The day started off slow with a couple of Red-tailed Hawks, Red-shouldered Hawks, two Northern Harriers and some Accipiters moving early. Then a late migrating adult Broad-winged Hawk was spotted, followed by a juvenile the following hour. Then the third Rough-legged Hawk for the season, a juvenile light-morph with a dark chest and belly, was the beginning of the real excitement . The Rough-leg flew over the hawk trapping station as we held our breath to see if it would go into the station. Unfortunately it did not, but less than an hour later a Swainson's Hawk flew into the station! Although it is late for Swainson's Hawks it was the first one of the year, a juvenile dark morph.
A few noteworthy non-raptor migrants have made appearances at the hawk platform the past few days. Today a flock of 4 American White Pelicans were flying southwest at 1334. Two days ago a flock of 5 Sandhill cranes were spotted flying southwest and then yesterday were seen flying northeast. The Tundra Swan migration continues with 124 individuals counted today.
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| Dark-morph juvenile Swainson's Hawk |
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| Dark-morph juvenile Swaison's Hawk |
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~Katie
