The First Big Kettles of 2012
By Rafael Galvez
Between 15:00 and 16:00, 308 migrated over FKH, often in large mixed flocks.
Photo by Ted Keyel.
Plain and simple, today was an excellent day at the hawkwatch: a total of 750 individual raptors were tallied. Only 10 days from the start of the season, we could hardly ask for a better day.
One of 125 Peregrine Falcons observed today from FKH. 51 flew by between 15-16:00.
Photo by Ted Keyel.
With winds predominantly out of the NNW ranging from 7 to 18 km/h, birds had favorable conditions for “southbound” flights despite mild and intermittent precipitation during the midday hours.
Between 15-16:00, 189 Broad-winged Hawks flew over the hawkwatch.
Photo by Ted Keyel.
Raptor totals for September 25, 2012:
Turkey Vulture – 2
Osprey – 83
Swallow-tailed Kite – 3
Mississippi Kite – 10
Northern Harrier – 30
Sharp-shinned Hawk – 54
Cooper’s Hawk – 47
Red-shouldered Hawk – 2
Broad-winged Hawk – 216
American Kestrel – 135
Merlin – 43
Peregrine Falcon – 125
Unknown raptor – 1
Total – 750
2012 Season Total – 2217
floridakeyshawkwatch.com 
Other notable species at Curry Hammock State Park included a Swainson’s Warbler at the Fat Deer Trail, Northern Waterthrushes and several Chuck-will’s Widows.
sounds like an amazing day!
It is only going to get better!
WOOOOOT!!! I’m happy!!
keep it up!
Great photos! PEFAs are beginning to show up in the area here in NEFL and ospreys are moving through in nice groups. Looking forward to a good start here. Diane Reed, St Augustine FL
Rafael and others-
Thank you for the hawk/ and other birds observation reports and of course for the excellent photos you are sharing with us.
tom wasilewski
Edinboro, PA
Rafael- We had a great time observing the Hawkwatch at Curry Hammock on Tuesday! Thanks for sharing your expertise with me and John and Annette. ALso, thanks to whoever figured out I left my Sibley guide 🙂
Kerry
Southern Pines, NC