WPBO Raptor Counter

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So far WPBO Raptor Counter has created 72 blog entries.

Spring Raptor Count 4/29-5/5–Spring’s True Arrival

Goodbye April, hello May! The Whitefish Point Raptor Count has entered its final month, but with some serious action on the way! The final days of April maintained the pattern of diverse flights, and 12 species of raptors were counted on the 30th alone! The absolute top bird of the day was a dark [...]

2025-05-06T12:30:33-04:00May 6th, 2025|Migration Counts, Raptor Count|Comments Off on Spring Raptor Count 4/29-5/5–Spring’s True Arrival

Spring Raptor Count 4/22-4/28–The Sharpie Days

In the past week, more than 7,500 raptors have been counted! Spring is here in full force, championed by our fierce accipiter migrant, the Sharp-shinned Hawk. These sharpie days have been unbelievable, with nearly non-stop action from sunrise to sunset! The best flights of the week occurred on the 23rd, 26th and 28th. All [...]

2025-04-29T13:30:00-04:00April 29th, 2025|Migration Counts, Raptor Count|Comments Off on Spring Raptor Count 4/22-4/28–The Sharpie Days

Spring Raptor Count 4/15-4/21–Highs and Lows

The third week of April at Whitefish Point was filled with some great days and unusual birds, as well as some pretty slow days. April 15 was a blustery, snowy day as a cold front rolled past. Few birds moving, but it was a treat to spot a Great Black-backed Gull. Following the cold [...]

2025-04-24T21:36:16-04:00April 22nd, 2025|Migration Counts, Raptor Count|Comments Off on Spring Raptor Count 4/15-4/21–Highs and Lows

Spring Raptor Count 4/8-4/14–The Unstopping of the Cork

I am happy to announce that spring has arrived to Whitefish Point, in earnest! The tipping point has been coming for a while, and the combination of some warmer days and southerly winds really opened the floodgates of April migration. April 8th was nothing to write home about, except for a lone adult American [...]

2025-04-16T17:07:28-04:00April 15th, 2025|Migration Counts, Raptor Count|Comments Off on Spring Raptor Count 4/8-4/14–The Unstopping of the Cork

WPBO Raptor Count 4/1-4/7 – Building Steam

The first week of April is a time of great anticipation. If the weather cooperates, massive early raptor flights can occur; if the weather does not cooperate, it can be reminiscent of March. This year, we were somewhere right in the middle, with a couple of days of decent flight and a few early [...]

2025-04-09T22:28:47-04:00April 8th, 2025|Migration Counts, Raptor Count|Comments Off on WPBO Raptor Count 4/1-4/7 – Building Steam

WPBO 3/25-3/31 – March Recap

The first month of hawk watching at Whitefish Point this season has drawn to a close. Let's take a look back to see how the numbers from the last two weeks stack up! Turkey Vulture (1): The first vulture of the year was spotted on March 27, and vulture dances immediately commenced. It is [...]

2025-04-02T08:51:17-04:00April 1st, 2025|Migration Counts, Raptor Count|Comments Off on WPBO 3/25-3/31 – March Recap

WPBO Raptor Count 3/18–3/24: Snow Days

The second week of the Raptor Count was a fairly chilly one, but productive! The largest flight of the week occurred on March 18, with a total of 40 raptors! Eagles led the charge; 15 Bald Eagles powered by, and 14 Golden Eagles spent quite a bit of time wandering up and down the [...]

2025-03-25T09:21:47-04:00March 25th, 2025|Migration Counts, Raptor Count|Comments Off on WPBO Raptor Count 3/18–3/24: Snow Days

WPBO Raptor Count 3/15-17 – New Beginnings!

New Beginnings: Happy Spring! My name is Sean McLaughlin, and I will serve as the 2025 Raptor Counter at Whitefish Point Bird Observatory (WPBO). Like previous counters, I will provide a weekly blog with updates and news regarding hawk migration along eastern Lake Superior! The count began on March 15 with somewhat favorable ESE [...]

2025-03-18T11:07:48-04:00March 18th, 2025|Migration Counts, Raptor Count|Comments Off on WPBO Raptor Count 3/15-17 – New Beginnings!

Raptor Count Week 11 Update (5.21–5.27)

The 2024 WPBO Raptor Count is drawing to an end. Although the last day of count is May 31, the four remaining days are unlikely to change the overall picture as the hawk flight significantly slowed down this week. The Sharp-shinned Hawks are almost through, with only a handful still recorded daily, and some [...]

2024-05-28T11:30:42-04:00May 28th, 2024|Migration Counts, Raptor Count|Comments Off on Raptor Count Week 11 Update (5.21–5.27)

Raptor Count Week 10 Update (5.14–5.20)

The tip of Whitefish Point was enveloped in heavy fog for most of May 17 and 18. The morning of May 17 was bright and sunny, and a large kettle of Broad-winged Hawks began forming west of the deck. Low clouds already obscured a part of it, and then fog rolled in from the [...]

2024-05-21T10:53:50-04:00May 21st, 2024|Migration Counts, Raptor Count|Comments Off on Raptor Count Week 10 Update (5.14–5.20)
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