Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 17:30:00 Total observation time: 8.5 hours
Official Counter: Jim Thomson
Observers: Brian Butler, Brian Hardiman, Craig Stockert, Phil Rodriguez
Visitors: Rick Klinger ( without the Klinger karma ! ) Barry Swasny Mike Leone & Nora O'rourke- great seeing you two ! Suzanne Fiala - Great to meet you ! Come on back and help with the count !
Hikers- 34
Weather: Temps- 56-74 Deg.F, Wind- ENE@ 3-8mph becoming more variable in pm Clear Blue Skies all day long
Raptor Observations: A BIG WELCOME BACK to my buddy Brian Hardiman !! Great having you back up top !! Another day featuring deep blue skies.. no bueno !!! We did pick up a lot of mostly high flying raptors today and we worked for every bird that we got !! Thanks to all for your efforts ! Our runner up for Bird of the Day goes to the late day Merlin that came streaking in at the owl decoy, passed it, came back and started vocalizing at it, perched in a tree out in front of us momentarily, and than came back for a final pass at the owl before heading off down ridge. Our Bird of the Day selection goes to the young Bald Eagle that we picked up below eye level on the reservoir side. This eagle was slowly circling trying to gain altitude and each time it circled it got closer and closer to us until our bins were just full of eagle !!! A beautiful young Baldie that finally gained enough height and drifted off to the north but not before putting on an award winning performance for us !
Non-raptor Observations: Monarch- 8 Great Spangled Fritillary Tree Swallows- Many Canada geese TV's RB Nuthatch- 1 Bluejays ======================================================================== Report submitted by Jim Thomson (<hawkinflight...>)
