Backyard Hawkwatch (new & better reports)
Geoff Graff (ggraff@erols.com)
Wed, 30 Sep 1998 19:51:49 -0400
Backyard Hawkwatch (est. 1992), Fall 1998
Site: 3812 White Ave., between Belair Rd. and Walther Ave. - northeast
Baltimore City in the Gardenville section.
Topography of the Site: The prominent peak in the area is a steep ridge
about 180-200' above Belair Road and about 260' above sea level. It
runs northeast to southwest and is the first ridge west of the
Chesapeake Bay. It is about 12 miles from the bay, and is about 5 miles
northwest of the head of Back River, an arm of the bay, and about 6
miles north of Baltimore's Inner Harbor. There is a long narrow old-
growth of woods about 3+ acres on top of the ridge. My hawkwatch site
is about 150 yards west of the ridge. From the west side of the ridge,
going west past my site, the topography continues to rise for about 6/10
mile to a height even higher than the ridge. The only road that runs
along side of ridge is Fairwood Ave., that connects from White Ave. to
Parkmount Ave.
The hawkwatch is located in my backyard. Most of the hawk flights
arrive from the northeast and a few from the north.
Reports: Kevin Graff (ggraff@erols.com)
Counter: Kevin Graff
(site manned, it depends on the weather, 9am-6:30pm - Sept.)
SPECIES 9/30 SEASON 1997
Turkey Vulture 1 23 362
Black Vulture 0 2 13
Golden Eagle 0 0 3
Bald Eagle 0 10* (5 ad. & 5 imm.) 9
N. Harrier 1 19 25
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 32 106
Cooper's Hawk 0 19 82
N. Goshawk 0 0 2
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 6 51
Broad-winged Hawk 0 11,766* 4,324
Red-tailed Hawk 0 13 339
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 13
Osprey 0 37* 20
Am. Kestrel 2 28* 23
Merlin 0 6 7
Peregrine Falcon 0 1 2
Swainson's Hawk 0 1 (imm. light phrase - 9/16) n/a
Unidentified Accipiter 0 1 4
Unidentified Buteo 0 0 3
Unidentified Falcon 0 0 0
Unidentified Raptor 0 0 0
Total: 5 11,964* 5,338
Weather: Rain this morning prevent any migration until after 9am, cloud
starts to break up and clear sky with few sun remain until 4:00pm
Raptor Migration Highlight: A slow day for hawks with 4 this morning and
1 this afternoon. Now October is coming next and prepare for numberous
Turkey Vulture, Redtails, Red-shouldered, Sharp-shinned, Cooper's and
few others.
Non-Raptor Migration Highlight: Blue Jays are going in strong with 58
birds counted all day along with 3 Am. Robin. Several White-throated
Sparrows flew by going south. Also 6 Monarch Butterflies.
Kevin Graff
Baltimore, MD
ggraff@erols.com
Questions or comments on this report to Kevin Graff at
ggraff@erols.com