Raptor Migration Update through Aug 26

 The HMANA blog reports that 1060 Mississippi Kites were observed from Corpus Christi, Texas on August 24! This makes me think we ought to be looking for kites at the hawkwatch already. I saw a single Mississippi Kite along Biscayne Bay, off Black Point on August 23 (south of Miami, borderline Homestead). Another was reported on the TAS Birdboard on Aug 25 – again off Biscayne Bay at Bill Sadowski.

Northern count sites are showing significant movement of Bald Eagles, American Kestrels and Broad-winged Hawks. Read the HMANA blog entry – Fall Hawkwatching August 19-25 – for the full report.

Keep your eyes on the skies. This week, Biscayne Bay had Bald Eagle, Turkey and Black Vultures, Red-tailed Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Osprey, Peregrine Falcon, Cooper’s Hawk and Mississippi Kite. Most of these birds might have been residents, but the kite, Peregrine and several Ospreys were certainly migrants. We are only two weeks away from opening the Florida Keys Hawkwatch – Can’t Wait! Best, Rafael.