March 9-13, 2017 Interesting Migration

Leader:
March 9-Hal
March 10-Pam
March 11-Rose
March 12-Rose/Hal
March 13-Judy

Migration:
March 9-19 Swainson's Hawks
March 10-37 SW's
March 11-32 SW's
March 12-209 SW's
March 13-35 SW's

Discussion:
Although we have a steady migration, the numbers are still low for this time of the season. The weather could be a factor. Temperatures in the mid-90's with very little wind may be slowing migration. We do have caterpillars and some feeding behavior. Flowers are peaking and the bloom is perhaps the best in 30 years. Even with many weedy non-native plants the flowers are wonderful. Of course thousands of folks are pouring into town making driving difficult. The hawks are moving to locations far from the madding crowd.

Audubon Magazine is now in town. Mac Stone, the photographer has some of his shots below. Also, the Birding Festival will begin on Wednesday.

Evening Watch Monday March 13:


Prediction:
This evening at 5pm somewhere between 125 and 150 hawks appeared to the east. They settled down into the mesquite dunes. See the youtube: https://youtu.be/e7vk2O3lIVs
Tomorrow expect a slight breeze in the morning. Temperatures will remain in the middle 90's. The hawks probably will get up between 9 and 10a. Best viewing from Henderson Canyon Rd east of Borrego Valley Rd. This is at the flower fields. The hawks are to the south of Henderson Canyon Rd. You can view the hawks taking off from the evening site on Borrego Valley Rd 1.8 miles north of Palm Canyon. Then move to Henderson. Traffic coming into town could cause some backup.

3/13/17 Mostly Light Morph SW's-Mac Stone

3/13/17 Nice shot with another flyer-Mac Stone

3/13/17TeTGreat shot of a Light and Dark Morph-Mac Stone

Yellow Sphinx Moth Caterpillar-Ted Spriggs Jr.

Dark Sphinx Moth Caterpillar-Ted Spriggs Jr. 

March 5-8, 2017-Aerial Feeding Continues and Caterpillars Spotted

Leaders:
March 5-Herb/Judy
March 6-Herb/Judy
March 7-Steve
March 8-Laura

Migration:
March 5-15 Swainson's Hawks
March 6-0
March 7-54 Swainson's Hawks; 12 TV's
March 8-115 Swainson's Hawks

Discussion:
Hawks continue to arrive in small numbers. Today, Wed. March 8th saw an uptick in numbers. Several small kettles and one large kettle were observed from the alternate watch site. Aerial feeding (ants) took place for more than an hour before hawks departed the valley going northwest and west.

Evening Watch:
This evening we had several early hawks enter the valley. At 4:30pm hawks were observed very high and finally descending into the Date Farm and Roadrunner Club. At least 75 and probably more than 100 are in town. Lots of flying ants and some caterpillars are in the valley.


Prediction:
Warm (90) and calm wind tomorrow Thursday March 9. Expect lift-off of nice kettles between 8 and 9am. tomorrow. Flying ants might slow the migration. Best viewing spots are from the evening site 1.8 miles north of Palm Canyon Drive on Borrego Valley Rd; Di Giorgio Rd near Big Horn and at the alternate count site just south of Henderson Canyon on Di Giorgio Rd. I will be at the alternate site at 8am.

Flying Ants-A Mating Pair

SW Pouncing on Flying Ants

Typical Swainson's Hawk Shape at a Distance-HC-3/8/17

1960 Nash Metropolitan-This Evening-Always Something New At The Watch-3/8/1-HC

March 3,4, 2017-Hawks Are Trickling Through and Feeding

Leader:
March 3-Rose
March 4-Rose

Migration:
March 3-3 Swainson's Hawks
March 4-17 Swainson's Hawks

Discussion:
Today, March 4, hawks were aerial feeding on flying ants. They spent more than an hour very close to the alternative count site on Di Giorgio Rd just south of Henderson Canyon Rd.

Evening Watch:
At least 37 Swainson's Hawks flew low to the Date Farm area. They may have been feeding in fields, although no caterpillars have been observed yet. Flowers are increasing in numbers and we expect caterpillars soon.

Prediction:
Unfortunately high wind is predicted early tomorrow so lift-off could be just after sunup.

TV on Di Giorgio Rd 3/2/17-HC

Thursday March 2, 2017-A Crazy Day at the Watch

Leader:
Hal assisted by Rose and Don Wallace

Migration:
Swainson's Hawks-79
Turkey Vultures-36
Red-shouldered Hawk-1
Also observed a White-tailed Kite not migrating

Discussion:
At 8am I discovered a Swainson's Hawk across from the alternate watch site. At 8:30A hawks began to appear near the Date Farm and Ellis Farm. Small kettles formed throughout the morning. At 9:30A a call from Steve indicated a large kettle of mixed hawks (SW's and TV's) at 78 and Borrego Springs Rd. It took them an hour to make it to the watch area. We counted several hawks and vultures moving toward Palm Canyon.

Evening Watch:
No report this evening so probably no migration into town

Turkey Vultures Over DeAnza Country Club-2/2/17-Marcy Yates

The Week of February 21-February 28-Some Migration to Finish the Month

Leaders:
Feb. 21-Steve
Feb. 22-Laura
Feb. 23-Hal
Feb. 24-Rose
Feb. 25-Laura
Feb. 26-Hal
Feb. 27-Herb
Feb. 28-Steve
March 1-Laura

Migration:
Feb. 21-11 SW's
Feb. 22-10 SW's; 1 TV
Feb. 23-0
Feb. 24-0
Feb. 25-21 SW's
Feb. 26-1 SW's
Feb. 27-0
Feb. 28-29
March 1-14 SW's; 1 Red-shouldered Hawk

Discussion:
The month of February came to an end with 29 Swainson's. The total month included 570 Swainson's Hawks, a record. The previous high was 384 in 2005. Does this mean that we will have a banner season? Perhaps. The valley is covered with green. Flowers are abundant. Now we wait for the voracious caterpillars. It's those pesky fat critters that might bring in a bumper crop of Swainson's. If previous seasons are indicators, this one could be the best ever. The recent rain has provided enough moisture to prime even more flowers. The rainy front probably backed up the SW's and this evening we expect more hawks. We'll see.

Evening Watch March 1:
Eleven Swainson's Hawks spent some time above the Date Farm before putting down for the night.

Prediction:
Very light wind predicted for March 2. The hawks probably will take off late-8:30-9:30AM. We are still waiting for another big hawk migration. Last year we had a large group arrive on March 5. From March 8-26 we had hundreds of hawks in the valley daily. Wildflowers are in abundance but not peaking yet. Very few caterpillars have been observed. Next week we expect caterpillars to begin to show up in abundance and of course the hawks as well.

Henderson Rd Flower Field-Sunflowers-3/1/17-HC

Desert Lily-End of Di Giorgio Rd-3/1/17-HC

Dune Evening Primrose-End of Di Giorgio Rd-3/1/17-HC

Evening Watch 3/1/17-Borrego Valley Rd-HC

Monday February 20, 2017-A Record Day For February

Leaders:
Herb
Judy
Assisted by:
Hal
Steve

Migration:
Swainson's Hawks-489
Cooper Hawks-2
Turkey Vultures-11

Discussion:
A remarkable beginning of the season dashing the records for February! At 8:30am two large kettles formed over the Date Farm. The hawks streamed west/northwest and out of the valley.

Evening Watch:
This evening 13 Swainson's came in and spent some time drifting about. A few are roosting in Tamarisk Trees far to the east. Some might be in the Date Farm


Prediction:
Wind should be calm so we are looking for lift-off between 8 and 9AM.

Waiting to Migrate-HC

Eucalyptus Tree With SW's-HC

First Evening Watch of the Season-Over 200 Swainson's Hawks Have Arrived-February 19, 2017

As a prelude to the beginning of the hawk season (Monday February 20, 2017). We were surprised by a large incoming kettle of hawks. Over 200 Swainson's Hawks have descended into the Date Farm.

Discussion:Tomorrow morning should be interesting. Our first day at the watch. Will the SW's stay in the valley?There are flowers and some caterpillars. Although the number of caterpillars are sparse, they might attract some of the hawks to begin feeding.

Remember the new official count site is at the end of DiGiorgio Rd. We will have someone posted there tomorrow at 8am.

Prediction:
The wind should be down tomorrow so takeoff will be rather late. Expect birds in the air between 8 and 9am or even later. The hawks are located in Eucalyptus trees in the Date Farm. We will have a spotter near the site (about 1.5 miles north of Palm Canyon Drive on Borrego Valley Rd.).

First Large Caterpillar of the Season-Last Week-Steve Bier

Part of the large group of Swainson's Hawks in Eucalyptus Trees in the Date Farm-HC