Bradbury Mountain Hawkwatch: Week 6

The first half of this week was quite good, then the weather took a turn for the worse and it all went downhill from there. We immediately followed up our fantastic day at the end of the previous week with a 236 bird day on NW winds which persisted through the first 4 days of the week. Then, an Omega block set in, keeping us under a pattern of overcast skies, rain, and east winds. No count was conducted on 4/24 or 4/25 due to rain, mist, and fog. Despite the slow end to the week, we were excited to pick up not one, but two Black Vultures – our first raptor rarities of the season. Non-raptor migrants remained on the low side, especially passerines.

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

BLACK VULTURE 2-2-1

TURKEY VULTURE 0-500-470

OSPREY 45-214-286

BALD EAGLE 1-46-97

NORTHERN HARRIER 1-70-84

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK 49-187-670

COOPER’S HAWK 6-24-56

NORTHERN GOSHAWK 0-2-3

RED-SHOULDERED HAWK 3-49-123

BROAD-WINGED HAWK 372-1328-1651