Ed Pike counted Raptors today with the help of Jack and Bev Kirby. Steve Baker arrived about noon and caught the last of the birds moving south. Nancy Waldron and Mark Paddock stopped by for a visit. At 10:15 the winds were light and variable. With the light winds from the NW the raptors started moving just after 10:30 with a large number of Turkey Vultures with a few Red-tails mixed in. Several large Kettles of Turkey Vultures built up with a few Red-tails mixed in till just after 1 pm when the winds picked up from the west and the movement stopped. From about 11am till 1 pm several large “V”‘s of Sandhill Cranes flew over. With the light winds all the birds were very high with the Red-tails barely visible without binoculars. Although for only a short time there was a good push of birds making it a good day of counting.
Turkey Vulture 236
Sharp-shinned Hawk 10
Bald Eagle 6
Red-shouldered Hawk 5
Red-tailed Hawk 72
Sandhill Crane 471
Monarch Butterfly 8
