Bradbury Mountain Hawkwatch: Week 7

The weather was really quite pleasant on the mountain for several days this week, with the exception of one total rainout on 4/26 and a partial day on 4/27. An Osprey passing by the mountain on 4/28 was our record-setting bird bringing our new season high total to 6022. April 29th was the pick of the week with a nice total of 281 hawks counted. Sharp-shinned Hawks and American Kestrels were on the move. Another Black Vulture was a surprise on 4/29. Four Turkey Vultures set up in the trees just below the summit on 4/30 offering fantastic photo opportunities. Some first-of-years included Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and Northern Parula.

Week 7 Totals (current week - total to date – season average)  

BLACK VULTURE  1-6-1

TURKEY VULTURE  0-614-403  

OSPREY 31-310-404

SWALLOW-TAILED KITE 0-0-0   

MISSISSIPPI KITE   0-0-0   

BALD EAGLE 8-84-80

NORTHERN HARRIER 15-131-106

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK 156-646-660

COOPER’S HAWK 3-38-69

AMERICAN GOSHAWK 0-2-6      

RED-SHOULDERED HAWK 5-73-89

BROAD-WINGED HAWK 73-3780-1773

SWAINSON’S HAWK 0-0-0

RED-TAILED HAWK 5-88-209

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK 0-0-1

GOLDEN EAGLE 0-0-0       

AMERICAN KESTREL 63-511-354

MERLIN 19-61-70

PEREGRINE FALCON 1-4-6

UNIDENTIFIED RAPTOR 3-52-47  

TOTAL 383-6400-4277