Fairly favorable conditions translated into a modest surge in numbers. Today's type of weather would have produced a great flight only two or three weeks ago, but now the count reached no further than 161, the majority being Sharp-shinned Hawks (94). The 'sharpie carousel' stopped turning altogether in the afternoon, when winds turned to the SW and became very strong.Best raptor today was this immature female Northern Goshawk. Hadn't had one in six days. Other sightings included 15 Turkey Vultures, 5 Bald Eagles, 1 Northern Harrier, 29 Broad-winged Hawks, 6 Red-tailed Hawks, 3 Rough-legged Hawks, 2 American Kestrels, 4 Merlins, and 1 Peregrine Falcon.
Quite a bit of activity from the passerines today, with several flyby warblers, most of them Yellow-rumped but also a beautiful male Blackburnian and a male Black-throated Green. Two Tennessee Warblers landed in the tree next to the platform. Both Evening and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks were seen as flyovers from the platform.
How can you tell this is a female? I am not good with telling sex on goshawks....Thanks.
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