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WELCOME TO OUR VIEW | Here's a different view. Taken from the bridge looking ESE to Plum Island, it is a "typical" 180° pan made up of ten images at near high tide. The arrow points to the hawk watch site on the refuge. 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. The Spring of 2002 was extraordinary as Plum Island got all the right weather and a very, very nice Kestrel flight while weak systems caused Sandy Hook NJ and Fort Smallwood MD to have very, very few Kestrels. Also Rick Heil reported many birds, especially Peregrines from the refuge gatehouse on off wind and foul weather days! Below is a taste via some emails from the Spring 2002 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 '02:
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: Hawks Today: Plum Island Hawk Migration
Date Sent: Wednesday, June 5, 2002 1:07 PM
Here's a belated report from hawk watching conducted on Plum Island Sunday and
Monday -- June 2 & 3, 2002. After being out at Pilgrim Heights on the outer Cape
for each and every of the 9 Mississippi Kites last Saturday, I returned to Plum
Island and a rainy Sunday morning with three migrating Osprey [2 with fish] and a
migrating TV. Monday was a dry windy day with more Osprey, a gentle procession of
TVs, one juv. Bald Eagle and yet one more migrating American Kestrel!
The juvenile southern Bald Eagle come up the beach being harrassed by a Great
Black-backed Gull. The young eagle became perturbed enough to call out -- an eagle
kackle -- now there's something you don't hear everyday at Plum Island!
The following were deemed to be migrating June 2-3:
8 Turkey Vulture
6 Osprey
1 Bald Eagle
1 American Kestrel
================
Subject: Hawks Today: Plum Island Hawk Migration
Date Sent: Wednesday, May 22, 2002 11:39 AM
Being out there for part of the day -- Tuesday, May 21,2002 -- witnessed the
northbound movement of raptors that continues annually in our area well into June
[and early July if you're watching]!
Ospreys [9] in twos and threes, plus Turkey Vultures [10] moving up the dune line,
while having only 3 Kestrels and one Merlin, were indicators of the larger bird
contingent following the Birdathon soaker of Saturday.
A much larger migration of smaller hawks and rain birds probably occurred on
Sunday/Monday... maybe double the twenty-seven hawks of six species I had today...
was on the outer Cape over the weekend sampling the hawk migration at Pilgrim
Heights -- a "busman's holiday."
======================
Subject: Plum Island MA Raptor Counts, May 16, 2002
Date Sent: Friday, May 17, 2002 12:04 AM
Okay, first, Rick Heil was there from 10-2:20 DST. I was there from 11-4:00 DST...
and this is his hawks, our hawks, and my hawks. Got it? With that said, the numbers
still might not make sense.
Subject: HSR: Plum Island MA Raptor Counts, May 16, 2002
Date Sent: Friday, May 17, 2002 1:28 AM
Plum Island, Parker River NWR, MA
Daily Raptor Counts: May 16, 2002
===================================================================
Species Day's Count Month Total YTD Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 0 10 66
Osprey 11 58 121
Bald Eagle 3 5 8
Northern Harrier 2 85 289
Sharp-shinned Hawk 10 539 709
Cooper's Hawk 2 9 18
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 2
Broad-winged Hawk 4 4 5
Red-tailed Hawk 0 2 39
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 24 262 1491
Merlin 8 92 154
Peregrine Falcon 4 29 43
Unknown 0 0 0
Total: 68 1095 2945
======================================================================
Observation start time: 09:00:00
Observation end time: 15:00:00 EST
Total observation time: 6 hours
Site Coordinator: Tom Carrolan
Observers: Rick Heil, Tom Carrolan
Weather:
WSW winds running 8-18 mph, gusting occ. to 22 mph; 74F with milky overcast
out ahead of a cold front.
Observations:
Southern Bald Eagles continue; big Broadwing day @ Plum Island, but we
handled it. Aging/sexing any of the Peregrines would have required
speckulation on our part.
First MONARCH BUTTERFLY of the Spring... could be the last.
=================
Subject: Hawks Today: Plum Island Hawk Migration
Date Sent: Wednesday, May 15, 2002 3:15 AM
You could see today's dry slot coming a couple of days away. Would it hold up? How
dry would it actually be? And how birds would there be in the slot? Well, now we
know some of the story...
I was out for the bulk of this afternoon -- Tuesday, 5/14/02 -- from 2 to 6 pm DST
and had the usual rain birds.
OSPREY [14]: In the rainy periods mostly. There was one long line of eight [all in
view from South to North].
BALD EAGLE [1]: A juvenile working up the duneline and then across the marsh to
avoid the harbor.
NORTHERN HARRIER [9]: All young birds on two flightlines -- a few up high gliding
NNW, the rest on the deck.
MERLIN [5]: Imagine an equal number passing during the uncovered hours of the
midday.
PEREGRINE FALCON [2]: One adult male came by low, right through the parking lot.
In the sunny moments, on WSW winds, there were four migrating HUMMINGBIRDS
[individuals].
============
Subject: Plum Island MA Raptor Counts, May 11, 2002
Date Sent: Saturday, May 11, 2002 6:58 PM
Plum Island, Parker River NWR, MA
Daily Raptor Counts: May 11, 2002
===================================================================
Species Day's Count Month Total YTD Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 1 10 66
Osprey 14 33 96
Bald Eagle 1 1 4
Northern Harrier 10 73 277
Sharp-shinned Hawk 8 529 699
Cooper's Hawk 0 7 16
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 2
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 1
Red-tailed Hawk 0 2 39
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 25 238 1467
Merlin 10 79 141
Peregrine Falcon 1 20 34
Unknown 0 0 0
Total: 70 992 2842
======================================================================
Observation start time: 04:45:00
Observation end time: 15:30:00
Total observation time: 10.75 hours
Site Coordinator: Tom Carrolan
Observers: Kathryn Chihowski & TLC
Weather:
NW 6 increasing to 12mph [measured]; 64F; cloudless sky.
Observations:
First southern BE juvenile of the spring "dispersal." [Fresh juv.
plumage... right out of the nest.]
==============
Subject: HSR: Plum Island MA Raptor Counts, May 10, 2002
Date Sent: Saturday, May 11, 2002 6:49 PM
Plum Island, Parker River NWR, MA
Daily Raptor Counts: May 10, 2002
===================================================================
Species Day's Count Month Total YTD Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 2 9 65
Osprey 2 19 82
Bald Eagle 0 0 3
Northern Harrier 5 63 267
Sharp-shinned Hawk 15 521 691
Cooper's Hawk 0 7 16
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 2
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 1
Red-tailed Hawk 0 2 39
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 66 213 1442
Merlin 12 69 131
Peregrine Falcon 3 19 33
Unknown 0 0 0
Total: 105 922 2772
======================================================================
Observation start time: 06:00:00
Observation end time: 17:00:00
Total observation time: 11 hours
Site Coordinator: Tom Carrolan
Observers: Rick Heil
Weather:
Windy day following a cold front but ahead of secondary front [dry line];
SW 20+ mph; 72F
Observations: Tremendous flight of swallows with diversity
===============
Subject: Plum Island MA Raptor Counts, May 05, 2002
Date Sent: Sunday, May 5, 2002 2:57 PM
Plum Island, Parker River NWR, MA
Daily Raptor Counts: May 05, 2002
===================================================================
Species Day's Count Month Total YTD Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 0 3 59
Osprey 2 17 80
Bald Eagle 0 0 3
Northern Harrier 6 56 260
Sharp-shinned Hawk 162 495 665
Cooper's Hawk 2 7 16
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 2
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 1
Red-tailed Hawk 0 2 39
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 13 136 1365
Merlin 3 55 117
Peregrine Falcon 1 16 30
Unknown 0 0 0
Total: 189 787 2637
======================================================================
Observation start time: 05:00:00 EST [Bird Time]
Observation end time: 11:00:00
Total observation time: 6 hours
Site Coordinator: Tom Carrolan
Weather:
Light WSW winds turned on shore by 10a EST and the flight moved up and
in[land].
Observations:
Sharpies got high early, but small kettles formed and a quick 150+ birds
were had this morning.
================
Subject: Plum Island MA Raptor Counts, May 04, 2002
Date Sent: Saturday, May 4, 2002 7:25 PM
Plum Island, Parker River NWR, MA
Daily Raptor Counts: May 04, 2002
===================================================================
Species Day's Count Month Total YTD Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 0 3 59
Osprey 5 15 78
Bald Eagle 0 0 3
Northern Harrier 13 50 254
Sharp-shinned Hawk 212 333 503
Cooper's Hawk 2 5 14
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 2
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 1
Red-tailed Hawk 2 2 39
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
American Kestrel 65 123 1352
Merlin 33 52 114
Peregrine Falcon 3 15 29
Total: 335 598 2448
======================================================================
Observation start time: 05:00:00 [6am DST]
Observation end time: 16:30:00
Total observation time: 11.5 hours
Site Coordinator: Tom Carrolan
Observers: Kathryn Chihowski & TLC
Weather:
Cool start w/temps in the low 40sF, but finishing at 62F; winds measured at
NW 8-12 gusts occasionally to 18 mph. Zero clouds.
Observations:
A remarkable Sharp-shinned Hawk flight for coastal MA -- certainly nothing like it
since the mid-80s; over forty Sharpies between 6 and 8 am DST.
================
Subject: Plum Island MA Raptor Counts, May 03, 2002
Date Sent: Friday, May 3, 2002 7:42 PM
Plum Island, Parker River NWR, MA
Daily Raptor Counts: May 03, 2002
===================================================================
Species Day's Count Month Total YTD Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 0 3 59
Osprey 3 10 73
Bald Eagle 0 0 3
Northern Harrier 19 37 241
Sharp-shinned Hawk 54 121 291
Cooper's Hawk 1 3 12
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 2
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 1
Red-tailed Hawk 0 0 37
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 11 58 1287
Merlin 15 19 81
Peregrine Falcon 11 12 26
Unknown 0 0 0
Total: 114 263 2113
======================================================================
Observation start time: 06:20:00
Site Coordinator: Tom Carrolan
Observers: Rick Heil, Kathryn Chihowski & TLC
Weather:
Windy -- measured at WNW 24-26, occasional gusts to 40 mph on the heels of
a cold front passing off shore. Secondary front around midday was the high
point for today's wind speed.
Observations:
Many Peregrines at/below eye level.
One day Spring all-time PG record for Plum.
================
Subject: HSR: Plum Island MA Raptor Counts, May 01, 2002
Date Sent: Wednesday, May 1, 2002 6:47 PM
Plum Island, Parker River NWR, MA
Daily Raptor Counts: May 01, 2002
===================================================================
Species Day's Count Month Total YTD Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 3 3 59
Osprey 7 7 70
Bald Eagle 0 0 3
Northern Harrier 18 18 222
Sharp-shinned Hawk 67 67 237
Cooper's Hawk 2 2 11
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 2
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 1
Red-tailed Hawk 0 0 37
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 47 47 1276
Merlin 4 4 66
Peregrine Falcon 1 1 15
Unknown 0 0 0
Total: 149 149 1999
======================================================================
Observation start time: 06:00:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 10 hours
Site Coordinator: Tom Carrolan
Observers:
Weather:
WNW 8-10 mph; 54F
Observations:
Immature male Harriers continue;
Molting hawks today: NH, SS, AK;
Many full crops observed.
=============
Subject: Plum Island MA Raptor Counts, Apr 30, 2002
Date Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2002 9:54 PM
Plum Island, Parker River NWR, MA
Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 30, 2002
===================================================================
Species Day's Count Month Total YTD Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 2 47 56
Osprey 9 63 63
Bald Eagle 1 3 3
Northern Harrier 12 165 204
Sharp-shinned Hawk 23 167 170
Cooper's Hawk 0 7 9
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 1 2
Broad-winged Hawk 0 1 1
Red-tailed Hawk 3 29 37
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 2 1098 1229
Merlin 2 53 62
Peregrine Falcon 1 11 14
Unknown 0 0 0
Total: 55 1645 1850
======================================================================
Observation start time: 06:00:00
Observation end time: 13:00:00
Total observation time: 7 hours
Site Coordinator: Tom Carrolan
Observers: TLC & Rick Heil
Weather:
NW 6mph shifting to SE at 8mph by mid morning; 51F
Observations:
Nice movement of hatching year male Harriers today.
==========
Subject: Fwd: Plum Island MA Raptor Counts, Apr 27, 2002
Date Sent: Saturday, April 27, 2002 7:51 PM
Plum Island, Parker River NWR, MA
Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 27, 2002
===================================================================
Species Day's Count Month Total YTD Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 2 45 54
Osprey 22 54 54
Bald Eagle 0 1 1
Northern Harrier 15 153 192
Sharp-shinned Hawk 74 144 147
Cooper's Hawk 3 7 9
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 1 2
Broad-winged Hawk 0 1 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1 26 34
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 14 1096 1227
Merlin 9 50 59
Peregrine Falcon 3 9 12
Unknown 0 0 0
Total: 143 1587 1792
======================================================================
Observation start time: 06:00:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 10 hours
Site Coordinator: Tom Carrolan
Weather:
Clear skies; W6 increasing to 10 mph in the afternoon; 56F
Observations:
Flight started high, but when the winds increased in the early afternoon
the Sharpies and Merlins dropped down to eye level.
==================
Subject: Plum Island MA: YTD
Date Sent: Tuesday, April 23, 2002 1:54 PM
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.
With an addition 340+ Kestrels in the last week, the Kestrel flight appears to be
pretty much over for 2002. While the numbers for this hawk watch indicate, that
after the first wave [on or about April 1st], each of the successive three primary
waves occured at least four days "ahead of schedule."
It is clear from the numbers to the South -- Fort Smallwood MD, Sandy Hook NJ, and
Cape Henlopen DE -- that the Pacific Low weather pattern that dominated the first
twenty days of April was disastrous for their AK counts. And while it muted the
"big days" [what an outdated concept for understanding migration], the Kestrel
totals for Plum Island are average
for the season.
The following raptors were deemed to have migrated for the 2002 Spring migration to
date:
TV 52
OS 29
BE 1
NH 174
SS 69
CH 6
BW 1
RS 2
RT 32
AK 1205
ML 50
PG 9
____
1630
Start date: 2/28/02; all/part of 28 days covered so far; for 181.25 hrs.
============
Subject: Hawks Today: Actually, Yesterday at Plum Island
Date Sent: Tuesday, April 23, 2002 1:29 AM
Modestly high hopes for Sunday after the reinforcing secondary cold front blew on
by fizzled with a morning trickle of forty plus birds [42] and turned into an
incredibly slow afternoon, but you can always scan for the odd Merlin and/or
Peregrine. Got 'em both migrating with a lot of work on the part of the observers.
It was downright cold out in the wind Sunday, April 21st. As we exit the Kestrel
flight [13] and enter the time of the Accipiter [primarily Sharpies (7), but one
immature Cooper's Hawk on each of the last two days], there were also migrating
Osprey [5], Harriers [10], Retails [2], Merlins [3], and a Peregrine.
At this time of the year, the early morning movement of Ospreys and Harriers makes
it worth getting out to the refuge just after dawn. Just a glimpse of half a dozen
Osprey moving North together -- like a short line of Great Blue Herons -- is reason
enough. The Northern Harriers actively head out early as well. While everyone, and
I mean everyone, loves to see an adult male Harrier, it surprised a couple of
visitors to the hawk watch last week to hear that the rarest Harrier at Plum Island
is the adult female! Remember, one-quarter of the Harrier population is adult male
[the gray ghost] and the rest are pretty much brown birds. And the vast majority of
brown Harriers observed on the island are immature females and males.
The question came up when a striking brown Harrier wheeled over a dune, "What is
that!?"
"An adult female Harrier."
"Wow! Really?"
================
Subject: Hawks Today: 1000+ Kestrels, so far this Spring...
Date Sent: Thursday, April 18, 2002 12:58 AM
With 153 new ones today, April 17th, the American Kestrel total for the Plum Island
Hawk Watch now is over one thousand [1053]!
------
While it is usually a close contest to see who gets the top Spring Kestrel count in
North America, Plum Island MA will easily hover and glide away with the 2002
highest season total. The other top sites -- Cape Henlopen DE, Sandy Hook NJ, and
Fort Smallwood MD -- have 2002 totals that, when all totalled together, don't add
up to the Plum Island thus far.
------
With a roasting high of 94°F and oven-ready West winds increasing to 14 mph in the
afternoon, the leading edge of the backdoor cold front cut into the refuge at 5:30
pm shifting the winds to NNE and dropping the temps to 67°F in two minutes.
After a slow start on light West winds in the morning and the small number of
migrants getting up and working toward the mainland, when the afternoon winds
picked up everything came down nice and low staying right in the dunes, nailing the
hawks to the coastline. When you have Turkey Vultures cresting over the dunes and
lumbering up the road, the winds are working in the hawkwatcher's favor.
In addition to the Kestrels [153] and 8 Merlins, there were migrating TVs [3],
Ospreys [2], Harriers [4], Sharpies [9] and a single Cooper's Hawk. Three species
of butterflies were tallied today: Mourning Cloak, Cabbage White, and Red Admiral.
One dragonfly was noted today sans wings... a kiting Kestrel had what looked like a
big, old hat pin -- if you're old enough to know what that is -- held in its
talons.
And, in case you were wondering, that makes 270 pounds of Kestrels for the season.
=============
Subject: Hawks Today: Plum Island Hawk Migration
Date Sent: Wednesday, April 17, 2002 12:47 AM
The temperature made it all the way to a toasty 59°F along the dune line today,
April 16th. The SE winds at the shore provided a some air conditioning, while the
bubble of warm air inland provided birds -- boths hawks and hawk food.
There were three small kettles of Great Blue Herons that lifted off with the fog at
10 a.m. -- 8, 5, and 7 birds; the first significant groups of DcCormorants started
late Monday and continued this morning; the Gannets were close by today on SE
winds; by the close of the day, 2 male Purple Martins were attending the houses.
And there were seventy migrating hawks: Osprey [1], Northern Harrier [11],
Sharp-shinned Hawk [3], American Kestrel [50], Merlin [5].
Plus a Snowy Owl was dug in just under the lip of The Blow-out, south of the hawk
watch for the duration of the afternoon and was still there when I left at 5pm.
===============
Subject: Hawks Today: Patriot's Day Hawk Migration
Date Sent: Monday, April 15, 2002 11:51 PM
The North Shore remained North of the occluded front -- a cold front draped west to
east across New England -- and under a low cloud ceiling temps never made it out of
the low 50s and there was periodic mist and light rain at times on easterly winds
for almost all of Monday, April 15th.
There were a few hawks on the move today at Plum Island... the rain birds: 2
Osprey, 2 Merlins, 2 American Kestrels, 2 Northern Harriers, and 2 observers
reviewing favorite incidents from [nearly] every Seinfeld episode in between birds
while waiting for the front to lift North. We had a lot of time to do this.
In addition, the Golden Plover was seen again from the refuge gatehouse by Rick
Heil and myself [it circled around for a couple of minutes].
Also: 10 Great Blue Herons dropped into the marsh, 60 DcCormorants overhead in the
largest Plum Island group thus far, several Kingfishers about on the marsh, and one
male Purple Martin made a brief appearance.
We did have the Western Grebe close off the end of the boardwalk at 4:30pm in the
company of many Horned and Red-necked Grebes.
===========================
Subject: Hawks Today: Plum Island Hawk Migration
Date Sent: Monday, April 15, 2002 2:11 AM
Southwest winds on Saturday [4/13] out ahead of a cold front and Northwest winds on
Sunday [4/14] following the rain produced a two-day total of 232 migrating hawks.
Saturday's flight became a two-tier movement by mid-morning [birds low along the
dunes and in over the marsh also low, but there were birds quite high overhead
too]. On Sunday, the birds were low and every birder on the island was aware of
their northbound migration. However when a full-cropped adult Peregrine breezed
through on the deck at 9 am, only Dennis Peacock and I were around to see it... and
it was spectacular [Seinfeldian emphasis].
The two hundred-plus number was fueled by 198 American Kestrels [70 and 128,
respectively], and there were Ospreys [5,2], Turkey Vultures [2,0], Northern
Harriers [7,4], Sharp-shinned Hawks [9,3], one Merlin, and a Peregrine.
Overall, 1100+ raptors have been recorded for the Spring from the refuge.
Saturday's other migrant highlights [aka hawk food]: Glossy Ibis [2], Great Blue
Heron [3], American Golden Plover [1], Mourning Cloak [1], Gannets.
Sunday's other migrant highlights: Purple Martin [first one], Glossy Ibis [4], Red
Admiral [2], Mourning Cloak [1].
==========
Subject: Hawks Today: Plum Island Hawk Migration
Date Sent: Friday, April 12, 2002 12:55 AM
Huh? Mostly joking, Massbirders asked about this fine piece of writing from my last
posting:
>almost a hundred and forty-eight raptors [148]
Originally, most of these emails are 2x or even 3x longer than the final version.
As I edit them down to something people might read, I also make writer's changes...
the passage above started as "almost a hundred and fifty [148] raptors." When it
dawned on me how silly that was I changed it, but forgot to remove "almost." I
almost caught it in time.
=========
Now, here's a half-time report from the BFZ [Broadwing Free Zone] of Plum Island.
It is numerically the midpoint of the average season here. The American Kestrel
accounts for over sixty percent of the flight here!
An over/under on the definers of the Plum Island hawk migration -- Kestrels and
Harriers -- show them right on their averages for this date. But the sex ratios
have probably been influenced by the warmer, snowless winter. While the total
number of migrating Harriers is right on for the date, there have been half the
adult males [Gray Ghosts] as normally would fly by.
Adult male Kestrels should have made up the majority on the 115 Kestrel day at the
end of March, but they did not. Observers on the refuge for the April 4th even
bigger flight [298 AKs] commented on the dominance of females, or the infrequent
number of males, that day. It is possible that these first-males-back got a really
good jump on the season and had cleared the region early.
Looking at a couple of other trendy species -- TVs and Merlins -- each is down 20
from last year at this date, while they are certainly on the increase and they may
catch up over the next few weeks, their movement hasn't been as great at this
observation point on the Atlantic coast.
The following raptors were deemed to have migrated for the 2002 Spring migration to
date:
46 Turkey Vulture
8 Osprey
1 Bald Eagle
126 Northern Harrier
15 Sharp-shinned Hawk
3 Cooper's Hawk
1 Broad-winged Hawk
2 Red-shouldered Hawk
28 Red-tailed Hawk
649 American Kestrel
21 Merlin
6 Peregrine
___
906
Start date: 2/28/02; all/part of 20 days covered so far; for 119.25 hrs.
===================
Subject: Hawks Today: Plum Island Hawk Migration
Date Sent: Thursday, April 11, 2002 1:03 AM
For the first three days of this week -- April 8-10, 2002 -- we had hawks! With a
westerly component to the wind every day, almost a hundred and forty-eight raptors
[148] were deemed to migrating past the hawk watch: 8 Turkey Vultures, 17 Northern
Harriers, 6 Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1 Broad-winged Hawk, 2 Red-tailed Hawks, 108
American Kestrels, 5 Merlins, and a Peregrine.
Sixty-eight Kestrels were recorded on Wednesday, April 10th, follow days of 19 and
21. One Merlin, on a very windy Tuesday, had worked and reworked a prey item up
into the contour of her underside so well that the 'dark and dead' wasn't visible
until the falcon was directly overhead. And, while a male Harrier [Gray Ghost], any
Merlin [no matter how quick], or a Peregrine would be a noteworthy sighting for the
Massbirder visiting Plum, the adult Broadwing [today] qualifies as the rarity from
the refuge for this report.
In addition the first butterfly of the year [probably a Red Admiral] blew by on
Tuesday; and Gannets were visible from the hawk watch in front of the Information
Center each day. Plus, the usual cast of refugees from work dropped by for hit of
hawks.
Thanks to Rick Heil for providing Monday's count [from the refuge gatehouse] and
collaborating on Wednesday [from Parking Lot #1, Hellcat, and the gatehouse].
===============
Subject: Hawks Today: Plum Island Hawk Migration
Date Sent: Sunday, April 7, 2002 1:56 AM
Friday, April 5th produced a trickle of leftover Kestrels and Harriers, a couple of
Merlins, a Turkey Vulture and a Sharp-shinned Hawk in the early morning, many,
well out into the marsh on NE winds.
The first Bald Eagle of the Spring however, was reported by the refuge staff flying
low up the road at 5:30pm.
Saturday, April 6th was a so-so flight day with North winds that never quite stayed
the forecast NW course. Thirty-five migrating raptors for the day was primarily a
morning flight of Turkey Vultures, Ospreys[3], Northern Harriers[6], Sharp-shinned
Hawks, Redtails, Kestrels[5], Merlins[2].
For the observers who stayed late [2], a 4pm Peregrine Falcon charging up the marsh
provided a long look and made the day worth it!
===========
Subject: Hawks Today: Plum Island Hawk Migration
Date Sent: Friday, April 5, 2002 2:08 AM
The second American Kestrel Wave occurred at Plum Island today, April 4th.
Nearly three hundred Kestrels moved by primary in the morning: 200 by 10am and 260
by 11am... 298 Kestrels, the final tally by 4pm. Also 29 Northern Harriers, 5
Turkey Vultures, a couple of Sharpies, 4 Redtails, a Red-shouldered Hawk, and 2
Merlins migrated through on moderate NW winds.
Usually April 7-10 is the window for this second movement of the Spring, but
weather conditions were conducive to this earlier flight date.
So, over 500 Kestrels and nearly 700 total migrating raptors for the Spring of 2002
thus far.
Under the category, "only at Plum"... an adult Iceland Gull glided over 8 Wild
Turkeys on the duneline.
====================
Subject: Hawks Today: Plum Island Hawk Migration
Date Sent: Thursday, April 4, 2002 2:10 AM
After 115 Kestrels on Saturday March 30th, another hundred have passed since --
from Rick Heil's birds on Monday through the ones I had Wednesday, April 3rd. Also
today, the first dragonfly scurried by.
For the Spring season [beginning February 28th], there have been 350+ migrating
hawks representing 10 species.
=====================
Subject: Hawks Today: Plum Island Hawk Migration 3.30.02
Date Sent: Sunday, March 31, 2002 1:51 AM
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.
Thought this Kestrel slot was going to be Sunday, but it was Saturday. The April
1st blast of Kestrels -- approx. one hundred of the "Greater Tree Swallow" --
occurs annually.
Very light rain on straight South winds shifted to WNW at 4mph and the first
Kestrel was had at 12:40pm, followed by 49 more in the next hour! The Kbird flight
got quite high on 60F temps, while the Merlins and Harriers were on the deck.
The following raptors were deemed to be migrating:
6 Northern Harriers
115 American Kestrels
5 Merlins
___
126
Hawk Food: Tree Swallows, Pale-bellied Brant, Snow Geese, and Gannets.
================
Subject: Hawks Today: 3/14/02
Date Sent: Friday, March 15, 2002 1:39 AM
Got out to Plum Island this afternoon for the hawk flight: a Kestrel, an immature
Cooper's Hawk, and some [migrating] Harriers moved on by Parking Lot #1. Up to 4
Redtails were in view and one took a small mammal on the salt marsh just west of
the Parker River -- an unusual occurence -- it landed with a friend for awhile.
Later, the [Salt Panne] Snowy Owl was out and about and then landed on the salt
marsh near the hawk watch which became a temporary owl watch for passersby and
refuge staff [sorry it wasn't in view earlier when a couple of birders stopped and
ask specifically about owls on the refuge].
Continuing on owls... 6 species had over the last week: Snowy and Short-eared at
Plum; Great-horned, Barred, Screech, and Saw-whet around the house [Stow MA].
And to finish on a hawk note, the local Red-shouldered Hawk pair were overhead as I
got home late this afternoon.
================
Subject: Hawks Today: 3/11/02
Date Sent: Tuesday, March 12, 2002 2:25 AM
The first migrating American Kestrel of the 2002 season was detected early this
morning on Plum Island. "Moved right on through [the dune line]," said Rick "The
Gatekeeper" Heil.
While the hawk watch at Parking Lot #1, Parker River NWR has been underway on and
off for March and while eight species of hawks have been deemed migrating so far,
this was the first Kestrel -- the first of a projected thousand plus AKs for the
2002 Plum Island Hawk Watch.
Also today: an adult Red-shouldered Hawk flew directly up the marsh and cut over
toward Newburyport; an adult Peregrine persued two Black Ducks extremely low over
the Salt Pannes causing one of the ducks to abruptly leave the air and do a swan
dive into the water! And, by plumage, there continues to be a changing of the guard
for the Northern Harriers on the refuge -- same numbers; different individuals.
Stay tuned.
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