Who needs hawks when you have mice?
Today was PSAT day, meaning we had no classes (besides the test). So, after finishing the PSAT, we all went home. Well…
I, seeing that there were NNW winds and partly cloudy skies, chose a different option. I’m glad I did.
There were lots of birds around at the Quaker Ridge Hawk Watch in Greenwich, CT. Yellow-rumped Warblers were absolutely everywhere you looked. I couldn’t go one minute without hearing their characteristic “chup” note or seeing one fly into view. Canada Geese and Double-crested Cormorants were moving as well — over 900 geese and 100 cormorants flew over the watch. We noted a goose that looked noticeably smaller than the others, with a much quicker flap, but we couldn’t be sure it was a Cackling Goose.
The fourth goose from the right appeared smaller, with quicker wingbeats. Terrible photo to show that though.
Of course, there were hawks too. Almost all the expected species showed up (we saw TWELVE species of migrating raptors), including two Peregrine Falcons, one which came right over not too far above tree height.
Around noon, someone found a young mouse (edit: I’ve been told it’s a very young Deer Mouse White-footed Mouse — thanks Joe), and since the hawk show had temporarily slowed down, why not watch mice?
Awww
During this lull in the action, around 1pm, I decided to take a break from the hawks and go on a walk in the field to look for passerines (songbirds). It was quite a fruitful walk – White-crowned, Lincoln’s, Savannah, Swamp, Song, White-throated, and of course ubiquitous House Sparrows all turned up, as did a brilliantly yellow Palm Warbler.
As I was walking, I kept glimpsing more sparrows just around the corner, and I ended up in the orchard, far from the hawk watch. Suddenly, my phone started vibrating. When I saw the display read “Luke Tiller,” our hawk watcher, I started to realize that maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to have wandered off so far.
“We just had two Mississippi Kites.”
Mississippi Kites?!?!?!?!?
“Are you serious??”
“Yeah!”
“Are they still there?!”
“They’re gone now, or they’re going to be gone.”
I sprinted all the way from the orchard to the hawk watch as fast as I could. (That’s one of the benefits of running the 400 meter dash, by the way.) Arriving out of breath (indoor track doesn’t start for a couple weeks ;)) , I ask where the birds are.
“It’s just gone into the sun.”
Great. The sun is just above the treeline.
“Oh wait it’s coming back!”
Sweeeeeeet! The bird came streaking back, just over the tops of the trees. I didn’t get killer looks; the bird was silhouetted (and no chance for a photo), but it was good enough.
What a day!
These guys were EVERYWHERE! Dozens and dozens and dozens...
Warblings 
Weird, I had PSATs on the same day. Wish I could have gotten to a hawk watch – I know Lighthouse had a good day with eagles.
Yeah they had around 20 I think with at least one Golden. We only saw a couple eagles though – guess they decided to follow the coast that day.
[…] I also wanted to steer my readers towards Benjamin Van Dorens post about our Mississippi Kite day (here) . Ben’s one of the regulars at the hawkwatch and is an excellent younger birder, he also […]