Counts
Turkey Vulture 58
Osprey 4
Bald Eagle 31
Northern Harrier 5
Sharp-shinned Hawk 16
Broad-winged Hawk 2
Red-tailed Hawk 8
American Kestrel 5
Merlin 5
Peregrine Falcon 9
unknown accipitrine 1
unknown falcon 3
unknown raptor 3
Total 150
Observation Period: 9:00AM – 6:00PM
Observers: Todd Watts
Weather: Cloudless skies. Wind west-northwest 20-25kmh with gusts to 40. Rh 70% dropping to 49.
Notes: A good mix of birds. Nearly all were low. Many moving below the horizon resulting in detection challenges for this single observer. The two late Broad-wings arrived within a couple minutes of each other, traveling below eye level, just above the trees. Surprisingly few kestrels today.
Highlights: Quite a few Peregrines.
Birds going for the decoy: Merlin (1), American Kestrel (2), Sharp-shinned Hawk (4). Others were likely missed.
Raptor interactions: Peregrine Falcon and Bald Eagle, Merlin and Turkey Vulture, Merlin and American Kestrel, Common Raven and Red-tailed Hawk, Common Raven and Osprey, Bald Eagle and Bald Eagle (aggressor listed first)
Non-raptors: Roughly 240 Canada Geese were detected as they moved through.
The coming days: Unfavourable winds are expected on Sunday. No counts are planned. Monday has some potential. Just how much is uncertain.
More details can be found at https://www.hawkcount.org. Additional information on hawk migration can be found at https://www.hmana.org/
This project takes place on private land. Please contact the project co-ordinator before visiting the site.
Primary support comes from the New Brunswick Wildlife Trust Fund (NBWTF) with additional support from the New Brunswick Environmental Trust Fund, private donors and the volunteers. Purchasing conservation license plates supports the NBWTF and this project.
Todd Watts
Official Counter/Co-ordinator
Greenlaw Mountain Hawk Watch
Saint John Naturalists’ Club