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