Just as an observation from someone who has been birding New Castle County
Delaware and Cecil County MD heavily since 1980, I have chased many kettles
of Broad winged Hawks thru the area on there peak migration days. Days when
the cold fronts have passed thru with them riding before the front and days
after the front. Your assessment of this theory to me is a fact. I have followed
Kettles with Thousands from Wilmington DE straight into Newark Delaware and
continued following them on back roads all the way into Elkton and thru North
East between the Route 40 and I 95 Corridor. I grew up in Fair Hill, just North
of Elkton, which has the first ridge of Piedmont right before the Coastal Plain
and I believe that this is what the majority follow. Wilmington and Newark are
also geographically based in the same location.
I in fact am surprised at the numbers of Broad-winged Hawks we do get at
Turkey Point, but It is no where near the number of what the Piedmont areas
do. Turkey Point is a transfer funnel. Birds that are going with or with out a
choice to the coastal plain.
The Majority of Broad-winged Hawks from my observations at Turkey Point
have be First Year birds, I rarely see Adults. A guestamate ratio for me would
be 25 to 1 Sub adult to Adults.
Good Luck and more importantly, have fun.
To me a better observation area in Havre de Grace would be the Bulle Rock
area. It is the First Big ridge above the Coastal Plain and has an unrestricted
View in Many locations with proper elevation.
Happy Birding.
Sean McCandless
Cecil Bird Club President.
Elkton, MD |