Hawkwatch Winding Down April 10-13, 2013

April 13:
Leader:
Hal Cohen

Migration:
Turkey Vultures-34

Discussion:
The hawkwatch is winding down for the season. Only a few Swainson's and TV's have migrated through the area recently. Today, April 13, 34 TVs moved through. This is the last blog for the season. I am off to Chicago for the summer. I will work on a summary after the season ends next week. Check out the youtube of TV's today. I was hoping for a Zone-tailed Hawk-no luck.

http://youtu.be/zQaMCpHtFTM

A few of the TV's 4/13/13-HC

April 10, 2013, Still a Few Swainson's Coming Through

Leader:
Laura Webb
Assisted by:
Joe Hopkins, Hal Cohen

Migration Today:
Swainson's Hawks-3
Turkey Vultures-2
Possible Osprey

Discussion:
Sunny, no clouds and temperatures ranging from 60's to upper 70's. Three Swainson's lifted off from the Date Farm. An Osprey observed at the The Springs RV Park began to migrate at 9:50A.

Here is a link to a recent article in the San Diego Tribune about the hawk watch. Please ignore the king comment.
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/apr/08/tp-watchers-disappointed-by-hawks-low-numbers/

Evening Watch:
No evident migration into town this evening.

Osprey-4/10/13-HC

Cross-eyed Osprey-4/10/13-HC

Aborted Hawkwatch April 8, 2013

No watch on April 8. We had a huge sand/wind storm all day. Below is one of the you tubes from the hawk watch.
Leader April 9:
Steve Bier
Assisted by:
Joe Hopkins

Migration Today:
Turkey Vultures-7
Osprey-1

Discussion:
The wind on Monday finally calmed down today. Attached is a link to a short youtube of the watch site yesterday. Wind gusts to 83mph were reported. I have a request for a close up of a Swainson's Hawk. Below is a shot of captured Swainson's Hawk.

http://youtu.be/I2mRttDZWi4

Evening Watch:
Only 1 Swainson's Hawk was reported from the watch this evening. Some TV's came in but might be residents. Only a few days left in the season.

Swainson's Hawk captured for banding-HC

Lots of TV's Today-April 7. 2013

Leader:

Herb Stone

Assisted by: 

Judy Davis, Wes Hetrick

Migration Today:

Swainson's Hawks-3

Turkey Vultures-82

Red-tailed Hawk-1

Sharp-shinned Hawk-1

Discussion:

Partly sunny with light wind from the south and temperatures from mid 60's to high 70's. Lift off from the Road Runner Club at 8:20A. Two large kettles were observed at 8:30A including the TV's, SW's and the Redtail. At 9:45A a lone Sharp-shinned Hawk migrated up Coyote Canyon. 

Evening Watch:

Not much to report. Only 1 Swainson's Hawk was observed and the resident TV's

Closeup of a TV-4/7/13-HC

Resident TV's coming to roost-4/7/13-HC

Things Picking Up This Evening-April 6, 2013

Leader:
Wes Hetrick
Assisted by:
Pam Albers, Joe Hopkins, Herb Stone

Migration Today:
Swainson's Hawks-5

Discussion:
The hawks moved very late, 10:50 and 10:57A. This tends to indicate that our missed hawks during this period have been moving later in the day. We may have been missing our birds because they are not stopping to roost in the valley. If they are moving through in the middle of the day it would be difficult for us to see them as thermals will have allowed them to fly at very high altitude.

Today I went to Anza to check out the terminus of Coyote Canyon. Within a few hours I watched Red-tailed Hawks, Red-shouldered hawks and a Sharpshin pass through the area. We believe most of our hawks depart Coyote Canyon at Anza to our north.

Evening Watch:
75 Turkey Vultures and 10 Swainson's Hawks came into the Date Farm this evening. The watchers had good looks at the SW's in trees and on the ground.

Prediction:
We may be getting some strong wind by morning. If so, the TV's and SW's will depart early. Hopefully the wind will hold off and the raptors will lift off at a reasonable hour such as 8A.

Where to View:
The evening watch might be the best viewing spot tomorrow.

Exit from Coyote Canyon at Anza-4/6/13-HC

Red-tailed Hawk-Anza-4/6/13-HC

Red-tailed Hawk-Anza-4/6/13-HC

Another 0 Day-April 5, 2013

Leader:
Bob Theriault
Assisted by:
Wes Hetrick, Pam Albers, Anne Reilly, Joe Hopkins

Migration Today:
0

Discussion:
Weather was 63-77 and partly cloudy with wind 15-17 mph NNW. No Swainson's Hawks were observed today. Several resident TV's lifted off at 9A. 3 Red-tailed Hawks and a Harrier were seen in flight.

We have entered uncharted waters. In no other season have the Swainson's Hawks numbers dropped so rapidly during this period (March 31 to April 5). So far we have not had an explanation for the dramatic change in the migration pattern.

Evening Watch:
No apparent hawks arriving this evening. We did have 3 Redtails above the Date Farm but no Swainson's Hawks.

LIght Intermediate Morph Adult Male

Season Beginning to Wind Down-April 4, 2013

Leader:
Joe Hopkins
Assisted by: Wes Hetrick

Migration Today:
Red-tailed Hawk-1
Turkey Vultures-13

Discussion:
Sunny and 61-88 degrees today. Very light NNW winds throughout the morning. Thirteen TV's lifted off from Ellis Farm at 9:20A and departed the valley. A Red-tailed Hawk migrated through Coyote Canyon.

Is tonight the night? We are hopeful that at some time in the next few days we will have a nice migration of Swainson's Hawks.

We have had nice sightings of Coyote's from the evening site.

Evening Watch:
Once again little to report. One Swainson's Hawk was observed this evening.

Young coyote's across the road from the evening site-4/4/13-HC