Cromwell Valley Park HawkWatch  Friday, Sept.22nd  2006

This morning's flight of Broad-winged Hawks was one of the best I've ever seen, not for the 
number of hawks but for the number of separate kettles visible at one time.  Begining at about 10:
15 am, Broadwings were seen rising up above both the north and south ridges that form Cromwell 
Valley.  Within minutes the kettles were gaining in size, rising on thermals and streaming off in a 
westerly direction, many right over our heads.  At one point we had 6 or 7 kettles visible in all 
directions!  These kettles  varied in size ranging from 14 to 150+ birds.  There were a few 
watchers who had never seen Broad-winged Hawks in migration before, and the oooohs and 
aaaahs were contagious!!!  By 10:35 the spectacle was over, and everyone present felt very lucky 
to have been at the right place at the right time. As clouds increased and a south wind developed, 
the flight was very slow the rest of the day.

TOTALS  CVP HawkWatch  9/22/06

Sharp-shinned Hawk -22
Coopers Hawk - 2
Red-tailed Hawk - 1
Osprey - 5 
Am. Kestral - 2
Bald Eagle - 1
Broad-winged Hawk - 568

Jim Meyers Parkville Md