After seeing the first Golden Eagle of
the 2017 season on November 1st, we have had a few good
days with multiple Golden Eagles being counted at the Kiptopeke
Hawkwatch. Two Golden Eagles were seen on November 10th,
and three were seen on November 11th and November 14th.
The Golden Eagles passing by the hawkwatch platform have mostly been
high above us or off in the distance to the east of the platform, but
a few have come just close enough for a picture.
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| An immature Golden Eagle flying over the hawkwatch platform. Photo by Steve Thornhill. |
Golden Eagles tend to migrate over
inland ridges, and few stray to the Eastern Shore. There are
typically only five to ten Golden Eagles seen in the fall migration
season at the Kiptopeke Hawkwatch. To see more than one Golden Eagle
in a day is a treat.
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| Another immature Golden Eagle passing over the hawkwatch platform. Photo by Steve Thornhill. |
We have had some very late migrating birds turning up around the hawkwatch platform over the past week.
On November 11th, a Yellow-billed Cuckoo was seen perched
in the trees just north of the hawkwatch platform. A Red-eyed Vireo
was spotted foraging in a bush next to the platform on November 12th.
In addition to late birds, we have also seen a few late Monarch
Butterflies migrating over the hawkwatch platform on the warmer days
in the past week.
Just to the west of the hawkwatch
platform, three Snow Buntings have been seen around the Kiptopeke
State Park fishing pier. Snow Buntings are uncommon wintering birds
along the coast of Virginia. The Snow Buntings at Kiptopeke posed
for a nice picture on the railing of the fishing pier.
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| Snow Buntings perched on the Kiptopeke State Park fishing pier. Photo by Brian Taber. |
-Katie
