Veracruz Fall 2005 Raptor Migrations - Info- Dates

August 15th the official count or River of Raptors begins here in Veracruz......I still have openings for my 2005 River of Raptors tours, you can contact me at veracruz.hawkwatch@gmail.com
to reserve your space.
There is an outline of the tour below;

Dates and information on the Fall 2005 Raptor Migrations.

Greetings Birders:
I have set three dates for the 2005 Fall Raptor Migrations
here in Veracruz.

Sept. 26 - October 3
(In 2004 1,156,036 migrating raptors were counted during these dates)

October 4 - 11
(In 2004 1,123,203 migrating raptors were counted during these dates)

October 12 - 19
(In 2004 1,556,772 migrating raptors were counted during these dates)

The combined total of migrating raptors counted last year, for the three dates thatI have selected was ...........3,836,011

Let me give you the basics of my fall Hawkwatch/Birding Tour:
8 Day/Seven Night Tour
$1,200 US dollars per person (based on double occupancy)
Add $200 USD for Single supplement.

The tour cost includes lodging, meals, ground transportation, trip to the mangroves and visit to the Museum of Anthropology in Xalapa.
Activities:
We will go birding in the mornings and the afternoons will be spent observing the raptor migrations. (You may expect to observe between 150 to 200+ bird species during your trip.)

For more information please contact me:
David McCauley
Birding Veracruz
veracruz.hawkwatch@gmail.com




A map of the area of "River of Raptors" The three Birding/Hawkwatch trips that I have organized this year will be based in Paso de Ovejas, Veracruz.


Observe migrating raptors from the shaded elevated deck. The pool below provides a nice break from the heat.






One of the thrills of the Veracruz River of Raptors is to observe the sheer numbers of migrating raptors. The geographical features of central Veracruz create a "funnel-like" concentration of southward bound birds of prey. Central Veracruz provides the highest concentrations of migrating raptors to be found on the entire planet.


The grace in flight of the Mississippi Kite is an awesome sight. In 2004 the season tally for Mississippi Kites was 177,088






















In the distance, the town of Paso de Ovejas. The town is situated in a low valley like setting near the Atiylac River. I have scouted locations to observe raptors on the high ridges to the north and south of the town


I have selected several locations on the ridges which provide spectacular panoramic views (with shade). This view facing to the north provides a "front row seat" to amazing "kettles" and "streams" of migrating raptors.

Broad-winged Hawks Rule the Day 19,642 Counted!

The Broad-winged Hawks are passing over Tlacotalpan.


19,642  were counted today, April 5, 2005



Here are some links that you may find useful for infortmation on the Broad-winged Hawk


Peregrine Fund


Peterson
You can find additional information on this and other hawkwatches at:


HAWKCOUNT



This

is my photo blog on the spring hawkwatch here in Tlacotalpan. I began

the count on March 21 and as of April 5th I have counted 75,685

migrating raptors in 11 different species. I want to share with you

some of this marvelous migration that I am able to witness. I you are

reading this I would like for you to drop me a line, 

hawkwatch@gmail.com   It is fun to know who is visiting my

photo weblog.   David McCauley.



Physical setting for the spring hawkwatch, my front porch.



Artist rendition of the famous Posadas print "La Katrina" Painted by Tlacotalpan Painter Rafael Aguilera

Tlacotalpan is a UNESCO world heritage site. The town was founded by the Spanish in 1590.





Tally board here in Plaza Doña Marta for April 2.




Broad-winged Hawks kettle of the Plaza Doña Marta in Tlacotalpan, Veracruz

March 29, 05 Spring Hawkwatch Tlacotalpan Veracruz

12,187 Raptors tallied today

Click here for larger view

Click here for larger view




Click here for larger view

Spring Hawkwatch 05 in Tlacotalpan Veracruz

Greetings:
The spring raptor migration here is Veracruz is underway.
I counted 4,626 migrating raptors yesterday (March 25) and we have a total of 9,127 as of March 21 when I began to count. CLICK HERE to see yesterdays report on HAWKCOUNT
I wanted to share with you some images of the setting of the hawkwatch.

David McCauley
hawkwatch@gmail.com

Greetings All:
Spring is officially here and this was my first full day of hawkwatch here in Tlacotalpan. We´re off to a nice start with 618 raptors observed among 8 species.
hawkcount daily report
The good news for all of you hawk watch enthusiats in the US and Canada,
THE RAPTORS ARE HEADED NORTH AND SOON TO BE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD!.
We had a wind from the south for most of the day, (which is not favorable for raptor migration). We shall see what "mañana" brings.
Good birding,

Spring Hawkwatch 2005
I'm getting ready to conduct another hawkwatch from Tlacotalpan Veracruz.
Last year as some of you know I conducted a hawkwatch for the month of April and was able to count over 100,000 northward migrating raptors! This year I want to get started earlier with the count, I will keep you posted............
David
hawkwatch@gmail.com

Now to the really good stuff!
The raptor migrations have begun here in Veracruz! If you’ve never experienced it is pretty mind boggling. Last year Pronatura Veracruz counted over 5.5 MILLION migrating raptors. The folks at Pronatura are one of the few groups doing anything about conservation and education here in Veracruz, I applaud their efforts.
(As a side note, three years ago when Tim Smart was here as a hawk watch counter he posted the daily results of the Veracruz count. I for one, really miss those daily reports on HAWKCOUNT/BIRDHAWK. The reports helped to give a true sense of the migratory marvel. I have mentioned it to both Norma Ferris and Rafael Rodriquez of Pronatura but so far the daily reports have not appeared. One of the mission goals of Pronatura is “environmental education” and the daily reports certainly contain migratory information.
If others out there miss the reports, I would encourage you to contact Pronatura Veracruz and see if they will share the information with the world.
pvecotours@infosel.net.mx


I have set up house here in Paso de Ovejas Veracruz SEE MAP. From the rooftop of my small apartment I have set up a hawk watch observation post. I have been able to determine that most of the raptor migrations from the Chichicaxtle count site pass directly over Paso de Ovejas. I will make an attempt to share with you via this weblog observation highlights as well as photos.

MISSISSIPPI KITES ANYONE???
Yesterday, September 3, 2004 provides some of the best views of Mississippi kites of the season. Approximately 38,000 Mississippi Kites were counted by PRONATURA between Cardel 16,000 and Chichicaxtle 22,000
Here are some photos that I took from my rooftop viewing area here in Paso de Ovejas.
I observed a heavy “push” from 13:00 to14:00 with up to three lines moving through at the same time. Around 20,000 Mississippi kites passed overhead in the course of an hour!
Here are some photos. Enjoy!
Photo 1
Photo 2
Photo 3
Photo 4
Photo 5
Photo 6

Greetings from Veracruz:
For those of you who don’t know me, I’m David McCauley. I have lived in Veracruz for the last 12 years and began birding 6 years ago. I run a small birding tour business here in Veracruz, Birding Veracruz. I love Mexico. It is a wonderful country and its people are (for the most part) warm and friendly. It is of great concern to me the rapid loss of habitat here in Mexico. With over 115 species of migratory birds, (which either pass through or winter here in Mexico) concern over habitat destruction in Mexico and Latin America should be of interest to birders.
I note with some interest that a great number of birders in the U.S. have developed a “list fixation” and that issues such as habitat loss seems to be of very little concern. In many birding message boards conservation or environmental concerns are dismissed or banned.
Hmmmmm?
I don’t consider myself an environmental activist. Having grown up on a farm in central Washington and based on my observations here in Mexico, this farm boy thinks that it time to plant some trees south of the Texas border.
I am not much of a believer in causes and clubs or organizations. My goal in what remains of my life (I’m 51) is to purchase several small parcels (15 to 30 acres, each) of land in a variety of habitats here in Mexico and restore the original habitat. Its not much, but I believe that is a small step in the right direction.
The other project that I am working on here in Mexico are short presentations in the schools focusing attention on birds and their importance.
Small steps. I am optimistic that much can be accomplished here.

Raptor-Rapture!
Paso de Ovejas, Veracruz
The fall 2004 raptor migrations have begun. From the roof top and balcony of my rented apartment here is Paso de Ovejas, (MAP) I may have the best seat in the house for the observation of migrating raptors. On the 8-17 and 8-18 I observed over 140 Mississippi Kites and 10 Swallow-tailed kites in five hours of viewing.
In one “stream” I counted 40 Mississippi kites and 5 Swallow-tailed Kites.
From my rooftop, I have a virtually uninterrupted 360 degree view. (Sunrise Paso de Ovejas)

Photo 1

Photo2

Photo3

It’s great to read the HAWKCOUNT reports from all the hard working teams in the US.
I love the names, Cranberry Marsh, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Allegheny Front, Wildcat Ridge, Waggoner's Gap, Bake Oven Knob, Second Mountain. I try to imagine what the hawkwatch sites must look like.
I also read with great interest the hawkwatch reports of Patty Waits Beasley from Corpus Christi, TX (Chocolate anyone?)
Corpus Christi movements provide me with a good ideas of possible raptor flows with two to three days anticipation.

In July I was able to photograph a juvenile Northern Potoo located a short distance from Paso de Ovejas. Here are some of the photos:
View 1
View 2
View 3
View 4
View 5

Well, this is it for the moment,

Good birding

David

The Art of the Hawk Watch. Hawk Watch in Veracruz – River of Raptors
Birding is filled with a myriad of experiences that reward, that enrich us. Among these experiences, in my opinion, none are as satisfying as the often overlooked “Art of the Hawk Watch”
Each spring and fall a select group of birders drop everything to enter the realm of the hawk watch. First impressions can be deceiving, the hawk watch may appear boring, too difficult or too demanding from the exposure to the physical elements (heat/cold/winds) .
For many their first experience at a hawk watch is to spend many hours in the heat or cold and be rewarded by someone pointing out a distant speck and being informed that it was a Cooper’s hawk. After minutes of fruitless searching with the binocular you see something, it turns out to be the bread crumb from your ham sandwich that somehow got stuck on your binocular. When you do finally see something, it turns out to be a gull.
At the end of the hawk watch day (6 hours) you have see 17 birds of prey; 9 Broad-winged hawks , 2 Cooper’s Hawks, 3 Sharp-shinned hawks and 3 Turkey vultures, at least that is what the official counter says. The only good clear view that you got was a low flying Turkey vulture. You think to yourself, hawk watch? Whoopee! Great fun! Next weekend I think I will stay home and count nose hairs in the mirror. This is point where “been there, seen that, done that” can really take it’s toll.
If any of this sounds familiar, I have good news for you, not all hawk watches are the created equal.
I have the excellent fortune of living in the heart of what is probably the greatest migratory flyway for raptors on the face of the earth!
Last year over 5 million raptors, representing some 24 species were counted.

A little over a month ago, I rented a small apartment in Paso de Ovejas. Paso de Ovejas is located about forty minutes from the port city of Veracruz ( to the northwest), on the old highway that goes to Xalapa. I am here in preparation for the fall raptor migrations, River of Raptors .
For those who don’t know, I am a struggling nature photographer and birding guide and for most of the year I live in Tlacotlapan Veracruz ( a nice expanse of tropical wetlands located about two hours to the south of Veracruz)
I will be dividing my time between four weblogs, Birdwatch, Veracruz Hawk watch, Adventures in bird digiscoping and River of Raptors Veracruz. I will share photos, birding observations and try to give you some insight as to my daily life here in Mexico. I appreciate comments and feed back.

Lineated woodpecker 

Dusted off the kayak today. (excerpt from birdwatch weblog)

Updates:
Last time I posted I was waiting for the weather to give us a bit of a break so that raptors could pass through.
On May 7, the day started out clear but soon clouded over with skies to the south/southeast looking quite dark.
The days count 119...........
BW...67
MK...26

May 8, 2004
Good hawkwatch conditions today.
Here is a summary of the days report at HAWKCOUNT

After five days of a combination of rain, strong winds and thunder storms, I have observed very little raptor movement.
Today we have sunshine so I will put in a full day observing and hopefully will see some nice 'pushes'.
Eyes to the sky,
David McCauley
Tlacotalpan Veracruz Mexico
PS, I posted some photo links of the Neotropic cormorant on my other weblog:
http://birdwatch.blogspot.com

May 2nd-4th 2004
Spring hawk watch
Tlacotalpan Veracruz Mexico

Rain, strong winds " Veracruz norte" on the 2nd and third. No raptor movement. May fourth, no migratory movement. I went out digiscoping and found plenty of Turkey Vultures roosting in the trees, many were soaring but not headed anywhere fast. I think raptors are waiting for more optimum migration conditions.

I got some good bird photos yesterday, some nice views of the
Bare-throated Tigerheron
Tigrisoma m.mexicanum
This evening I plan to make a post of the photos on my other weblog:
www.birdwatch.blogspot.com
Good birding All.
David McCauley

May 1, 2004
Spring Hawk Watch
Tlacotalpan Veracruz Mexico

I conducted a count in the afternoon from 14:00 to 17:00.
894 Migrating raptors counted.
TV Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)....50

OS Osprey (Pandion haliaeetus)......9

MK Mississippi Kite (Ictinia mississippiensis)....193

BW Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus).....591

SW Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni)...39

PG Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)....12

Total.....894

April 30, 2004
Spring hawk watch
Tlacotalpan Veracruz
This is the last day of April and unfortunately the last full day that I will dedicate to the spring hawk watch. I will still be scanning the skies and making posts.
Here is a bit of a recap.
Today's total.....952
The bulk of movement today; Mississippi kites 796.

Here is the summary of the months activity:
TV Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)......1,138

OS Osprey (Pandion haliaeetus)......314

ST Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus)......1

WK White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus).....0

MK Mississippi Kite (Ictinia mississippiensis)......26,910

HK Hook-billed Kite (Chondrohierax uncinatus).....1

PK Plumbeous Kite (Ictinia plumbea).........0

NH Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus).......16

SS Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)......82

CH Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperi)........86

GH Gray Hawk (Buteo nitidus).....0

BH Common Black Hawk (Buteogallus anthracinus)......10 views (resident)

HH Harris's Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus).....0

RS Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus).......3

BW Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus)......72,040

SW Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni).....798

ZT Zone-tailed Hawk (Buteo albonotus)......3

RT Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)....0

RH Roadside Hawk (Buteo magnirostris)...numerous views (resident)

AK American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)...167

ML Merlin (Falco columbarius)....12

PG Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)....117

UR Unknown ()......327

Total for APRIL........102,015

April 29, 2004
Spring Hawk Watch 2004
Tlacotalpan Veracruz

Some four hundred and fifteen years ago in the small Plaza that is now called Plaza Doña Marta, the documents were signed designating Tlacotalpan a pueblo.
Tlacotalpan means "land between sky and water"
The Mexican writer Elena Poniatowska once remarked "When I want to smile, I remember Tlacotalpan; when you pronounce the word Tla-co-tal-pan, it's as though you wash your face and laughter comes in."
There is alot of history here in in Tlacotalpan. Today another small bit of history was added. In the course of the afternoon, thousands of Mississippi kites streamed over the Plaza Doña Marta (6,333 Mississippi kites were counted today), it was during that time (when a group of tourists from Germany wandered through the plaza)) that we passed the 100,000 mark for the number of raptors counted in in 28 consecutive days here at the spring hawk watch.
As I reflect on the events of this month, I indeed feel fortunate to live in this special place and to have been witness to this spring raptor migration phenomenon.
I doubt that there are few spring hawk watch sites that offer this diversity, 17 species of migrating raptor species have been observed. In addition, 8 local resident raptor species were observed; Gray-headed kite, Black vulture, Snail kite, Common black hawk, Great black hawk, Crested caracara, Aplomado Falcon, Roadside hawk.
This adds up to a total of 25 raptor species in 28 days!

Today's Report:
TV Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)......34

OS Osprey (Pandion haliaeetus).....9

MK Mississippi Kite (Ictinia mississippiensis).....6,333

NH Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus)....1

SS Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus).....5

CH Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperi)......3

BW Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus).....835

SW Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni).....33

AK American Kestrel (Falco sparverius).....1

ML Merlin (Falco columbarius).......0

PG Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus).......28

Day Total........7,282
MONTH TOTAL.....101,063From Tlacotalpan, Veracruz
Good birding
David McCauley

April 28, 2004

Spring Hawk Watch 2004
Tlacotalpan Veracruz
Daily report
TV Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura).....21

OS Osprey (Pandion haliaeetus).....4

MK Mississippi Kite (Ictinia mississippiensis).....9

SS Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus).....1

CH Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperi)......4

BW Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus).....153

SW Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni)....4

AK American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)....4

ML Merlin (Falco columbarius)......2

PG Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus).....28

Day Total....230

Tuesday April 27, 2004
APPARENTLY THE MIGRATING RAPTORS SENSED THE INCOMING STORM YESTERDAY. Seven twenty-four a.m. winds from the North and rain. Here is the satellite imagery