Registrar: Miriam Rakowski
Participants: 18
Weather: Partially cloudy, 53-58 degrees, wind WNW going to NW 9-14 mph
Bird Species: 21
It was a cool, windy day, with good prospects for raptor migration, and as soon as we arrived, we began to see activity. Skeins of various sizes kept appearing, as Canada geese, Brant, and Double-crested Cormorants wove decorations in the clouds above. Some formed linear or semi-circular patterns, others partial triangles. We could see the birds alternating their positions in the flock. Turkey Vultures formed random-shaped kettles, floating through the clouds.
As an added treat, two local Peregrine Falcons entertained us with their interactions for most of the time we were there. But the most impressive feature of the event was the sheer number of birds fluttering past us.
Species Lists
Birds
Snow Goose (1)
Brant (135)
Canada Goose (538)
Mallard
Rock Pigeon
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Cormorants or geese too distant to identify (101)
Turkey Vulture (125)
Sharp-shinned Hawk (5)
Cooper’s Hawk (8)
Red-shouldered Hawk (1)
Red-tailed Hawk
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel (1)
Merlin (3)
Peregrine Falcon (3)
Blue Jay
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Mammal
Gray Squirrel, swimming across Turtle Pond
Butterflies
Monarch
