Hazel Bazemore Hawk Watch, Fall 1999
Date:   09-13-99

Greetings all:

Okay, we broke 2,000 today; here we go!

--------------------

1 Osprey
2 Swallow-tailed Kite
99 Mississippi Kite
4 Sharp-shinned Hawk
9 Cooper's Hawk
3 Red-shouldered Hawk
1,942 Broad-winged Hawk (606 in largest kettle)
1 Swanson's Hawk
2 Red-tailed Hawk
4 American Kestrel
2 Merlin
2 Peregrine Falcon
1 Prairie Falcon
2 Unid Accipiter
1 Unid Falcon

Total: 2,075

--------------------

Today's prairie falcon was higher and faster than yesterday's, says Joel, but still a nice view. The merlins are a nice coup; those are always fun to watch. Joel has a fun way of describing their flight mechanics; he calls the kestrels the 25-caliber of the falcons; the merlin the 45-caliber, based on the strength and power of the up and down strokes of their wing beats. (Hope I got that right, Joel <grin!>!).

What a day; thirteen species for the day's work, right up to the end of watch. Joel says a few of the last birds (broadwings) were low and slow, so it's possible that there may have been some latecomers after watch was called that settled in overnight for a possible liftoff tomorrow morning. Wish I could be there to see!

Cheers,
Patty Beasley
Joel Simon
Fernando Ramos
Ryan Wagner
and the rest of the HBHW cast and crew