A very slow day with lots of cloud cover and some rain. The bird of the day was a Common Loon. American Kestrel 1 Northern Harrier 8
Smith Point Hawk Watch 11/5/16 (184 raptors)
A pretty good day with lots more white-fronted geese and the first Sandhill Cranes of the season (3). Broad-winged Hawk 39 Red-tailed Hawk 9 Swainson’s Hawk 12 White-tailed Hawk 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 8 Cooper’s Hawk 12 Turkey Vulture 80 Black Vulture 6 American Kestrel 2 Peregrine Falcon 2 Merlin 1 Osprey 1 Northern Harrier 10 White-tailed Kite 1
Smith Point Hawk Watch 11/4/16 (141 raptors)
A great day. Lots of waterfowl moving through and the bird of the day, an adult Ferruginous Hawk! Broad-winged Hawk 11 Red-tailed Hawk 3 Swainson’s Hawk 2 Sharp-shinned Hawk 4 Cooper’s Hawk 7 Turkey Vulture 96 Black Vulture 5 American Kestrel 3 Peregrine Falcon 1 Merlin 1 Northern Harrier 7 Photo by Jason Bojczyk from 2011.
Smith Point Hawk Watch 11/3/2016 (35 raptors)
Really slow day today! Broad-winged Hawk 4 Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 Cooper’s Hawk 2 Turkey Vulture 20 Northern Harrier 7
Smith Point Hawk Watch 11/2/16 (186 raptors)
The vulture are coming through now! Bird of the day was a lone Wood Stork hanging with said vultures. Broad-winged Hawk 7 Red-tailed Hawk 1 White-tailed Hawk 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 Cooper’s Hawk 2 Turkey Vulture 132 Black Vulture 29 American Kestrel 3 Northern Harrier 10
Smith Point Hawk Watch 11/1/16 (86 raptors)
A rather dull day! Things are winding down I’m afraid. Beware these cold fronts late in the season though. They will bring the waterfowl and maybe a Golden Eagle! Broad-winged Hawk 11 Swainson’s Hawk 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 3 Cooper’s Hawk 2 Turkey Vulture 50 Black Vulture 11 Osprey 1 Northern Harrier 7
Smith Point Hawk Watch 10/31/16, (125 raptors)
A decent day. Bob reports about 300 Franklin’s Gulls! Broad-winged Hawk 66 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Swainson’s Hawk 7 Sharp-shinned Hawk 7 Cooper’s Hawk 4 Turkey Vulture 26 American Kestrel 3 Osprey 2 Northern Harrier 9
Smith Point Hawk Watch 10/30/16 (92 raptors)
Another slowish day. Bob reports lots of American White Pelicans arriving. Broad-winged Hawk 14 Red-tailed Hawk 2 Swainson’s Hawk 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 13 Cooper’s Hawk 8 Turkey Vulture 38 Black Vulture 5 American Kestrel 3 Osprey 1 Northern Harrier 7
Smith Point Hawk Watch 10/29/16 (86 raptors)
Another day, another south wind. Where are the cold fronts?! The highlight of the day was a Wilson’s Snipe in the pond with a small alligator. Broad-winged Hawk 13 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Swainson’s Hawk 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 20 Cooper’s Hawk 7 Turkey Vulture 34 American Kestrel 2 Peregrine Falcon 1 Northern Harrier 6 White-tailed Kite 1
Smith Point Hawk Watch 10/28/16 (87 raptors)
Not a stellar day but Bob reports several Magnificent Frigatebirds were a nice surprise. Broad-winged Hawk 10 Red-tailed Hawk 3 Sharp-shinned Hawk 18 Cooper’s Hawk 5 Small accipiter 1 Turkey Vulture 40 American Kestrel 6 Northern Harrier 3 White-tailed Kite 1
Smith Point Hawk Watch 10/28/16 (201 raptors)
Sorry for the late post everyone. Bob reports a decent day and the first Franklin’s Gulls of the season (a couple hundred flew over the tower). Broad-winged Hawk 30 Red-tailed Hawk 4 Swainson’s Hawk 4 Red-shouldered Hawk 2 Sharp-shinned Hawk 15 Cooper’s Hawk 23 Turkey Vulture 102 Black Vulture 6 American Kestrel 9 Peregrine Falcon 1 Merlin 1 Osprey 1 … Read More
Smith Point Hawk Watch 10/26/16 (123 raptors)
Still raptors heading through but the bird of the day was a Western Kingbird. Broad-winged Hawk 60 Swainson’s Hawk 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 10 Cooper’s Hawk 11 Small accipiter 2 Turkey Vulture 32 American Kestrel 5 Peregrine Falcon 1 Northern Harrier 1