After the big flight of Broad-winged Hawks last weekend, the counts tapered off dramatically with hawks often coming few and far between.
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| Searching the sky for hawks |
Even so, there were moments, such as the hour when there were 20
Osprey, and the 20 minutes when there were 5 Bald Eagles ...
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| Osprey migrating over Putney Mountain |
Among the other rather hard-to-come-by raptor highlights, was this beautifully backlit
Cooper's Hawk ...
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| Cooper;s Hawk |
The slow hawk flights gave time to search the ridge for other "things with wings" ... such as a migrating
Magnolia Warbler ...
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| Magnolia Warbler |
... and butterflies -
American Lady and
"Summer" Azure ...
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| American Lady |
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| "Summer" Azure |
Dragonflies are often seen flying over the clearing, and occasionally being taken by a kestrel or sharpie. One day this week, Shadow Darners were racing everywhere, but seldom resting. Early in the day, I captured one who paused briefly ...
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| Shadow Darner |
Putney Mountain Hawk Watch is occasionally short on hawks, but rarely short on the magic of the Green Mountains ...
... and when things become really lazy, well you just sit down for a period of somnolent contemplation ...
Good Birding!!
The Broadwings are tapering off here at Mt Peter Hawk Watch in NY. Every year I try to get the "big flight" but like, Charlie Brown, end up hearing about it the one I missed the next day.
ReplyDeleteWe had about 400 BW today as well as Bald Eagles, Kestrels, Sharpies, Harriers, and a hunting Peregrine.
Good birding, Chris!
Diane