Get Ready, Set, Hawkwatch!!!!

Sharp-shinned Hawk

This time of year we get itching to see some good hawk migration. We have been hawkwatching in New England for over 25 years. We know that there's a good chance that a big hawk flight, mostly of Broad-winged Hawks leaving New England, will occur each year within about 2 to 3 days on either side of Sept. 15th. This morning, we were guessing as to what day that will be.
There's a rainy weather front coming through on friday and sat,. with clearing and north winds possibly on sunday then monday. That's what the hawks like, a canadian high pressure coming in, with gentle northerly winds and thermals. There's a good chance Broadwings will move in numbers, sunday, monday or tuesday. Other hawks can be seen as well, such as the Sharp-shinned Hawk above. But the biggest numbers of hawks seen migrating out of New England are Broad-winged Hawks.
Where to go to see the hawks? The best place in southern NH is Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory on the peak of Pack Monadnock mountain in Miller State Park in Peterborough, NH. It's staffed by NH Audubon and has an experienced hawk counter who records the numbers and turns them into the national database of the Hawk Migration Association of North America.
Last year Pack had over 9,000 raptors pass there in the fall.
See you there.