Hello Birders, I live about 70 miles north of Hitchcock as the hawk flies in the Loess Hills. From my home in Bronson, I observed 90 raptors late this afternoon, after noticing how massive a migration was underway while I was doing some yard work.
>From 4:10-4:40 was the largest push of migrant raptors. I observed 77 birds flying over in the short 30 minute time span. Here is the breakdown: 1 Turkey Vulture 1 Osprey 2 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 Coopers Hawk 11 Northern Harrier 5 Swainsons Hawk 50 Red-tailed Hawk (one appeared to be a Harlans) 1 American Kestrel 1 Peregrine Falcon 4 Unidentified Buteos After viewing the raptors for 30 minutes, I had to leave for a meeting in Sioux City. When I got to back to Bronson at 6:20 I saw a group of 5 Red-tailed Hawks settling in for the night. All of the birds from that point on were flying low (last hawk was at 6:35, I stayed out until 6:50). 1 Swainsons Hawk (=6 total SW) 12 Red-tailed Hawk (=62 total RT) Other non-raptor highlights from the day were: 63 American White Pelican 255 Double-crested Cormorant 1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Good Birding, Tucker J. Lutter Bronson, IA (712)-948-3696 --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: [email protected]
