March has just about drawn to a close, and the first month of the raptor count is wrapping up. It has been a tumultuous month, and the old phrase “in like a lion, out like a lamb” has held true at Whitefish Point. Despite several days of snow and unfavorable winds, the last week has produced some excellent flights and pleasant weather. Wind is a nearly constant factor while hawkwatching at the point, often a dominating force. When winds disappear, there is at first an eerie silence, punctuated only by the scraping of ice on the fisherman’s boats, chattering of red squirrels, and the first Red-winged Blackbirds of spring. Signs of the changing season are not always obvious, but apparent to the careful observer.

Adult Red-tailed Hawk. Photo by Sean McLaughlin

The first small showing of Red-tailed Hawks on March 27 was a sure sign of spring. One of the best trait of Red-tailed Hawks is the highly variable plumages. There have been a good number of Northern Red-tailed Hawks with dark throats, heavily marked bellies and underwings. These stunners usually make several passes overhead as they navigate the point. Bald Eagles are a daily migrant, peaking on March 30 with 25 birds. This was also the most diverse day at the count thus far, including Turkey Vulture, Sharp-shinned Hawks, Goshawk, Rough-legged Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, Golden Eagle and American Kestrel!

Juvenile Glaucous Gull. Photo by Sean McLaughlin

A non-raptor surprise this week was a young Glaucous Gull that gave a nice pass late on the 27th! Another notable sighting was 3 Sharp-tailed Grouse on the 30th. In the finch world, Pine Grosbeaks and White-winged Crossbills have been by far the most numerous. We have welcomed back American Robins, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle and Sandhill Crane this week too! Flights should continue to improve in the next few weeks, come on out to the Point to enjoy some early season flights!

Sean McLaughlin, Raptor Counter

You can now see the raptor count data on Trektellen! Check it out at trektellen.nl/count/view/4562.

You can keep up with the 2026 Raptor Count by reading Sean’s weekly blog posts and following WPBO’s social media (Facebook, Instagram, and X). The raptor count runs March 15 through May 31.

Sean is a hawk watcher from Pennsylvania who has enjoyed watching birds migrate for over 15 years. A lifelong birder and naturalist, Sean has counted raptors at Stone Mountain and Tussey Mountain hawk watches in PA, before moving to the shore of Lake Superior. He has led the count team for four seasons at Hawk Ridge and three at the West Skyline Hawk Count in Duluth, Minnesota, instilling a deep love for the Great Lakes. In Duluth, Sean also conducts morning flight counts of passerines and other migrants. Outside of the world of watching migration, Sean has studied American Goshawks in the mountains of Oregon, breeding birds in northern Minnesota, and instructed courses at Hog Island Audubon Camp. He is excited to return to eastern Lake Superior for a second spring at Whitefish Point, particularly for the epic Sharp-shinned Hawk and Common Loon flights.