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| WELCOME TO OUR VIEW| And now for something completely different. At high tide the Parker River side of the hawk flight is a mere scan away. Often neglected by hawkwatchers, this area is the place for the majority of Sharpies, Redtails, a fair number of Harriers, and over ninety-five percent of the Bald Eagles. At low tide, Kestrels, Merlins, and Peregrines drop in and out of the mini-canyon of the Parker River [sans water] escaping the NW headwind. With that said, I've had sixteen species of raptors "in the dunes."
This northernmost point in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Parker River National Wildlife Refuge -- the first parking area on the refuge -- is one of the best spots to observe the Spring hawk migration of Falcons -- American Kestrels, Merlins, and Peregrines -- in North America. Below is the current Spring 2001 hawk migration at Plum Island. Well, it's a written account posted just after it happens. It would way better if you came out and caught the flight firsthand... Here's the final total for Spring '01:
Key to HMANA [Hawk Migration Association of North America] codes: This count is conducted by the Natural Raptor Association [nra]: a dis-organization of hawk watchers. Go to main Plum Island Hawk Watch page. |
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Subject: Plum Island MA: 2001 Season To Date
From: Tom Carrolan
To: HMANA Mailing List
Date: Sun, 13 May 2001 16:43:17 -0400
The Plum Island Hawk Watch is more specifically Parker River National
Wildlife Refuge near Newburyport MA on the Atlantic Ocean at the MA/NH
state border. The count is conducted from Parking Lot #1. The Spring
hawk migration from Plum Island is online at www.hawksaloft.com/plum/
There's a definite energy crisis in this region! The weather has been
out of gas for a week now. Even late last week with an approaching cold
front, the sea breeze took over every day leading to a fifty bird week
-- fueled by Ospreys and Harriers with a few Peregrines.
There still are a hundred or more Sharpies plus some Bald Eagles out
there whose itinerary may include Plum Island.
The following comprises the season total to date:
TV 67
OS 53
BE 4
NH 247
SS 265
CH 2
BW 18
RS 4
RT 28
RL 6
AK 1096
ML 113
PG 24
____
1927
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Subject: Plum Island MA: 5/5/01
From: Tom Carrolan
To: HMANA Mailing List
Date: Sun, 6 May 2001 06:50:18 -0400
The Plum Island Hawk Watch is more specifically Parker River National
Wildlife Refuge near Newburyport MA on the Atlantic Ocean at the MA/NH
state border. The count is conducted from Parking Lot #1. The Spring
hawk migration from Plum Island is online at www.hawksaloft.com/plum/
Dark skies lead to rain early, but the rest of the day didn't suck
[that's the technical term we use in the hawkwatching biz]. On NNW winds
the temps reached the mid-60s and a seabreeze didn't develop.
Look, if you're at Plum Island between May 1st and the 10th, and you
don't see a Bald Eagle or a Peregrine Falcon, you weren't really paying
attention... and you're probably unlucky in love as well.
The first Peregrine to pass by the hawk watch was at noon, after being
reported from down island [aka the Stint watch] hours earlier. Due to
the rain, the movement of birds got a late start. The last Peregrine of
a Saturday afternoon Peregrine flight was an adult female with a
striking orange-brown wash on the upper breast, this following a couple
of days of "white-breasted" Pbirds.
The juvenile Bald was a bird enjoyed by birders up and down the refuge.
It was a great bargain -- measured either by the minute or by the pound
-- as it was in view from the hawk watch for over 45 minutes and, by
size, equalled a small flight of Sharpies. It was a life bird request
from one of the USFWS staffers. She got her first Bald Eagle today.
There has been a transition in the migration of Harriers this week; the
substance of their flight has shifted to immature males.
The following raptors were deemed to be migrating:
TV 6
OS 2
BE 1
NH 8
RT 2
SS 15
AK 4
ML 1
PG 5
___
44
Hawk Food: Indigo Bunting, Common Loon [5].
======
======
Subject: Plum Island MA: 5/4/01
From: Tom Carrolan
To: HMANA Mailing List
Date: Fri, 4 May 2001 22:36:40 -0400
The Plum Island Hawk Watch is more specifically Parker River National
Wildlife Refuge near Newburyport MA on the Atlantic Ocean at the MA/NH
state border. The count is conducted from Parking Lot #1. The Spring
hawk migration from Plum Island is online at www.hawksaloft.com/plum/
Finally we have strung together more than 12 hours of westerly winds,
although we've had to take three days of ninety degree temps to get the
winds conducive to a coastal hawk flight. I've had 400+ hawks over the
last three days: two days at Plum and one on the Outer Cape.
This was an early flight with the Sharpies coming in 2's and 5's --
primarily between 7 and 9 a.m. DST -- and after that time, mostly
singles. It was interesting for Harriers too, there was a late afternoon
Harrier push on the Outer Cape and Plum on Wednesday. On Thursday
morning I was counting migrating Harriers before I could exit the
vehicle at Plum!
The Pbirds were all spectacular pale sky-blue backed male tudrius birds,
the same as the breath taking Peregrine we all gasped at below eye-level
on Wednesday on Cape Cod [Pilgrim Heights in North Truro MA... my old
hawk watch].
The following raptors were deemed to be migrating:
OS 6
NH 17
SS 72
AK 25
ML 1
PG 3
___
124
Hawk Food: RTHummingbird [1], Common Terns [3], Killdeer [330],
Dragonflies, and a cast of thousands of other birds this morning.
======
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Subject: Plum Island MA: 4/30/01
From: Tom Carrolan
To: HMANA Mailing List
Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2001 21:11:12 -0400
The Plum Island Hawk Watch is more specifically Parker River National
Wildlife Refuge near Newburyport MA on the Atlantic Ocean at the MA/NH
state border. The count is conducted from Parking Lot #1. The Spring
hawk migration from Plum Island is online at www.hawksaloft.com/plum/
Surprised by a nice NW wind all day, courtesy of a low pressure
disturbance tracking through Maine. There were even a few rain drops in
mid afternoon.
The Bald Eagle -- second of the season -- was pretty low, came right up
the road and was in view for a good fifteen minutes... and of juvenile
plumage.
The following raptors were deemed to be migrating:
TV 7
OS 6
BE 1
NH 4
SS 24
AK 36
ML 2
PG 1
___
81
Hawk Food: Brown Thrasher [2], Chimney Swift.
======
======
Subject: Plum Island MA: 2001 Season To Date
From: Tom Carrolan
To: HMANA Mailing List
Date: Sun, 29 Apr 2001 22:16:15 -0400
The Plum Island Hawk Watch is more specifically Parker River National
Wildlife Refuge near Newburyport MA on the Atlantic Ocean at the MA/NH
state border. The count is conducted from Parking Lot #1. The Spring
hawk migration from Plum Island is online at www.hawksaloft.com/plum/
Just a few dozen hawks on the weekend with the seabreeze [East winds]
kicking in by noon and shifting the flight inland. Still, several nice
Merlin looks -- with and without full crops. And another hundred and
fifty Kestrels on limited observation during the week.
Compared to previous seasons at this point, we did not have anything
resembling ideal conditions between the 1st and tenth
of April to push the primary breeding bird flight to the coast. It is
during this period -- across the Northeast -- that the experienced
Kestrels move. By the second half of the month, we have the "Son (and
daughter) of Kestrel" movement... the rest of the flight.
The following comprises the season total to date:
TV 46
OS 18
BE 1
NH 180
SS 107
CH 1
BW 15
RS 4
RT 24
RL 6
AK 997
ML 100
PG 10
___
1509
Hawk Food: Chimney Swift; Glossy Ibis [28], Painted Lady butterflies.
======
======
Subject: Plum Island MA: 4/24/01
From: Tom Carrolan
To: HMANA Mailing List
Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2001 21:55:12 -0400
The Plum Island Hawk Watch is more specifically Parker River National
Wildlife Refuge near Newburyport MA on the Atlantic Ocean at the MA/NH
state border. The count is conducted from Parking Lot #1. The Spring
hawk migration from Plum Island is online at www.hawksaloft.com/plum/
Another warm one [86 F] out ahead of sharp cold front. Half a day of
straight South winds, going SW and increasing in mid afternoon, meant a
high flight. We saw some of the migrants.
Rufuge staff erected the Purple Martin houses today. These Merlin
feeding stations are always a welcome sight...
For the season, the 1000/100 mark will be reached soon
[Kestrels/Merlins].
The following raptors were deemed to be migrating:
TV 3
OS 2
NH 6
SS 16
RT 1
AK 50
ML 7
___
85
Hawk Food: First RTHummingbird, Common Loon migrating, many Compton's
Tortoiseshell, Mouring Cloak [1], Cabbage/White sp. [1], Northern
Gannets [4 max].
======
======
Subject: Plum Island MA: 4/23/01
From: Tom Carrolan
To: HMANA Mailing List
Date: Mon, 23 Apr 2001 22:06:55 -0400
The Plum Island Hawk Watch is more specifically Parker River National
Wildlife Refuge near Newburyport MA on the Atlantic Ocean at the MA/NH
state border. The count is conducted from Parking Lot #1. The Spring
hawk migration from Plum Island is online at www.hawksaloft.com/plum/
This is the mop up from yesterday's flight -- the echo. Just a morning
count as the shifting frontal line simulated a back door cold front and
a sea breeze kicked in [SE 8 mph] moving the flight well inland by late
morning. You could stand there and watch the birds disappear to the
West.
Normally, the echo flight is half the size of the day before and while I
watching a Kestrel or Sharpie in the scope, I would catch sight of
another out beyond.
The Broadwings were all in one kettle almost two miles inland -- clearly
violating the BFZ [Broadwing Free Zone]... I'm demanding an apology.
The following raptors were deemed to be migrating:
OS 2
NH 4
SS 22
BW 14
AK 68
___
110
Hawk Food: Caspian Tern [1], Garter Snake.
======
======
Subject: Plum Island MA: 4/22/01
From: Tom Carrolan
To: HMANA Mailing List
Date: Sun, 22 Apr 2001 23:03:26 -0400
The Plum Island Hawk Watch is more specifically Parker River National
Wildlife Refuge near Newburyport MA on the Atlantic Ocean at the MA/NH
state border. The count is conducted from Parking Lot #1. The Spring
hawk migration from Plum Island is online at www.hawksaloft.com/plum/
The first actual warm day of Spring -- 82F -- was unleashed on our area
by the passage of warm front overnight and the close proximity of an
approaching cold front. On WNW winds running 22 mph and gusting to 30
mph by mid afternoon, we had a nice Kestrel flight and a great one-day
Merlin total on Plum Island. For Merlins, before today, any count in the
low twenties was an excellent day. That changed today.
On strong westerly winds the birds are on the deck and close -- hugging
the dune topography. To give you a flavor of today's flight, in one
close horizontal sweep [maybe 60 degrees] there were ten Kestrels and 4
Merlins in view at once. Plenty of close looks offers the chance to
check out plummages in the Kestrels, Merlins and Sharpies; fun to look
for full crops in the latter two species as well.
The following raptors were deemed to be migrating:
TV 1
OS 6
NH 7
SS 16
RT 1
AK 441
ML 42
___
514
Hawk Food: Compton's Tortoiseshell[3], first Purple Martins, and
Northern Gannets [6].
======
======
Subject: Plum Island MA: 4/20/01
From: Tom Carrolan
To: HMANA Mailing List
Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2001 20:25:33 -0400
The Plum Island Hawk Watch is more specifically Parker River National
Wildlife Refuge near Newburyport MA on the Atlantic Ocean at the MA/NH
state border. The count is conducted from Parking Lot #1. The Spring
hawk migration from Plum Island is online at www.hawksaloft.com/plum/
First, the Asia dust storm was visible today from the Plum Island Hawk
Watch. At first I thought it was a thermal inversion -- brown
stratification -- but the location was wrong and so were the weather
conditions. It was located to the West on SW winds [a thermal inversion
of pollution should have been to the East] and there wasn't cold air
overrunning warm, moist conditions.
While it was sixtysomething degrees inland on SW winds, the W winds were
not strong enough out ahead of the warm front to hold back the sea
breeze. An ESE wind at 14 mph cut in after noon and the temps fell into
the high 40s, with a wind chill that made it feel like 30F and the
flight disappeared high/inland.
On light West winds, the early birds were getting quite high as the
Sharpies were going ballistic by 8am. In the afternoon, the birds were
few and far between. But when one of the regular hawkaholics dropped by,
we had a couple of neat views: the lone, hovering Kestrel nearly had its
head taken off by a streaking Merlin AND awhile later an immie Peregrine
pushing up the salt marsh at 50-50 [50 ft up at 50 mph], then "took it
up a notch" accelerated to maybe 80 as she drop down onto the deck in
full attack mode... a great look at cool behavior for those in need of a
natural high [and who isn't these days].
Also, five adult male Harriers today; that's 55 Gray Ghosts for the
season.
The following raptors were deemed to be migrating:
TV 5
NH 13
SS 9
AK 15
ML 1
PG 1
___
44
Hawk Food: Great Blue Heron [6], Savannah Sparrows [10 in view at one
time], Compton's Tortoiseshell.
======
======
Subject: Plum Island Hawk Migration: 4/19/01
From: Tom Carrolan
To: massbird listserv
Date: Thu, 19 Apr 2001 20:48:22 -0400
The Plum Island Hawk Watch is more specifically Parker River National
Wildlife Refuge near Newburyport MA on the Atlantic Ocean at the MA/NH
state border. The count is conducted from Parking Lot #1. The Spring
hawk migration from Plum Island is online at www.hawksaloft.com/plum/
On WNW winds tilting WSW and staying steady at 16 mph all day, this was a
late morning to afternoon flight. Also with an occluding front around
for the last couple of days, the area was pretty much cleaned out of
raptors: a late afternoon run down the refuge yesterday following the
frontal passge produced zero Harriers, zero falcons.
The first Bald Eagle migrant of the season was observed today from the
hawk watch and reported down island raising all the ducks in sight and
perching near the Osprey platform where upon the Ospreys were obliged to
harrass. An adult Peregrine was visible [from the hawk watch] soaring
over the marsh for a good ten minutes carrying [unidentified] prey.
The following raptors were deemed to be migrating:
6 Turkey Vulture
3 Osprey
1 Bald Eagle
17 Northern Harrier
19 Sharp-shinned Hawk
2 Red-tailed Hawk
93 American Kestrel
4 Merlin
1 Peregrine Falcon
___
146
Also: Mourning Cloak butterfly, 150 C. Grackles [small groups]
======
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Subject: Plum Island MA: 2001 Season To Date
From: Tom Carrolan
To: HMANA Mailing List
Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2001 08:29:53 -0400
The Plum Island Hawk Watch is more specifically Parker River National Wildlife Refuge
near Newburyport MA on the Atlantic Ocean at the MA/NH state border. The
count is conducted from Parking Lot #1. The Spring hawk migration from
Plum Island is online at www.hawksaloft.com/plum/
Compared to this point in the '99 and '00 seasons, the Kestrel count
[approx. 60% of total] is down [500+ by this date, the norm]. But the
coastal, don't-care-about-a-seabreeze, species are putting on a good
show. The Harrier and Merlin numbers are ahead of the five year average
for this date.
The following comprises the season total to date:
TV 28
OS 3
BE 0
NH 124
SS 21
CH 0
BW 0
RS 4
RT 19
RL 6
AK 300
ML 41
PG 8
___
554
======
======
Subject: Plum Island MA: 4/15/01
From: Tom Carrolan
To: HMANA Mailing List
Date: Sun, 15 Apr 2001 21:59:51 -0400
The Plum Island Hawk Watch is more specifically Parker River National
Wildlife Refuge near Newburyport MA on the Atlantic Ocean at the MA/NH
state border. The count is conducted from Parking Lot #1. The Spring
hawk migration from Plum Island is online at www.hawksaloft.com/plum/
The NW winds, staying brisk just a few miles inland throughout the day,
were short-lived along the northeast corner of the Commonwealth. The
winds were very light early and went to a serious seabreeze by
mid-morning, shifting the flight that began high to an inland
flightline.
Observing hawks at Plum Island under tailwind conditions is unusual.
Mostly, headwinds slow the birds; with a push, the Kestrels pump and
move like Merlins, Merlins at the limit of optics fly like Buffleheads,
and the Harriers look like they are being chased. All the result of a
tailwind today.
The following raptors were deemed to be migrating:
TV 6
OS 1 [well inland]
NH 20 [5 went pelagic]
SS 3
RT 2
AK 53
ML 6
PG 2
___
93
Hawk Food: Small flights of... Icterids, Great Egrets, Double-crested
Cormorants; a few Northern Gannets.
======
======
Subject: Plum Island MA: 4/14/01
From: Tom Carrolan
To: HMANA Mailing List
Date: Sat, 14 Apr 2001 22:56:08 -0400
The Plum Island Hawk Watch is more specifically Parker River National
Wildlife Refuge near Newburyport MA on the Atlantic Ocean at the MA/NH
state border. The count is conducted from Parking Lot #1. The Spring
hawk migration from Plum Island is online at www.hawksaloft.com/plum/
NNW to NW winds 14 gusting to 25 mph, temps in the high 50s; the North
of NW aspect to the winds splayed the flight out from the dunes to the
East and out over the marsh to the West [W to NW pins the birds to the
coast].
The following raptors were deemed to be migrating:
TV 1
NH 31
SS 4
RT 1
AK 161
ML 21
PG 1
___
220
Hawk Food: Great Blue Heron [2], Northern Gannets in view all day,
Ring-billed Gulls, 3 Greater Yellowlegs.
======
======
Subject: Plum Island MA: 4/10/01
From: Tom Carrolan
To: HMANA Mailing List
Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2001 20:19:47 -0400
The Plum Island Hawk Watch is more specifically Parker River National
Wildlife Refuge near Newburyport MA on the Atlantic Ocean at the MA/NH
state border. The count is conducted from Parking Lot #1. The Spring
hawk migration from Plum Island is online at www.hawksaloft.com/plum/
On light, straight North winds shifting to SE by mid-day, the echo from
yesterday's flight came this morning [the "echo" is often 50% of the
previous day].
The following raptors were deemed to be migrating:
TV 2
NH 6
SS 2
AK 19
ML 2
___
31
Hawk Food: Great Blue Heron [3], Tree Swallows [lots]
======
======
Subject: Plum Island MA: 4/9/01
From: Tom Carrolan
To: HMANA Mailing List
Date: Mon, 9 Apr 2001 22:25:55 -0400
The Plum Island Hawk Watch is more specifically Parker River National
Wildlife Refuge near Newburyport MA on the Atlantic Ocean at the MA/NH
state border. The count is conducted from Parking Lot #1. The Spring
hawk migration from Plum Island is online at www.hawksaloft.com/plum/
In the slot following a warm front, temps edged in the low 60s with NW
winds. But few hawks were near the coast after days of easterly winds.
Most of the birds -- including the Peregrine -- came by in the late
morning. The winds were not strong enough to pin the birds to the dune
line or to keep them on the deck.
The following raptors were deemed to be migrating:
TV 7
NH 18
RT 2
SS 5
AK 29
ML 8
PG 1
___
70
Hawk Food: Great Blue Heron[5], E.Bluebird[4], Horned Lark[1];
N.Gannet[18]; Tortoise Shell butterfly species.
======
======
Subject: Plum Island Hawk Migration: 4/6/01
From: Tom Carrolan <TLC@hawksaloft.com>
To: massbird listserv <massbird@world.std.com>
Date: Fri, 6 Apr 2001 22:33:28 -0400
The Plum Island Hawk Watch is more specifically Parker River National
Wildlife Refuge near Newburyport MA on the Atlantic Ocean at the MA/NH
state border. The count is conducted from Parking Lot #1. The Spring
hawk migration from Plum Island is online at www.hawksaloft.com/plum/
Winds off the ocean [easterly at 6mph] out ahead of the rain, but birds
were on the move.
The following raptors were deemed to be migrating:
10 Northern Harrier
1 Red-tailed Hawk
7 American Kestrel
1 Merlin
___
19
Hawk Food: Phoebes in for the first time.
==========
==========
Subject: Plum Island Hawk Migration: 4/5/01
From: Tom Carrolan <TLC@hawksaloft.com>
To: massbird listserv <massbird@world.std.com>
Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2001 21:16:59 -0400
The Plum Island Hawk Watch is more specifically Parker River National
Wildlife Refuge nearNewburyport MA on the Atlantic Ocean at the MA/NH
state border. The count is conductedfrom Parking Lot #1. The Spring
hawk migration from Plum Island is online at www.hawksaloft.com/plum/
The weather has been pretty awful for coastal hawkwatching for the first
four days of April[and the last week of March for that matter]. Winds expected
from the NW today,but switched to a sea breeze -- first from the NE then going SE;
the sea breeze relentedlate in the afternoon and a small hawk flight ensued under
blue skies as temps approached 50F.
At Plum when the NE sea breeze kicks in, some adult male Harriers
readily head out overthe ocean: three late this morning. When the winds go SE,
this stops and the Harrier flightshifts inland... a mile or more. Today,
when the winds went back to NW late in the afternoona nice stream of adult male
Harriers [half today's total] migrated right up the Refuge road.The interesting
bird of the day was a SNOWY OWL that buzzed Lot #1 and then landed just south of same.
A little while later the bird was observed high, headed north off the Refuge.
The following raptors were deemed to be migrating:
3 Turkey Vulture
2 Osprey
22 Northern Harrier
1 Red-tailed Hawk
1 Rough-legged Hawk
12 American Kestrel
3 Merlin
___
34
Hawk Food: Tree Swallows on the move throughout the day; close look at a
Red-throated Loon in flight.
=======
=======
Subject: Plum Island MA: 3/15/01
From: Tom Carrolan <TLC@hawksaloft.com>
To: HMANA Mailing List <BIRDHAWK@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU>
Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2001 19:06:22 -0500
The Plum Island Hawk Watch is more specifically Parker River National
Wildlife Refuge near Newburyport MA on the Atlantic Ocean at the MA/NH
state border. The count is conducted from Parking Lot #1. The Spring
hawk migration from Plum Island is online at www.hawksaloft.com/plum/
Winds slightly North of West in the morning; then just South of West in
the afternoon; the sky slowing filled with high clouds and the temp
topped out at 47F.
I was expecting TVs and Redtails and hoping for BEs at this date for the
first, short Plum Island watch of the season. Instead I got Sharpies in
the dunes, the first Kestrel and nice, close looks at migrating adult
Peregrines. In addition, Roughlegs were on the move. I had six different
plumaged birds -- 2 light, 4 dark [adult, immature, black, brown,
molting] -- at least two moved right on by.
The following raptors were deemed to be migrating:
TV 1
NH 2 [2 others lingering]
SS 4
RT 5 [3 others in the area]
RL 2 [4 others sighted]
AK 1
PG 4
__
15
Hawk Food: 70 Snow Geese [around all day], sordid ducks, and one Tree Swallow.
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