Smith Point Hawk Watch 10/30/21 (4100 raptors)

Bob reports 4100 migrating raptors today. Black Vulture 13 Turkey Vulture 2059 Osprey 1 Northern Harrier 110 Sharp-shinned Hawk 180 Cooper’s Hawk 159 Bald Ealge 4 Broad-winged Hawk 1247 Swainson’s Hawk 191 Red-tailed Hawk 131 American Kestrel 5 A mostly north wind supported a great flight! The first Greater White-fronted Geese of the season passed by and more Sandhill Cranes … Read More

Smith Point Hawk Watch 10/29/21 (543 raptors)

Bob reports 543 migrating raptors today. Northern Harrier 86 Sharp-shinned Hawk 254 Cooper’s Hawk 79 Broad-winged Hawk 1 Swainson’s Hawk 13 Red-tailed Hawk 2 American Kestrel 93 Merlin 15 Strong westerly winds today, about 25 mph with a gust of 39 mph. The birds loved it! 30 Snow Goose, 1 Ross’s Goose, 100 Franklin’s Gulls, 65 Sandhill Cranes, 1 Wood … Read More

Smith Point Hawk Watch 10/28/21 (255 raptors)

Bob reports 255 migrating raptors today. Turkey Vulture 63 Northern Harrier 8 Sharp-shinned Hawk 6 Cooper’s Hawk 2 Swainson’s Hawk 1 Red-tailed Hawk 1 American Kestrel 133 Merlin 40 Peregrine Falcon 1 Really strong west winds today. Most of the kestrels and Merlins came late in the day. 15 Sandhill Cranes and 75 Franklin’s Gulls made their way past the … Read More

Smith Point Hawk Watch 10/27/21 (22 raptors)

Bob reports 22 migrating raptors today. White-tailed Kite 1 Mississippi Kite 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 12 Cooper’s Hawk 2 American Kestrel 5 Merlin 1 A strong west wind and rain for a couple of hours kept the birds from moving. Nine frigatebirds enjoyed it though and also nine Sandhill Cranes, the first of the season fly by. Tomorrow might just be … Read More

Smith Point Hawk Watch 10/26/21 (204 raptors)

Tad reports 204 migrating raptors today. Turkey Vulture 177 White-tailed Kite 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 18 Cooper’s Hawk 3 Broad-winged Hawk 1 American Kestrel 3 Peregrine Falcon 1 Southerly winds and overcast skies kept the raptors from moving today. But Turkey Vultures didn’t get the memo. The skies were full of them midday for several hours. Bird of note for the … Read More

Smith Point Hawk Watch 10/25/21 (222 raptors)

Bob reports 222 migrating raptors today. Black Vulture 11 Turkey Vulture 129 Mississippi Kite 2 Northern Harrier 5 Sharp-shinned Hawk 7 Cooper’s Hawk 10 Bald Eagle 4 Broad-winged Hawk 42 Swainson’s Hawk 2 Red-tailed Hawk 7 American Kestrel 3 It was foggy in the morning but cleared up by noon. First dark Broad-winged Hawk of the season! A dolphin sighting … Read More

Smith Point Hawk Watch 10/24/21 (49 raptors)

Bob reports 49 migrating raptors today. Turkey Vulture 30 Osprey 1 Northern Harrier 4 Sharp-shinned Hawk 5 Cooper’s Hawk 3 Broad-winged Hawk 2 Red-tailed Hawk 2 American Kestrel 1 Peregrine Falcon 1 Strong SE winds killed the flight today. The lone frigatebird remains and about 50 Barns Swallows entertained everyone by swooping around the tower snapping up bugs.

Smith Point Hawk Watch 10/23/21 (176 raptors)

Bob reports 176 migrating raptors today. Turkey Vulture 125 Mississippi Kite 4 Northern Harrier 4 Sharp-shinned Hawk 21 Cooper’s Hawk 10 White-tailed Hawk 1 Swainson’s Hawk 1 Red-tailed Hawk 1 American Kestrel 7 Merlin 2 A single frigatebird appeared, the first in a week. Several Blue Grosbeaks and Dickcissels passed through but the best was a White-tailed Kite harassing a … Read More

Smith Point Hawk Watch 10/22/21 (465 raptors)

Bob reports 465 migrating raptors today. Turkey Vulture 197 Northern Harrier 2 Sharp-shinned Hawk 6 Cooper’s Hawk 4 Bald Eagle 3 (all adults) Broad-winged Hawk 226 Swainson’s Hawk 3 Red-tailed Hawk 4 American Kestrel 17 Merlin 2 Peregrine Falcon 1 A heavy fog lifted around 9:30 and the east wind supported some flight. Lots of swallows!

Smith Point Hawk Watch 10/21/21 (463 raptors)

Bob reports 463 migrating raptors today. Turkey Vulture 84 Mississippi Kite 1 Northern Harrier 3 Sharp-shinned Hawk 12 Cooper’s Hawk 7 White-tailed Hawk 1 Broad-winged Hawk 326 Swainson’s Hawk 1 Red-tailed Hawk 1 American Kestrel 22 Peregrine Falcon 5 The winds were NE turning to variable. A lone Wood Stork flew by again, probably the same loner as yesterday. Two … Read More

Smith Point Hawk Watch 10/20/21 (582 raptors)

Bob reports 582 migrating raptors today. Turkey Vulture 21 Osprey 1 Northern Harrier 3 Sharp-shinned Hawk 39 Cooper’s Hawk 7 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 Broad-winged Hawk 486 Swainson’s Hawk 1 American Kestrel 23 The wind started out NE which brought some birds but then switched to the E. A lone Wood Stork graced the tower today. Sara Harrison helped out.

Smith Point Hawk Watch 10/19/21 (1039 raptors)

Tad reports 1039 migrating raptors today. Turkey Vulture 45 Black Vulture 6 Osprey 1 Northern Harrier 4 Mississippi Kite 2 Sharp-shinned Hawk 39 Cooper’s Hawk 8 Bald Eagle 2 Broad-winged Hawk 899 Swainson’s Hawk 1 Red-tailed Hawk 1 American Kestrel 28 Merlin 2 Peregrine Falcon 1 It was a pleasant fall day with moderate easterly winds. Early on the only … Read More