The South Livingstone Raptor Count for the spring migration of 2009 has now begun. First official day of counting began on 15th February 2009. Follow the daily movement of raptors on this blog updated daily by Peter Sherrington.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

May 6 [Day 69] (Valley View site) The temperature ranged from 4C to 11C, ground winds were generally W-WSW gusting 30-40 km/h in the afternoon, and ridge winds were W generally moderate and only occasionally strong. Morning cloud cover was 70-100% altostratus and cumulus giving rather gloomy conditions, but after 1300 the cover broke to 30-60% mainly altocumulus giving excellent observing conditions. The day’s first migrant raptor was an adult Cooper’s Hawk at 0856, and the second bird did not appear until 1256 but subsequent movement was fairly steady and the total of 26 birds of 9 species was the highest count in10 days. The count included 14 Golden Eagles (2 subadults and 12 juveniles), the 2nd Swainson’s Hawk of the season at 1313 (an adult light morph) and the 7th Ferruginous Hawk at 1810 (also an adult light morph), and the last bird of the day was a subadult Golden Eagle at 1846. First records of Yellow-rumped (Audubon’s) Warbler and Brewer’s Blackbird were 1 and 2 days later respectively than last year’s first occurrences. 12.75 (772.3) BAEA 2 (420), NOHA 1 (20), SSHA 1 (61), COHA 1 (8), NOGO 1 (97), SWHA 1 (2), RTHA 4 (160), FEHA 1 (7), GOEA 14 (2650) TOTAL 26 (3522)

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