Plum Island, MA - Newburyport
Daily Raptor Counts: April 16, 2014
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 0 25 25
Osprey 4 11 12
Bald Eagle 0 2 2
Northern Harrier 0 77 86
Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 14 14
Cooper's Hawk 0 3 3
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 1 1
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 0 1 1
Rough-legged Hawk 1 1 1
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 0 367 367
Merlin 2 19 20
Peregrine Falcon 0 1 1
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0
Unknown Buteo 7 7 7
Unknown Falcon 0 1 1
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 0 0
Snowy Owl 0 0 1
Total: 14 530 542
Observation start time: 07:00:00
Observation end time: 13:45:00
Total observation time: 6.75 hours
Official Counter: Ted Mara
Weather:
NW 16-33 mph, intermittently N 17-25. 0-6 degrees C. Cloudless skies.
Visibility 10+ miles.
Local conditions appeared ideal as a very cold Arctic front swept into the
area with strong northwest winds, driving out a low that left rain, sleet,
and about an inch of snow in its wake. Few migrants seen, likely due to
fact that winds in Connecticut and Rhode Island were due North 14-35 mph,
apparently bringing migration to a halt.
Raptor Observations:
Seven buteos were reported in a distant kettle on the western horizon.
Local TVs and Ospreys seen, along with a local adult Redtail. Good looks at
the roughleg as it moved north. At least two Snowy Owls still in the
immediate area.
Predictions:
Next several days do not look good with offshore winds for two days,
followed by weak land breezes.
Report submitted by Paul Roberts (phawk254@comcast.net)
Plum Island MA information may be found at:
http://massbird.org/EMHW/
Newburyport Birders: Observe - Appreciate - Identify