Laura Webb
Migration:
Swainson's Hawks-187
Turkey Vultures-17
Discussion:
The number of hawks exceeded the prediction of yesterday evening. Several SW kettles formed from the Date Farm and an area to the south. Also several Turkey Vultures joined the hawks. I've been asked about evening and day numbers. In the evening we estimate the number of hawks flying in. We also establish the prime roost location. The evening estimate is wrong most of the time. Our count Monday evening was off quite a bit (120+observed in the evening). Often after the initial touch down there will be additional hawks, even after we have gone home. This morning I noticed hawks flying in from the east to join the prime group. There are often multiple roost sites in one evening. Today photographers got some great shots of perched birds along the road. Also the kettles and streaming hawks across DiGiorgio Rd were spectacular. The photos below are mine with a small Lumix camera. I am hoping that the number of photographers with real camera's and lenses out there today will share their shots.
I was also asked the question as to why so close this season. Last season we had an abundance of food available and the hawks spent most of there time foraging away from typical roost sites. When they finished feeding they retreated to nearby roosts. These roosts were a distance from the observers.
Evening Watch:
This evening only 8 Swainson's Hawks came in. Of course it's possible we missed some. They may have descended into the back of the Date Farm or the Roadrunner Club.
Prediction:
Wind should be light tomorrow so expect the hawks to kettle up between 8 and 9am.
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| Along Borrego Valley Rd-HC |
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| Very Dark SW-HC |
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| Another View-HC |
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| A Kettle From a Distance-Light Morphs Showing Up and A TV-HC |
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| Very Dark Morph-HC |
ReplyDeletespa in Kathmandu