Sharpies and Kestrels - Hawk Ridge Update

By Cory Ritter

While Bald Eagles and Ospreys have been coming though in reliably good numbers as of late, Sharp-shinned Hawks and American Kestrels just kicked into gear on Friday, September 7th. As it turns out, it was our best day of the season for total raptors (554), and our biggest day for Bald Eagles (98), Sharp-shinned Hawks (375), American Kestrels (31), Merlins (6), and Peregrine Falcons (3).

The raptors are picking up, and diversity is high (12 raptor species on the 7th). It won't be long before the broadwings make their big push!

Sharp-shinned Hawk; Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory; St. Louis County, MN; 6 September 2013

Osprey; Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory; St. Louis County, MN; 3 September 2013

Broad-winged Hawk; Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory; St. Louis County, MN; 4 September 2013

Broad-winged Hawk; Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory; St. Louis County, MN; 4 September 2013

Broad-winged Hawk; Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory; St. Louis County, MN; 4 September 2013

Northern Harrier and Cedar Waxwings; Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory; St. Louis County, MN; 5 September 2013

Turkey Vulture; Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory; St. Louis County, MN; 6 September 2013

American White Pelicans; Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory; St. Louis County, MN; 3 September 2013

American Crow with white wing patches; Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory; St. Louis County, MN; 5 September 2013

Cedar Waxwing; Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory; St. Louis County, MN; 5 September 2013

Bobolink; Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory; St. Louis County, MN; 7 September 2013

Up Close and Personal: Broad-winged Hawk

By Cory Ritter

It seems that Broad-winged Hawks are often seen in distant kettles, and are just specks to the naked-eye. Well, that isn't the case when you're trapping them. There are some private trappers (not affiliated with WPBO) around here at Whitefish Point, and they're kind enough to bring raptors up to the platform every now and then. The broadwings really started kicking into gear just earlier this month up here in the U.P., and on one of those days, one of the trappers, Bill, was lucky enough to catch two broadwings in his set at once--and nice enough to bring them up for me to take a look.

adult Broad-winged Hawk, in the hand, Paradise, MI

adult Broad-winged Hawk, in the hand, Paradise, MI

banded tail of an adult Broad-winged Hawk, Paradise, MI

adult Broad-winged Hawk, in the hand, Paradise, MI

adult Broad-winged Hawk, in the hand, Paradise, MI

adult Broad-winged Hawks, in the hands, Paradise, MI