1541 Hawks!

Yesterday we had a fabulous day hawkwatching at Pack Mondanock Raptor Migration Observatory in southern NH. A thrilling 1,541 hawks passed the mountain top that day. The majority (1448) were Broad-winged Hawks, who migrate in large groups, called "kettles," that use thermals to circle and rise up high, then glide to the next thermal. Above is a photo of what a kettle of broadwings looks like through your binoculars. I took it with a 300 mm lens and they were high overhead. This was only a small part of the kettle of about 90 birds. How do we count them? One by one really fast. Really. And yes, we can accurately identify those tiny specs.

Pack Monandnock hawkwatch site is an elevated platform at the front edge of the south Pack Monandnock mountain. There are great views to the north and west. The mountain right in front is the north Pack Monadnock.

Here's a Broad-winged Hawk that passed a little closer. Note the broad wings and white undertail feathers.

The official hat sold as a fundraiser to support the hawkwatch site. There is a paid hawk counter who keeps the records which are turned into the Hawk Migration Association of North America.
There was a wonderful group of third graders at the hawkwatch site whose enthusiastic teacher had done a good job of teaching them about hawks. One adult referred to the "gas hawk" and we had to explain to the kids we meant "an airplane." Novices often spot planes at a distance and mistake them for hawks. I was actually photographing this airplane and found there's a real Broad-winged Hawk going by the plane!

Here's a Sharp-shinned Hawk we saw attacking a Broad-winged Hawk right overhead. This is a great size comparison shot. The broadwing has the striped tail, often visible from quite a distance, but note the broad wings, short tail and visible head. The "Sharpie" has short rounded wings, a thin body, square, longish tail and small head that does not stick out in front of its wings much. Most hawk ID from hawkwatch sites is done using the shape of the hawk at a distance. So field guides with close-up photos do you no good. You can download a free silhouette guide to hawks in flight, from the NorthEast Hawk Watch, here.

Something "Sharpies" do is often fight with one another or give grief to other hawks. Sharp-shinned Hawks are feisty hawks who eat other birds, maybe that's why they're always ready for aggression. These two birds put on a show for the kids and all the other hawkwatchers present.

The kids had amazing eyesight and spotted hawks with their naked eyes that the adults, including us, could only see through binoculars. The other thing they were good at was petting Phoebe, our Corgi, who got about 5 hours of solid petting. Here she is soaking it up. Pets are allowed on leash at the hawkwatch site.

A "Tail", a Red-tailed Hawk who had some hawkwatchers wondering about it's ID until it turned and revealed its red uppertail.

We have been hawkwatching for over 30 years. I was hooked on hawkwatching long before I met Don Stokes, then I got him into it. It's such a privilege to stand in awe each fall, watching the great exodus of these magnificent birds. We never tire of it.

The next really good hawk day in the Northeast may be next Tues. after the front passes. Keep looking up.

Cooper's!

At about 7:45 am this morning, I went to the coffee pot and looked out the window at "pinnacle rock," a big rock next to the house. "Look, a hawk!" I exclaimed peering through the foggy light. Husband goes into birder mode and grabs the binos. I go into photographer mode and grab my Canon Mark II with the 300 mm lens plus 1.4 teleconverter. As I grab the camera I check the ISO setting, setting it as low as I think will still take a good photo. Fortunately, I can rest my elbows on the kitchen counter for added stability, even though my camera has image stabilization.
I just kept clicking away, hoping for a sharp shot and waiting, hoping it would fly so I might have a chance at that take-off shot. It sat and sat, my elbows feeling the weight of the camera, then it leaned forward and click, click, click, my instincts kicking in, I slammed the shutter button (which was in high speed mode) down.
Here are the resulting shots, both full framed and then cropped, showing all the lovely details of this immature Cooper's Hawk.

2 Mississippi Kite nests in NH

Speaking of raptors, the news is that there are not 1 but 2 Mississipi Kite nests in Newmarket, NH. The first nest was well visited all summer by many birders and just recently a second nest was discovered by NH birders. Both nests have fledgling chicks who hang out near their nests begging for food. On Sept. 4th, two NH birders, connected by cell phone, were each watching a different nest with a parent kite feeding a chick. NH birder Steve Mirick reported on Sept. 6th that he saw an adult feeding the chick at nest #2 on Gonet St. and then had a chick sitting and flying about near nest #1 on South Main St. while an adult flew above it. See his photos of the South Main St. chick here, and here.
So how amazing is it that in NH this summer, Mississippi Kites are not only recorded as a first state record, but they have two nests!

Hawk Migration starting

Broad-winged Hawk

'Tis the season for migrating hawks. In the eastern part of the country, expect most of the Broad-winged Hawks to clear out of the Northeast between Sept. 10- 25th. Many other hawks will migrate during this time also. Look for hawks on clear days with mild north, northwest or northeast winds and good thermal activity. Broadwings migrate by rising on thermals and gliding to the next thermal, thereby conserving energy on their long journey to Central and South America.
The Hawk Migration Association of North America maintains the HawkCount website which facilitates the tracking and reporting of hawk migration. At the HawkCount website you can see how many and which kinds of hawks have been reported from all the major hawk watch locations across the country.

Golden Moment

Saw this lovely Black-throated Green Warbler, its golden face gleaming from the now lower light of the fall sun. Beautiful moments like this are to be savored.

And Even More Nighthawks

Last night, had 82 migrating Common Nighthawks as we sat on the deck and counted. Grabbed the camera and got some of my best nighthawk photos yet.

Take-Off

This morning a wave of little warbler migrants in our yard. Caught this Chestnut-sided Warbler just as it took off.

Nighthawks, Yes!

Last night we saw 169 Common Nighthawks migrating over our property in NH. Fortunately, our property fronts on a pond that is a dammed up part of a river that runs south to north and nighthawks often migrate along river corridors. So, we are in a very good spot for seeing migrating nighthawks. At about 5 pm we got ourselves stationed on our deck with binoculars and from 5-5:30 pm saw 81 nightawks. We realized making dinner would be a challenge, so we tag-teamed grilling the burgers, one of us always scanning through our binos. We ate dinner with one hand holding the burger, the other hand holding the binos. In the next half hour 54 more nighthawks came, then 34 more over the next hour and a half. We ended at 7:30 pm. Very rewarding to see these unusual birds whose numbers seem to be dropping. Tonight we'll be watching again.

There is an official nighthawk count that comprises southern NH and the upper two-thirds of MA. If you live in these areas, try and watch for the nighthawks tonight and enter your data at their website, click here. The more we learn about the migration routes, numbers, and breeding habitat of these wonderful birds, the better the chance for protecting them.

Common Yellowthroat

Saw this female Common Yellowthroat warbler recently. Adult males are the ones with the black mask. Keep your eye out for migrating warblers.

Mississippi Kites in NH

Mississippi Kite in flight

Location of kite nest in Newmarket, NH

Mississippi Kites have been nesting in Newmarket, NH a town near the coast. These kites are far from their usual range and were quite the celebrity birds throughout the summer. This is the first accepted state record for NH for these birds. Not one, but three Mississippi Kites showed up, an adult male and females and a subadult female. Speculation was this was an adult pair and possibly one of their offspring from a previous year. Mississippi Kites are know to have subadults as nest helpers. The pair picked an isolated maple tree on a busy surburban street for their nest site. The male was seen copulating with both females but just the adults nested, producing one chick. Birders came from all over to visit them.
We last saw them on Aug. 22. We watched for about 45 minutes and saw the adults bring food to the nest 3 times and feed it to their chick, who looked about full grown but had different plumage from the adults,more mottled tan and brown. Word has it the young kite has now fledged from the nest. We were on our way from someplace else and stopped by and I only had my point and shoot camera.
For more photos of these kites click here,
and here,
and here.

Nighthawk Alert

Common Nighthawks are on the move and migrating. Look for them at dusk, especially if you're near a river. They often feed on dispersing ants and move along river corridors.
If you live in the lower half of New Hampshire or the upper two thirds of Massachusetts, you can participate in the official "Nighthawk Migration Survey" for that area. Keep track of your nighthawk numbers and report them to their website, click here.

More Fall Warblers

Black-throated Green Warbler, spring adult male

Black-throated Green Warbler, fall

Black-throated Green Warbler, fall

Black-throated Green Warbler, fall immature female

Speaking of warblers, at the end of yesterday I photographed a Black-throated Green Warbler (middle two photos) who was moving in some shrubs behind our bird feeders. Bird feeders not only attract bird-feeder birds, but you often get curious migrants coming over to check out what the bird activity is all about.

Note there is not much black throat on this "Black-throated Green" Warbler at this time of year and compare to the top photo of an adult male, Black-throated Green Warbler in spring. The facial pattern of this bird is duller, with a less discernable dark line through the eye, and less dark at the edge of the yellow below the eye.

Many warblers molt and have more subtle variations of their bright, spring breeding plumage in fall. In general, adult males in fall have the brightest fall plumage (although duller than their breeding plumage) and immature females have the most subtle colors. Adult females and immature males have plumage that is somewhere between those two and often it is hard to tell adult females and immature males apart in fall.

This information is useful to know if you are trying to ID warblers in fall. For more details and photos see our Stokes Field Guide To Warblers.

Fall Warbler Migration Timing

Black-and-white Warbler

Prairie Warbler

Warblers are beginning their migration. We had fun this morning, searching our property for early moving warblers. Fall warbler watching is different and more nuanced than spring. Males are not singing conspicuously from perches on their breeding territories. Instead, you have to watch for movement in bushes and listen carefully for the different little chip sounds each warbler species makes. In addition, some warbler species change from their bright breeding plumage into more sublte colors.

Recently we saw a Black-and-white Warbler. This morning we saw a Prairie Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler and two Common Yellowthroats. People often don't realize you can see migrant warblers as early as August. Warbler migration can extend into October and beyond.

From our Stokes Field Guide To Warblers here's a list of which warblers to be on the look-out for. Dates refer to the earliest times these birds may move, when the first birds start to migrate south, obviously there is overlap in their migration:

For the East

Early (Begins before 8/1)

Cerulaean Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Louisiana Waterthrush
Prairie Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler

Middle (Begins between 8/1 and 8/20

American Redstart
Black-and-white Warbler
Blackburninan Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Blue-winged Warbler
Canada Warbler
Kentucky Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Mourning Warbler
Northern Parula
Northern Waterthrush
Prothonotary Warbler
Swainson's Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Yellow-throated Warbler

Late (Begins after 8/20)

Bay-breasted Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Connecticut Warbler
Golden-winged Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Ovenbird
Palm Warbler
Pine warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler


For the West

Early (Begins before 8/1)

Colima Warbler
Golden-cheeked Warbler
Hermit Warbler
Lucy's Warbler
Yellow Warbler

Middle (Begins between 8/1 and 8/20)

American Redstart
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Grace's Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Red-faced Warbler
Townsend's Warbler
Tropical Parula
Virginia's Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat

Late (Begins after 8/20)

MacGillivray's Warbler
Olive Warbler
Painted Redstart
Palm Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler

Birding is often about knowing who to look for when. If you have a sense of this, you will be much more likely to see interesting birds and expand your horizons about the complex lives of these beautiful warblers we share the planet with.

Birding Acadia National Park, 4

While going around the park, you can stop anywhere on the road and look out over the beautifully scenic, rocky coast. We stopped frequently and scanned the ocean.

There's always someplace where you can find Common Eiders, those wonderful ocean ducks that can dive down and eat mollusks and other crustaceans.

One of the stops on the road is at "Thunder Hole" a small cavern worn at the base of the rocks.

When a big wave comes in it produces a thundering sound and splashes up high, sometimes on you!
If you go to Acadia be sure and bring your binoculars and enjoy the wonderful birds, great scenery and lobster!
We will be on vacation next week see you on Monday, Aug. 18th.

Birding Acadia National Park 3

Don looking up at Champlain Mt. for the Peregrine Falcons

Peregrine in flight, taken last time we visited here in 2006

Photo from a sign showing this year's Peregrine chicks

Photo of sign, showing this year's nest location

When we were in Acadia National Park we stopped at the Precipice trailhead which goes up the 1,058 ft. Champlain Mt. The trail was closed at this time due to nesting Peregrine Falcons. The Peregrine's have been nesting there each spring since 1991. Historically, Peregrines once nested on the east face of Cadillac Mt. By 1964 Peregrines had become extinct in the eastern U.S. due to the harmful effects of the pesticide DDT on their eggs. Beginning in the 1970's, there was a coordinated effort to bring back the Peregrine and they were re-introduced into Acadia National Park. 23 birds were released near Jordan Pond in Acadia between 1984 and 1986. One of them, a banded bird, returned to Acadia in 1988 and between 1991 and 1998 he and his mate reared 26 offspring on these cliffs.

Other Peregrines have nested here since, and this year's pair nested on one of the Peregrines previous sites (see black circle in photo from the sign). In April they laid eggs and the young were flying by mid-June. We did not see the young near the mountain, but we learned they might be seen anywhere around the island. They had recently been seen near Bar Harbor catching Black Guillemots, grackles and goldfinches. Peregrines catch other birds in mid-air and can dive reaching speeds of over 100 m.p.h.

Peregrine Falcons are not on the federal endangered list anymore, although they are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. In Maine, however, they are still considered endangered. That's why the park closes off their nesting site area from March to August. Nice to know that the Peregrines are thriving here in Acadia National Park.

Birding Acadia National Park, 2

One of the prettiest areas in Acadia National Park is Jordan Pond which looks out over "The Bubbles" twin mountains.

Acadia is very dog friendly and you may walk the hiking trails with your dog on a leash. We decided to walk the trail next to Jordan Pond with our Corgi, Phoebe.

After the trail we sat in the Adirondack Chairs looking at the spectacular view.

then we had lunch at Jordan Pond House which has an outdoor seating area overlooking the view. We had our binoculars with us and scanned the sky and mountains for birds.

We saw lots of Cedar Waxwings flying over our heads,

and, big yum, ate creamy lobster stew filled with big chunks of lobster and THE BEST popovers. Jordan Pond House is famous for their popovers and they serve thousands a week.
Eating some of our favorite foods and birding at the same time, now that's our idea of a good time!

Phoebe, who was very well behaved, sat next to our table

and noticed another Corgi named Olive at a nearby table. Olive was a sweet, one year old Corgi with longer fur.

Note from Blogger Phoebe:
"Hi, I had fun with Lillian and Don in the park and gots lots of petting from people who thought I was cute (that's cuz I'm perfect). I liked sitting under the table at lunch, especially since Lillian gave me a taste of her popover. Here I am with my new friend Olive, who was a very nice Corgi. She's a "fluffy" which sometimes happens with Corgis. They are exactly the same as we short-haired Corgis they just have longer fur."
Signing off,
"Woof"

Birding Acadia National Park

Just got back from Acadia National Park on Mt. Desert Island, Maine. Here's Don standing on top of the highest mountain there, Cadillac Mt. and looking down on the town of Bar Harbor. More photos coming soon.

Are Hummingbird Numbers Declining, 2008?

Many people have emailed us about their reports of hummingbird population declines in 2007, and this year, notably Ruby-throated Hummingbirds declines. Here are some of their recent comments:

7/21/08
I live in Northern NJ and with the exception of a hummer we spotted in mid-May at the feeder, we haven't seen anything since. I'm hoping once my butterfly bush blossoms, I'll start seeing them again. Also, my Dad lives in Eastern PA and only recently spotted his first hummer of the season. Extremely disappointed this year!

7/19/08
We're in NW New Mexico, and our numbers of Ruby Throats and particularly Rufous are distinctly down. Rubies are 50% off, and Rufous are waaaaay down---we only have one male Rufous this year, whereas we usually get 6-8 Rufous, male and female.

7/13/08
We live in Granville Tennessee and have seen a lot less hummingbirds this year. It seems that only 2 are around the feeder at one time. Last year we had 6. We would sit there laughing at the 1 male that always seemed to guard 2 feeders at once. This year I've only put 1 feeder out since there aren't enough birds to empty them. We've found 2 dead on our deck and aren't sure whether they ran into a window or just died. I was beginning to think that maybe some disease is causing the decline.

7/6/08
Here in Cumming, GA we have not seen any Hummingbirds this year. We've had our feeders up since May.

7/3/08
I live in central PA. We are getting aprox. 50% fewer humming birds at our feeders this year. There seems to be the same number of males to females as usual though.

7/2/08
I live in SW Ohio and from what I have observed, there are at laest 50% fewer humming birds this year in my area; all the people that have feeders here are saying the same thing.

6/29/08
I live in Hendersonville Tennessee and I haven't had any hummers as the last 5 years there normally are 20 to 30 between 3 feeders Does anyone know where they are?

Not everyone is reporting hummer numbers as down, but the vast majority of people we're hearing from are saying they see less hummers than usual. So what's going on? It's hard to know whether the reports we get accurately reflect a widespread population decline in hummingbirds, especially Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. Who is even keeping track of hummingbird numbers?

The Breeding Bird Survey, a long-time study that started in 1966, surveys nesting birds in May and June. Volunteers drive a 25 mile routs and stop every half mile for 3 minutes and record every bird seen or heard at that spot. This is most effective at picking up singing males. Birds that do not sit in one spot and sing (such as hummingbirds) may be under-reported in the BBS. You can look up population trends for any species on the Breeding Bird Survery website.
A check of the population trend for Ruby-throated Hummingbirds in the Eastern BBS region from 2000 to 2007 shows a very, very slight (0.69) population increase.

eBird is another source of bird population data. This recent website was begun in 2002 by Cornell and it allows people to send in their bird reports electronically. You can look up how many reports of each species have been seen in your area on their website. People have been sending in reports of hummingbirds. But this is not a long term scientific study, so it's hard to draw conclusions about overall poplulation trends. The DC Birding Blog tried an analysis based on eBird data and concluded there may possibly be a small decline in Ruby-throat populations.

The Christmas Bird Count is a long running population survery of birds in December and January and you can look up which birds are found where on the website. Many hummingbirds leave the Untied States in the winter months. A few Ruby-throated Hummingbirds do overwinter in southern and Gulf Coast states, see the date for 2007-8 here.
Looking at the presence of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds in Florida from 2000-2007 does show an increase.

Aside from these surveys, there seems little else in the way of widespread collection of hummingbird population data in spring and summer.

Why might some people be seeing less hummingbirds in their areas?
Here is speculation:

- There is lack of food at critical times such as when they first arrive from migration. If colder or more severe weather (due to global warming) delays the flowering of their nectar sources or a delay in insect emergence (Ruby-throats due eat insects) when they need it, they may not survive.
- Or there could be more abundant food and flowers in the wild, so hummers do not come to feeders where they can be seen and counted by people.
- Or there could be higher mortality for Ruby-throated Hummingbirds in their wintering areas (Central and South America, and who is counting them there?) so less return each year.
- Or, there are other unknown factors (disease? severe weather extremes) impacting them that we do not know about.
- Or, their reproductive success rate, due to lack of food when the young are in the nest or other factors, is declining.

How can you help in the short term? Keep your hummingbird feeders clean and free of mold and bacteria, which can harm hummingbirds. That means cleaning your hummer feeders every 2 days in hot weather!! Plant hummingbird flowers that bloom at different times so there is ample wild nectar resources from early spring to fall. Help conserve land so hummingbirds continue to have places to nest.

Second Broods: Eastern Phoebe

Nestling Eastern Phoebes

Being fed by their parent

Here are nestling Eastern Phoebes in our barn, here in NH. The nest is on one of the lights in the rafters, just the kind of sheltered ledge that Phoebe's like as a nesting spot. This is the second brood of this pair who we think is the same pair that have nested in this same spot for the last 3 years. The nestlings are so cute and waiting to be fed by the parent.

Two days later they fledged into the big world. They will be fed for up to 3 more weeks by their parents. Then they will be on their own, having find their own food, survive the dangers of their first migration, then return to the north and find mates and breeding territories of their own. Quite a big challenge they have ahead of them.

Many birds have second and even third broods depending on where they live. Birds in southern regions, due to a longer period of warmer weather, are more likely to have 3rd broods. Robins, bluebirds, cardinals, Chipping Sparrows and more all have nestlings or fledglings around us now.

Little Foxes & Corgi Magic

Red Fox

Phoebe, our own little fox

The "fairy saddle" on Phoebe's back

More photos of the fox I photographed at Phoebe's (our Pembroke Welsh Corgi) breeder's field. Love the way her tongue is licking out, looks more narrow than you would think. People who breed Pembroke Welsh Corgis have a thing for foxes. Maybe because it's that Corgis and foxes look alike. Or maybe it has to do with the legend of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, which has been passed down through the ages and which most Corgi owners know.

The legend has it that long ago "two young children out tending the family's cattle on the king's land found a pair of puppies which they thought were little foxes. When the children took the puppies home, they were told by the menfolk that the little dogs were a gift from the fairies. The "wee folk" of Welsh legend used the small dogs either to pull their carriages or as fairy steeds. As the fox-like puppies grew, they learned to help their human companions watch over the cattle, a task which was to be the duty of their Corgi descendants for many centuries to come. Should anyone doubt the truth of the legend, the present-day Welsh Corgi still bears the mark over his shoulders of the little saddle used by his fairy riders".

You can see that our Corgi, Phoebe has a prominent fairy saddle mark on her back. The fairies must ride her a lot (maybe at night, while we're asleep). If you are a Pembroke Welsh Corgi owner, look for the magical fairy saddle mark on your Corgi.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak summer

Recently we had a Rose-breasted Grosbeak here at out feeder in NH. This is one of the joys of feeding birds in summer, you never know who'll show up. If you do just make sure and keep your feeder clean and rake up any old seed on the ground. Keep fresh water available also.

Ahhh, Summer

Ruby-throated Hummingbird in Bee Balm

Ahhh, summer. Go swim, barbecue, canoe, beach, relax, watch the hummers. Enjoy summer. Go have some fun this weekend. Bring your binos.