Today, April 20th, Fred Blystone, Tom Armour, Bill Williams and I watched a
decent flight crossing the river at College Creek Hawkwatch. Birds were east
and west, high and low. The 11 species ties the daily record set twice before,
both times in April.
The total of 60 included 6 Black Vultures, 25 Turkey Vultures, 3 Ospreys, 1
Bald Eagle (though 10+ were circling around or fishing), 3 Northern Harriers,
11 Sharp-shinned Hawks, 2 Cooper's Hawks, 1 Red-shouldered Hawk, our first
Broad-winged Hawk (they are generally singles at the site), 3 Red-tailed Hawks
and 4 American Kestrels. The season kestrel total is 11, one above last
year's dismal total. The kestrel plight is evident in the east coast flyway
report
of Hawk Migration Studies journal, just out, from the Hawk Migration
Association of North America.
There was a tremendous swallow flight of many thousands, some were very
high. A few Chimney Swifts were crossing the river, too and and singing right
beside us was an Orchard Oriole.
Despite the recent long spell of rough weather, we are still a little ahead
of last year's record pace, at 1252.
Brian Taber
College Creek Hawkwatch is located on the James River near Williamsburg and
is a program of Coastal Virginia Wildlife Observatory
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