High Flyers: Ravens and Redshoulder!

Red-shouldered Hawk, Juv.

Common Raven

Red-shouldered Hawk and 2 Ravens

Flying high were these Common Ravens and Red-shouldered Hawk acrobatic on the wind as they took turns chasing one another. The Red-shouldered Hawk was a juvenile on migration with energy to spare. Note on the Redshoulder the light crescent shaped window across the outer wing due to the translucent bases to the outer primary feathers (seen in good light at all ages) which is a great identification clue for this species.
We saw these birds recently at Pack Monandnock Raptor Migration Observatory, NH where the hawk watch is still happening until mid-Nov. The day we saw the above birds we also saw a Golden Eagle, very exciting since only about a handful pass this site each year. It was too far for a photo.
Keep looking up, who knows what you may see!

Hawks On The Move Now, Its Migration Time!

Ospreys are passing by many hawkwatch sites in the country now

Broad-winged Hawks have gone through New England in large numbers.

Sharp-shinned Hawks are on the move

I never tire of seeing the large numbers of Broad-winged Hawks rising on a thermal

Over 10,000 raptors have migrated past our hawkwatch site.

Hawks are still migrating past many hawkwatch sites across the country. Here we are at Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory in NH on the day when the 10,000th hawk for the season passed by. That's the second earliest seasonal record for Pack. It is so thrilling to see these large numbers of hawks on their way on their long migration to Central and South America. We wish them safe journey. Be sure and get out to a hawkwatch site near you. Broadwings have mostly drained out of the Northeast but are being seen in southern areas. Sharp-shinned Hawks, Cooper's Hawks, Merlins, American Kestrels, Ospreys, Red-tailed Hawks and eagles will continue to be seen at hawk watch sites for some time.

Short-eared Owl in NH!

Recently we saw a Short-eared Owl migrating over Pack Monadnock Raptor Observatory in Peterborough, NH, a first record for that site. It was migrating during the day and popped up above the mountain in the midst of some ravens. Much excitement at seeing the first one there and it was a thrill.

The Short-eared Owl is one of my favorite owls. This medium-sized owl lives in open habitats, such as tundra, grasslands, fields, marshes, prairies and savannas, where it hunts small mammals. It breeds mostly in the far North and parts of the West and can be seen in winter in many parts of the country.

All the photos above, except the small bottom photo which is of the owl over Pack Monadnock, are of a Short-eared Owl I saw on Christmas several years ago in the marshes of Salisbury Beach, MA. This owl mostly hunts at night, sometimes during the day. I was lucky it was out and gave me photo ops. This owl flies erratically, like a moth, and courses low over the ground. Photographing it in flight was a challenge (as usual!) I was thrilled to get some photos.

One of the wonderful things I love about capturing a bird in a photo, is that you get to keep and cherish that moment. You can look at it again and again, re-experiencing the adventure and share it, as I have done today, with others.

1,334 Hawks Over Pack Monandnock, NH, more to come

Broad-winged Hawk against cloudy sky migrating over Pack Monadnock Raptor Observatory, NH yesterday

Don, and Henry Walters, right, official hawk counter for the site, scan the skies for hawks

Julie, holding Laurel, and Phil Brown talk to the crowd gathered to witness the annual release of a rehabilitated hawk.

Yesterday, 1,334 hawks, most of them Broad-winged Hawks, migrated past Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory in Peterborough, NH. It was a good time and this is peak migration for Broadwings. A large crowd came up to see the annual release of a rehabilitated hawk event, sponsored by NH Audubon. Many more hawks are still to come, and there will be a big push of Broad-winged Hawks during the next few days. So grab your binos and get out to look!
All photos taken with Canon SX 50 camera, the Broadwing taken on "sports mode."