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

Gone Fishin'

By Luke Musher

One of many Osprey in Cape May today, and one of at least 6 seen from the platform at Bunker Pond.  Note that this bird is banded.

In my opinion, one of the coolest and most interesting things to watch in nature is predation events.  In birds, flight makes predatory behavior that much more fascinating to experience as they move through the air nimbly and dynamically in pursuit of prey.  While standing at the hawk watch platform in Cape May today, hoping to see a Swallow-tailed Kite (no luck there) I watched no less than 6 Osprey at once around the island, a few of which came very close to the platform to dive for fish.  One bird caught one.  This is the dive: