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Posted by Rafael A. Galvez on 07:45:34 10/02/10
The Curry Hammock HawkWatch (FL Keys) finally experienced its first great flight of the season on Friday October 1, tallying 1001 migrating raptors.
The weather and the winds cooperated at last.
Raptor Tally for 10/01/10:
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 229
Cooper's Hawk - 13
Broad-winged Hawk - 462
American Kestrel - 148
Peregrine Falcon - 69
Merlin - 4
Mississippi Kite - 1
Osprey - 17
Finally no more eastern wind blasts and rain - the skies were clear and the wind mild out of the north. The birds continued steadily at an even pace throughout the day.
Swallow migration was also excellent at the site, yet we had little time to focus on them. Although Barn Swallows were by far the most abundant species, diversity picked up in the afternoon, when Northern Rough-winged, Bank, and many Cliff Swallows were in flight. Dragonflies of several species were also in great numbers - Halloween Pennants seemed quite numerous in the morning, yet later the diversity was greater.
About 4 large flocks of Anhinga slowly kettling south passed us over - each with 30 to 60 birds! What a sight.
A Scarlet Tanager was at Dagny Johnson (Key Largo) early in the morning. The migrants were not at their greatest numbers, but a few Magnolia Warblers, Black-and-whites, Am.Redstarts, Worm-eating and others made for a very nice 45 mins. Not a single Ovenbird could be found, when exactly a week earlier they covered the floor.
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