Saturday Iowa City had it annual 1 day hawk watch at Stainbrook.
We sit up and on the hill side at one of the best fall views in Johnson Co.
Rick Hollis
The following is Chris Edwards write up.
It was an interesting day. Right at noon the TVs started pouring through --
moving fast with the wind, not lazily circling on thermals like we usually
see them. The largest group was 48 and we ended with 163, smashing the old
record of 65 (at last back to 1991, the farthest I have records compiled).
We had 23 RTHAs (highest since 1995) and 11 BAEAs (highest ever), although
some of them could have been repeats. I was surprised by how few accipiters
we saw, 3 SSHAs, 1 COHA, 1 accipiter sp. Only other bird was a single
Northern Harrier moving past high up. Several kettles of Franklin's Gulls
which was interesting. It got colder and windier as the day progressed and
we were all ready to leave at 2:00.
Chris
