Bradbury Mountain Hawkwatch: Week 4

Winds this week were from all directions, ranging from really gusty to completely calm. Temperatures at the beginning were below normal, just to shoot up to above normal at the end of the week. 4 out of the 7 days had counts over 50, making for some pretty good days. the 500th Turkey Vulture was counted on 4/11 which brings this species above average for the season. The first Broad-winged Hawks are starting to arrive, and Osprey, Sharp-shinned Hawk, and American Kestrel numbers are ticking up right on schedule. Not too many non-raptors arrived this week, but 3 more Sandhill Cranes and a Mourning Cloak butterfly were seen on 4/7.

This week’s totals (this week – season to date – 2022 total):

BLACK VULTURE 0-0-1

TURKEY VULTURE 119-500-470

OSPREY 53-61-286

BALD EAGLE 2-41-97

NORTHERN HARRIER 15-50-84

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK 49-79-670

COOPER’S HAWK 1-15-56

NORTHERN GOSHAWK 0-0-3

RED-SHOULDERED HAWK 6-45-123

BROAD-WINGED HAWK 6-6-1651

RED-TAILED HAWK