A Few Hawks Today-March 20, 2013

Leader:
Laura Webb
Assisted by: Wes Hetrick, Rose Leong, Anne Reilly and Pam Albers

Migration Today:
Swainson's Hawks-12

Discussion:
An overcast day with temps around 75-80 and a bit more humid. At 8:35A lift off was from the east, probably near the potato fields. Some of the SW's began to aerial feed on flying ants.

Evening Watch:
An early fly-in  at 5:30P as around 100 Swainson's Hawks showed up from the east. They remained airborne for at least 45 minutes before descending into the Date Farm.

Prediction:
Tomorrow once again the prediction is for strong NW wind. If this does happen, the hawks will probably be airborne by 6:30 or 7A. A strong westerly wind will blow them east before they leave the valley. We might be lucky and they will return to fields near Borrego Valley Road before flying out.

When and Where to Watch:
As indicted above, the wind might come into play tomorrow early. We will have the leader and scouts out around 6:30A or earlier. Yesterday the hawks did get up early but began to fly east before returning to the count area after 8A. Watching lift-off early from the night site would work if the sand from the new solar fields doesn't get in your eyes. Check in at the day site on Di Giorgio Rd to find out where to watch.

The group this evening watching-3/20/13

Little Dots this evening-3/20/13

Crazy Wind Day-March 19, 2013

Leader:
Steve Bier
Assisted by: Rose Leong, Joe Hopkins, Hal Cohen, Karin Vickars, Ann Riley

Migration Today:
Swainson's Hawks-157
Turkey Vultures-14

Discussion:
A wild day with high wind from the northwest. Just after 6A at least 55 Swainson's departed the valley. Additionally around 100 SW's remained in the valley flying far east and reappearing to the west later. Many folks moved about looking for the birds and were rewarded with close views at times. Many hawks were sitting on the ground just off of Borrego Valley Rd. The second large kettle of hawks finally flew through Coyote Canyon and out of the valley.

So the beat goes on. The magic of March 19/20. Another triple digit day on one of these dates. That's 10 years in a row.

Below are photo's of the dump road sign (diagonal road leading to the potato fields). As the season progresses we might see more of the potato fields. Over 20 chemicals are poured into the potato fields to kill insects, fertilize, control weeds and defoliate the potato's at the end of the season. If you eat potato's, eat ORGANIC. Sprouts sells them sometimes at 50 cents a pound. We are concerned that the Swainson's Hawks might begin to spend time in the area of the potato fields, seeking dead and dying insects. We have had over 1,000 Swainson's Hawks in the fallow fields in the past.

Evening Watch:
Very few SW's were observed this evening, perhaps 5 at the Date Farm. Some hawks were spotted in a Tamarisk row east of the potato fields. It is possible that birds did come in but we missed them. Often hawks drop in very late and we can't see them.

Prediction:
The windy conditions are supposed to continue through tomorrow. If so, most hawks will depart very early. We will have scouts out looking for birds at the potato fields as well as at the Date Farm.

Where to Watch From:
Check in at the day count site located on Di Giorgio Rd south of Henderson Canyon Rd. The leader will be at the site by 8A.

The "Hill" watching to the east-3/19/13

5 Swainson's sitting in the field with old grape stakes in the background through a scope shot-3/19/13

Sign on Dump Road

The Dump on Dump Road

Agra-Empire Potato Field in Borrego Springs-3/19/13

Continued Good Swainson's Migration-3/18/13

Leader:

Bob Theriault

Assisted by Rose Leong, Richard Yates

Scouts: Hal Cohen, Joe Hopkins, Steve Bier

Migration Today:

Swainson's Hawks-221

Turkey Vultures-10

Discussion:

The weather was warm today-60-83 degrees. The largest kettle lifted off from the Date Farm and the Fun Farm. There were around 150 in the first group that moved a bit east before turning north and exciting at Coyote Canyon. At 10:20A 2 groups of SW's were spotted passing in front of Coyote Mountain. 

Evening Watch:

Shortly after 6PM a group of 27 Swainson's dropped into the Date Farm. Additionally a few more came in later. Totals of 30-35 Swainson's are roosting on the west side of the Date Farm. 

Prediction:

The wind hopefully will once again be light tomorrow morning. If so, the hawks will probably begin to kettle up between 8-9A.

Where to Watch:

Once again Di Giorgio Rd is the place to watch. Today the hawks did move north past the day count site. You might want to watch the hawks at the roost before driving north to intercept them at the day site.

First light on a tree with Sw's Hawks-3/18/13-HC

Same Tree a half hour later close up-How many Swainson's Hawks? 3/18/13-HC

Check out the eyes on this handsome bird-3/18/13-HC

Big Day Today-844 Swainson's Hawks-March 17, 2013

Leader:
Hal Cohen
Assisted by: Rose Leong, Laura Webb, Pam Albers and Joe Hopkins

Migration Today:
Swainson's Hawks-844
TV's-3
Peregrine Falcon-1

Discussion:
On a clear day with warming temperatures into the 80's we watched lift off from the west side of the Date Farm at 6:35A. Two very large kettles of over 500 SW's finally came together as the hawks streamed north then northwest. They meandered about before departing the valley. We thought we were finished for the day when small kettles began to form from the south. We had kettles totaling almost 300 additional Swainson's leave through Coyote Canyon from 9-11A.

Evening Watch:
At 6:30P we spotted over 100 Swainson's Hawks and a few TV's high above the Date Farm. By 6:50P they had descended into the Eucalyptus in the Farm. One hundred might be the low count.

Prediction for Tomorrow:
Once again we are faced with a forecast of diminishing wind however it is tough to forecast the wind in a specific area of Borrego Valley or at a specific time. If the wind abates by 6A the hawks will stay put. If the wind continues beyond 6A, look for an early lift off. Expect more than 100 hawks to take flight.

Where to Watch:
Tomorrow a good place to watch lift off will once again be on Di Giorgio Rd and Big Horn and further north, including the Hill (official count site) just south of Henderson Canyon Rd. Look for cars on Di Giorgio.

A Stream of Swainson's Hawks above the Hawkwatch-3/17/13-HC

The Stream Beginning to Spin Creating a Kettle-3/17/13-HC

HAWK ALERT-Major Incoming Swainson's This Evening-March 16, 2013

Leader:
Pam Albers/Rose Leong
Asssisted by: Laura Webb and Hal Cohen

Migration Today:
Swainson's Hawks-12
Turkey Vultures-1
Red-tailed Hawk-1

Discussion:
A warm day with temps rising to low 90's. A clear sky and light wind (a surprise). Nice close shots of Swainson's in trees. The hawks took off at 8:40A and moved northwest and apparently out of the valley through Coyote Canyon. If you would like to be on our ALERT system, send me your e-mail address. The ALERT will come directly to your inbox quicker than the blog.

Evening Watch: ALERT
Very windy and lots of blowing sand. We retreated to safe areas until at 6:40P a mass of Swainson's Hawks descended into the Date Farm. The first group had numbers exceeding 200. The second group another 100 or so. Hawks continued to drop down for another half hour. Many of the hawks took off and moved to new trees in the same region. With the continued wind they all may move before the night is over. We wouldn't be surprised if our numbers exceeded 400.

Prediction:
The weather forecast is for diminishing wind by morning (Hopefully!). If the wind does not continue through the night the hawks will probably not take off too early. However we will be out regardless to count them. The hawks could take off anywhere from first light to 9A. Let's hope for a calm morning.

Best place to watch the hawks will probably be from Di Giorgio Rd about 1.8 miles north of Palm Canyon Rd. We have noticed that the hawks take off from the Date Farm and proceed northwest. If this happens then a better place to observe them might be north of Big Horn on Di Giorgio Rd.

Swainson's Hawk Through Scope With Eyes Closed?-3/16/13-HC

Shot of Swainson's Hawk Taking Off-3/16/13-HC

Large Kettle This Evening-3/16/13-HC

Streaming to the Date Farm This Evening-Too Many to Count-3/16/13-HC

Great Kettles Today-March 15, 2013

Leader:
Joe Hopkins
Assisted by Rose Leong, Pam Albers, Herb Stone, Judy Davis, Hal Cohen

Migration Today:
Swainson's Hawks-192
Turkey Vultures-2

Discussion:
A very late take off on a very hot calm wind day. At 9:50A kettles up to 50 began to form from a lift off at the Date Farm. The hawks tracked north and then northwest crossing Di Giorgio as several watchers had great looks. By 11A all the hawks had departed the valley.

Evening Watch:
Apparently there were no hawks this evening. The wind has picked up and a weather alert has been posted. Winds in excess of 30mph and gusts to 50 are predicted tonight into tomorrow AM.

Prediction:
At least 24 Swainson's were reported this evening. They landed in the Date Farm. One SW's was observed at Ellis Farm to the north of the evening site. It is possible that other SW's are at the Ellis Farm however the wind made it tough to observe this evening. Even with the hawks roosting, they probably would take off at first light. Unless there is a reversal of the forecast, expect few if any hawks in the morning. We have been fooled in the past. Rose and Pam will brave the wind tomorrow AM and will be at the hawkwatch.

Part of a large kettle-3/15/13-HC

One of a half dozen kettles-3/15/13-HC

HAWK ALERT-Around 200 Swainson's Hawks Tonight-March 14, 2013

Leader:
Bob Theriault
Assisted by: Rose Leong, Joe Hopkins and Hal Cohen
Visitors from: Baltimore, Maryland and Washington State.

Migration Today:
Swainson's Hawks-38

Discussion:
Temperatures today reached 88 by 11A. The wind was calm. Once again the hawks roosted at the Date Farm and lifted off at 9:35A. They moved slowly to the northwest, taking more than an hour to complete the journey through Coyote Canyon.

Looking at previous years, the dates March 19 and March 20 come to mind. In the past 9 years we have had triple digit days for Swainson's Hawks every year during this two day period. March 19 had 7 triple digit days and March 20th had 4 triple digit days including 1,385 one day. Can we guarantee a triple digit day if you join us on March 19 and 20-probably.

Evening Watch:
At 5:40P around 200 Swainson's Hawks were spotted very high. They meandered around and finally descended onto the west side of the Date Farm. Estimates range from 160-225.

Prediction:
Winds should be calm tomorrow morning. At least 160 and probably more SW's will take off between 8:45 and 9:45A. Best viewing will be on Di Giorgio Rd between the RV Park and Big Horn.

Nice look at some SW's closeup today-3/14/13-HC

 

Part of the huge kettle we saw this evening-3/14/13-HC