[BIRDHAWK] Backyard Hawk Watch
Geoff Graff (ggraff@erols.com)
Mon, 26 Oct 1998 19:38:23 -0500
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 from 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-5pm through Dec. 15th)
SPECIES 10/26 SEASON 1997
Turkey Vulture 12 288 362
Black Vulture 0 33* 13
Golden Eagle 0 1 (imm. - 10/12) 3
Bald Eagle 0 18* (7 ad. & 11 imm.) 9
N. Harrier 0 45* 25
Sharp-shinned Hawk 12 198* 106
Cooper's Hawk 7 113* 82
N. Goshawk 0 1 2
Red-shouldered Hawk 8 50 the record is near* 51
Broad-winged Hawk 1 11,782* 4,324
Red-tailed Hawk 10 106 339
Rough-legged Hawk 0 3 13
Osprey 0 48* 20
Am. Kestrel 0 61* 23
Merlin 1 12* 7
Peregrine Falcon 0 3* 2
Swainson's Hawk 0 1 (imm. light phase - 9/16) n/a
Unidentified Accipiter 0 3 4
Unidentified Buteo 0 2 3
Unidentified Falcon 0 1 0
Unidentified Raptor 0 0 0
Total: 51 12,769* 5,338
Weather: Hooray for the clouds! About 75% cloud cover all day. Still has
some sunshine and warm again. Wind from W to NW to NWW then to SWW.
Raptor Migration Highlight: A nice movement of Sharp-shinned Hawks,
Turkey Vultures and Red-tailed Hawks. Also Red-shouldered Hawks are
picking up too and are ready for new record tomorrow, hopefully. Another
late migrate Broadwing again, there could be still more in Northeast.
Non-Raptor Migration Highlight: A nice view of Hermit Thrush flyby, also
more juncos with a flocks of 11 and a nice flock of 12 White-throated
Sparrow.
Note: While taking the dogs for the walk at the ridge, I was surprised
to see a Winter Wren in low bushes, this could be the same bird that Bob
Ringler hear in my backyard yesterday. It been two years since I seen
this bird. Also at the ridge was a Hermit Thrush, a Golden-crowned
Kinglet and couple "Slate-colored" Junco.
Questions or comments on this report to Kevin Graff at
ggraff@erols.com
Kevin Graff
Baltimore, MD
ggraff@erols.com