September 27, 2007

Peak Week - Not This Year - Thursday, September 27, 2007


The catch of the day - HY female Northern Harrier

Our historically average biggest day turned out to be decent, but not worthy of peak week status. The weather was perfect with high overcast, almost no breeze and warming into the high 60's by afternoon.

Sue, Dalene, Mike, and Vicky banded 10 raptors today. They saw 37, almost a third of which were adult Red Tail Hawks on a beeline over the west valley heading North to South. That is typical of this time of year, but the numbers seen are lower than average.

But there is nothing like having a Northern Harrier in hand to make up for all the hours of looking at empty sky. She was a beauty.

Raptors banded:

4 HY male SSHA
2 HY female SSHA
1 SY female SSHA
1 HY female COHA
1 ASY female COHA
1 HY female NOHA


Size comparison of female and male HY SSHA



More NOHA photos