Recording good numbers of Sharpies, Cooper's and Merlins. Ospreys,
harriers, kestrels and peregrines are a bit low.
The season total is about 19,000 to date [THIS USUALLY INVOLVES VERY FEW BW'S]
Kiptopeke [SOUTHERN TIP OF DELMARVA PENINSULA: VA] has about 16,000 total so far
(more kestrels, less sharpies - everything else is about equal.
--------------------
alt.Wachusett Mt. MA: 11/10-12/97
We thought we might have another day or so of watching, hence the delay...
11/10/97: 45F; WNW 15mph; after nor'easter w/snow flurries at noon.
11/11/97: 40F; NW 10mph; high pressure builds following cold front.
11/12/97: 40F; NW-N 8mph; 2nd day after frontal passage.
Hawks:
Nov 10 11 12
NH 0 0 1
SS 0 2 8
NG 0 1 6
RS 3 16 6
RT 29 59 25
GE 0 0 2
___ ___ ___
32 78 4
Hawk Food:
The Redpoll activity was as interesting as the hawks over the week
with groups of the little seeders moving by... occasionally landing to
feed. Redpolls, this week, stopped exclusively in the white birches.
On Wednesday [11/12] there were over 200 Common Redpolls.
Also:
10 A.Goldfinches
28 Ww Crossbills
32 R Crossbills
3 Pine Grosbeaks
17 Ev Grosbeaks
12 Snow Buntings
12 Horned Larks
1 Common Loon
2 Ravens
--------------------
alt.Wachusett Mt. MA: 11/6/97
11/6/97: 55 F; NE 10mph; following cold front and ahead of approaching coastal low.
Hawks:
SS 7
CH 1
RS 1
RT 11
___
20
Hawk Food:
4 Red Crossbills
130 Crows
--------------------
alt.Wachusett Mt. MA: 11/5/97
40 F; West/WNW 10mph; following cold front.
Hawks:
OS 1
NH 1
SS 5
NG 3
RS 5
RT 35
ML 1
___
51
Hawk Food:
1 Common Loon
120 Snow Geese
1 Raven
28 Crows
8 A.Goldfinch
3 Pine Siskins
7 White-winged Crossbills
58 Evening Grosbeaks
6 Snow Buntings
--------------------
alt.Wachusett Mt. MA: 11/2
South winds blowing ahead of coastal rain storm produced a small window of dry
weather and just a few hawks.
SS 2
CH 1
RT 1
___
4
Plus: 20 Pine Siskins, 30 A.Goldfinches, 2 E.Bluebirds, & 4 Evening Grosbeaks.
--------------------
alt.Wachusett Mt. MA: 10/30
A weak cold front over eastern New England brought SW winds to open the day.
The winds went west mid-morning and NW at noon. Most of the birds were ahead of
the front!? An adult gos flew up the road, over the picnic area and passed first thing.
But from 11am to 1 only 2 birds were sighted...
NH 1
SS 5
NG 2 ad.
RS 4 ad
RT 12
___
24
Also: 3 N.Ravens, 75 C.Crows, and 40 Goldfinches w/ 6 Pine Siskins mixed in.
--------------------
alt.Wachusett Mt. MA: 10/26
The last day of auto road access for 1997 drew 10 hawk watchers to the
lower lookout. This was a bonus day that was originally predicted to be
rain-filled but a cold front broke away from the pack and we had N to NE winds
most of the day.
TV 2
SS 12
CH 1
NG 1
RS 3
RT 68
AK 2
___
88
Also: 2 N.Ravens, 736 C.Crows, and 88 Pine Siskins.
--------------------
alt.Wachusett Mt. MA: 10/24
Caught the tail end of the cold front that blew through eastern New England
on Wednesday. Winds were west then WNW at 8 mph; latter going back to the
west and increasing to 12 mph. The only really close bird of the day was
the young Golden Eagle.
TV 1
OS 1
CH 2
RS 1
RT 28
GE 1
ML 1
___
35
Also: 7 N.Ravens, 31 C.Crows.
--------------------
alt.Wachusett Mt. MA: 10/18-19
A cold front passed on Thursday late, with northwest to northeast winds
over the weekend. By Sunday, the NE winds were the result of a coastal storm
that ended the flight in mid afternoon with drizzle.
OCT 18 19
TV 36 9
OS 0 1
BE 0 2
NH 1 0
SS 20 9
CH 8 2
NG 1 0
RS 3 2
RT 51 8
AK 2 0
PG 0 1 w/prey
___ ___
122 34
Common Loon: 2 Sat., 1 Sun.
Pine Siskins: 5 Sat.
Ravens: 1@ day
Monarch Butterflies: 6 were observed on Saturday.
--------------------
alt.Wachusett Mt. MA: 10/11-13
A cold front left N to NE winds in its wake for the 11th that went light
into cloudless skies. The winds on Sunday and Monday were light and variable
but with an easterly component.
OCT 11 12 13
TV 4 0 17
OS 1 0 2
SS 25 8 12
CH 10 2 3
NG 0 0 1
RS 4 1 1
RT 5 2 28
AK 8 6 5
ML 4 0 1
PG 3 0 0
___ ___ ___
64 19 70
MB* 17 19 7
*Monarch Butterflies
--------------------
Wild Speculation Note 10/23/97
On the Swainson's Hawk, seen Sunday:
I took a moment Monday evening to consult the mug shots of hawks in Clark/Wheeler.
Recently Bill Clark speculated that SH's might have a small breeding population
in the northeast [maritimes] hence the trickle of sightings that are now "regular."
One per spring here in New England but several at Cape May, Kiptopeke, Braddock Bay,
Derby Hill.
It's easy to see how a spring SH could be off a few degrees and end up ultimately
in the northeast, wander around, stay/leave/die. In the fall, farther down the coast,
it's easy to imagine more stray individuals veering to Jersey and VA coast but not
New England as they would need to stray east and meander north, he speculated. In the
fall New England sightings are almost non-existent. One of these spring vagants might
pass by in the fall, if it survived the summer north of here and returned out of the
region migrating south.
It is likely that this bird on Sunday was a juvenile SH -- a bird born this year.
The juv. is known for its paler appearance and extreme skinny wings/body/tail
and a key difference between the juv. and basic one plumages is the width of the
subterminal tail band. This bird had a narrow subterminal tail band... the only band
visible on Sunday's bird. It was clear to me after looking at Wheeler's photos that
the very narrow subterminal tail band indicated a juv. bird. That it was not as wide
[and the difference in the photos shown is noticable] as a bird that would be old enough
to have passed by in the spring, returning in the fall.
Of course a bird of this year could wander into our area. But we can add this bit
of wild speculation to the rumors that Swainson's Hawks are breeding in the northeast.
And this was the only offspring of that only pair.
---------------
More talk:
It is regularly heard that the Redtail out front is a "local bird." Well, on
Sunday we had a hunting RT that was not a local bird. It certainly was not
exhibiting migratory behavior. But it was not a local bird.
The plumage was that of the newly described [Nicoletti/Liguori] but yet unpublished
race from northeast Canada. I have verbally described this distinctive plumage to some
of you in the field [and would be happy to do so in the future] but I can't put it in
print, as I've been asked not to until they do something with their obs. and photos.
Jim and I had fun last winter picking out 3 or 4 of these birds, wintering among the
nearly 50 RT and 14 RL's, in a small area of the Champlain Valley, VT.
So we can say a given RT will not be counted at this moment because it doesn't appear to
be migrating but to assume they are local birds is not correct. BTW, the "same two 'tails"
called on Sunday were, by plumage, at least 4 different birds.
alt.Wachusett Mt. MA: 9/21/97
Big-time cold front brings the alt.watch back... although our view of the
birds over the last week is online at www.hawksaloft.com. The early morning
BW activity was neat with over 100 birds in the first half hour! But the
flight dwindled throughout the morning. We did have a great look at an
immature light-morph Swainson's Hawk just before noon.
60F maybe; w/NW 15-20 winds:
OS 22
BE 1 a
SS 22
CH 4
BW 248
SW 1i lm
RT 5
AK 13
ML 1
____
317
Notes: 102 Monarchs,a max 4 TV's [down from 15 in early Sept.], 6 Ravens [a local spp].
--------------------
alt.Wachusett Mt. MA: 9/20/97
SW winds ahead of an approaching cold front plus 80 degree temps made for a BAD day of hawk
watching... which is better than a good day mowing or cleaning. We made a long morning of it
anyway.
OS 3
SS 1
CH 1
BW 7
AK 1
ML 1
__
14
--------------------
alt.Wachusett Mt. MA: 9/16/97
Little cold front brings NW winds w/o much of a view of Monadonock clearing.
But it brought great views of almost every bird including one kettle of 120 BW's.
A point blank adult CH and adult RS were nice plus two very close BE's.
OS 14
BE 4 2a/2i
NH 1
SS 66
CH 6
RS 1a
BW 1042
RT 1
AK 20
ML 1
____
1156
Notes: 86 Monarchs, 2 Hummers, 1 Raven.
--------------------
alt.Wachusett Mt. MA 9/12-14/97
Waiting for another front to finally, actually clear the coast
happened again as the deep dip in the jet stream slows/holds
weather patterns. The dry clearing NW winds never materialized.
Fri. Sat. Sun.
9/12 9/13 9/14
Var W4 WNW6
60F 70F 75F
OS 9 17 14
BE 0 0 1i
NH 0 0 2i
SS 1 21 40
CH 0 3 5
BW 1 34 194*
RT 0 5 3
AK 0 10 14
ML 0 4 2
__ __ __
T's 11 94 275
Notes: Most other winged activity on Sunday w/ 242 Monarchs & 4 Hummers.
* Largest kettles: 14 & 10 birds.
--------------------
alt.Wachusett Mt. 9/9-10/97
Well the weather people had it reversed... it was supposed to be murky away from
the coast on Tues. and clear on Wed. but the funk burned off quickly Tues. and there were birds.
On Wed. it was on/off drizzle near the coast and it almost broke
open inland [at the mt.]. Both day's counts were from very brief visits [2hrs.@]
Tues. Wed.
9/9 9/10
NNE8 NE4-ENE8
65F 65F
OS 1 1
SS 2 4
CH 0 2
BW 301 5*
AK 1 0
ML 2 0
PG 2* 0
__ __
T's 309 12
Notes:
Tues: 33 Monarchs & not much else; 8 TV's max.; * one adult PG w/full crop.
Wed: 6 Monarchs & 1 Hummer; 8 TV's max.; I adult RT; I Raven [a local spp.];
* one adult BW w/pronounced darker red head, throat, upper chest
equalling a shrouded/hooded look plus a darker accent to the edge of the
wing lining. Gerry Smith of Derby Hill fame commented this is something he has seen before
[the shroud] in maybe 1 out of a thousand... something to look for...
--------------------
alt.Wachusett 9/5-7/97
Friday afternoon's numbers were on a west wind second day following a cold front;
Saturday, while the winds were west all day, the forecast threatened southwest winds
ahead of another front on Sunday; no, we aren't completely crazy, but we did go out
for the Sunday morning on SW winds under overcast skies with a couple of rain drops.
Well, latter on [Sun]day our counters were picked up at their home by an Israeli
delegation of hawkwatchers and returned with them and our old buddy Cape May Pete
[not Dunne] to the mountain as the leading edge of a cold front cleared. Winds
still from the SW, but noticably drier.
Fri. Sat. Sun.
9/5 9/6 9/7
W14 W10 SW6
60F 70F 75F
TV 0 1 0
OS 1 6 0
BE 1a 0 0
SS 2 3 16
CH 0 0 5
BW 25 14 12 included the morning 3 BW's
RT 0 1 3
AK 1 1 1
ML 0 1i* 0
PG 1a 0 2
__ __ __
T's 29 27 39
Notes: TV's around both days w/ a max. of 12 in one kettle Sat.
Fri 9/5: 7 Monarchs and 5 Hummers.
Sat 9/6: First Juncos in residence, 11 Monarchs, 6 Hummers*
[includes a Hummer captured in flight by a Merlin].
Sun 9/7: 1 Monarch, 5 Hummers, and a Nighthawk.
--------------------
alt.Wachusett 8/30-31/97 plus August totals
Fairly boring weather pattern: a front passes but another
lurks behind to pass overnight tonight, maybe, and the post-frontal winds
are light and variable.
Sat. Sun.
8/30 8/31 August
VAR-NW VAR-ESE '97
70F 73F
OS 3 10 17
BE 0 0 1
NH 1 0 2
SS 9 3 18
CH 4 2 10
BW 35 35 114
RT 1 4 15
AK 3 2 6
ML 2 0 2
__ __ ___
T's 58 56 185
Notes: TV's around both days w/ a max. of 19 in one kettle Sun.
Sat 8/30: 151 Monarchs, 16 Hummers!, 14 C.Nighthawks, and 22 Ravens [local].
Sun 8/31: 77 Monarchs, 4 Hummers, & 6 C.Nighthawks.
--------------------
alt.Wachusett 8/26/97
August migration continues under a light NW wind that went calm very early,
the clouds disappeared and so did the hawks. Two local adult RT's plus 15 TV's.
Additional migrants: four Monarch Butterflies & a Hummer.
OS - 1
BE - 1 [plus or minus 2 yrs.]
SS - 1
BW - 9
TOTAL - 12
--------------------
alt.Wachusett 8/23-24/97
After a passing cold front, we were supposed to be stuck in between two fronts:
an unstable situation with SW winds <i>behind<i> a cold front?! But the winds were
conducive until light rain kicked in the early afternoon. West winds were predicted
for Sunday but a nice NW wind proved the second front had vacated New England.
Both days were covered for what might be called a long morning.
Sat. Sun.
8/23 8/24
WNW10 NW14
60F 65F
OS 1 2
SS 1 3
CH 0 2
BW 12 19
RT 2 4
AK 0 1
__ __
T's 16 31
Notes: In addition to the aforementioned migrating birds, a couple of adult RT's
were present both days plus a max. of 13 Ravens [local spp.] and TV's [w/ a kettle of 12];
Monarchs [3 on Sat; 45 on Sun]; RTHummers [4 on Sat; 1 on Sun]; & 2 Common Loons on Sunday
calling in flight as they passed by.
--------------------
alt.Wachusett 8/19/97 [afternoon; NW6-10 mph; 75°F; nice clouds for watching].
NH - 1i
CH - 2i females
BW - 4i
RT - 4i
TOTAL - 11
i = immature
Notes: A couple of adult RT's present plus 6 Ravens [local spp.]
and a few TV's [w/ a kettle of 10 late near roost]; 38 Monarchs;
2 RTHummers & 16 moving Tree Swallows.
--------------------
--------------------
CAPE MAY NJ: FALL 97
[beam me up Scotty]
Cape May NJ: 9/14-15
The Cape May NJ hawk watch is conducted at Cape May Point State Park
at the southern tip of New Jersey. The highlights of the days reported
below are forwarded via email or left on my answering machine and any
errors are mine, not the CMBO staff.
As of now, the season total is at 12,077 birds.
9/14 flight included:
OS 226
BE 11
SS 2789
CH 132
AK 591
ML 119
_____
3999
9/15 flight included:
OS 376
SS 1203
____
2230
From previous years, this a very good count for this early in the
season, especially Sharpies. The 15th also saw a Western Kingbird.
--------------------
Cape May NJ 9/4/97
Just got a quick email note from Jerry Liguori, hawk watcher
at Cape May NJ. If you don't know where this is... get out a map!
Thursday 9/4 following frontal passage:
OS 59
NH 66
SS 195
BW 63
AK 491
ML 44
___
T 918 plus others to come in "just over 1000" [I'm sure that
included a couple dozen CH and the odd PG, TLC]
"The season total is about 3,300 so far."