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