The momentum of raptor migration along the Point has waned dramatically as we enter the second half of May. The week began with a second consecutive day of a BLACK VULTURE documented from the hawk deck. This was likely the same bird observed in the late afternoon on May 15, as the silvery-winged vulture flapped vigorously alongside a morning kettle of TURKEY VULTURES lifting off from the nearby tree line. The Black Vulture was not seen again after May 16 from the hawk deck or other areas of the Point.
Black Vulture seen circling over dunes from the hawk deck for a second day on May 16. Photo by Jess Cosentino
Following the earlier pushes of BROAD-WINGED and SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, both species have slowed considerably in the daily counts, while immature birds composed the bulk of migrants over the past week. Only a few small groups of Broad-winged Hawks have lingered north on certain days; however, recent large pushes of migrant broad-wings to the south of the Point signal the possibility that some remaining birds may still be left that have not yet made it to the northern forests. Similarly, only a single day in the past week recorded a triple-digit sharpie day count — a stark contrast to the first half of the month, where six consecutive days of triple- and four-digit day counts characterized the weeks.
Immature Sharp-shinned Hawk migrates north past the hawk deck. Late May numbers have slowed dramatically, with mostly immature birds being documented. Photo by Jess Cosentino
The past week also saw no ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, the first noticeable absence of this species since the count began in April. These high-latitude breeding raptors seemed to have cleared out to the north for the summer, hunting small rodents along the low-lying boreal and treeless tundra until autumn calls for their return south again. While the migration momentum of several species has simmered, three consecutive days (May 18–20) saw double-digit NORTHERN HARRIER day counts over the past week as these long-winged raptors took advantage of otherwise less-than-ideal weather conditions and continued to pass along the Point in numbers.
Northern Harrier passing along the dunes. Three days over the past week have seen double-digit day counts of this species. Photo by Jess Cosentino
With a little more than a week left until the raptor count ends, there’s still promise for more migrant pushes, especially following good southern winds. One more good push of Broad-winged Hawks could tilt the season total over the 8,000 mark, and a wayward MISSISSIPPI KITE could be the perfect migrant raptor to cap this spring count season if we’re lucky with the right winds. Make the trip to the Point and catch some of the migration before the count ends.
A close Turkey Vulture circles over the hawk deck. Can you tell the difference between it and the less common Black Vulture seen this past week from the dunes? Photo by Jess Cosentino
~ Jess Cosentino
2023 Spring Raptor Counter
Featured photo: American Kestrel flies over the hawk deck. Photo by Jess Cosentino
