Nice Migration Today-3/5/13

Leader:

Steve Bier

Assisted by: Rose Leong, Herb Stone, Judy Davis, Joe Hopkins, Larua Webb, Hal Cohen and others.

Migration Today:

Swainson's Hawks-81

Turkey Vultures-18

Discussion:

On a calm warm morning the Swainson's slept in. At 9A there was some movement and at 9:15A the hawks began to kettle up. Some of the SW's began to feed on flying ants. Other SW's dropped into fields near Palm Canyon Rd.  For the next hour they meandered about before streaming west. They were joined by several TV's. The raptors left the valley through Palm Canyon. Count the birds in the photo's. The first shot is of the SW's in a Eucalyptus Tree on the Roadrunner Golf Course. The second shot is directly west of Di Giorgio Rd near Christmas Circle. The 3rd shot is through my scope at 32X. 

Evening Watch:

Counts varied but we believe that at least 35 Swainson's descended into the Roadrunner and back of the Date Farm. Numbers could be more by the count tomorrow. 

Prediction:

Unfortunately a brisk west wind is predicted for tomorrow. If the 25mph wind that is predicted, does materialize, the hawks will depart the valley at first light. If the wind diminishes before daylight we can expect a nice lift off around 9A. We will be out early on Di Giorgio Road near the Roadrunner Club.

How Many SW's?-3/5/13-HC

Again, How Many SW's and TV's-3/5/13-HC

Intermediate Morph SW's Through a Scope-3/5/13-HC

ALERT-80-120 Swainson's Arriving This Evening-3/4/13

Leader Today:

Hal Cohen

Assisted by Richard Yates, Joe Hopkins, Herb Stone

Migration:

SW's-25

TV's-4

Discussion:

The TV's were up at 7A and the lift for the Swainson's 7:10A. The SW below was the first to leave the valley. It was tough viewing today as the wind pushed the hawks out early. Flowers are beginning to show up so caterpillars may follow. Two Juvenile Golden Eagles flew past the watch. Most likely local birds.

Evening Watch:

A very large group of Swainson's (80-120) flew in this evening at 5:20P. They stayed high until 6P. They descended into the vicinity of the Roadrunner Club. 

Prediction:

Wind tomorrow is going to be light in the morning. The hawks will probably begin kettling up between 8:45 and 9:15A. Best viewing spots are probably from Di Giorgio Rd about 1 mile north of Palm Canyon Drive. Or you can go to the morning count site on Di Giorgio Rd. just south of Henderson Canyon Rd. 

Dark Morph Swainson's Hawk-3/4/13-HC

Lupine-3/4/13-HC

Nice High Incoming Swainson's This Evening-3/3/13

Leader:
Herb Stone
Assistants-Judy Davis & Rose Leong

Migration Today:
Swainson's-3

Discussion:
The first two SW's were light morphs and the 3rd a dark morph. They all eventually made it out of the valley through Coyote Canyon.

Evening Watch:
Under a beautiful sky we watched 3 SW's early followed by a very high group of 9 SW's. By 5:45P another group of 15 appeared. All of the SW's made probably touchdown in the back of the date farm.

Lenticular Clouds  coming off the Santa Rosa's-High Wind-HC

Prediction:
The wind is predicted to settle down. If it doesn't, at least 25 SW's will depart early (6:30-7A). If the wind dies down expect the SW's to kettle up around 8:45-9:15A. At least 5 TV's were observed, probably residents.

5 Swainson's Today March 2, 2013

Leader:
Laura Webb
Assisted by Rose Leong

Migration Today:
SW's-5
TV's-18

Discussion:
First lift off at 8:45A from the Roadrunner Club. At 9A 4 more TV's and 5 SW's came up again from the Roadrunner Club. All of the raptors moved west then northwest out of the valley. 

Evening Watch:
A beautiful evening with 7 Swainson's Hawks observed at the Date Farm. They eventually moved off to the south, perhaps the Fun Farm residence.

Prediction:
Sunny with light wind predicted. It could be mid-80's tomorrow. On March 3, 2011 several hundred Swainson's Hawks descended into the valley. Could it happen again? Maybe. Watch for lift off between 8:45A and 9:15A

Watchers at the Evening Watch 6P- 3/2/13-HC

Sunset at the Watch 3/2/13-HC

Some TV's On The Move- March 1, 2013

Leader:

Herb Stone assisted by Rose Leong

Migration Today:

20 TV's

1 Red-tailed Hawk

Discussion:

Eight Turkey Vultures began to lift off at 9:15A from the Date Farm. A juvenile Red-tailed Hawk moved through at 10A. At 10:15A 12 TV's were spotted and streamed north. It looks like a few Swainson's Hawks are hanging around the valley. Some Grey-bird Grasshoppers have been spotted in the area. Perhaps the hawks have found some food. 

Evening Watch:

11 TV's

2 Swainson's Hawks-probably the same birds observed earlier in the day

Prediction:

Continued warm with light wind tomorrow. Expect the TV's to kettle up around 9A. Perhaps the Swainson's Hawks will make an appearance as well. 

A Turkey Vulture Kettle-HC

Looking east at Fonts Point (center height) and Ant Hill to the right
Redwood grape stakes up front with old water stand pipes-HC

The Month of February in Comparison

Migration Thursday February 28
3 Swainson's Hawks

Discussion:
We finished the month of February with 99 Swainson's Hawks counted. In the past ten years the average February count has been 170.7 SW's. Our best Swainson's season so far was 2011 when 8,894 SW's were counted. The February count for 2011 was 276. Our lowest SW total count took place in 2009 with only 1,876 SW's counted. In 2009 the February count was 147. We believe that our lower than average February count this year is not indicative of the rest of the season to come. You can check out the data from each year at Hawkcount.org. Select monthly summaries and scroll to Borrego Valley Hawkwatch. We now are in our 11th year of counting.

Also counted during February:
349 Turkey Vultures; 1 Osprey; 1 Northern Harrier; 2 Red-tailed Hawks

March is our most active season. It is likely that some wildflowers will show up in the next few weeks. Perhaps caterpillars will also enter the picture. Hopefully we will enjoy a great flower season with active feeding by the Swainson's Hawks.

A Raven profile-Know this bird as we get many-HC

Looking east from the watch site-Pyramid peak and old grape stalks from the 50's/60's-HC

A Few Raptors Tuesday February 26, 2013

Migration Today:
Swainson's Hawks-3
Turkey Vultures-10
Harrier-1

Discussion 
Today the sky was very clear. The first lift off was at 8:25A with a single Harrier. The SW's began to kettle up at 8:50A. Seven TV's joined the SW's. They all appeared to have roosted at the Date Farm or Roadrunner. 

The "Hill" pictured below is the official count site just south of Henderson Canyon Road and Di Giorgio Road. For two years now we have not had it plowed up. It still provides us with a slight rise in the surrounding area. 

Evening Watch:
No raptors observed migrating into the valley this evening.

Prediction:
Hopefully some raptors have entered the valley unannounced. The wind should be light tomorrow with warming temperatures.

The "Hill" on Di Giorgio Road-HC