mattzeit

Mount Peter Hawkwatch, 11/08/25

I had a good day of birding today. I started off on the right foot by joining birding bud Kyle Knapp at Wickham Lake to enjoy a couple of LONG-TAILED DUCKS. They were my first sea ducks of fall migration, and Long-tailed Ducks have always been a favorite of mine – it’s hard to find a cuter duck out there; they are the puppy dogs of ducks as far as I am concerned.

~A couple of Long-tailed Ducks in flight at Wickham Lake, 11/08/25.~

From there, I headed up to Mount Peter Hawkwatch to count for the day. Moments after arriving, I had a nice photo op with a Pileated Woodpecker.

~Pileated Woodpecker at Mt. Peter Hawkwatch, 11/08/25.~

As for Hawkwatch, it was a busy enough day where I tallied over 60 migrating raptors with the help of fellow counter Rick Hansen, who joined me for a couple of hours. Raptor highlights included (3) Bald Eagles and nice flight of (9) Red-shouldered Hawks. Other highlights included numerous Common Ravens – I’d say I had at least thirty of them today. Also exciting was (2) Common Loons flying over – I always enjoy seeing them in migration. As always, I’m including my Hawk Migration Association report at the bottom of this post.

~A couple of local Red-tailed Hawks mixed it up directly above the viewing platform. Mt. Peter Hawkwatch, 11/08/25.~

~Common Raven in flight at Mount Peter Hawkwatch, 11/08/25.~

~A Common Raven and a Red-tailed Hawk getting into it at Mount Peter Hawkwatch, 11/08/25.~

~Orange County White-tailed Deer buck, 11/08/25.~

Sunday Shots, 11/02/25

This morning I checked Wickham Lake and Glenmere Lake. There wasn’t much exciting going on at either lake, so I headed over to the Black Dirt Region, where I found my first Lapland Longspur, Snow Buntings, and Cackling Goose of the season. Other than that, I was just hoping to get some photos for the day – I finally got lucky with some American Pipits in the nice morning light, and I thought a flock of Red-winged Blackbirds in a field of dead sunflowers made for some interesting images.

~American Pipit in the black dirt, 11/02/25.~

~One more pipit image from the Black Dirt Region this morning, 11/02/25.~

~Red-winged Blackbirds in the black dirt, 11/02/25.~

~Mute Swans on a foggy morning at Wickham Lake, 11/02/25.~

~And finally, one more image of the Coyote I saw yesterday at Wickham Woodlands TP, 11/01/25.~

Mount Peter Hawkwatch, 11/01/25

Today was my favorite type of day for hawk watching. It was cool with a very strong WNW wing all day long. It really feels like November, and it’s a day that’s just chock full of potential. And, while we didn’t get either of the sought after rarities (Golden Eagle, American Goshawk), I did enjoy a pretty good flight with over 90 migrating raptors coming through. Fellow counters Tom Millard and Ken Witkowski joined me and for the day we tallied (44) Turkey Vultures, (3) Black Vultures, (3) adult Bald Eagles, (33) Red-tailed Hawks, (8) Sharp-shinned Hawks, (1) Cooper’s Hawk, and (1) Red-shouldered Hawk. As usual, I’ve included my Hawk Migration Association report at the bottom of this post.

~The bird of the day for sure, Red-tailed Hawk over Mount Peter, 11/01/25.~

~Purple Finch at Mt. Peter Hawkwatch, 11/01/25.~

~At the end of the day, when I was alone, these dudes flew over. My impression was that they were ducks – the wingbeat seemed too quick for Brant, but I’m not sure. Please comment if you have any idea what species this might be. I can’t remember seeing any duck species fly in a skein like this.

~One more shot of my mystery waterfowl. Mt. Peter Hawkwatch 11/01/25.~

~This was my pre-hawkwatch highlight – Coyote at Wickham Woodlands Park, 11/01/25.~

A Double Dose of Hawkwatching

This weekend I counted at Mt. Peter Hawkwatch on Saturday, as usual. I also covered for another counter on Sunday, so I spent nearly 15 hours up at the mountain in two days. I tallied 161 migrating raptors over the two days, but he highlight, by far, was an immature GOLDEN EAGLE, which I located to the east of the platform during the second hour of Sunday’s watch. Unfortunately, the bird went behind the stand of trees to the on that side of the platform before I was able to even attempt a photo. Other noteworthy raptors included my first migrating Merlins of the year (three over the two days), and I enjoyed a substantial flight of Turkey Vultures during the final hour of the watch on Sunday, with over 75 migrants counted.

~Purple Finch at Mount Peter Hawkwatch, 10/25/25.~

In non-raptor news, it was extremely birdy on Saturday, especially in the morning. Purple Finches were a favorite for me, and I was finally able to get a halfway decent shot of one. On Sunday, I had several skeins of BRANT fly over; my first for that species in 2025.

~Brant flying over Mount Peter Hawkwatch, 10/26/25.~

~American Robins were seemingly everywhere on Saturday morning. Mt. Pete, 10/25/25.~

~Red-tailed Hawk flyover at Mt. Peter Hawkwatch, 10/25/25.~

~This little beast wandered out of the woods and spent a while feeding in the brush just to the right of the platform. Mount Pete, 10/26/25.~

~Yellow-rumped Warblers are still hanging in there. Mt. Pete, 10/25/25.~

~Migrating Turkey Vultures over Mount Peter Hawkwatch, 10/26/25.~

Sunday Shots, 10/19/25

First thing this morning I checked a few local lakes but didn’t have much luck so I switched gears and went the Liberty Loop and then continued birding through a bit of the black dirt region, and I finished up at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary. It was a pleasant but mostly uneventful morning of birding. There were plenty of birds around, but nothing exciting. I did manage to get a few shots to share this evening. though.

~Black Vulture in the Black Dirt Region, 10/19/25.~

~I don’t photograph Mute Swans very often, but the light was pleasant first thing this morning at Wickham Lake, 10/19/25.~

~Eastern Bluebird at Wickham Lake, 10/19/25.~

~And one more Eastern Bluebird shot. I enjoyed a few minutes with a small flock at Wickham Lake before they moved on.~

GOLDEN EAGLE at Mt. Peter Hawkwatch, 10/18/25

It was an interesting day at Mount Peter Hawkwatch today. When I arrived, there were already two birders on the platform, Connery and John from Bergen County NJ. And, while we did not have all that many migrating raptors, we did enjoy viewing (3) adult Bald Eagles out to west of the platform; unfortunately none of the three migrated through. We were not bored, however. There were plenty of songbirds around. I was hoping for Purple Finch, and sure enough we had a small flock of Purple Finches.

~The final bird of the day! Golden Eagle at Mount Peter Hawkwatch, 10/18/25.~

By the time I got to the final hour of the watch, I had only 16 migrating raptors counted. To keep myself focused, I made it a goal to try and finish the day with 20 or more. At the end of the final hour, I’d gotten to 19. I filled out the paperwork, and packed up my gear. I had my backpack on, camera over my shoulder. I took one last scan, and would you believe, directly in front of the platform, was an immature GOLDEN EAGLE. I was floored. The bird made some lazy circles and slowly passed through just to the west of the platform. It was exhilarating! What a day, I got my 20 birds, I got a Golden, I even got Purple Finches!

~One more shot of the Golden Eagle – what a beauty! Mount Peter Hawkwatch, 10/18/25.~

~There was still a good number of Yellow-rumped Warblers around today at Mount Peter Hawkwatch, 10/18/25.~

Sunday Shots, 10/12/25

Last weekend I was out of commission with some family in for a visit, but I was back at starting on Thursday after work, when I went to 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, where I had my first Rusty Blackbirds of the fall. On Saturday morning I was up at Mount Peter Hawkwatch; it was not a productive day with very light winds from the east and only 13 migrating raptors before I wrapped it up at 2 pm when the rain started.

This morning was a little more productive. While I didn’t have anything out-0f-the-ordinary, there were plenty of birds around to enjoy. Highlights for me included a large flock of American Pipits (which frustratingly stayed out of photo range), several large flocks of Canada Geese to sift through, my first Dark-eyed Juncos and White-crowned Sparrows of the year, and a Swainson’s Thrush at my last stop of the day – 6 1/2 Station Road.

~I was totally into watching these two Great Blue Herons do their dance at the viewing platform at Liberty Loop, 10/12/25.~

~Always good to see this bird. Rusty Blackbird at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 10/09/25.~

~There are plenty of these dudes around right now. Yellow-rumped Warbler at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 10/12/25.~

~I had a small flock of Horned Larks near the road. I wish the pipits had been as cooperative. Black dirt region, 10/12/25.~

~Great Blue Heron at the Liberty Loop, 10/12/25.~

~I believe this is a juvenile female Northern Pintail. 6 1/2 Station Road, 10/12/25.~

Mount Peter Hawkwatch, 09/27/25

I enjoyed a modest flight of 43 migrating raptors today at Mount Peter Hawkwatch, but the most exciting moment of the day was not raptor related. I’d been scanning behind the view platform in the beginning of the second hour of the watch. When I turned around, I was pleasantly surprised to see a Black Bear! I grabbed my camera and was able to grab a few shots before the bear headed off into the vegetation. Fellow counters Bev and Rich joined me for a couple of hours and found A LOT of birds; I was thankful for that. See my Hawk Migration Association report at the bottom of this post.

~One of many young Cedar Waxwings at Mount Peter today, 09/27/25.~

~Sharp-shinned Hawk migrates through. Mount Peter Hawkwatch, 09/27/25.~

Sunday Shots, 09/21/25

I birded the black dirt and 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary this morning. I didn’t have any targets in mind, I just wanted to see what was happening. It was a birdy and enjoyable outing; notably I had my first fall American Pipits of the season, a dozen or so lingering American Golden-plovers, and an impressively large flock of Tree Swallows. Savannah Sparrows were also quite numerous. At 6 1/2 Station Road, conditions continue to be less than optimal, with high water levels and no birds of note. I was hoping for another look at the Sora, but I was unable to relocate it. Here is a handful of shots from the morning.

~Tree Swallows in a corn field in the black dirt, 09/21/25.~

~Mourning Dove in the Black Dirt Region, 09/21/25.~

~American Golden-plover in the black dirt, 09/21/25.~

~A young Red-shouldered Hawk at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 09/21/25.~

~Savannah Sparrow in the black dirt, 09/21/25.~

~Male Wood Duck at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 09/21/25.~

Great Day at Mount Peter Hawkwatch, 09/20/25

In spite of a very difficult, nearly all blue sky, it was a really great day of counting migrating raptors at Mount Peter Hawkwatch today. It was a lot of work, but but thanks to the help of many of our observers (other counters) and guests, we were able to tally over 640 birds for the day. Entering into the day, I was wondering if we would get many more Broad-winged Hawks coming through this season; I am happy to report we counted over 600 today. We also had a decent variety, with Osprey, Bald Eagle, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, Northern Harrier, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, and Peregrine Falcon all also getting in on the act. I’ve included my Hawk Migration Association report at the bottom of this post.