Jae Sullivan joined me for the Cayuga Bird Club trip to the Onondaga
Audubon's Derby Hill Hawk watch on Sunday, April 23ed. The weather was
right for a good flight and we were not disappointed. The official
count switched to the south lookout fairly early as the winds had
changed from southerly to the northwest. Although it was sunny and
clear, with the NW winds we still needed to dress warmly. Birds were
moving through high and distant because the NW winds were moving them
inland from the lake. We were treated to hundreds of Broad-winged
Hawks, some to the east of the lookout, but others would pass right over
us. Others moved by between the south lookout and Lake Ontario. With
birds being more distant, it made identifying more challenging. We
still had good looks at the Broad-winged Hawks, as many came right
overhead. A Red-shouldered Hawk came by and we both were able to see
the "commas" in the wings. A Merlin quickly moved through west of the
lookout. Jae was able to see those "falcon wings". A nice pamphlet
showing hawk silhouettes was passed out, which Jae found very helpful.
We also saw a Northern Harrier; Sharp-shinned Hawks; an Osprey; Turkey
Vultures, and Red-tailed Hawks. During our time there five Bald Eagles
migrated by with 4 of them being called: Juvenal (2), one Immature and
one sub-adult. ( I could tell they were not adults!) A Sandhill Crane
cruised by.
Other birds seen or heard at the South Lookout were Tree Swallows,
Eastern Bluebird, Goldfinch, Purple Finch, Savannah Sparrow, and
Meadowlark. A group of 7 Turkeys were in a distant field, and the male
was strutting around for the females.
From the North lookout, we saw many Long-tailed Ducks, out on Lake
Ontario. Cormorants were flying back and forth. I had nice looks at a
Pine Warbler sitting low in a tree, and we both saw a Yellow-rumped
Warbler and Ruby-crowned Kinglets.
The Broad-winged Hawk count for the full day was 4,951, with a total of
all hawks counted being 5,445. It is truly thrilling to take in this
migration spectacle, and we were so fortunate to have a good day for it.
We drove back via Montezuma Wildlife Refuge. Stopping at the
potato building on Rt. 31, we were treated to nice views of many
beautiful ducks. There was a group there from Binghamton and someone
spotted the Black-necked Stilt across the road from the potato
building. Everyone got good looks at it through the scopes. It was
getting late but we did go to the wildlife drive to see the Ruddy Ducks.
Thanks to Jae for joining me on a beautiful sunny day of birding.
BTW, they predict that tomorrow and Thursday should be very good at
Derby Hill with south-south easterly winds!
Take a lawn chair!
Good Birding
Gladys
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