Observation start time: 10:00:00 Observation end time: 17:00:00 Total observation time: 6.25 hours
Official Counter: AB
Observers:
Visitors: None
3 hikers.
Weather: After the rain and fog lifted a count was initiated at 12:45. NW winds at 20-28kph peaking at 29-38kph by 15:00. Visibility was mostly good at 25km except when a few brief rain squalls made their way across Stone Valley. Mostly cloudy skies for the entire count. Low temperature of 6C at 12:45 and a high of 7C by 15:00. Light of and on drizzle during the entire count.
Raptor Observations: OS 1 (23) BE 2 (76) SS 4 (89) CH 2 (30) Total 9 (980)
A decent and steady push of migrating raptors were moving along Tussey Mountain once the rain, fog and ceiling lifted in the afternoon. In the noon hour 2 CH migrated past the OP, one quite high and the other shooting through directly in front of me. It was so close I wouldn’t have seen it as I was busy tracking the high bird from a seated position. The low bird came inches from my knees and I enjoyed it looking over its wing at me once it saw movement as it made its way past the stone barricade. I’ve really enjoyed the days with no visitors when I get these close encounters. It lets me know I have my camouflage dialed. In the 13:00 hour I began to start to see SS and it was impressive to see them getting going in less-than-ideal conditions. With how much precipitation we have had in the last week accompanied with fog on Tussey Mountain I am sure these raptors are ready to migrate.
TUVU were the first resident raptors moving again once the rain abated. The adult RT whose territory seems to include the gap has lost ground to the AMCR noted below.
Non-raptor Observations: Another nice push of COLO early in the count with two groups of 7 each. There is a new sheriff in town near the OP and it is an AMCR. Going forward its name shall be Crandall. Crandall earned its notoriety during the days effort by mobbing other crows and CORA that flew past the cut. Later in the count I noticed it repeatedly going after the resident RTHA whenever it was spotted kiting in the gap. Crandall was fierce and consistent enough that the RTHA moved out every time which is impressive considering how fiery RTHA’s are. Towards the end of the count the largest herd of GCKI I have seen yet this season moved up the cut and foraged behind me. They were joined by TUTI, BRCR and of course BCCH.
Canada Goose 3 Mourning Dove 3 Common Loon 16 Turkey Vulture 9 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 Red-headed Woodpecker 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 Downy Woodpecker 1 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1 Blue Jay 2 American Crow 3 Common Raven 1 Black-capped Chickadee 2 Tufted Titmouse 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet 7 White-breasted Nuthatch 1 Brown Creeper 1 American Robin 1 American Goldfinch 1 Fox Sparrow 1
Predictions: Mostly sunny, with a high near 58. Northwest wind around 7 mph.
======================================================================== Report submitted by Adam Richardson (<poecile.gambeli...>) Tussey Mountain Hawk Watch information may be found at: tusseymountainspringhawkwatch.org/
