Butterfly Garden Season Ends

The Observatory manages butterfly gardens at Kiptopeke State Park and at Jamestown Marina/Billsburg Brewery, which is pictured here. By mid-December most blooming plants have finished, though at the Marina Garden, Golden Alexander and Obediant Plant are still blooming as of Dec 17th. The dead vegetation is left in place until March, to harbor winter sparrows and finches.

The Marina Garden has a small table and 3 benches, including a kid-friendly low one. The hummingbird feeder in the photo will remain out for most of the winter at the Marina as hummingbirds are possible. The gardens produced a wide variety of species in 2021, including a very rare Lace-winged Roadside-Skipper at the Marina. Caterpillars for Black Swallowtail, Sleepy Orange, Monarch and Variegated Fritillary were found in 2021. Visitors enjoyed the garden daily.

Brian Taber

Kiptopeke Hawkwatch Ends Season

 Hey birders,

Somehow it's the end of November. That northwest wind is chilly and I had to dig deep to find my winter gloves, goofy hat and extra hoodies. I'm not sure where the time went; It seems like only yesterday when I was welcomed to the Eastern Shore by John and Martina with accompanying tall thunder clouds, a warm bay to swim in and tanagers and orioles and flycatchers and lots and lots of warblers.

Then the raptors came …and what an unforgettable experience. I'm so glad I was able to share so many with the fabulous birders and visitors up on the hawkwatch platform. Each one of you helped me through the long, long days, spotted birds out in the blue, brought me sweet potato biscuits, shared fabulous stories, even shared local IPAs…and accepted me into the Kiptopeke family.

And the raptors kept coming. Smashing overhead at a hundred miles an hour. Gliding on stiff wings several kilometers above us. Rising up on thermals. Each day different…not really knowing what to expect.

Now the last few raptors are passing me; the occasional red-tail, a red-shoulder, of course a Harrier not following the rules…. Bald Eagles are setting up breeding territories; A red-shouldered hawk screams at the marauding crow flock; and I'm sure that male Peregrine must need a break from another pigeon meal. The last of the big robin and blackbird flocks are almost gone.

I don't think I can pick out one memory …more a kaleidoscope of images that blur from one to another, spanning the season; those Merlins dashing through the book ends; the kids holding the binoculars the "wrong way"; another Swainson's Hawk; screaming "Golden Eagle" as the first of the season soars above flat top; 1200 hawks in a day, learning that binoculars can be a fashion accessory …and the peaceful solitude first thing in the morning as a gray ghost flaps over.

Well I'm off to carry on the bird evangelism elsewhere. Off to do bird surveys near Flagstaff, AZ and Las Vegas, NV.  Please don't take Kiptopeke for granted. Tell your friends; bring those kids with the young eyes; consider volunteering on the platform; contact the State Park System and let them know how important the hawkwatch is; and more than anything, enjoy those hawks!  If you want to say hi or stay in contact, my email is birdidiot@gmail.com. I'm going to be leading a couple of bird tours to Veracruz next fall; one is full but …. Just contact me.

Final tally at the end of the season:  total raptors 19,350

Osprey 4,039

Bald Eagle 797 a new season record

Golden Eagle 8

Northern Harrier 673

Sharp-shinned Hawk 4,260

Cooper's Hawk 1,412

Northern Goshawk 1 

Broad-winged Hawk  1,336

Red-tailed Hawk 508

Red-shouldered Hawk 97

Swainson's Hawk 3

American Kestrel 4,098

Merlin 1,395

Peregrine 670

Mississippi Kite 4

Happy birding,

Steve Dougill

(Photo is with the coveted Wild Turkey Trophy for the Kiptopeke Challenge Special Venue!)