Hey birders ….
It's not over until it's over! The raptors are still moving over, maybe at a more relaxed pace now and in lower numbers than during the peak a few weeks ago …but we're still having a lot of fun. Instead of Merlins zipping over and disappearing in a second we've been getting longer views … well that's a relative word with these gems as they are fast fast fast. Still, I'll take all I can get of these amazing birds. Sharpies are fluttering over just above the platform, turning their whole body on the side to look down at us. These little accipiters are topping the charts right now and typically are the commonest birds but the larger and steadier Coops are still giving pause and reflection. I can't count how many times an accipiter has changed back and forth between a coop and a sharpie as it approaches head on …what a great learning experience!
Old friends like the Osprey are still putting in an appearance. Often now they seem more hurried, flapping south instead of their long effortless glides of September. It's always a thrill when harriers flap over, typically low now, and typically at a totally different flight angle to the main flow. The rich pumpkin oranges and brown hues of the young birds remind me it's almost Halloween. Really, I've been here almost two months… and how can we get more goulish than the gray ghost. A few male harriers are still being seen but maybe they will stop come all hallows eve.
The change now though is the focus on the larger birds. Red-tailed and Red-shouldered hawk numbers are picking up and we just wait for sunny days with a little less wind to see small groups thermalling up. My advice is to inspect the vulture groups carefully as the other birds clue in on their superior ability to find and ride thermals. Often you will spot other raptors in their midst; a couple of buteos thermalling in and out of the larger, blacker vultures; a small sharpie spinning in tight circles at the top; and if we're lucky, go up even higher and there might be a Peregrine lazily circling looking down on all those Feral Pigeons.
Bald Eagle numbers are picking up …those huge wide barn door shaped wings hardly moving in the wind. But you need to check them carefully. A few days ago I spotted one that was flying a little differently: thinner, longer wings in a dihedral. I got everyone on the bird and as it came closer we could see the distinctive discreet white patches at the base of the primaries and a white tail band. Wow. An immature Golden Eagle. I'm so glad it was refound a few miles to the north feeding on a deer carcass close to (but not too close to) Highway 13.
It's also the time of year when diurnal songbirds and waterfowl are passing in big numbers. Clouds of Myrtle Warblers chip and seep overhead. Blackbirds chup as they cruise over in mixed flocks. Sparrows and thrashers are all around. Cormorants are forming long lines. Distant ducks are skimming the Bay. It won't be long until the Tundra Swans go over in line after line. It's really an exciting time. It's the time for the unusual raptors… maybe this will be a Rough-legged year. Maybe even a Goshawk. I'm just imagining a Short-eared Owl clearing the tree line and skimming the platform, it's yellow eyes fixed south.
Total birds by October 26 …17,246
Osprey 3892
Bald Eagle 475
Northern Harrier 527
Sharp-shinned Hawk 3653
Cooper's Hawk 1172
Red-shouldered Hawk 30
Broad-winged Hawk 1308
Red-tailed Hawk 159
Swainson's Hawk 2
Golden Eagle 1
American Kestrel 4001
Merlin 1333
Peregrine 641
Mississippi Kite 4
Steve
