FreeLists / birdky / [birdky] hawk counting

[SS6400@xxxxxxx]

We had a total of 29 hours' coverage at Whitesburg, Kentucky on Pine  Mt.  
The numbers this year were very low, but I enjoyed it just as much,  anyway.  
Wonderful weather!  Counting began at 3 pm on Saturday, Sept.  16 and ended 
about 3:30 pm on Tuesday, Sept. 19.
Watchers included old regulars David Raines, Tom Bernardo, Dan Kendrick,  
myself, and one much-appreciated new pair of eyes belonging to Brad Goodrich  
(Thanks, Brad!)  
 
Broadwings - 302
Merlin - 1
Osprey - 1
Sharp-shinned - 4
Coopers - 1
American kestrel - 2
Unidentified raptors - 5
 
 
Additional notes:  Also, had a nice look at the darkest red tail  (Harlan's) 
I've ever seen.  It came in fairly close and kettled right  overhead.  About 
35 species total, with only a small number of  warblers.  I was happy to see 
our ravens still there, and we enjoyed the  many birds that were attracted to a 
thicket of sassafras trees to feed  there.  Tom reported watching a crow turn 
over rocks in the headwaters of  the Cumberland River looking for crawdads.  
(A new "behavior" for  me!)  
 
FYI, I really believe that maybe due to the recent rains up north and into  
Canada that there could be a good number of birds still to come.  Anyone  
having a chance to have a look might be pleasantly surprised.  I've had  close 
to 
500 on the 23rd before.  That's just MY opinion, for what  its worth!  
 
STEVE SWEENEY
BOYD COUNTY