Arrived at 9:45 and left at 2:15. Barometric pressure started high at 30.27 and dropped to 30.23 by 2:00. There was a light cloud cover that thickened up by noon, at which time the variable light wind became Westerly and 5-10 MPH. This brought what had seemed like a decent hawk flight to a halt.
Saw the first hawk of the day, a Sharpie, come over the north ridge at 10:47 and make a beeline straight towards me. It passed directly overhead and quite low. I wished I had the presence of mind to attempt a few pictures. Between then and 11:55 I counted 5 more Sharp-shins.
The jewel of the day appeared over the brow at 11:40. It was a Red-tailed Hawk and it was being dived on by a Sharpie. I figured it was a local, until it dodged the smaller hawk's dive and it's tail flashed almost solid white - very similar to the flash an adult Bald Eagle's tail makes when they turn. Now THAT was different!!! The tail had a faint rusty wash and the head was very light-colored. Every time it turned, that tail flashed. It was very distinctive and pointed to the bird's identity. It was a Krider's Red-tail, a very light color phase that comes from the prairie provinces of Canada. We've only seen a very few of these over the years. It caught a thermal and got very high before gliding south. I'd hoped it would give me a closer look as it passed. By far, the best hawk of the day!
Totals, 11/3/16:
Turkey Vulture - 19 (all in one group)
Sharp-Shin- 6
Red-tail- 3
Also seen: 261 American Robins
My next day on the lookout will be Monday, Nov. 7.
Reporting: Bill Haley
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November 7th is the filming of what goes on at a hawk watch. Please join us if you are able at 9 am.
November weather makes it easy these days to
KEEP LOOKING UP!!!
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