As we are approaching the end of October, the number of raptors we are viewing is declining. However, we've had a number of close visitors to the Hawk Tower! A juvenile Cooper's Hawk did some hunting from the T-post behind the tower.
We have had some beautiful mornings here at Kiptopeke State Park. Last week brought us some foggy mornings. Even as the raptor count has slowed down, we are seeing large numbers of Yellow-rumped Warblers and other song birds.
Visitors to the tower are still arriving! We've had a number of great groups in the past week, including these polite young men from Boy Scout Troop 911 in Suffolk.
Our visiting groups always enjoy seeing our Model Raptors then trying to identify the birds in flight.
With help from our Hawk Counter, Anna, of course!
Our total so far for this season is 19,691 raptors... we are creeping towards the 20,000 mark.
Still seeing primarily Sharpies this week... out of yesterday's 254 birds we had 150 Sharp-Shinned Hawks. Wednesday brought us our season's first Slate-colored Junco as well.
Pretty amazing to see a Gray Kingbird in this neck of the woods!
Thanks Tim Barry for sharing.
We love meeting new people and having our next generation of birders visit us...
Please come see us soon!
Happy Birding!
-Caroline
