Excellent flight

Finally a day with southerly winds all day! Great to have that coincide with the first day of the annual 'Spring Fling' weekend, for this weather produced an excellent flight.

Sharp-shinned Hawks dominated the flight, with 1316 counted, effectively more than doubling the season count for that species. Northern Harrier (adult male pictured below) also did very well, with 99, as did Merlin, with 11. Falcons were well represented overall with an adult Peregrine Falcon and 54 American Kestrels. Cooper's Hawk did very well with 12, a record day count in recent memory. Seven of these 12 Cooper's Hawks came by in the afternoon between 1 and 2 PM.

Other raptors counted today included 22 Turkey Vultures, 1 Osprey, 6 Bald Eagles, 4 Northern Goshawks, 48 Red-tailed Hawks, 78 Rough-legged Hawks, and 4 Golden Eagles.

Oh - and a Broad-winged Hawk! Finally had one. There should be a lot more to follow soon...