The cadre of hawk watchers who keep Putney Mountain the only full time hawk watch site in Vermont have maintained their dedication and passion in spite of a dismal (to date) hawk season. The lack of any strong weather patterns has kept the hawks from concentrating along the ridge. Normally during mid-September there are days when Broad-winged Hawks are counted in the tens, and even hundreds of birds, this year they have been counted by one here - one there - one way up there. On rare occasion there have been a few more birds at a time, but not often.
That said, there have been a few moments when an individual bird has provided excitement.
Bald Eagles always stir the blood of the watchers. This first year bird did that when it circled low over the watch site. A few minutes after this bird appeared, four adult eagles passed by, close, but not camera close ...
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| Bald Eagle (1st year) |
The owl decoy has attracted the attention, and enmity of an occasional young
Merlin, Cooper's Hawk, and Sharp-shinned Hawk ...
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| Merlin |
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| Cooper's Hawk |
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| Cooper's Hawk |
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| Sharp-shinned Hawk |
This
American Kestrel hovered briefly over the owl decoy, then thought better, and flew on ...
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| American Kestrel |
While hawk numbers have been slow to accumulate, there is always plenty to been seen, and good naturalists to see it with. Just a sampling ...
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| Tiger Moth Caterpillar |
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| Black-capped Chickadee |
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| Red-eyed Vireo |
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| Great Spangled Fritillary |
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| American Lady |
Good Birding - or whatever else you may be doing!!
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