The South Livingstone Raptor Count for the spring migration of 2008 has now begun. First official day of counting began on 20th February 2008. Follow the daily movement of raptors on this blog updated daily by Peter Sherrington.

Sunday, May 4, 2008

May 4 [Day 69] (Bill) Winds were westerly all day gusting to 30 km/h by mid-afternoon, and cloud cover ranged from 2%-100% altostratus and altocumulus cloud cover giving sunny skies, or hazy sunshine after 1300. The temperature rose to a very pleasant 14C from a low of 4C. Raptor migration was slow but steady for much of the day with 9 of the day’s 28 birds occurring between 1600 and1700. The highlight of the day was the 11th Ferruginous Hawk of the season, a light morph adult. Only 3 Golden Eagles were recorded: 2 subadults and 1 juvenile. The other highlights were both species not expected to be seen on a mountain ridge at 1900 m and both were new species for the site. At 1115 2 American White Pelicans glided high from the south, soared high in front of Turtle Mountain and drifted high over to the site, and at 1632 a male Yellow-headed Blackbird flew high from the ridge towards the SW. Other passerine migrants included 9 Townsend’s Solitaires, 5 American Robins, 2 American Pipits and 21 Bohemian Waxwings. 13.67 hours (794.9) OSPR 1 (17), BAEA 4 (439), SSHA 2 (140), COHA 1 (25), NOGO 2 (120), UA 2 (7), RTHA 8 (211), FEHA 1 (11), GOEA 3 (2915), MERL 1 (18), PRFA 1 (14), UU 2 (5) TOTAL 28 (3994)

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