Observation start time: 09:00:00
Observation end time: 15:00:00
Total observation time: 6 hours
Official Counter: Sue Barth
Observers: Jim Landau, Sharon Sisti
Visitors:
It was a fun hour + to have our captain, Jim Landau, back at the watch,
bringing some clarity to the puzzle of Hamburg's fickle raptor successes
and failures. Jim helped spot for over an hour. Sharp-eyed Sharon Sisti
stopped in and brought a few raptors with her. Kelvin Jones returned for a
bit in the morning and helped spot those elusive, super high birds.
Weather:
A beautiful day that was mostly sunny - temperatures rose from 54°F to
70°. Winds were weak and variable with WNW being the most predominant
direction.
Raptor Observations:
The weak winds were pleasant but not conducive to a decent flight. The warm
temperatures and abundant sunshine coupled with those weak winds kept what
raptors we did get high - very high. For the first couple of hours, most
birds were completely out of view and could only be picked out by scanning
with binoculars.<br><br>Migrants included: 74 Broad-wings, 59 Turkey
Vultures, 15 sharpies, 1 coop, 1 Red-shoulder, 7 Red-tails, an adult Bald
Eagle, and both a Merlin and a kestrel represented the falcons. Local
Red-tails, Turkey Vultures, and a coop lazily circled over the watch on and
off making it vexing to keep tabs on who was a migrant...
Non-raptor Observations:
5 Common Loons flew over and the season's first House Wrens, Blue-gray
Gnatcatcher, and Purple Martins were seen at the watch.
Predictions:
<b>Tomorrow:</b> looks like better conditions for a flight - higher
temperatures, possibly getting into the mid-seventies, SW winds with just a
little more "kick".<br>
<b>Friday:</b> looks good as well - pretty close to tomorrow's forecast but
a tad cooler and a slight chance of rain in the afternoon.
<br><br>
<b>eBird Checklist:</b><br><a href="https://ebird.org/checklist/S228638755" title="Today's eBird
Checklist">https://ebird.org/checklist/S228638755</a><br><br> ========================================================================
Report submitted by Sue Barth (<suebarth...>)
Site Description:
This spring only "all volunteer" watch is conducted at Lakeside Cemetery in
Hamburg, NY. It is located on flat lake plain located along the shoreline
of the east end of Lake Erie, about 10 miles south of Buffalo, NY.
For additional information contact Jim Landau at <landaujr...>
