I had a decent morning at Turkey Point today, considering the cloud cover
and strengthening winds from the southwest. Mike Powell, who is on staff
at the park and keeps the area by the picnic tables mowed, is a birder who
helped me spot Sharpies for an hour or so. Between 9-11 they were popping
up all over, some very, very high.

Aside from the hawks, it was most enjoyable to watch the Turkey Vultures
waft up from the trees like lanky hot air balloons, often accompanied by the
two resident adult Bald Eagles and briefly by two immatures, which I also
think are the residents. They floated almost stationary over the Point for most
of the morning.  A flock (!) of Meadowlarks went by, first two then eight then
another two. That may be more Meadowlarks than I've seen in the past
ten years. They were clearly heading south.

An aggressive little butterfly went after a large dragonfly but 
otherwise it was a quiet
morning. Only four dogs, and only one of the dogwalkers asked me how 
far the lighthouse was.
I didn't see the chicken this morning, but Mike and the mowing crew did.

 From 8:30-11:50, total 56:

Sharpies 43
Coopers 4
Osprey 3
Red Shoulder 3 (in various stages of molt, so easy to tell apart)
Kestrel 2
One unidentified falcon ("merstrel") at the far east end of the field.

--Pat

Pat Valdata, Elkton, MD | 
"I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by."
--Douglas Adams