10,327 raptors counted.
Yesterdays count here in Tlacotalpan........47 raptors. Today I rode the bus to San José Papaloapan (14 kilometers to the southwest) and was able to observe 10,327 raptors (12 species)........in hawkwatch terms...it was a good solid day.
Eight days ago here in Tlacotalpan we were looking into the barrel of tropical storm/hurricane "Stan"........we lucked out, as the storm touched land to the south between Roca Partida and Montepio.
I have been on the hawkwacth nearly every day, yesterday with clear skies I only observed 47 raptors here in Tlacotalpan, Veracruz, so today I headed to San José Papaloapan , 14 km to the SW of Tlacotalpan. I have been there before and made some observations. As I got off the bus and began to walk to the observation location, people came out of their houses to say "David, yesterday many thousands of hawks passed by!" It was a good feeling, to know that in some small way my presence there had awakened an interest in looking to the skies for raptors.
Please click on the photos to see larger image.
The spot that I chose to observe is a little bird watchers paradise. In the surrounding trees and water there are easily 70 species of birds and this doesn´t include the passing birds of prey.......pretty nice!
Below is a satellite image (Google Maps) that gives you an idea where Tlacotalpan is in relation to San José Papaloapan
Todays report:
October 11, 2005 San José Papaloapan, Veracruz MX
Skies with scattered clouds...mostly clear. Hi temp of 34C
Light winds from the SW.
Observation time 10 am til 18:00
Broad-winged hawks.........................5,239
Turkey Vultures................................2,636
Swainson´s hawks.............................2,177
Osprey......................................................12
Peregrine falcon.........................................3
Sharp-shinned hawk...............................33
Cooper´s hawk........................................17
American Kestrel....................................19
Merlin.........................................................3
Northern Harrier.....................................2
Mississippi Kite.......................................188
Zone-tailed Hawk......................................1
Total.....................................................10,327
Raptors Non migratory........Black vulture, Snail kite, Black-collared hawk, Northern Caracara, Roadside hawk, Laughing falcon, Lesser yellow_headed savannah vulture,
Others:
Hundreds of wood storks
hundreds of Scissor-tailed flycatchers
Life is indeed good! Good birding and back atcha tomorrow.
David McCauley
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