Fort Smallwood Park
Maryland, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 16, 2005
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Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
BV                           0             34             37
TV                          87            544            616
OS                           0              4              4
BE                           0              2              4
NH                           0              1              1
SS                           0              9              9
CH                           1             19             19
NG                           1              1              1
RS                           2             22             23
BW                           0              0              0
RT                           2             40             48
RL                           0              0              0
GE                           0              0              0
AK                           0              3              3
ML                           0              0              0
PG                           0              0              0
UR                           0              0              0

Total:                      93            679            765
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end   time: 13:30:00
Total observation time: 5.5 hours

Official Counter: Matt Grey, Sue Ricciardi

Observers:        Matt Grey

Weather:
36-47 degrees; high overcast; winds northwest turning to the west and finally north northwest, 5-12 mph.

Observations:
I thought it strange when a Cooper's Hawk came into view heading north in a determined straight-line path, but deeply flapping its wings like it was courting.  All was explained when an immature Northern Goshawk followed shortly behind the Cooper's Hawk. The Coop returned about a minute later.

Close to 2000 migrant blackbirds over the course of the watch.
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Report submitted by Sue Ricciardi ()


Fort Smallwood Park is located on the western shore of Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Patapsco River, 11 miles south of Baltimore, MD.  Best winds are from the southwest.

BV Black Vulture; TV Turkey Vulture; OS Osprey; SK Swallow-tailed Kite; MK Mississippi Kite; BE Bald Eagle; NH Northern Harrier; SS Sharp-shinned Hawk; CH Cooper's Hawk; NG Northern Goshawk; RS Red-shouldered Hawk; BW Broad-winged Hawk; RT Red-tailed Hawk; RL Rough-legged Hawk; GE Golden Eagle; AK American Kestrel; ML Merlin; PG Peregrine Falcon; UA Unidentified Accipiter; UB Unidentified Buteo; UF Unidentified Falcon; UR Unidentified Raptor.