Current Activity

The last week has been a case study in obstructed viewing with fog, rain, sleet, and snow all forcing the count to end early or not happen at all.

The weather has also effectively shut down the raptors, with only one day this week (3/29) having any sort of a flight. That day did feature the first Red-shouldered and Sharp-shinned Hawks of the season, along with 26 Bald Eagles and 10 Red-tailed Hawks.

Migration in general has been limping along, the south winds midweek did bring in the first American Woodcock, Canada Geese,  Mallard, Northern Flicker,  Golden-crowned Kinglet, Juncos, Song Sparrows, Common Grackle, and a near record early Western Meadowlark (3/30-per Binford’s book it just missed the record set back on 3/27/1973).

Winter birds are still bumming around,  most notable being the the White-throated and Harris’s Sparrow that have successful over-wintered at Cherri’s feeders here in town. A Northern Shrike continues to make occasional appearances on Brockway, Hoary and Common Redpoll have been reported in town, and flocks of Bohemian Waxwings are still passing through.

Brockway drive hasn’t opened up much, I wouldn’t recommend trying it in a vehicle for another couple weeks (judging from the tire tracks and ruts going off the road, someone tried to drive up today and failed).

Ending this post on a cold note, here’s some attractive looking ice:

So excited! The pair of lift bridge Peregrine Falcons are hanging around the nest boxes. There is a web cam on each the south and north tower. When on the website, scroll down to see both. Visit the site & have fun…. http://pasty.com/nestbox.html

After ten days of easterly winds, occasional flurries, and a lackluster flight south winds finally arrived and with it came the first flight of the season with 22 Bald Eagles, 4 Golden Eagles, 1 Northern Goshawk, and the first Red-tailed Hawks of the spring!

Other birds around the mountain lately include a Northern Shrike seen intermittently working the ridge line since the start of the season, a few Bohemian Waxwings, redpolls, siskins, and a Snow Bunting. In town the resident Northern Cardinals are singing along with the first Red-winged Blackbirds of the spring (which arrived the 24th). American Robins and American Tree Sparrow arrived earlier in the week. Finches have had a lackluster showing thus far, although while walking town today in the ran/snow I did run into a redpoll/siskin flock that had a single Hoary Redpoll.

Snow on the mountain is slowly melting, with the west bluff now 70% snow free. The road still has plenty of snow though, so don’t plan on driving up just yet.

The highlight of the season for me happened while driving up 41 last week when a Fisher crossed the road in front of me and then proceeded to hunt along the shoulder of the road!

The weather improved and there was movement over the mountain. Bald Eagle, Golden Eagle and Northern Goshawk were seen. Some other birds include Bohemian Waxwing and local Common Raven.

Some equipment failure and a snowstorm delayed the count officially.
So, this is the view Tim got at the top of the mountain today. It’s supposed to be much more clear tomorrow!