Current Activity

May is starting out well and the days with a south wind have carried birds with it. May 1, 3 and 7 all had south winds and warmth. The snow is disappearing. The count for May:

DATE TOTAL BV TV OS BE NH SS CH NG RS BW SW RT RL GE AK ML PG UA UB
1-May 1074 0 26 14 6 10 349 5 1 0 605 0 32 19 2 3 0 2 0 0
2-May 1 1
3-May 971 0 32 1 3 5 260 2 2 2 564 0 36 55 0 7 0 2 0 0
4-May 166 0 2 0 4 2 60 0 3 0 73 0 7 12 1 1 0 1 0 0
5-May 305 0 27 0 0 4 22 0 0 0 225 0 13 10 1 1 0 2 0 0
6-May 183 0 36 0 10 2 13 0 0 0 99 1 19 0 1 1 0 1 0 0
7-May 1284 0 19 1 39 4 152 2 1 0 961 0 51 36 3 7 1 5 1 1
3984 0 142 16 62 27 857 9 7 2 2527 1 158 132 8 20 1 13 1 1

April ended on a sweet note and May started the same way. Both days had strong south winds and warm temps. A nice run of Ospreys on both days and on Tuesday one was chirping at new arrivals, displaying some territoriality. Late in the day on 4/30 a dark adult Swainson’s Hawk showed up and late on 5/1 a dark adult Red-tailed flew past.The snow is melting rapidly but there is still much. I will keep you updated. The count for Monday and Tuesday:

DATE TOTAL BV TV OS BE NH SS CH NG RS BW SW RT RL GE AK ML PG
30-Apr 749 0 22 8 16 27 378 2 0 3 224 1 31 25 0 7 0 5
1-May 1074 0 26 14 6 10 349 5 1 0 605 0 32 19 2 3 0 2

April 29

A warm and south wind day brought lots of variety and the highest, but still modest, count of the season. Canada Geese had a big count of 7,680. I think it was much higher but the raptor count took priority. 63 Sandhill Cranes. 4 species of buteos. Deb Mues did the count yesterday and she remarked how the ravens harrassed the Rough-legged Hawks with vigor. The ravens have been going at Bald Eagles and occasionally Red-taileds but save their best for Golden Eagles and roughies. Today’s count:

DATE TOTAL TV OS BE NH SS CH RS BW RT RL GE AK PG
29-Apr 343 44 4 34 11 64 2 1 53 89 30 1 6 4

It was wonderful to start removing some clothes. Red-shouldered and Shar-shinned Hawk were new to the count. Other new birds were 2 Common Loons, 7 Canada Geese and a Lapland Longspur. Great weather and an early S wind but no river of birds. But a fun day in the sun. Today’s count

DATE TOTAL TV BE SS CH NG RS RT RL GE
20-Apr 58 21 15 1 1 1 2 15 1 1

Got 1.5 hours in today after the snow and fog. Nice tiny run of Bald Eagles and Red-taileds with sunshine, warmth and a mild NNW wind. Southerly wind and warmth have been lacking. April’s count so far:

DATE TOTAL TV BE NG RT GE ML PG
1-Apr 0
2-Apr 1 1
3-Apr 10 10
4-Apr 10 7 1 2
5-Apr 12 11 1
6-Apr 2 2
7-Apr 4 2 2
8-Apr 8 6 1 1
9-Apr 7 1 3 1 2
10-Apr 25 1 21 2 1
11-Apr 28 4 19 5
12-Apr 13 9 4
120 6 91 2 14 4 1 2