Adult Peregrine Falcon with symmetrical wing molt. Photo by Chris Payne.

It took nearly two weeks but we finally got the weather system that we have been waiting for all season. On Friday afternoon, a thunderstorm rolled in from the north and brought with it two surges of raptors: one as the storm approached and another shortly after it passed through. While the storm did not actually drop any rain on Curry Hammock, it felt as though it were raining birds! Over a period of approximately 30 minutes, we had 2 Turkey Vultures, 2 Ospreys, 4 Northern Harriers, 1 Cooper’s Hawk, 5 Broad-winged Hawks, and an astounding 20 Peregrine Falcons fly directly overhead, practically low enough to touch! After so many consecutive days of sky high birds, this was a welcome event indeed, and one that hopefully becomes a more regular occurrence in the weeks to come.

Peregrine Falcon with unusual wing molt. Photo by Lindsey Duval.

Juvenile Northern Harrier. Photos by Lindsey Duval.

Turkey Vulture. Photo by Chris Payne.