April 2 Daily Flight Summary

Official Counter         

Adam Richardson

Observers       

None

Weather         

Heavy fog hung over the Smith River at dawn.  It started burning off rapidly at 09:30 and by 09:45 it was virtually clear blue skies above.  Skies were mostly clear all day with a light haze to south as the fog cleared southward.  Mostly a mix of cumulus, cirrus and high stratus clouds around the edges of the horizon of the OP.  Winds were out of the south 3-12kph gusting to 17.7 in the afternoon.  For the first time at the new OP winds blew down the side canyon to the SW.  Visibility to the E and W was excellent despite the morning fog.

Raptor Notes  

a resident dark-morphed RTHA

(3) RT (1) UB (2) GE (1) NH (1) RL (7) BE (2) UE came through between 11:00 – 14:00.  It was pretty steady during those three hours averaging about 5 birds an hour.  Many of the BAEA now have to run a gauntlet of adult and sub-adult BAEA to proceed north.  I am seeing talon locking more frequently and usually after the encounter ends the migrant proceeds to the Smith River Canyon hastily.  The raptor that continues to impress me with their quick work of this section of the flyway is RTHA doing nicely paced light flapping when there are south winds for them to coast on.

migrant NOHA

I am also seeing resident adult BAEA pairs together more frequently.  There was a pair copulating near their annual nesting sight up in the Johnston Pasture at 16:21. A RLHA continues as well and it came in close to the OP.  There is both adult dark-morphed and light-morphed RTHA setting up territories as they are seen throughout the afternoon attacking other resident birds or passing migrants.

Non-raptor Notes

Green-winged Teal arrived today floating on the Smith River just downstream of the Johnston Bridge.  TUSW (4) continue in the wetlands upstream in the Johnston Pasture.  (2) SCJU were mixed in with the (2) ORJU today and the resident ORJU seemed to harass the SCJU.  I have come to realize the variety of snags and rock escarpment I am on provides both cover, a warm place to sunbathe on cold mornings and flies in the afternoon.  TOSO are hands down the most prevalent passerine currently on the bluff.  It seems more have arrived and there is lots of chasing, displacing and singing going on right in front of the OP.

Visitors           

None

Next Day Forecast

N/A

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