Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!gatech!cica!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!att!cbnewsl!dune
From: dune@cbnewsl.ATT.COM (Greg Pasquariello)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: Hawk watching in Pennsylvania
Message-ID: <1463@cbnewsl.ATT.COM>
Date: 14 Aug 89 13:39:01 GMT
References: <3063@nmtsun.nmt.edu> <9885@phoenix.Princeton.EDU> 
Reply-To: dune@cbnewsl.ATT.COM (Greg Pasquariello)
Distribution: na
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
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In article  mk2r+@andrew.cmu.edu (Mark Paul Krenitsky) writes:
>>I've also heard about some legendary place called "Hawk Mountain" which
>>is purported to be somewhere in Pennsylvania.
>
>September through November are the months to go, naturally.  In
>September, there is a wide mix of accipeters, buteos, falcons and occasional 
>other raptors. In October the volume increases greatly to maximum, with 
>tremendous flights of Broad-winged Hawks.  In November, flights are scattered. 
>Small volume, but the best potential for something unusual. Mainly eagles, 
>ospreys and I think turkey vultures. 

September is the best month for broadwings.  They will peak around the
20th or so.  Large flights of accipiters will begin by the end of Sept,
with peak sharpshin  flights either late in Sept., or early in October.
Both species will continue thru October, but after the monster broadie 
flights are done, they will be somewhat rare.  

Although I have never seen a Bald Eagle at Hawk Mountain, they peak at
my local mountain (Mt Peter, Greenwood Lake NY), in early September.  I
believe that if we started our watch in August, they would really be in
good numbers in the last week.

Kestrels, peregrines, and other falcons come at all times, with most of
them peaking in early October.  Unfortunately, "peaking" for these species
is nothing like a large broad-wing flight.

November is indeed the best time for oddities.  This is the most likely time
for Golden Eagles, Goshawks, maybe some Rough-legs.  This is also the best
time for Red-tails, as large numbers of them pour down the ridge.

Whenever you go, you are likely to be treated to a spectacle.  Enjoy!

Greg Pasquariello
...!att!picuxa!gpasq