The final days of the spring raptor count brought a mix of interesting rarities and large holiday crowds to the hawk deck. The week began with a smaller BROAD-WINGED HAWK flight on May 23, with just a double-digit day count; however, this was enough to tilt the species season total over the 8,000-mark. This spring continues to be one of the better broad-wing counts in recent decades, while May 26 and 28 brought a run of several additional triple-digit BROAD-WINGED HAWK day counts. Similarly, May 25–27 brought a brief 3-day run of immature GOLDEN EAGLES passing north each day along the Point. With the season getting later each passing day, spotting a spiraling golden in a distant kettle sparks excitement in anyone down along the hawk deck.
Broad-winged Hawk kettle (with Turkey Vultures mixed in) circles in the sky south of the dunes during late May. Photo by Jess Cosentino
On May 27, while late morning broad-wing kettles spiraled and bubbled along the horizon, one long-winged buteo made a long pass over the dunes to the north of the hawk deck — a SWAINSON’S HAWK, the second on the season. It passed over the dunes heading northeast and over the lighthouse before turning around and returning south. Just two days later, on May 29, a third SWAINSON’S HAWK on the season was spotted, spiraling in a large kettle of broad-wings and Turkey Vultures.
Swainson’s Hawk passes the hawk deck on May 27. Photo by Jess Cosentino
As if the third bird on the season wasn’t enough of a late morning gift, a MISSISSIPPI KITE passed over the deck an hour later, continuing out towards the Point and returning to be spotted again later in the afternoon to the southwest of the dunes before continuing south out of view.
Mississippi Kite circles south of the hawk deck on May 29. Photo by Jess Cosentino
~ Jess Cosentino
Spring Raptor Counter
Feature photo: Broad-winged Hawk flies over the hawk deck on May 29. Photo by Jess Cosentino
