Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Thomas Filip
Observers: Nick Bolgiano
Weather: Sunny with moderate 8-12mph S winds in the morning gradually shifting to SSW by noon. Around 13:00, the winds quickly shifted westward to SW and by the end of the day NW. A warm day with a Low of 12℃ and a high of 29℃.
Other migrating raptors include 1 OSPR, 1 BAEA, 7 RTHA, 12 BWHA, 4 SSHA, 1 COHA, 2 TUVU, and 1 AMKE.
An unexpectedly good day for GOEA, our first was a sub-adult that came through early in the day. This one was #213 (and my personal #200 for the season), which makes this season's count the third highest for Tussey. Later at 11:56, we had 2 fly through at the same time. Flying high up on the S side, they did not delay and flew straight through. We barely managed to age one of them as an immature. We also had 12 BWHA, a high count so far. Hopefully this number will pale in comparison to the number we get next week.
14 COLO seen today, lower than the past couple of days despite similarly good conditions in the morning. We may have hit our big loon day for the season yesterday.
We also had 2 DCCO and 1 KILL flyover. For passerine flyovers, we had good diversity with 3 NRWS (first of the season), 1 AMRO, 1 HOFI, 3 PUFI, 1 PISI, 5 AGOL, 13 BHCO, and 5 RUBL.
We had some interesting local bird observations today. A BHVI was heard singing nearby, the first of the season. A flock of BCCH was heard singing past noon, perhaps they are finally splitting up and claiming territory. It seems the CORA nest has nestlings now. A CORA was seen carrying food twice today. This is the third day in the past week that I have seen them carrying food and it is always in the same direction (ESE over the ridge), which is also where I saw them carrying nest material the first day of the hawk watch.
Predictions: Sunny with NNW/NW winds at 8-9mph tomorrow. So far NW winds have not been too good for raptor migration in the second half of the season. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Thomas Filip () Tussey Mountain Hawk Watch information may be found at: tusseymountainspringhawkwatch.org/
