tripreport92504

Field Trip Report for Saturday, September 25, 2004 (All Along The Hawkwatch Tower)

left to right: Richard Wood, Reinhard Jockel and Jim Kingsland, ready for the Deep Canyon trail; looking down Deep Canyon; Richard Wood wondering how he is going to get down.

Bridgerland Audubon Society sponsored its annual trek to the top of Hawkwatch peak along the Wellsville mountains on Saturday, 9/25/04.
Hawkwatch peak is reached via Deep Canyon trail, just above Mendon in Western Cache Valley.
Approximately 20 rugged individuals showed for the arduous (my legs are still aching!) 4 mile climb to 8,600 ft. I was happy to see alot of new faces
including Nathan Darnall, President of The Great Salt Lake Audubon.
The weather was absolutely beautiful, not a cloud in the sky and the autumn colors were just coming out. Along the steep trail to the top we saw, Northern Flicker, Hairy Woodpecker, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Fox Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Black-capped and Mountain Chickadee, Dark-eyed Junco, Warbling Vireo and Hermit Thrush.
At the top of Hawkwatch Peak we were greeted by Mark Fogg and Rob Spaul, this seasons volunteers for Hawkwatch. They have been up there since
August 22nd, and will stay until the end of October, when the snow begins to fly. Both were very knowledgeable and great assistance to us all as we
spotted many cool raptors. The previous day on Friday, 9/24, Mark and Rob had recorded 2 Broadwing Hawks, which they were very excited about.
Mark told us that one of the biggest challenges and frustrations initially in their count was being able to identify what are local birds and which are migratory,
coming primarily from their breeding grounds in British Columbia. Case in point were the beautiful Golden Eagles we saw soaring below us, which were pointed out by Mark to be local yokels. While the BAS group was there we spotted Sharp-shinned Hawk, Swainsons Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Northern
Harrier, Golden Eagle, American Kestrel and a group of noisy Common Ravens.
It was very exciting to see so many Sharpies and Northern Harriers catching the upward thermal drafts and ride them to the top. We were able to look down on the birds and watch as they soared from below to above us.
Much thanks to Mark Fogg and Rob Spaul who shared their vast knowledge and expertise about their project and the birds we saw.
My hat goes off to these VOLUNTEER HEROES for their dedication and passion towards gathering this essential data on migratory raptors.
–Stephen Peterson 9/27/04

left to right: Wildlife Biologist Mark Fogg; Anthony Sandoval at Hawkwatch Central; the BAS group pointing out yet another bird!

left to right: Beautiful fall foilage on the Wellsvilles; Wildlife Biologist Rob Spaul glassing the sky; Impressive numbers on the Hawkwatch board.

Hawkwatch Count: August 22 thru September 24, 2004

237 Sharp-shinned Hawk
133 Coopers Hawk
10 Northern Goshawk
261 Red-tailed Hawk
46 Swainsons Hawk
4 Ferruginous Hawk
2 Broad-wing Hawk (9/24/04)
371 American Kestrel
4 Turkey Vulture
59 Golden Eagle
5 Bald Eagle
10 Peregrine Falcon
13 Prairie Falcon
4 Merlin
80 Northern Harrier
15 Osprey