April has come and gone, and May is here! While temps have barely reached a sweltering 50F, a few small patches of snow remain tucked in the shadows of the dunes. Overhead, migration rolls right along! The last few days of April only held a couple of meager Sharp-shinned Hawk and Broad-winged Hawk flights. Northwest winds battered the point for these days, creating really adverse conditions for raptor movement. As we creep towards peak Peregrine week (second week of May), the 4 o’clock falcon has started to be more reliable. Hawkwatchers across the continent often expect a late day raptor, in some places Merlin or Golden Eagle. At Whitefish in late April and May, the 4 o’clock Peregrine is nearly as punctual as a southern granny on a Sunday.

Adult Broad-winged Hawk, photo by Sean McLaughlin

Broad-winged Hawks hit the ground running on May 2, with towering kettles forming high over the point. The 490 counted is the season high count to date. The morning of the 3rd came with great anticipation. We had been watching a low pressure warm front sweep northward across the midwest, bringing southerly winds and the promise of warmer temperatures. While warm weather is still a ways off, the southerly winds certainly produced a glutton of birds! A huge Sharp-shinned Hawk flight on the 3rd was followed up by a wonderful late flight of 60 American Kestrels. As the day was winding down, I heard visiting hawkwatcher Bill softly say “what’s this bird?” I swung around and at the top of my lungs bellowed: “CARACARA!” There is hardly a better feeling than seeing a ridiculous, out of place bird confidently migrate by! The Crested Caracara represents the first Whitefish Point record!

Crested Caracara, Photo by Sean McLaughlin

The bird gave several epic passes over the deck as I scrambled to alert the troops, as it was unclear if the Caracara would stick around or be a one hit wonder. The good news is that the bird did reappear on the morning of May 4th, and most of the Whitefish Point locals were able to see it! While the Caracara was exciting, the most amazing part of May has been the intense flights of Sharp-shinned Hawks, my favorite experience at the Point. It has been a treat to share several of these flights this spring with several dedicated hawkwatchers making their pilgrimage to the Point. “He who watches a joy as it flies, forever lives in eternity’s sunrise!”

Hope to see you all at the Point soon for some warm weather and great hawkwatching.