Tiny and High, Even In The Scope

Jimmy and Bill - Selfie

Well, our Year To Date BW count is 1173.  Sort of low for it being the 23rd.  But everything is passing soooooooo high this year.  We know they are up there, because when we do get on any, they are usually sooooooo tiny.  Roi was scanning skies today with a scope and they were still tiny.  Even then it was all we could do to stay on them until they could be counted.  Not complaining, because we are at least getting hawks every day.  Pretty much through out the day, but sometimes some very slow hours.

When we arrived today, we were so pleased that Jim Rowell was waiting for all of us. He was birding with us in the early years when Roi and Debbie were. And it feels like family reunions this year.  He also stayed all day with us.  Eventually, getting to see several kettles, and lots of Bald Eagles.  He has been counting in Polk Co. for a number of years on a "bald" he's found.  He has seen some good things there, but also often has Ravens to watch. He said the Ravens give the Vultures a very hard time, diving on them when they roost and pulling out their feathers. Wouldn't that be a sight!

Skies varied from blue to scattered clouds to blue at day's end.  And winds went from South to West to NE by days end. The barometer dropped all day and the winds rose.  We could see all kinds of birds being buffeted quite a bit on several occasions.  It's fun to see a hawk almost stopped in it's tracks by the wind. Looks like they put on the brakes. LOL

Although our local Bald Eagles often touched base with the migrants a few times, we were able to distinguish 5 Baldies that were serious about hauling those tail feathers South.  We counted them.  A half dozen other sightings  of Black n Whites were decidedly locals, playing around on the winds or hunting.

A couple of our birds were just miracles that someone saw them.  Probably, Debbie...an Osprey and an American Kestrel.

Bill reminded us that we probably wouldn't see anything as rare today as the American White Pelicans were yesterday.  Probably nothing as beautiful either.  I still am in  awe of how lovely they were.

Next week we see there are some temps expected  to be in the 70's for highs. If you come next week, you may need a sweater in the am.  Hoping this will be like fronts that push more migrants our way.  Overnight temps are expected to be in the 50's.  I will try to post an hourly on Facebook, if my Explorer will stop trying to shut it down.


Today's counts were:

SEPT. 23, 2016

Broad-wings  127
Osprey               1
Sharp-shinned    1
Am. Kestrel        1
Bald Eagles        5
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Totals:  135 Raptors

That's the story.

 KEEP LOOKING UP!!!