Derby Hill Bird Observatory
Mexico, New York, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: May 31, 2026
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 1 13
Turkey Vulture 75 3895 40060
Osprey 0 80 309
Bald Eagle 8 594 1313
Northern Harrier 0 120 627
Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 570 3448
Cooper's Hawk 0 14 314
American Goshawk 0 0 2
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 1 500
Broad-winged Hawk 30 5816 45914
Red-tailed Hawk 0 224 2913
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 68
Golden Eagle 0 2 68
American Kestrel 0 17 445
Merlin 0 14 82
Peregrine Falcon 0 3 12
Unknown Accipitrine 0 0 0
Unknown Buteo 0 0 0
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 0 0
Swainson's Hawk 0 0 1
Total: 113 11351 96089
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: David Brown
Observers: CJ Harkola, Dave Wheeler, Don Metzger, John Heidecker,
Judy Thurber, Mary Harkola, Tim Whitens
Visitors:
9
Weather:
Mostly sunny becoming mostly cloudy with cirrus clouds then a thickening
cloud layer as rain moved in from the north at the end of the count. Winds
moderate from the west. Count conducted from the South Lookout.
Raptor Observations:
A moderate migration of Turkey Vultures (75), a trickle of Broad-winged
Hawks (30) and a few Bald Eagles (8). Also local Ospreys, Cooper's Hawks,
and Red-tailed Hawks.
Derby Hill 2026 Daily Summary Videos:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLB8baxseGlb6YYCLHXEKtIckpJtq1srVm
Non-raptor Observations:
North Lookout (morning birding): 77 Canada Geese (northbound flocks), 3
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, 100 Double-crested Cormorants, Red-headed
Woodpecker, Magnolia Warbler, 3 Blackpoll Warblers.
https://ebird.org/checklist/S350079891
South Lookout: 210 Canada Geese (northbound flocks), 26 Rock Pigeons,
Eastern Wood-Pewee, Willow Flycatcher, Yellow-throated Vireo, Eastern
Warbling Vireo.
https://ebird.org/checklist/S350479064
No new species for season.
Predictions:
Today was the final day of the 2026 season of the Derby Hill Hawk Watch.
This season had the 2nd highest overall total ever with more than 96,000
migrating raptors. Turkey Vultures set a new season record with more than
40,000. New single-day records were set for Black Vulture (4) and Turkey
Vulture (10,624). More than 200 species of birds were recorded.
A big thank you to the Onondaga Audubon Society and to all of the
volunteers and visitors who made it a successful season!
-David Brown
========================================================================
Report submitted by David Brown ([email protected] )
Derby Hill Bird Observatory information may be found at:
http://onondagaaudubon.com/derby-hill-bird-observatory/
More site information at hawkcount.org:
https://hawkcount.org/siteinfo.php?rsite=358
Count data submitted via Trektellen.org - Project info at:
https://trektellen.org/count/view/3860/20260531
--
Oneidabirds-L List Info:
Visit: http://LISTS.cornell.edu for more information
Posting Address: [email protected]
Sightings: Please submit your observations to eBird at http://www.ebird.org.
--
