Tom Armour, Bill Williams and I were at the College Creek Hawkwatch today,
February 10th, to start the 11th consecutive late winter/spring season. We
usually operate daily from about 9:30 a.m. to about 1 p.m. throughout the
season, depending on the weather. There doesn't ever appear to be much of a
flight
before or after that window.
At sunrise the temperature was only 18 F, but by the time we started at
10:00 it had risen to a balmy 29! There was a moderate breeze from the
southwest
and the wind chill kept us watching from in our cars for the most part. But
the sun was strong and created the mid-morning thermal updrafts that are so
popular with the hawks and vultures at this site, as we could see birds
circling
over Hog Island.
After 2 hours, we had recorded 12 Turkey Vultures, a Northern Harrier and an
American Kestrel (the kestrel represented 10% of last year's pitiful total
for that species) crossing the river. If they go much farther north they will
certainly be surprised by the intense Arctic air mass and many feet of snow.
We also watched as several Fish Crows came across, followed by a Great
Egret. There were at least 10 Brown Pelicans on the river, along with Forster's
Terns and Bonaparte's Gulls.
Brian Taber
College Creek Hawkwatch is a program of Coastal Virginia Wildlife
Observatory and is located on the James River, just east of Williamsburg.
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