Pioneer Birding: VT - raptors

Friday, October 18, 2013

VT - raptors - 10/18

This morning I headed north into Vermont hoping that the weak rain-bearing front that passed through overnight would stir up some movement amongst passerines, geese and raptors. I was at Putney Mountain early enough to see the tail end of the rain disappear to the NE, and then settled down for a breezy migration watch. Small numbers of Yellow-rumped Warblers filtered through south along with about 12 Purple Finches and a single Eastern Bluebird. Geese were virtually non-existent.

The first raptors appeared at 07:57 hrs with a close passage of a single Osprey and Sharp-shinned Hawk together. From then onwards, small numbers (mostly Sharp-shined Hawks) passed south and south-west until I left just after noon by which time I'd logged about 80 raptors. Four dedicated hawk watchers remained on site leaving me with the uneasy feeling that I may well miss something special during the afternoon flight!

All in all, another hugely enjoyable morning highlighted by often close, fast moving raptors heading south on a gusty westerly breeze. My personal highlight was yet another sighting of Northern Goshawk.