End of April

Since the last post the weather has taken a turn for the worse with seemingly endless days of non-south winds coupled with rain and snow resulting in few raptors moving along the Brockway ridge. Only one day in this period broke the hundred bird mark with the 238 on the 18th, carried by 91 Red-tailed Hawks. Despite the weather April ended a thousand birds higher than last year, even though hours counted was over forty less. More birds in less time is something every counter can appreciate!

Off the mountain; The Iceland Gull lingered in town through the 23rd, while the Euro Tree Sparrows were present through the 18th. Bohemian Waxwings, Evening Grosbeaks, and Redpolls were present intermittently through the end of the month.

A House Sparrow (only the second one here, photo below) was present on the 18th along with a Eastern Towhee (my first in town) and the first Vesper and Chipping Sparrow of the spring.  A Field Sparrow was present on the 29th (only the second I’ve seen here, photo below). Warbler numbers and diversity continue to be low with only Yellow-rumped Warbler present in any sort of numbers.