Wildcat Ridge
Hibernia, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 13, 2014
| Species | Day | Month | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 2 | 14 | 14 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 10 | 10 |
| Northern Harrier | 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 7 | 19 | 24 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 73 | 92 | 92 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 0 | 20 | 23 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| American Kestrel | 2 | 17 | 17 |
| Merlin | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total: | 89 | 187 | 197 |
Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 15:00:00
Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Tom Gorman
Observers:
Visitors:
(30) visitors and also Ted who was a great assistance in finding many of
today’s migrants and easily identifying same. Ted is a regular at the
Chimney Hawk watch and I personally with to thank him for his help today.
Weather:
Day began with 100% high cloud cover w/light rain at 0815 and 0930 yielding
to loose cloud cover with haze beyond 2 miles. Temperature range 52-74F
with winds 5 gusting to 25 mph. No complete sunlight until after hawk watch
was closed.
Raptor Observations:
The majority of the raptors were only a couple thousand feet above the hawk
watch and about 2 dozen were higher.
All birds followed nearly the same section of sky just to the left and
overhead at the watch.
The local TV’s and BV’s and Red-tailed hawk were generally just above the
treetops and the Red-tail soared throughout the valley with naked eye
details.
All Broad-winged hawk generally were in groups of 3-5 individuals, however
Ted located a mini kettle of 12 high and slightly left of the hawk watch.
Most of the Broad-winged which flew over, gave great naked eye views of
their patterns and terminal bands.
There was as an FYI, @ 1457 hours a single adult Bald Eagle which came in
from the NW over Marcella and went down into the valley over Jonathan’s
Woods,soared the base of Bald Hill and went over St. Clares Hospital and
never returned to the sky. It is possible that this was one of those
either resident in Denville or possible the Troy Meadows….not officially
counted.
Non-raptor Observations:
Negative song birds but repeat visits from the Northern Flicker, the pair
of Raven flying off the left side of the watch and in flight further out
were Common Mergansers and Cormorants.
Two birds flying together, believed to be a shorebird (not Gulls), slowly
soared over the valley from Morris Plains and went overhead…..no clue as
to what they were.
Predictions:
Weather said to be partly cloudy with temps nearing 80F.
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Wildcat Ridge – New Jersey information may be found at:
http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/wldcthwk.htm
mocosocoBirds 