[BIRDHAWK] Backyard Hawk Watch
Geoff Graff (ggraff@erols.com)
Thu, 22 Oct 1998 21:11:44 -0400
Backyard Hawk Watch (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 Rd. 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 form the northeast and a few from the north and northeast-east.
Reports: Kevin Graff (ggraff@erols.com)
Counter: Kevin Graff
(site manned, it depends on the weather, 9am-6pm until daylight sav.time
SPECIES 10/22 SEASON 1997
Turkey Vulture 21 147 362
Black Vulture 0 20* 13
Golden Eagle 0 1 (imm. - 10/12) 3
Bald Eagle 2 18* (7 ad. & 11 imm.) 9
N. Harrier 0 43* 25
Sharp-shinned Hawk 4 171* 106
Cooper's Hawk 3 95* 82
N. Goshawk 1 1 first of season* (imm.) 2
Red-shouldered Hawk 2 31 51
Broad-winged Hawk 0 11,779* 4,324
Red-tailed Hawk 12 70 339
Rough-legged Hawk 0 2 13
Osprey 0 48* 20
Am. Kestrel 0 61* 23
Merlin 0 11* 7
Peregrine Falcon 0 3* 2
Swainson's Hawk 0 1 (imm. light phrase - 9/16) n/a
Unidentified Accipiter 1 3 4
Unidentified Buteo 0 2 3
Unidentified Falcon 0 1 0
Unidentified Raptor 0 0 0
Total: 46 12,508* 5,338
Weather: It was a rough day with strong wind and cold too. Wind from the
NWN and sometimes NW and N.
Raptor Migration Highlight: An imm. N. Goshawk was spotted at 1:42pm
headed SW. This hawk looks similar to Cooper's but much larger, has
longer wings and shorter tail and darker chest. A good day for Turkey
Vulture and Red-tailed Hawk.
Non-Raptor Migration Highlight: A late migrate Chimney Swift, Tree and
Barn Swallow, a nice flocks of 20 Chimney plus 8 more, folowing by 3
Tree Swallow and 3 Barn Swallow. Also a flyby Am. Goldfinch, a flock of
Juncos and two more Ruby-crowned Kinglet and also 12 flocks of 361
Canada Geese, 2 flocks of 9 Common Loon and more large flocks of Blue
Jay.
Note: A Ruby-crowned Kinglet still hanging around again along with 11
White-throated Sparrow, 4 Song Sparrow and 9 Juncos. I have a mixup
problem with Tree Sparrow yesterday, the correct is 2 winter plumage
Chipping Sparrow and a winter plumage Am. Tree Sparrow.
Questions or comments on this report to Kevin Graff at
ggraff@erols.com
Kevin Graff
Baltimore, MD
ggraff@erols.com