Smith Point Hawk Watch has been gathering data on raptor migration for over 25 years. The data has been compiled on Hawkcount and we are now able to see the timing of different species migrations. We can use this information to see when the most birds of a certain species are coming through. For example, if you wanted to see a Bald Eagle coming through Smith Point, this data tells us that we should try in late October to early November, as that’s when they’ve been seen the most.

 

Species Season Counts Max. Daily Counts Timing (Average spring / fall weekly counts)
Black Vulture
(Coragyps atratus)
Average: 184
Max: 405 (2012)
Min: 4 (2000)
67 (Oct 13,2013)
67 (Nov 05,2021)
60 (Oct 15,2012)
Turkey Vulture
(Cathartes aura)
Average: 2441
Max: 10064 (2021)
Min: 581 (1998)
3143 (Nov 05,2021)
2059 (Oct 30,2021)
1410 (Nov 14,2018)
Osprey
(Pandion haliaetus)
Average: 57
Max: 102 (2013)
Min: 7 (2008)
12 (Oct 11,2006)
10 (Sep 25,2006)
9 (Oct 02,2012)
Bald Eagle
(Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
Average: 17
Max: 79 (2021)
Min: 1 (2004)
15 (Nov 05,2021)
10 (Nov 13,2021)
9 (Nov 19,2021)
Northern Harrier
(Circus hudsonius)
Average: 378
Max: 816 (2012)
Min: 8 (2008)
110 (Oct 30,2021)
86 (Oct 29,2021)
68 (Oct 24,2007)
Sharp-shinned Hawk
(Accipiter striatus)
Average: 2574
Max: 7271 (2012)
Min: 7 (2008)
1179 (Oct 04,2012)
1174 (Oct 02,2012)
641 (Oct 01,2012)
Cooper’s Hawk
(Accipiter cooperii)
Average: 1018
Max: 2066 (2012)
Min: 11 (2008)
271 (Oct 02,2012)
265 (Sep 23,2011)
201 (Oct 05,2021)
Red-shouldered Hawk
(Buteo lineatus)
Average: 34
Max: 88 (2004)
Min: 6 (2008)
19 (Sep 06,2004)
17 (Aug 30,2004)
15 (Oct 29,2011)
Broad-winged Hawk
(Buteo platypterus)
Average: 41099
Max: 103877 (2014)
Min: 826 (2008)
49992 (Sep 25,2001)
28155 (Sep 25,2006)
26093 (Oct 18,2014)
Red-tailed Hawk
(Buteo jamaicensis)
Average: 149
Max: 391 (2018)
Min: 7 (2008)
186 (Nov 15,2018)
131 (Oct 30,2021)
109 (Nov 06,1997)
Rough-legged Hawk
(Buteo lagopus)
Average: 3
Max: 3 (2001)
Min: 2 (1999)
2 (Oct 16,2001)
1 (Oct 26,1999)
1 (Nov 09,1999)
Swainson’s Hawk
(Buteo swainsoni)
Average: 311
Max: 1036 (2004)
Min: 56 (1998)
259 (Oct 22,2004)
191 (Oct 30,2021)
173 (Oct 25,2017)
Ferruginous Hawk
(Buteo regalis)
Average: 2
Max: 2 (2011)
Min: 1 (2004)
1 (Oct 15,2002)
1 (Oct 21,2012)
1 (Oct 05,2003)
White-tailed Hawk
(Buteo albicaudatus)
Average: 11
Max: 28 (2012)
Min: 1 (1998)
7 (Aug 06,2012)
5 (Oct 18,2003)
4 (Oct 27,2003)
Harris’s Hawk
(Parabuteo unicinctus)
Average: 4
Max: 13 (2017)
Min: 2 (2020)
3 (Nov 10,2017)
3 (Oct 28,2017)
2 (Sep 19,2020)
Zone-tailed Hawk
(Buteo albonotatus)
Average: 1
Max: 1 (2014)
Min: 1 (2014)
1 (Sep 13,2014)
Golden Eagle
(Aquila chrysaetos)
Average: 2
Max: 5 (2012)
Min: 1 (2000)
2 (Nov 27,2019)
1 (Oct 20,1999)
1 (Oct 19,2012)
American Kestrel
(Falco sparverius)
Average: 1009
Max: 2449 (2012)
Min: 10 (2008)
552 (Oct 01,2012)
429 (Oct 13,2002)
347 (Oct 01,2007)
Merlin
(Falco columbarius)
Average: 54
Max: 110 (2021)
Min: 1 (2008)
40 (Oct 28,2021)
15 (Oct 29,2021)
10 (Sep 24,1997)
Peregrine Falcon
(Falco peregrinus)
Average: 81
Max: 135 (2013)
Min: 2 (2008)
20 (Oct 04,2013)
19 (Sep 20,2002)
18 (Sep 30,1999)
Prairie Falcon
(Falco mexicanus)
Average: 1
Max: 1 (2007)
Min: 1 (2007)
1 (Oct 09,2007)
Crested Caracara
(Caracara cheriway)
Average: 8
Max: 26 (2004)
Min: 1 (2017)
3 (Oct 14,2001)
3 (Aug 19,2002)
3 (Nov 03,2004)
Mississippi Kite
(Ictinia mississippiensis)
Average: 4442
Max: 9297 (2012)
Min: 2124 (1997)
4282 (Aug 28,2005)
3935 (Aug 28,2012)
3790 (Aug 29,2002)
Swallow-tailed Kite
(Elanoides forficatus)
Average: 94
Max: 202 (2008)
Min: 34 (1998)
97 (Aug 23,2008)
48 (Aug 27,2004)
48 (Aug 27,2012)
White-tailed Kite
(Elanus leucurus)
Average: 12
Max: 26 (2001)
Min: 1 (2011)
6 (Oct 10,2017)
3 (Sep 29,1998)
3 (Oct 31,2003)
Hook-billed Kite
(Chondrohierax uncinatus)
Average: 1
Max: 1 (2003)
Min: 1 (2011)
1 (Oct 18,2003)
1 (Oct 29,2011)