Birds are on the move!

First, check out New Jersey last night. . . .and they’re on their way here! Our yard’s first Fox Sparrow arrived this morning, and I had my first Eastern Phoebe and Eastern Meadowlark during a walk at Pineland Farms in New Gloucester.

But, my main destination for this morning was the top of Bradbury Mountain in Pownal. You’ll hear a lot about this place in the next month, as I will be spending a lot of time here . . . and not just because it’s 4 miles from my house!

Bradbury Mountain – in Bradbury Mountain State Park – is one of Maine’s best locations for observing migrant hawks in the spring. And, it’s the best location near my home – yes, when we were house hunting we took this proximity into consideration! Jeannette and I have spent many seasons hawkwatching around the country, and I need to get my fix of staring at little specs miles away while being battered by wind and sun on an exposed hilltop.

Spring hawk migration in Maine begins as early as late February with Bald Eagles and Rough-legged Hawks already on the move. But, things really get going in April. Raptors (hawks, falcons, eagles, etc.) are diurnal migrants, using the rising thermals of warm air and/or updrafts to aid their journey. South winds (a helpful tail wind), and warm sunny days, are best. And alas, today was a beautiful morning with light south winds and rapidly warming temperatures.

In two hours this morning (between 8:40 and 10:40) I observed only a few migrant hawks. However, it is still early in the season, and it was rather early in the day – 10am to 1pm tend to be the best times, but I do have this work thing to get to. In addition to a few Turkey Vultures (who may or may not have been migrants) and two Red-tailed Hawks (who may or may not have been local birds not migrating), I spotted a distant Cooper’s Hawk, a very distant unidentified accipiter, and I thoroughly enjoyed an immature Red-shouldered Hawk come right over the mountaintop at tree level. While hawk migration wasn’t in full force, I did spot quite a few other migrants: a group of four Killdeer, 3 Common Mergansers, a Great Blue Heron, and hundreds of Common Grackles and Red-winged Blackbirds.