Posted by Robin Diaz on October 01, 2001 at 13:22:13:
There were numerous raptors this morning over Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park beginning about 9:30. I observed >200 birds. Any time I looked up there were at least 5 raptors in a single view. There was every size, shape, variation of streaking and shade of brown imaginable. Conditions seemed favorable for kettle formation over Stiltsville and at almost any given time you could see 15-20 birds. All birds seemed to be multiples, but falcons were prevalent. In addition to falcons, accipiters and generic buteos, there were Osprey, Northern Harrier, Broad-winged Hawk and a mystery guest. Liz Golden (Park Biologist) and I discussed a very dark hawk that at first glance resembled a Turkey Vulture. As it came closer the evenly spaced banding was visible on the primaries and secondaries and tail. It was larger than dark phase Short-tailed Hawk. I am thinking it was a dark-morph juvenile Red-tailed Hawk. However, the body appeared solidly dark rather than the mottled appearance shown in Sibley and Wheeler and Clark. Any sugesstions?
Also seen: Large numbers of Barn, Northern Rough-winged and Cliff (few) Swallows; 9 warbler species, Swainsons Thrush, Red-eyed Vireo, Painted Bunting and Bobolink.