Observation start time: 07:30:00 Observation end time: 15:45:00 Total observation time: 8.25 hours
Official Counter: Devin Banning
Observers: Allie MacNeil, Andy Dickson, Harry Centner, Janet Chew, Marc Nichols, Mike Ceci, Terry Mahoney
Visitors: Seven visitors who each aided immensely in counting the big flight.
Weather: Overcast on arrival with strong SSE winds. The winds shifted to the south and then southwest. Warming temps throughout the day and a periodically clearing sky helped the flight but also led to the birds being incredibly high. No precipitation until about 1:30. By 2:30 the rain had cleared and a small flight briefly resumed. Flight shut down when a NW breeze developed around 3:15.
Raptor Observations: Our first good push of Broad-wings with over 1600. Big numbers of almost every raptor, with well over 200 Sharp-shinned Hawks, two dozen Cooper's Hawks (our season average is only 78!) twelve Northern Harriers, 9 total Bald Eagles, including four locals. A light-morph Rough-legged Hawk excited observers in th 1100 hour. 47 Kestrels!
Non-raptor Observations: 50 total bird species, with the highlights being six breeding plumage Lapland Longspurs that flew over only 10' off the ground calling. 2330 blackbird sp. is a low estimate, we often did not have time to speciate the blackbirds. 15 migrating Common Loons, Caspian Terns, an early Chimney Swift, our first Purple Martins of the year, a Greater/Lesser Yellowlegs was seen in flight over the field south of Site #1. Cormorants, Flickers, and Herons were on the move. A Carolina Wren serenaded us for over an hour. A Common Raven flew right over Site #1
Predictions: TOMORROW: Good winds out of the southwest, but predicted rains in the morning may snuff out any flight before it begins. Only time will tell! If rain misses or holds off tomorrow could be a continuation of today's numbers.
SUNDAY: light NNE winds, partly cloudy. A light flight is our best hope, maybe the Easter Bunny will bring some magic?
MONDAY: Steady strong S winds. Rain in the forecast, but only 60%. Another example of only time will tell. If rain holds off, there could be a substantial flight. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Devin Banning (<devincban...>) Ripley Hawk Watch information may be found at: www.facebook.com/groups/3193820734258889/
