This morning, we were greeted by fierce winds, sparse clouds, a pair of floating Peregrine Falcons, a foldable table filled with an array of treats, and smiling faces of hawkwatchers and banders celebrating the last day of the season. In the first half hour of the count, we instinctively watched what first looked like a lanky Red-tailed Hawk zoom in from the East quadrant and shuffle into the North quadrant. After seeing different angles of this bird, and with trained eyes from the crowd, we determined it as a juvenile Swainson’s Hawk! By the afternoon, the wind dialed back, our bellies were full of snacks, and giggles were still echoing throughout the group. In synchrony, we raised our binoculars up to the sky, as we have routinely done since August 12th, and admired the birds zipping over us. We had the good fortune to witness and exchange thoughts on some interesting Red-tailed Hawks. At first glance, one Redtail appeared to be a dark morph juvenile but after further inspection, via photos taken by the amazing hawkwatchers, we believe it could be a Harlan’s subspecies. Another unordinary Red-tailed Hawk first struck our attention with its pale ventral view. As we watched it weave between ravens and dance among the landscape, we noticed an orange tail with a white base. These entrancing Red-tailed Hawks were the perfect way to wrap up the season. Thank you Sunday 2 and all the hawkwatchers for your dedication and passion! Now that the raptors have dispersed, we shall follow.

-Ren Chen

Day leaders: Ken Wilson & Becky Olsen

Count Team: Ana Olivar, Ann Meisinger, Carol Weinstein, Cody Levin, Maggie Montenegro, Rose Fielding, Ren Chen, & company

Total Sightings: 127
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 25.4
Total Species: 9

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 49
Northern Harrier: 7
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 4
Cooper's Hawk: 1
Red-shouldered Hawk: 1
Swainson's Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 46
American Kestrel: 10
Peregrine Falcon: 4

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 1
Buteo: 3
Total unidentified: 4

The mid 50s temperatures, clear skies, and strong Northeast winds of the previous day persisted this morning. Although the gusts today weren’t quite as ferocious, the stalwart Hawkwatchers stayed bundled in their modern armor to keep warm. Red-tailed Hawks dotted the sky, and the high winds propelled several Cooper’s Hawks and American Kestrels across the hill, seemingly helpless to remain in control against the powerful gusts. Several Peregrine Falcon sightings were highlights of the day, with one coming so close that we could see its yellow cere and giant feet. “Never gets old”, commented Krish. A couple of juvenile Northern Harriers were spotted cruising the hillsides, one of them being divebombed by some unkind Common Ravens. The winds briefly subdued in the early afternoon, before ramping up and blowing harder than ever out of the North during our last hour on the hill. Baked goods and interested visitors helped make the day wholesome, as did the wonderful company.

Thanks for the great season, Saturday 2!

-Luke Scott

Dayleader: Jan Ambrosini

Count Team: Jennifer Miller, Tim Stroshane, Maryrose Kulick, Krish Maypole, & Luke Scott

Total Sightings: 117
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 23.4
Total Species: 7

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 48
Northern Harrier: 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 1
Cooper's Hawk: 5
Red-tailed Hawk: 52
American Kestrel: 3
Peregrine Falcon: 3

Unidentified...
Buteo: 2
Raptor: 1
Total unidentified: 3

A pair of Peregrine Falcons flew low over Hawk Hill, piercing the howling Northeast gales as the Hawkwatchers lumbered through the onslaught of wind to begin today’s count. Temperatures in the mid 50s felt much colder due to the relentless strong wind, with gusts over 25mph. The sky was clear, and the falcons took full advantage of the morning air, putting on quite the show for the bundled-up onlookers, before eventually careening South towards Land’s End at unbelievable speeds. A few excellent looks at adult Sharp-shinned Hawks provided us with some mental nourishment after the falcons moved on, and before long, the sky was full of looming Red-tailed Hawks, hanging near-motionless despite the turbulent air currents. Later in the day, the peregrines made another appearance, divebombing a helpless juvenile Northern Harrier over slacker ridge. The wind provided us with the opportunity to witness some interesting, if not chaotic flight patterns today, and the team did their best to stay warm and drink it all in. It was a lovely end of season day for Friday 2.

Thanks for the season, everyone!

-Luke Scott

Dayleader: Libby Rouan

Count Team: Nick Yatsko, Denise Peck, Paulette Sherry, Will Ludan, & Carol Weinstein

Total Sightings: 84
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 16.8
Total Species: 7

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 20
Northern Harrier: 8
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 3
Cooper's Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 45
American Kestrel: 2
Peregrine Falcon: 5

Happy Thanksgiving from the hill! Today I am grateful for resplendent raptors and fantastic friends. We had a picture-perfect day, despite the cold temperatures and the rather slow trickle of birds! In keeping with the theme lately, even though the total number of raptors was low, we still had great diversity with 10 different species sighted! Highlights of the day included a pair of Peregrine Falcons showing off their impressive flight skills, a few male American Kestrels flying close to the hill displaying their jaunty colors, a juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk overhead giving everyone a clear view of its stunning plumage, and a dark morph adult Red-tailed Hawk flying with some lighter morph redtails to show us a perfect comparison view. Thank you to everyone who joined us on the hill today and to everyone who is reading this from home – we're thankful for you all!

-Rose Fielding

Dayleaders: Catherine Elliot and Gretchen Zantzinger

Count Team: Tom Luster, John Davis, Pauline Yeckley, Patty Contaxis, Denise Peck

Total Sightings: 75
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 15
Total Species: 10

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 12
White-tailed Kite: 1
Northern Harrier: 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 1
Cooper's Hawk: 1
Red-shouldered Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 49
American Kestrel: 4
Merlin: 1
Peregrine Falcon: 2

The week of stormy weather was finally behind us, and today’s team was welcomed to the hill by crystal clear skies and a brisk northeast breeze. The low 50s temperatures and moderate wind persisted throughout the day, and the Hawkwatchers were delighted to observe Peregrine Falcons and American Kestrels cruising along. The late season warm lighting made aging raptors more difficult today. At first glance, the birds were all beautifully orange. We were almost thrown off by some Northern Harriers and Sharp-shinned Hawks but luckily, we had cameras and diligent photographers to get a closer, more detailed perspective. It reminded us that even with cumulative years of hawk-watching experience, raptors are still tricky to identify and require teamwork to do so.

-Luke & Ren

Dayleader: Don Bartling

Count Team: Wing Ng, Courtney Buechert, Patti Lessard, Heller Stanton, Stefanie Arthur, Joan Duffield, Doris Rodriguez, Ren Chen, Luke Scott

Total Sightings: 183
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 36.6
Total Species: 9

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 72
Northern Harrier: 8
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 6
Cooper's Hawk: 2
Red-shouldered Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 65
American Kestrel: 8
Merlin: 1
Peregrine Falcon: 10

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 3
Buteo: 6
Falcon: 1
Total unidentified: 10

“Consider the subtleness of the sea; how its most dreaded creatures glide under water, unapparent for the most part, and treacherously hidden beneath the loveliest tints of azure..... Consider all this; and then turn to this green, gentle, and most docile earth; consider them both, the sea and the land; and do you not find a strange analogy to something in yourself?”

-Herman Melville



The day began with hope, and fog...so much fog. The haze hugged us like a tattered sweater that has been loved beyond mending. Brief arrows of blue sky pierced the veil of endless clouds offering some hope in the glass-stained landscape, and when hope dwindled, we had baba ghanoush and cookies. Beams of sunlight steadily prevailed, giving way to a sky painted with layers of clouds, rippling across our field of vision, like the waves of a sea in the wake of an offshore storm. With glossy eyes we looked across the depths of the bay, past the towers of the city, into a sky that appeared devoid of raptor life. The Hawkwatchers stayed vigilant, scanning the skies, and remaining steadfast, holding on to some semblance of hope that a late season rarity would grace our presence. In the afternoon we conjured a sprinkling of birds, many of them perched under white translucent sheets that draped incessantly over us. And in these threads were spotted a few straggling raptors, outliers in the great southward movement that was the 2024 Fall migration: American Kestrels, a close Sharp-shinned Hawk, and our familiar Red-tailed Hawks, among them. The Hawkwatchers said their farewells, grasping each other’s hands, before moving down their respective paths. Our seasonal communion was over, but thoughts of next year’s flight were already beginning to form at the fringes of our minds.

Luke, Ren & Rose

Dayleader: Horacia Mena

Count Team: Maureen Grabowski, Dennis Davison, Mary Kenney, Nat Smale, Rose Fielding, Ren Chen, Luke Scott

Total Sightings: 62
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 12.4
Total Species: 6

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 30
Northern Harrier: 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 1
Cooper's Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 19
American Kestrel: 5

Unidentified...
Buteo: 4
Falcon: 1
Total unidentified: 5

Well, we got a solid hour of counting in today before the weather forced us to retreat! Although only 10 raptors were counted, we did have a surprising amount of diversity with 4 species in that wet and foggy hour. We saw Red-tailed Hawks perched close on Fish Rock and stilling above the north quadrant, a lone Turkey Vulture floating by, and a juvenile Northern Harrier being harassed by a determined male American Kestrel. It was a great day eating and bird watching with the Monday 2 crew – thanks for everything this season, team!

-Rose Fielding

Dayleader: Linda Schneider

Count Team: Rose Fielding, Ren Chen, Roy Pisetsky, Deborah Crooks, Jim Yampolsky, Conner Cimmiyotti, Amy Gilgan

Total Sightings: 10
Hours Counted: 1
HPH: 10
Total Species: 4

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 1
Northern Harrier: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 7
American Kestrel: 1

Finally, a break from the rain! The day started off cold, windy, and cloudy but we were ready and determined to count. We slowly tallied up some of the usual birds as we awaited a special encounter. In the afternoon, the wind slowed, and the clouds began dispersing, allowing the sunlight to warm us up. I told the team I was ready for an eagle to come. Two minutes later, coming from the North quadrant was a large bird with massive wings - a Bald Eagle. We were able to pick up the white tail and big white head from afar but as it flew closer and southward, we could see some brown streaking on the head, indicating the plumage of a 4th year subadult Bald Eagle. Towards the end of our count, the fog rolled in and almost fully enveloped us, but we stood our ground and got to see the fog pass within 20 minutes. Glad we were able to count all day despite the slowness! Thanks team!

-Ren Chen

Count team: Alexandra Cox, Annalise Fox, Laura Coatney, Parker Holzman Smith, Brian O'Laughlin, John Davis, Rose Fielding, Ren Chen

Total Sightings: 68
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 13.6
Total Species: 7

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 27
Bald Eagle: 1
Northern Harrier: 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 32
American Kestrel: 2
Peregrine Falcon: 1

Unidentified...
Buteo: 1
Total unidentified: 1

We almost did some hawkatching today. We tried! The team waited for the morning weather to burn off before heading up to the hill around 10:30am. The weather was clear down below, but up at the hill we managed only a few glimpses of blue sky before the fog obstructed our views. Shortly thereafter, the rain began again. We retreated to the office for chili, deviled eggs, cheese, and cookies, periodically checking the status of the hill. “Yes, there’s still a mass of dark clouds looming over the hill.” “No, we probably shouldn’t go up there again.” A few of us went birding around the lagoon where we caught some glimpses of Golden-crowned Kinglets and discussed the finer points of gull identification.

Thanks for the great season, Saturday 1! Hope to see you all soon.

-Luke Scott

Dayleaders: Mary Malec & Brian O’Laughlin

Potluck team: Melissa Hero, Chris Cruz, Carole Garrett & company, Doris Rodriguez, Luke Scott

Total Sightings: 0
Hours Counted: 0
HPH: 0
Total Species: 0

Another day of rain, rain, rain! The team still met up to partake in a potluck meal and commiserate over the weather. Even though no hawks were counted, it was still a great way to wrap up the season and celebrate together!

-Rose Fielding

Total Sightings: 0
Hours Counted: 0
HPH: 0
Total Species: 0

Our Wednesday 1 team stayed warm and dry at home today while Hawk Hill got drenched and windswept! Hopefully all of the people and raptors out there are hunkering down for this storm, and we can get back to counting when it clears!

-Rose Fielding

Total Sightings: 0
Hours Counted: 0
HPH: 0
Total Species: 0

Today was the day of bountiful snacks and end of season hope. A warmer than expected morning yielded to a chilly and slightly windy afternoon with overcast skies. The day was pretty slow, but our fearless dayleader Mary Kenney called out bird requests to keep us scanning the hills. This resulted in single sightings of many species: Osprey, Red-shouldered Hawk, Ferruginous Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, White-tailed Kite, and even a juvenile Bald Eagle! We also had some American Kestrel and Northern Harrier flights to round things out. By the end of the day, we were shivering, but we still had cookies, muffins, strawberries, and fond memories of raptors flying over our heads.

Thanks so much for the awesome season, Tuesday 1. It’s been a pleasure!

-Luke Scott

Dayleaders: Mary Kenney & Andy Bradshaw

Count team: Chris Tarr, Rich Eliason, Woody Woodbury, Paula Moser, Lisa Sargent, John Davis, Nick Yatsko, Ren Chen, Rose Fielding, Luke Scott

Total Sightings: 147
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 29.4
Total Species: 12

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 69
Osprey: 1
White-tailed Kite: 1
Bald Eagle: 1
Northern Harrier: 6
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 3
Cooper's Hawk: 7
Red-shouldered Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 48
Ferruginous Hawk: 1
American Kestrel: 5
Peregrine Falcon: 1

Unidentified...
Buteo: 3
Total unidentified: 3

Today was a crisp, sunny, beautiful fall day in the headlands! As we enter the final two weeks of the 2024 season, the number of raptors counted per day is slowly dwindling but we are still seeing a good amount of species diversity. A highlight of the day was watching a male Northern Harrier, also known as a “Gray Ghost” for its pale smoky plumage, dip down below a ridge – and then as we were following it with our binoculars, another large bird rose up in front of us. After noting the pale underside, light base of the tail and outer wings, and wide yellow mouth gape, we were thrilled to call out a juvenile Ferruginous Hawk and watch it soar right overhead! These large buteos are always a treat to see from Hawk Hill. Other highlights included several close Peregrine Falcon sightings. We saw a very persistent Common Raven pair harassing every Red-tailed Hawk that flew into the vicinity; when one of the ravens turned its attention to a Peregrine and tried to annoy it, the falcon immediately put an end to that nonsense by giving the raven a taste of its own medicine and dive bombing it. Avian acrobatics are so fun!

-Rose Fielding

Dayleaders: Conner Cimmiyotti and Deborah Crooks

Count team: Linda Schneider, Mary Malec, Keith Gress, Maureen Grabowski, Sam Wong, Ren Chen, Holly Thomas, Wing Ng, Denise Peck, Darren Gross

Total Sightings: 190
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 38
Total Species: 10

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 68
Northern Harrier: 9
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 1
Cooper's Hawk: 1
Red-shouldered Hawk: 2
Red-tailed Hawk: 93
Ferruginous Hawk: 1
American Kestrel: 5
Merlin: 2
Peregrine Falcon: 7

Unidentified...
Buteo: 1
Total unidentified: 1

The day began with heavy fog, light winds, and temperatures around the high 50’s F. As we scanned the sky in attempts to see through the blur, we were able to detect some of the usual suspects. Many of the raptors seen today were silhouetted; we had the pleasure of observing a persistent American Kestrel harassing a Red-tailed Hawk in the white sky at a distance. When we did get lucky with a close bird, they were saturated with color from today’s interesting cool-toned wash over the landscape. In fact, the adult Sharp-shinned Hawk we saw at the 2nd hour had a beautiful ashy-blue dorsal side and a gorgeous rusty-orange ventral side. As the fog rolled in even more, hawk sightings dropped but we got to experience California Scrub Jays, Black Phoebes, and Northern Flickers in the odd lighting. They all ended up perching on Fish Rock in the North quadrant. My favorite view was of a male Northern Flicker stretching, flaunting his plumage. On the note of stunning plumage, we had multiple Northern Harriers fly by today. We had a pair flying south and steadily staying high in the sky, a pumpkin juvenile hunting, another juvenile that we thought was gray ghost from afar, and a few others. Overall, a slower day but it always feels good to watch and try to make sense of what the birds are doing and why.

-Ren Chen

Dayleaders: Ken Wilson & Becky Olsen

Count Team: Carol Weinstein, Ana Olivar, Laura Thomas, Ann Meisenger, Rose Fielding, Ren Chen

Total Sightings: 52
Hours Counted: 4
HPH: 13
Total Species: 5

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 16
Northern Harrier: 6
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 2
Red-tailed Hawk: 24
American Kestrel: 2

Unidentified...
Buteo: 1
Falcon: 1
Total unidentified: 2

Today held in store some unexpected sightings for the Saturday 2 team. We enjoyed mostly clear skies with some mid-morning haze that burned off before long, with temperatures in the high 50s. Mild winds began in the east and shifted to the west during the afternoon. The day began with a Peregrine Falcon right at 10am, shortly followed by a White-tailed Kite cruising low across the hills. We enjoyed several juvenile and male Northern Harrier sightings and saw a few male American Kestrels hunting around Slacker saddle. During a slow period, the North quadrant was surprised by a brief explosion of sparrow activity in the bushes, including some lovely Fox and Golden-crowned Sparrows. In the early afternoon we were working some typical birds out over the FM towers when Sam yelled, “Osprey”, from the West. It was dead ahead of the North platform, flying right at us. It proceeded to circle around giving us a magnificent view. A distant, challenging Ferruginous Hawk appeared as a speck over Hill 88 before testing the Hawkwatchers patience and identification skills as it cruised slowly (distantly) past the South platform toward the city, barely revealing its fieldmarks. A late season adult Broad-winged Hawk rode a thermal over Angel Island before disappearing into the sky. Two PM rolled around and with it came a West wind and two adult Bald Eagles from the North. We marveled at the eagles then got distracted tracking some birds to East, including a weird looking bird that turned into a dark morph juvenile Red-tailed Hawk. Then another Bald Eagle came into view. “Was that a new bird?” We scanned the sky for a few moments before the original two birds joined the third and rose up over Angel Island. Three adult Bald Eagles in one field of view: nice!

Thanks for everything team!

-Luke Scott

Dayleaders: Jan Ambrosini & Jane Rudebusch

Count Team: Tim Stroshane, Krish Maypole, Brian O’Laughlin, Sam Hontalas, Holly Thomas, Doris Rodriguez, Luke Scott

Total Sightings: 172
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 34.4
Total Species: 12

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 67
Osprey: 1
White-tailed Kite: 1
Bald Eagle: 3
Northern Harrier: 10
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 9
Cooper's Hawk: 3
Broad-winged Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 64
Ferruginous Hawk: 1
American Kestrel: 7
Peregrine Falcon: 3

Unidentified...
Raptor: 2
Total unidentified: 2

A crisp and beautiful morning greeted today’s Hawkwatch team, with quite mild winds and open skies. After appearances from a few Red-tailed Hawks, Turkey Vultures, Accipiters, and Asturs, a Merlin jetted into view giving us a nice show before heading south. The low winds made the hill feel warm despite temperatures in the 50s and 60s, and bird activity slowed down for a while. This absence of activity gave the team time to indulge in their end-of-season potluck. Yummy! After some delicious soup, sandwiches, cookies, muffins, and snacks, a couple of male Northern Harriers graced us with their presence around Slacker Saddle. They dipped around, giving us great looks, and even provoked an American Kestrel into diving on them. A few more late day Kestrels were spotted, as well as some juvenile Northern Harriers. “What a lovely, peaceful, afternoon,” we thought. However, the peace wouldn’t remain. The day ended with drama - of the avian variety. Just as the team was packing up to leave the hill, an adult Peregrine Falcon blasted across the sky and began relentlessly divebombing two juvenile Northern Harriers. Over and over the falcon lifted and stooped on the helpless Harriers. One of them even tumbled across the ground trying to evade its aggressor. After a few minutes the Harriers came to their wits and vacated the premises. As the falcon drama fizzled out, a new turf war was declared as an adult Red-tailed Hawk let out a resounding scream at a Common Raven. The two birds proceeded to scuffle and squabble directly over our heads, with plenty of Red-tail screams piercing the air. We watched this for a few moments, then finally got around to packing up, but before we could make it to the car, the word “EAGLE” was shouted across the platform. Sure enough, one late day juvenile Bald Eagle was soaring from Mt. Tam across the north quadrant, with a Common Raven on its heels. We took a good look then started to pack the car again, but a few seconds later the Peregrine showed back up. “Wait, no, two Peregrines!” They soared around the valley, up into the sky, and away. Quite the spectacle to end the day!

Thanks for the potluck and the good times today!

-Luke Scott

Dayleader: Libby Rouan

Count Team: Will Ludan, Paulette Sherry, Nick Yatsko, Denise Peck, Lydia Bruno, Dan Knight, Holly Thomas, Keith Gress, Wing Ng, John Davis, Doris Rodriguez, Luke Scott

Total Sightings: 160
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 32
Total Species: 9

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 44
Northern Harrier: 14
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 13
Cooper's Hawk: 7
Red-shouldered Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 74
American Kestrel: 4
Merlin: 1
Peregrine Falcon: 2

No official count today, as the light rain that was forecasted became a downpour this morning! After being soaked to our skin, we decided to begrudgingly call it a day when it seemed the fog and rain would be sticking around. The afternoon cleared up beautifully later on though, so hopefully tomorrow’s team can take advantage of the clear skies and hungry raptors!

-Rose Fielding

Dayleader: Gretchen Zantzinger

Count Team: Tom Luster, John Davis, Pauline Yeckley, Megan Fradley-Smith

Total Sightings: 0
Hours Counted: 0
HPH: 0
Total Species: 0

This morning greeted us with chilly winds from the SE quadrant starting at 6mph and ramping up within a couple of hours. Before the storm kicked in, we saw some great sights of Sharpies getting pushed around in the gusts, Peregrine Falcons and a Merlin blazing through opposing winds, and an adult Bald Eagle lifting over the Bay. As the birds blew through, a male Northern Harrier swept through the hills, making his rounds around the observation deck as we all took moments to admire his beauty. By noon o’clock the rain and winds crashed through, pushing the counters off the Hill (this is our own form of migration). Thanks for bearing the storm Team!

-Doris Rodriguez

Dayleaders: Don Bartling & Michaela Figari

Count Team: Stephanie Arthur, Joan Duffield, Courtney Buechert, Patti Lesard, Wing Ng, Heller Stanton, John Davis, Doris Rodriguez

Total Sightings: 75
Hours Counted: 2.5
HPH: 30
Total Species: 10

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 27
Osprey: 1
Bald Eagle: 1
Northern Harrier: 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 5
Cooper's Hawk: 2
Red-tailed Hawk: 32
American Kestrel: 1
Merlin: 1
Peregrine Falcon: 2

Today was a bright spot amid the forecasted rain for the week! We had clear skies, and a good amount of diversity with 10 different raptor species sighted. It was a great day for Peregrine Falcons, with a total of 7 speeding over the hill at different times. Two of the biggest highlights of the day both showed up in the East quadrant at separate times, giving us great close views as they flew above the Golden Gate Bridge – a Ferruginous Hawk and a White-tailed Kite! Both of the pale beauties were very obliging in allowing all of us to study them closely and look at their key identification markers. Hopefully tomorrow’s team can stay dry and count some birds too!

-Rose Fielding

Dayleader: Horacio Mena

Count Team: Dan Foldes, Woody Woodbury, Maureen Grabowski, Dennis Davison, Mary Kenney, Nathan Smale, Wing Ng, John Davis, Holly Thomas, Step Wilson, Anne Ardillo, Diane Horn

Total Sightings: 204
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 40.8
Total Species: 10

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 53
White-tailed Kite: 1
Northern Harrier: 12
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 8
Cooper's Hawk: 9
Red-tailed Hawk: 98
Ferruginous Hawk: 1
American Kestrel: 4
Merlin: 4
Peregrine Falcon: 7

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 6
Raptor: 1
Total unidentified: 7

Despite a cold, wet, foggy start to the day, we ended up having a gorgeous afternoon up on the hill! We took shelter from the rain until noon, and decided to head up then for one last shot at counting raptors. We were rewarded for our perseverance almost immediately when a stunning adult Bald Eagle flew right over the hill heading south! We hoped that would be a good omen for the rest of the day, and while we did have some beautiful raptor sightings as always, we were not successful in finding the elusive late-season Rough-legged Hawk that we were wishing for. We did have some great American Kestrel and Northern Harrier sightings, as well as an abundance of acrobatic Red-tailed Hawks!

-Rose Fielding

Dayleader: Linda Schneider

Count Team: Deborah Crooks, Conner Cimmiyotti, Jim Yampolsky, Amy Gilgan

Total Sightings: 63
Hours Counted: 2.5
HPH: 25.2
Total Species: 8

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 1
Bald Eagle: 1
Northern Harrier: 4
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 2
Cooper's Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 43
American Kestrel: 7
Peregrine Falcon: 2

Unidentified...
Falcon: 1
Raptor: 1
Total unidentified: 2

The day started out rather smoky and hazy, but thankfully as the day went on the winds changed and it cleared into a bright, beautiful afternoon! Despite having relatively low numbers with a total count of 168 raptors, we still had some amazing sightings. One highlight was an eagle that the whole hill got to work on identifying together – and using clues such as head shape, feather mottling, and location of white markings, we were able to call it a subadult Bald Eagle! At the end of the day, a stunning male Northern Harrier showed off by slowly meandering above hillsides looking for an easy meal. As the late afternoon sun glinted off of his crisp gray and white plumage, we found ourselves wishing one of our photographer friends was on the hill – alas, we’ll just have to remember the moment in our minds!

-Rose Fielding

Dayleader: Sam Hontalas

Count team: Laura Coatney, Melissa Kohner, Annalise Fox, Jon Altemus, Dani Christensen

Total Sightings: 168
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 33.6
Total Species: 9

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 51
Osprey: 1
Bald Eagle: 1
Northern Harrier: 7
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 5
Cooper's Hawk: 4
Red-tailed Hawk: 74
American Kestrel: 9
Merlin: 2

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 4
Buteo: 7
Falcon: 1
Raptor: 2
Total unidentified: 14

Today was another beautiful day with temperatures in the mid 60s, variable light wind, and mostly clear skies. A light haze hung around in the distance, and as the day began, we watched some low fog roll in from the West, though it never obscured our views of the sky. The low fog dissipated before long, and the rest of the day was clear and sunny. Today’s count was one of fairly high numbers, but low species diversity for this time in the season. We counted lots of Red-tailed Hawks, studying them closely, trying to turn them into Rough-legged Hawks, but no one was able to conjure one up. The Red-tailed Hawk and Turkey Vulture count was punctuated by great looks at Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawks flying low over the hill every 15 or 20 minutes, as well as some distant American Kestrels and Northern Harriers. We also spotted some American White Pelicans! The somewhat slow day allowed the team to chat with some interested visitors on the hill who were excited to see a Red-tailed Hawk perched in the West quadrant. We also had the opportunity to visit with some great friends on the hill today!

Looking forward to the next count, thanks for doing what you do team!

Luke Scott

Dayleader: Mary Malec

Count Team: Melissa Hero, Chris Cruz, Carole Garrett, Holly Thomas, John Davis, Robyn Boothby, Doris Rodriguez, Luke Scott

Total Sightings: 263
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 52.6
Total Species: 7

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 73
Northern Harrier: 9
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 19
Cooper's Hawk: 21
Red-tailed Hawk: 121
American Kestrel: 11
Merlin: 1

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 7
Falcon: 1
Total unidentified: 8

The atmosphere on Hawk Hill was pleasant today, dare I say peaceful, with clear skies, perfect mid-60 temperatures, and mild winds that shifted from East to West as the day moved on. The flight started slow, but before long a juvenile Peregrine Falcon cruised from the East, low over the hill, gracing the Hawkwatchers with its presence. Just after 11am the air of peace gave way to a joyous cacophony of 1st graders (future Hawkwatchers) that stormed the hill to learn about raptors. They were eager to look through the GGRO scopes, and we were pleased to overhear debates among the youngsters over whether the Turkey Vultures they were seeing were new or already counted! Big thanks to Karen Offereins from the Community Stewardship and Engagement team for helping us interface with the kids today. The children soon moved on to greener pastures (for snack time) and the air of peace returned, bringing with it an adult Bald Eagle from the North quadrant! Other highlights included a great look at a White-tailed Kite flying North, as well as a few Red-shouldered Hawks, American Kestrels, and Merlins. Still no pizza party, though!

Thanks for another wonderful day on the Hill team!

Luke Scott

Dayleader: Holly Thomas

Count Team: Tomas McKay, Nick Yatsko, Yvette MacDonald, Sonja Raub, Denise Peck, Pauline Yeckley, Wing Ng, Carmen DeLeon, Doris Rodriguez, Luke Scott

Total Sightings: 227
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 45.4
Total Species: 11

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 63
White-tailed Kite: 1
Bald Eagle: 1
Northern Harrier: 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 16
Cooper's Hawk: 10
Red-shouldered Hawk: 2
Red-tailed Hawk: 112
American Kestrel: 6
Merlin: 3
Peregrine Falcon: 1

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 2
Buteo: 5
Falcon: 1
Raptor: 1
Total unidentified: 9

This was another wonderful late season day with intermittent moderate West/Northwest winds, clear skies, and temperatures in the mid 60s. Somewhat strange thermals provided the South quadrant with small kettles of raptors popping up beyond the south platform. We had great looks at Northern Harriers, a few American Kestrels flying over the shipping channel, and some distant White-tailed Kites, Merlins, and a Peregrine Falcon. Later in the day, our Dayleader John Davis pointed out a bird in the East quadrant, asking me what it was. I casually replied, “Turkey Vulture”, before turning away. John said, “No, it’s not.... DARK MORPH FERRUGINOUS HAWK!”. Nice bird! The latter part of the day slowed down, but around 2:50pm, another shout from John Davis rang out, this time from the West quadrant: “Good bird, really, REALLY good bird!”. I abandoned my quadrant, running toward the West just in time to see what we thought was a Short-eared Owl swooping across the landscape and landing on a shrubby perch. The owl then lifted its long ears, and we noticed its slender physique and pumpkin-colored cheeks. The following question was uttered several times: “Is this the first Long-eared Owl ever seen at Hawk Hill???”

Thanks for the great day team!

Luke Scott

Dayleader: John Davis

Count Team: Susan Greef, Arden Bucklin-Sporer, Patricia Contaxis, Lydia Bruno, Ashley Friscia, Wing Ng, Ren Chen, Carmen DeLeon, Doris Rodriguez, Luke Scott

Total Sightings: 273
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 54.6
Total Species: 11

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 81
White-tailed Kite: 2
Northern Harrier: 5
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 16
Cooper's Hawk: 16
Red-shouldered Hawk: 5
Red-tailed Hawk: 127
Ferruginous Hawk: 1
American Kestrel: 10
Merlin: 3
Peregrine Falcon: 1

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 1
Buteo: 3
Falcon: 1
Raptor: 1
Total unidentified: 6

The highlights of the day were eagles. First an immature Golden Eagle, then a 4th year Bald Eagle and then later in the day a pair of adult Bald Eagles flying in unison. A few Merlins blasted through. And Many Red-tailed Hawks, adults and juveniles battling the high winds. And special treats of adult accipiters flying close to the hill and a young Ferruginous Hawk flying North!

- Jon Altemus, Dayleader

Count team: Jan Ambrosini, Wing Ng, Kimberlie Moutoux, Brian O'Laughlin, Kendra Armer, Monica Stafford, Holly Thomas, John Davis

Total Sightings: 258
Hours Counted: 6
HPH: 43
Total Species: 11

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 31
Bald Eagle: 3
Northern Harrier: 7
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 22
Cooper's Hawk: 3
Red-tailed Hawk: 169
Ferruginous Hawk: 1
Golden Eagle: 1
American Kestrel: 12
Merlin: 2
Peregrine Falcon: 1

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 5
Raptor: 1
Total unidentified: 6

What a nice day to spend not thinking about anything but raptors. A slightly overcast morning gave rise to some late sun, with moderate temperatures, and variable winds of moderate strength. The Red-tailed Hawks were out in full force today, with a whopping 140 sightings! We also saw many Northern Harriers, including two juveniles that seemed to be following each other and hunting. I arrived at the hill a little late and was greeted by an adult Peregrine Falcon flying low right over the hill. What a wonderful way to start the day! In the early afternoon a Ferruginous Hawk flew past the south platform, and we had a few moments of chaotic Sharp-shinned Hawk sightings. The real treat today was an unbelievable look at an adult Golden Eagle that flew from the Northwest, soaring low directly over the Hawkwatchers, before continuing South over the city. What a sight! Thanks for everything today Hawkwatchers!

Luke Scott

Dayleaders: Mary Kenney and Andy Bradshaw

Count Team: Chris Tarr, Rich Eliason, Woody Woodbury, Paula Moser, Lisa Sargent, Wing Ng, Step Wilson, Ren Chen, Carmen DeLeon, Luke Scott

Total Sightings: 275
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 55
Total Species: 11

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 56
Northern Harrier: 10
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 36
Cooper's Hawk: 11
Red-shouldered Hawk: 2
Red-tailed Hawk: 140
Ferruginous Hawk: 1
Golden Eagle: 1
American Kestrel: 4
Merlin: 3
Peregrine Falcon: 3

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 4
Buteo: 4
Total unidentified: 8

Another warm, mid to high 60’s F, blue-sky day with only occasional light gusts of wind. We started out captivated by an unordinary raptor visitor, a Short-eared Owl! Throughout the day we saw many of our ordinary birds as well—lots of Red-tailed Hawks. One of the Red-tailed Hawks was a dark morph juvenile that flew into every quadrant giving us stunning eye-level looks. We got some fun views of raptors on their journeys and raptors lingering too: mid-count, the team spotted a close Osprey that had a determined path juxtaposed to later observing a Northern Harrier hunting around. We were also entertained with less common overhead looks at a White-tailed Kite and a male American Kestrel. Some other exciting flying creatures were all the orange Vanessa genus butterflies fluttering about as we counted.

-Ren Chen

Dayleader: Deborah Crooks

Count Team: Keith Gress, Linda Schneider, Mary Malec, Sam Wong, Step Wilson, John Davis, Denise Peck, Anne Ross, Rose Fielding, Ren Chen

Total Sightings: 200
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 40
Total Species: 10

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 43
Osprey: 1
White-tailed Kite: 2
Northern Harrier: 5
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 20
Cooper's Hawk: 9
Red-tailed Hawk: 101
American Kestrel: 4
Merlin: 4
Peregrine Falcon: 2

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 4
Buteo: 2
Falcon: 3
Total unidentified: 9

Clear blue skies and light bursts of wind coupled with mid to high 60’s F temperature all day made for small group flurries of raptors moving through Hawk Hill today. Most of the birds we saw were remarkably high up and/or at a distance. Most notably, the juvenile Golden Eagle that almost blended in with a group of five Turkey Vultures. We are all inspecting the Turkey Vultures after yesterday’s surprise! After some time straining our eyes to find birds far away, we got great looks at a male Northern Harrier and a light-colored Merlin. A dark morph juvenile Red-tailed Hawk also flew by the North quadrant showing off its chocolatey plumage!

-Ren Chen

Dayleader: Ken Wilson & Becky Olsen

Count Team: Ann Meisinger, Carol Weinstein, Cody Levin, Laura Thomas, Maggie Montenegro, Holly Thomas, Brian O'Laughlin, Sam Hontalas, Rose Fielding, Ren Chen

Total Sightings: 164
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 32.8
Total Species: 11

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 55
Osprey: 1
Northern Harrier: 4
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 18
Cooper's Hawk: 7
Red-shouldered Hawk: 2
Red-tailed Hawk: 60
Golden Eagle: 1
American Kestrel: 6
Merlin: 2
Peregrine Falcon: 1

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 2
Buteo: 1
Falcon: 3
Raptor: 1
Total unidentified: 7

Last night’s rain blew in crisp NW winds and low temperatures, pushing a small trickle of late season Sharp-shinned Hawks, followed by splendid views of two juvenile Red-shouldered Hawks, and a hunting American Kestrel. The dewy morning also included appearances of two gray ghosts (adult male Northern Harriers) gliding through the headlands! The biggest highlight of the day was when Hawkwatchers stumbled on a dark vulture-like silhouetted bird. What could this possibly be? Our bird teetered along the wind, until someone yelled out... DARK MORPH FERRUGINOUS HAWK. Such a delightful way to wrap up the day, huge thanks to the birds and crew!

-Doris Rodriguez

Dayleader: Jane Rudebusch & Jan Ambrosini

Count Team: Tim Stroshane, Krish Maypole, Holly Thomas, Doris Rodriguez

Total Sightings: 156
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 31.2
Total Species: 10

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 63
Northern Harrier: 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 9
Cooper's Hawk: 7
Red-shouldered Hawk: 3
Red-tailed Hawk: 56
Ferruginous Hawk: 1
American Kestrel: 2
Merlin: 4
Peregrine Falcon: 4

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 3
Falcon: 1
Total unidentified: 4

Blue sky and sunshine managed to peek through the thick fog while we were in the parking lot, but the lofty layer quickly erased the west quadrant from view once we arrived at the hill. A small opening over the bay allowed us to spot Red-tailed Hawks rising over the trees before our view vanished again. There were whispers of a southwest wind with temperatures in the mid 50’s-low 60’s F. After spending time chatting about raptor migration and conservation with our visitors from the VA, we huddled by our box of pastries for a picnic lunch then dispersed with a total of 1 hour and 4 redtails counted.

-Carmen DeLeon

Dayleader: Holly Thomas

Count Team: Will Ludan, Nick Yatso, Denise Peck, Dan Knight, Doris Rodriguez, Luke Scott

Total Sightings: 4
Hours Counted: 1
HPH: 4
Total Species: 1

Species Counts:
Red-tailed Hawk: 4

Happy Halloween from the Headlands! The birds kept us busy today, and we had sightings of 10 different raptor species. The highlight of the day was a juvenile Ferruginous Hawk that was spotted in the distance, and slowly started filling our scopes more and more as it got closer. It finally flew directly over the hill as it continued its journey south, and we all got a great view of the crisp white feathers and signature Ferruginous “smile”! We also had male American Kestrels consistently circling the hill throughout the day, which is always a treat.

-Rose Fielding

Dayleaders: Catherine Elliot and Gretchen Zantzinger

Count Team: Tom Luster, John Davis, Pauline Yeckley, Ren Chen, Luke Scott, Denise Peck

Total Sightings: 166
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 33.2
Total Species: 10

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 58
Northern Harrier: 7
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 6
Cooper's Hawk: 5
Red-shouldered Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 71
Ferruginous Hawk: 1
American Kestrel: 14
Merlin: 1
Peregrine Falcon: 1

Unidentified...
Buteo: 1
Total unidentified: 1

Happy Harrier H-wednesday! It was a cold and slow start to the day with persistent haze surrounding us as raptor sightings drifted in and out of the blur. Light west winds were up to 3 mph with temperatures in the low 60’s F. Northern Harriers led the morning, drifting by through the valley. We were excited to see an adult male Northern Harrier, with its cloudy grey plumage perfectly matching the surroundings. A Merlin swooped around the count area rising high above the bay and a flow of Red-tailed Hawks rounded out our midday. Later in the afternoon, the sky somewhat cleared with more sun beaming through the clouds. With more... Harriers popping in from the rolling hills! It was worth withstanding brisky winds and hazy clouds. Thank you all!

Carmen DeLeon & Doris Rodriguez

Dayleader: Don Bartling

Count Team: Stefanie Arthur, Joan Duffield, Courtney Buechert, Patti Lessard, Wing Ng, Heller Stanton, Holly Thomas

Total Sightings: 144
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 29
Total Species: 7

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 49
Northern Harrier: 7
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 6
Cooper's Hawk: 6
Red-tailed Hawk: 70
American Kestrel: 1
Merlin: 3

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 2
Total unidentified: 2

Today we had a record high raptor diversity day for the season! There were 13 different species documented during the official count time, plus a bonus 14th species that showed up at 3:20 as we were heading down – a juvenile Golden Eagle! Other notable species included a juvenile Bald Eagle, an Osprey, a White-tailed Kite, a few Northern Harriers, two Ferruginous Hawks, a Red-Shouldered Hawk, several American Kestrels, Peregrine Falcons, and Merlins, and of course the four most sighted species – Red-tailed Hawks, Cooper’s Hawks, Sharp-shinned Hawks, and Turkey Vultures. It was a beautiful day with an incredible count team!

-Rose Fielding

Dayleader: Mary Kenney

Count Team: Dan Foldes, Woody Woodbury, Maureen Grabowski, Dennis Davison, Nat Smale, Wing Ng, Holly Thomas, John Davis, Step Wilson, Ren Chen, Luke Scott

Total Sightings: 242
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 48.4
Total Species: 13

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 98
Osprey: 1
White-tailed Kite: 1
Bald Eagle: 1
Northern Harrier: 4
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 12
Cooper's Hawk: 12
Red-shouldered Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 88
Ferruginous Hawk: 2
American Kestrel: 5
Merlin: 6
Peregrine Falcon: 2

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 5
Buteo: 3
Raptor: 1
Total unidentified: 9

Today we were treated to a beautiful display of ever-changing light and clouds. The skies remained clear enough to get a full day of counting in, and although the numbers were fairly low, we still had some lovely close sightings! Several adult Red-tailed Hawks hovered close overhead, giving us amazing views of their autumn-themed plumage coloration. We also got great looks at an adult Peregrine Falcon that spent some time zipping around annoying both a raven and a redtail. Despite the slow day, we still had fun enjoying the beauty of the Headlands!

-Rose Fielding

Dayleader: Linda Schneider

Count Team: Roy Pisetsky, Deborah Crooks, Jim Yampolsky, Amy Gilgan, Ren Chen, John Davis, Holly Thomas, Keith Gress

Total Sightings: 163
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 32.6
Total Species: 8

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 54
Northern Harrier: 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 10
Cooper's Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 81
American Kestrel: 8
Merlin: 4
Peregrine Falcon: 2

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 1
Falcon: 1
Total unidentified: 2

The streak of clear, sunny skies has been broken – unfortunately we were fogged out from counting on the hill today. However, we had a great walk around the lagoon instead and even managed to see a Turkey Vulture and a Red-tailed Hawk fly by – so it wasn’t a totally raptor-less day! We were also reminded to look down occasionally when we saw a beautiful banana slug meandering across the path. Sometimes it’s nice to have a bit of a reminder to enjoy all the beauty around us, not just the things that are high in the sky!

-Rose Fielding

Dayleader: Sam Hontalas

Count Team: Melissa Kohner, Alex Cox, Parker Holzman Smith

Total Sightings: 0
Hours Counted: 0
HPH: 0
Total Species: 0

A slow windless morning gave rise to a day with high species diversity and plenty of good snacks. The sky was slightly overcast, creeping towards nearly total cloud coverage by 3pm, with some light variable winds that raptors seemed to opportunistically ride. The Falcons were out today: we had five Peregrine Falcon sightings, three Merlins, and two American Kestrels. We also saw a single beautiful adult Broad-winged Hawk. My personal highlight was seeing the two Ospreys soaring over Hill 88. One of them disappeared, but the other slowly made its way over to the hill giving the Hawkwatchers a nice look. Thanks for all the support today team, you folks are the best!

-Luke Scott

Dayleaders: Mary Malec & Bria O’Laughlin

Count Team: Melissa Hero, Carole Garrett, Sam Hontalas, John Davis, Luke Scott

Total Sightings: 192
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 38.4
Total Species: 11

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 111
Osprey: 2
White-tailed Kite: 1
Northern Harrier: 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 8
Cooper's Hawk: 13
Broad-winged Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 37
American Kestrel: 2
Merlin: 3
Peregrine Falcon: 5

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 2
Buteo: 3
Falcon: 1
Raptor: 1
Total unidentified: 7

Sorry we missed Thursday's data upload! We were there and so were the raptors!

-Luke Scott

Total Sightings: 191
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 38.2
Total Species: 10

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 106
Northern Harrier: 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 20
Cooper's Hawk: 5
Red-shouldered Hawk: 1
Broad-winged Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 45
American Kestrel: 3
Merlin: 1
Peregrine Falcon: 3

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 1
Buteo: 1
Falcon: 1
Raptor: 2
Total unidentified: 5

Two Peregrine Falcons welcomed us to a slightly overcast morning on the hill today. It was a bit slow, but before long we were surprised by a beautiful late season dark morph juvenile Broad-winged Hawk flying south past the hill towards the city! It was also a good day for male American Kestrels, with lots of hunting activity observed. The afternoon lull was substantial, but then a west wind picked up and with it came an Osprey, a Merlin, and some great looks at adult Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawks. Thanks for another great day on the hill!

-Luke Scott

Dayleader: Holly Thomas

Count Team: Tomas McKay, Nick Yatsko, Yvette MacDonald, Denise Peck, Luke Scott, Doris Rodriguez, Wing Ng

Total Sightings: 246
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 49.2
Total Species: 10

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 134
Osprey: 1
Northern Harrier: 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 15
Cooper's Hawk: 16
Broad-winged Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 53
American Kestrel: 13
Merlin: 3
Peregrine Falcon: 2

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 4
Buteo: 1
Total unidentified: 5

It was a great day of autumn skies with glowing sunshine. There was light cloud cover and haze with short wisps of 3 MPH west wind and temperatures in the low 70’s. There was not a Peregrine Falcon to be found, but a big afternoon surprise instead! Hawkwatchers spotted a lanky looking bird eating an insect on the wing. It flew around the count area, glowing against the south quadrant sun. As the team felt puzzled by the slow flapping and slender, yet raggedy wing shape, they repeatedly remarked, “What a weird bird! It can’t possibly be a falcon, but what else could it be?” Ever thankful for digital photos, the team “time travelled” to contemplate their identification and concluded that it was a Mississippi Kite! Mississippi Kites are typically found in the outer south-central U.S. and continue down eastern Mexico and into South America. This is an extremely rare sighting for Hawk Hill and a delight for the whole team to experience.

Carmen DeLeon

Dayleaders: Courtney Buechert & Jon Altemus

Count Team: Jan Ambrosini, Wing Ng, Kimberlie Moutoux, Kendra Armer, Brian O’Laughlin, Don Bartling, Holly Thomas, Heller Stanton, Rose Fielding

Total Sightings: 219
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 43.8
Total Species: 8

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 74
Northern Harrier: 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 24
Cooper's Hawk: 11
Red-shouldered Hawk: 2
Red-tailed Hawk: 90
American Kestrel: 5
Merlin: 2

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 6
Falcon: 1
Raptor: 1
Total unidentified: 8

The fog and wind rolled in and out today, along with occasional glimpses of sunlight. The weather stayed in the 50s and 60s today which is a welcoming shift from the hot days we’ve been having on the hill. Today was filled with high numbers of accipiters and more sightings of adult raptors than the beginning of the season. We saw plenty of interspecies interactions, many being between ravens and buteos-- Red-tailed Hawks and a Red-shouldered Hawk. We even witnessed some nice close-up intraspecies interactions between Sharp-shinned Hawks and Red-tailed Hawks doing flips in the air! Some cool solo bird sightings include nice views of a Merlin, and later a Peregrine Falcon. There was even a juvenile Cooper’s Hawk that perched along the railing by the wingspan diagram, giving us a great look at its features. I can go on about all the fascinating sightings today, but I’ll end with this: the birds are migrating and along the way they’re giving us some wonderfully exciting glances that I’ll never get tired of.

-Ren Chen

Dayleaders: Mary Kenney & Andy Bradshaw

Count Team: Chris Tarr, Woody Woodbury, Paula Moser, John Davis, Rose Fielding, Luke Scott, Ren Chen

Total Sightings: 200
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 40.0
Total Species: 8

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 71
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 28
Cooper's Hawk: 12
Red-shouldered Hawk: 6
Red-tailed Hawk: 62
American Kestrel: 6
Merlin: 3
Peregrine Falcon: 1

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 7
Buteo: 2
Falcon: 2
Total unidentified: 11

Today’s weather proved to be much chillier and breezier on the hill, but we still had a great day of counting! Although the raptor numbers weren’t as high as other days, there were several entertaining bird interactions that were great highlights. We got to see two Peregrine Falcons involved in a skirmish, a juvenile Northern Harrier and an adult Red-tailed Hawk chasing each other, and at the very end of the day as we were packing up a male and female American Kestrel treated us to a close fly by as they zipped through the sky together. Not a bad way to spend the day – let's hope the streak of clear weather continues tomorrow!

Dayleaders: Deborah Crooks and Conner Cimmiyotti

Count Team: Linda Schneider, Mary Malec, Keith Gress, Maureen Grabowski, Sam Wong, John Davis, Denise Peck, Ren Chen, Anne Ross, Anne Ardillo

Total Sightings: 184
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 36.8
Total Species: 9

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 61
Northern Harrier: 5
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 14
Cooper's Hawk: 22
Red-shouldered Hawk: 4
Red-tailed Hawk: 54
American Kestrel: 3
Merlin: 2
Peregrine Falcon: 5

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 9
Buteo: 2
Falcon: 1
Raptor: 2
Total unidentified: 14

Another gorgeous, sunny October day on the hill! Although the total number of raptors counted today wasn’t as high as the past few days, we still had excellent diversity with 12 different species sighted and some close looks at different birds. A big highlight of the day was a subadult Bald Eagle showing up near the end of our count, and a Swainson’s Hawk making an appearance midday! We also had great views of White-tailed Kites, Northern Harriers, Red-shouldered Hawks, Merlins, American Kestrels, and a really fun sighting of two Peregrine Falcons having a squabble in midair. Can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!

Dayleader: Sam Hontalas

Count Team: Carol Weinstein, Ana Olivar, Maggie Montenegro, Laura Thomas, Cody Levin, Ann Meisenger, Holly Thomas, Wing Ng, Ren Chen, Doris Rodriguez

Total Sightings: 210
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 42
Total Species: 12

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 90
White-tailed Kite: 2
Bald Eagle: 1
Northern Harrier: 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 21
Cooper's Hawk: 13
Red-shouldered Hawk: 3
Swainson's Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 57
American Kestrel: 4
Merlin: 1
Peregrine Falcon: 6

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 5
Buteo: 1
Falcon: 3
Total unidentified: 9

It was sunny and clear all day, getting warm and still in the late afternoon with highs in the upper 70’s. Winds were minimal from the southeast, dying down completely at the end of the day. We were delighted by many Red-tailed Hawks soaring close above the quadrants and good looks at Sharp-shinned Hawks fluttering in from the west and crossing the bay. We were also happy to see a beautiful adult male Northern Harrier, nicknamed the “gray ghost” for its distinct plumage which contrasts with the pumpkin orange glow of the juveniles. Our total for the day was 378 raptor sightings and 10 species counted.

Dayleaders: Jane Rudebusch & Jan Ambrosini

Count Team: Jennifer Miller, Maryrose Kulick, Krish Maypole, Doris Rodriguez, Luke Scott, Carmen DeLeon

Guests: Horacio Mena, Brian O’Laughlin

Total Sightings: 378
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 75.6
Total Species: 10

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 152
Osprey: 1
Northern Harrier: 5
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 25
Cooper's Hawk: 24
Red-shouldered Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 154
American Kestrel: 6
Merlin: 1
Peregrine Falcon: 3

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 3
Buteo: 2
Raptor: 1
Total unidentified: 6

We were graced by a beautiful, clear, sunny day on the Hill! Winds were not as gusty as we predicted but varied from the NW to SW sector. We had quite a number of raptor visitors, totaling 233 raptors of 10 species. Some of our favorite moments include wonderful looks of Sharp-shinned Hawks soaring close above the count platform, a few juvenile Red-shouldered Hawks, a Merlin zipping near us with the Golden Gate Bridge background, and a couple of juvenile Golden Eagles soaring high above.

Doris Rodriguez

Dayleader: Libby Rouan

Count team: Will Ludan, Nick Yatsko, Denise, Peck, Lydia Bruno, Dan Knight, Holly Thomas, Luke Scott, Carmen DeLeon, Doris Rodriguez

Guests: Wing Ng, Maureen Grabowski, & Oliver Chesley

Total Sightings: 233
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 46
Total Species: 10

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 83
Northern Harrier: 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 28
Cooper's Hawk: 29
Red-shouldered Hawk: 6
Red-tailed Hawk: 75
Golden Eagle: 2
American Kestrel: 2
Merlin: 1
Peregrine Falcon: 1

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 3
Falcon: 1
Total unidentified: 4

What a day!! The skies were finally clear, the sun was shining, and we were rewarded with a total of 283 raptors (including birds from 12 different species). Special highlights from the day included 5 Merlins, 2 Ferruginous Hawks, 2 White-tailed Kites, and of course the always-entertaining acrobatics of more commonly seen species such as Red-tailed Hawks and Cooper’s Hawks. It felt so good to finally get in a full day of counting after three days of fog!

Dayleader: Gretchen Zantzinger

Count team: Luke Scott, Ren Chen, Brian O’Laughlin, Tom Luster, Pauline Yeckley, Holly Thomas, Wing Ng, Arden Bucklin-Sporer, Denise Peck

Total Sightings: 283
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 56.6
Total Species: 12

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 100
Osprey: 2
White-tailed Kite: 2
Northern Harrier: 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 18
Cooper's Hawk: 22
Red-shouldered Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 114
Ferruginous Hawk: 2
American Kestrel: 7
Merlin: 5
Peregrine Falcon: 1

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 1
Buteo: 3
Falcon: 3
Raptor: 1
Total unidentified: 8

What a soupy, foggy day! We briefly visited the Hawk Hill parking lot to see thick fog with only a small sliver of light shining through above the skyline. The team headed down the valley to spend time at the lagoon where it was still cold and foggy. We were treated with brief glances of small falcons, an American Kestrel and Merlin. Followed by short looks at a juvenile Cooper’s Hawk cutting through the foggy bits and a juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk startling a crowd of European Starlings.

Doris Rodriguez & Carmen DeLeon

Dayleader: Michaela Figari

Count Team: Courtney Buechert, Stefanie Arthur, Joan Duffield, Wing Ng, Heller Stanton, Luke Scott, Ren Chen, Rose Fielding

Total Sightings: 0
Hours Counted: 0
HPH: 0
Total Species: 0

The weather cooperated a bit better today, although we still didn’t get a full day of counting. The sun peeked through the fog for about an hour and 45 minutes and gave us glimpses of 51 different raptors - including Red-tailed Hawks, Sharp-shinned Hawks, Turkey Vultures, a Red-shouldered Hawk, and a Northern Harrier! It was another great day spending time outdoors in a beautiful location.

-Rose Fielding

Dayleader: Horacio Mena

Count Team: Maureen Grabowski, Holly Thomas, Mary Kenney, Woody Woodbury, John Davis, Dennis Davison, Nat Smale

Total Sightings: 51
Hours Counted: 1.75
HPH: 29.1
Total Species: 5

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 8
Northern Harrier: 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 8
Red-shouldered Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 29

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 4
Total unidentified: 4

We are all so happy to be back on the hill collecting Hawkwatch data again! Unfortunately, the weather had other plans, and we were fogged out from an actual count. We still saw a Red-tailed Hawk and a Sharp-shinned Hawk peek through the mist on brief separate occasions, and we all enjoyed catching up and spending time outside regardless of the weather. Fingers crossed for a successful count tomorrow!

-Rose Fielding

Dayleader: Linda Schneider

Count team: Deborah Crooks, Roy Pisetsky, Kendra Armer, Peter Sapienza, Jim Yampolsky, Wing Ng, Maureen Grabowski, Amy Gilgan, Jennifer Miller, Conner Cimmiyotti, Libby Rouan, Mary Kenney

Total Sightings: 0
Hours Counted: 0
HPH: 0
Total Species: 0

After 5 days in a row of clear skies and full counts, the fog had other plans for our Wednesday team today. Unfortunately, we were not able to get an official count in due to the fog shrouding Hawk Hill throughout the morning and afternoon. However, we still had some avian entertainment watching a newly hatched baby quail scratching around on the ground during our morning meeting! We decided to change things up a bit and do some raptor ID quizzes back at the GGRO office, which was a fun way to practice and talk through tricky identification issues. We even saw a lone juvenile Red-tailed Hawk and a Turkey Vulture fly over the office building, so at least it wasn’t a totally raptor-less day! The fog provided a welcome break from the heat wave that hit the hill during yesterday’s count, which is one silver lining. Hopefully it clears out by tomorrow!

Rose Fielding

Dayleaders: Don Bartling, Michaela Figari

Count Team: Courtney Buechert, Patti Lessard, Wing Ng, Heller Stanton, Luke Scott

Total Sightings: 0
Hours Counted: 0
HPH: 0
Total Species: 0

Light eastward breezes started up as we arrived on Hawk Hill circa 945 am, and temps rose slowly from low 70s to mid 80s through the day. In the early afternoon, the wind fell off, increasing temps to a high of 87-deg. The 2-3 pm hour brought some much-appreciated cooling west winds to finish the day.

We had a good range of species today with close looks at Red-shouldered and Cooper’s Hawks. There seemed to be an American Kestel scooting by every ½ hour or so, although many of them stalled long enough to catch a few dragonflies en route. The Red-tailed Hawks mostly worked the Slacker ridgeline above Sausalito all day.

There were a good number of dragonflies aloft today – it was difficult to put your binoculars in the sky anywhere and not have 2+ dragonflies in your field. Most common were Common Green Darners, Variegated Meadowhawks, Black Saddlebags, Flame Skimmers, and Blue Mosaic spp. Also lots of insectivore birds, especially swifts and swallows, as well as Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers all over Hawk Hill.

- Allen Fish

Dayleader: Mary Kenney

Count team: Nat Smale, Dan Foldes, Maureen Grabowski, Woody Woodbury, Dennis Davison, Holly Thomas, Allen Fish

Total Sightings: 139
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 27.8
Total Species: 6

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 40
Northern Harrier: 2
Cooper's Hawk: 10
Red-shouldered Hawk: 3
Red-tailed Hawk: 73
American Kestrel: 10

Unidentified...
Buteo: 1
Total unidentified: 1

We couldn’t have asked for better Labor Day weather – the skies were sunny, and a consistent delightful breeze kept things from getting oppressively hot on top of the hill. Lots of human and avian visitors came by Hawk Hill today! We ended up counting 182 raptors; the steady increase in raptors counted per day is giving us a good reminder that peak season is just around the corner. There was a healthy diversity of 8 species counted, including another Merlin and the second Sharp-shinned Hawk of the season! We were treated to some incredible aerial acrobatics when a male American Kestrel and a juvenile Sharp-shinned Hawk got into a bit of a tussle right at eye level with the counting team. Both birds flew off with their feathers and egos intact, and we all marveled at the show. Yet another spectacular day on the hill!

-Rose Fielding

Dayleader: Linda Schneider

Count team: Roy Pisetsky, Deborah Crooks, Jim Yampolsky, Conner Cimmiyotti, Peter Sapienza, Amy Gilgan, Rose Fielding

Total Sightings: 182
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 36.4
Total Species: 8

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 47
Northern Harrier: 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 1
Cooper's Hawk: 11
Red-shouldered Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 105
American Kestrel: 7
Merlin: 1

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 2
Buteo: 1
Raptor: 4
Total unidentified: 7

There was minimal wind, with the strongest gust reaching 4 mph from the southwest, and open skies today from Hawk Hill. Two Ospreys popped up as we wrapped up our morning meeting, and at that moment the group had a strong feeling that it would be a wonderful day. Some other fun sights: speedy Merlins (2 individuals) zooming from place to place and a few dark morph Red-tailed Hawks among the usual. I cannot finish this blog without mentioning that we are still seeing good numbers of American Kestrels flapping through, what a treat to see such an abundance!

-Ren Chen

Dayleader: Sam Hontalas

Count Team: Laura Coatney, Parker Holzman Smith, Alexandra Cox, Annalise Fox, Holly Thomas, Heller Stanton, Lydia Bruno, Doris Rodriguez, Rose Fielding, Ren Chen

Total Sightings: 173
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 34.6
Total Species: 8

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 43
Osprey: 3
Northern Harrier: 1
Cooper's Hawk: 7
Red-shouldered Hawk: 4
Red-tailed Hawk: 101
American Kestrel: 7
Merlin: 2

Unidentified...
Buteo: 2
Raptor: 3
Total unidentified: 5

It was a beautiful clear and sunny morning on Hawk Hill with temperatures in the high 60 to lower 70 degrees F range. The Northwest winds got progressively stronger as the morning turned into afternoon. A slow start gave Luke and Carmen time to continue setting up the well-loved wingspan diagram while the rest of the team tallied up some Turkey Vultures, Red-tailed Hawks, and a single Northern Harrier. As the afternoon came around some Cooper’s Hawks and American Kestrels began to appear, as well as three Osprey! Additionally, juvenile and adult dark morph Red-tailed Hawks were spotted, much to the delight of the hawkwatchers.

-Luke Scott

Dayleaders: Mary Malec, Brian O’Laughlin

Count Team: Melissa Hero, Chris Cruz, Carole Garrett, Ben Dudek, Carmen DeLeon, Luke Scott, Allen Fish

Total Sightings: 151
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 30.2
Total Species: 6

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 47
Osprey: 3
Northern Harrier: 1
Cooper's Hawk: 8
Red-tailed Hawk: 82
American Kestrel: 7

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 1
Buteo: 1
Raptor: 1
Total unidentified: 3

At the day's start, the 100% high overcast gave us our first view of Hawk Hill since Tuesday. The day was breezy – up to 26 mph from the west – and stayed between 65-70 deg F. By mid-day the overcast was done and we could see a full 360-degree sky.

We enjoyed a steady Red-tailed Hawk flight with a good run of Turkey Vultures as well - interrupted here and there by single Ospreys, American Kestrels, and Cooper’s Hawks. A pair of juvenile Red-shouldered Hawks flew by together. The Sharp-shinned Hawks are still scarce.

- Allen Fish

Dayleader: Holly Thomas

Count Team: Nick Yatsko, Wing Ng, Sonja Raub, Ma’ayan Pe’er, Denise Peck, Yvette MacDonald, Allen Fish



Total Sightings: 163
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 32.6
Total Species: 8

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 28
Osprey: 3
Northern Harrier: 2
Cooper's Hawk: 8
Red-shouldered Hawk: 2
Red-tailed Hawk: 108
American Kestrel: 9
Peregrine Falcon: 2

Unidentified...
Buteo: 1
Total unidentified: 1

The fog continued to haunt us today, but we still had an excellent morning! With visibility obscured on the hill in the morning, we meandered down to the lagoon to see if the birds there would be cooperative. We were treated to views of all our local favorites – herons, egrets, cormorants, kingfishers, pelicans, mallards, warblers, hummingbirds, bushtits, and more! Even the raptors gave us a few consolation glimpses – we saw a Red-tailed Hawk and several Turkey Vultures as we passed the time eating lunch at the lagoon. We returned to the hill at 1:00 for one last look; our hopes were momentarily raised when we saw a patch of sunny sky to the northeast, but they were quickly dashed when the fog blew in again on a cold breeze. Oh well – better luck to tomorrow’s crew!

-Rose Fielding

Dayleader: Christine Carino

Count Team: Bob Blumberg, Susan Greef, Arden Bucklin-Sporer, Patricia Contaxis, Lydia Bruno, Ashley Friscia, Rose Fielding

Total Sightings: 0
Hours Counted: 0
HPH: 0
Total Species: 0

After three full-day counts and sunny skies, thick fog attached itself to Hawk Hill through 1 pm today, rendering no chance at a hawk migration count. The count team retreated to Rodeo Lagoon for a little training on Red-tailed Hawk plumages and ageing, and we discovered that the two grandmother eucalyptuses in front of the Ft Barry Chapel are a superb songbird magnet. In 30 minutes we observed: Western Tanagers, Swainson’s Thrush, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Pine Siskin, Lesser Goldfinch, Wilson’s Warbler, Pygmy Nuthatch, Allen's and Anna's Hummingbird, Western Flycatcher, Nuttall's Woodpecker, and Townsend’s Warblers.

Rodeo Lagoon also produced some great bird looks: a royal flush of herons and egrets; 45 Brown Pelicans; a Belted King (Queen) fisher, and a single butt-bobbing Wilson’s Snipe. Where are the Red-necked Phalaropes? A few Turkey Vultures gave us passing looks this morning, as did one Redtail. But all in all, not a day for watching the raptors flow.


Allen Fish

Dayleaders: Courtney Buechert, Jon Altemus

Count Team: Jam Ambrosini, Wing Ng, Ren Chen, Allen Fish, Kimberly Moutoux, Kendra Armer, Brian O’Laughlin



Total Sightings: 0
Hours Counted: 0
HPH: 0
Total Species: 0

Tuesday 1 – 8/27/2024

The fog was thick this morning over Rodeo Lagoon and the Golden Gate Bridge, but Hawk Hill was clear and calm with visibility all the way to Mount Diablo. The windless and hot morning might have been tiresome if it wasn’t for the Prairie Falcon spotted perched on a rock on the South side of the hill! Almost as soon as the words “Prairie Falcon” were uttered the bird took flight, disappearing to the southwest for a few moments, before circling back and jetting past the hill towards San Francisco. This was the first Prairie Falcon seen from Hawk Hill this season: not a bad start to the day! The exciting start to the day was followed by a sporadic flurry of American Kestrels darting past the hill. Later in the day a west wind picked up a bit, allowing us some reprieve from the heat as a gradual stream of Red-tailed Hawks and Turkey Vultures floated around. We also spotted the resident Peregrine Falcon sitting on the north tower of the bridge and were pleased to see a few Cooper’s Hawks and Northern Harriers fly by the hill. Thanks for the great day, everyone!

-Luke Scott

Dayleaders: Mary Kenney & Andy Bradshaw

Count Team: Rich Eliason, Woody Woodbury, Paula Moser, Lisa Sargent, Chris Tarr, Rose Fielding, Luke Scott, Ren Chen, Carmen DeLeon, Allen Fish

Total Sightings: 155
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 31
Total Species: 8

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 20
Northern Harrier: 3
Cooper's Hawk: 3
Red-shouldered Hawk: 2
Red-tailed Hawk: 103
American Kestrel: 16
Peregrine Falcon: 1
Prairie Falcon: 1

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 2
Buteo: 1
Falcon: 1
Raptor: 2
Total unidentified: 6

Today started off slow, still, and hot. Without much of a breeze to encourage them, the raptors stayed hidden for most of the morning with only the occasional Turkey Vulture or Red-tailed Hawk making an appearance. However, by midafternoon we started getting quite a show! The team ended up with 10 American Kestrel sightings, which is a record for the 2024 season so far. One female kestrel even treated us to a close, eye-level fly by that had us all exclaiming with joy; whether it’s the first time or the 1000th time you’ve seen a kestrel up close, it just never gets old!

In addition to the kestrels, we had another momentous sighting – the first Swainson’s Hawk of the season! These unique buteos aren’t seen from Hawk Hill very often, so getting a visual of one is always special. This juvenile spent some time circling with a few Red-tailed Hawks before taking off and continuing its journey.

Looking forward to seeing what excitement the migration brings us tomorrow! Happy birding!

-Rose Fielding

Dayleaders: Conner Cimmiyotti and Deborah Crooks

Count Team: Linda Schneider, Mary Malec, Keith Gress, Maureen Grabowski, Holly Thomas, Rose Fielding

Total Sightings: 150
Hours Counted: 4.75
HPH: 31.6
Total Species: 6

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 46
Cooper's Hawk: 1
Swainson's Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 85
American Kestrel: 10
Peregrine Falcon: 1

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 1
Buteo: 1
Falcon: 3
Raptor: 1
Total unidentified: 6

A happy sunny Sunday today! It was consistently hot and clear outside all day. There was minimal wind with it picking up just a tad towards the last hour. Our count started at 11am today, after our introductions and raptor identification refreshers. The raptor pop quiz was a helpful reminder, especially when we got a wonderful look at a mysterious accipiter in the first hour. We identified it as a Cooper’s Hawk after seeing a rounded tail and stiff wing beats, among other fieldmarks. Throughout the day, we got a plethora of other raptors, and non-raptor birds flying both near and far. Notably, the pair of American Kestrels (male & female) that we saw during the second half of our count. It was truly a joy to experience the kestrels dancing in the sky and showing off in every quadrant! In another perspective, the Red-tailed Hawks in the area appeared to not be fond of this and dove at the kestrels several times, successfully driving them away from the area. With the rain yesterday, and the nice weather today, we ended up seeing 7 raptor species (and 6 other bird species), including our first Sharp-shinned Hawk of the season. The raptor sightings were fairly stable, with a rate of 39 raptors an hour today. What a day to cap cycle 2!

-Ren

Dayleader: Becky Olsen and Ken Wilson

Count Team: Carol Weinstein, Maggie Montenegro, Laura Thomas, Ann Meisenger, Holly Thomas, Rose Fielding, Ren Chen

Total Sightings: 156
Hours Counted: 4
HPH: 39
Total Species: 7

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 42
Northern Harrier: 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 1
Cooper's Hawk: 10
Red-shouldered Hawk: 3
Red-tailed Hawk: 85
American Kestrel: 7

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 1
Buteo: 3
Falcon: 1
Raptor: 1
Total unidentified: 6

Saturday 2 – Aug 24, 2024

It wasn’t just foggy this morning, but rainy too! We met up at Hawk Hill and promptly hid out in the battery to get out of the rain while exchanging movie recommendations and introductions. Before too long the rain stopped and some clear sky opened, but a thick layer of fog remained looming over the hill preventing us from counting raptors. The team headed down to Rodeo Lagoon where we talked about the influence of topography and wind direction on raptor movements in the Marin Headlands. We even spotted a Belted Kingfisher (though I was pretty sure it was a Ringed...shoutout to John Davis for reminding me that I don’t live in Texas anymore!). The weather below Hawk Hill teased us with blue skies and warm air, but the top of the hill remained shrouded in fog, dashing our hopes for hawk spotting. We shared some consolatory chocolates and ginger snaps and assured one another that next week the fog would clear for us!

Luke Scott

Dayleader: Jan Ambrosini

Count Team: Jennifer Miller, Maryrose Kulick, Krish Maypole, Sam Hontalas, Carmen DeLeon, Luke Scott, Allen Fish

Total Sightings: 0
Hours Counted: 0
HPH: 0
Total Species: 0

With a small chance of a Pacific Northwest rain system tickling the Bay Area today and tomorrow, we approached Hawk Hill ready for anything this AM, but the morning still and humid air passed through by 10 am, and we were left with a ripping west wind and whole lot of fog.

We enjoyed a few partially open skies from 1115 am to 130 pm and counted a few handfuls of Turkey Vultures and Red-tailed Hawks. A single Cooper’s Hawk and a show-offy American Kestrel put the frosting on the day before the Farallones Fog Factory shut us down.

Allen Fish

Dayleader: Libby Rouan

Count Team: Denise Peck, Nick Yatsko, Will Ludan, Paulette Sherry, Lydia Bruno, Dan Knight, Allen Fish

Total Sightings: 19
Hours Counted: 2.25
HPH: 8.4
Total Species: 4

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 12
Cooper's Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 5
American Kestrel: 1

Today’s fog and wind was a bit indecisive, it started out strong in the morning and began lifting towards the afternoon. Throughout the day, the fog continued to come through in short spurts. Meanwhile, the wind was the fastest when we first started and in the last hour. We started the count at 11:15am and in the first hour we were greeted with Turkey Vultures, Red-tailed Hawks, and the first (official) Osprey of the season! Sometime between 1-2pm, another Osprey came by, and we were all captivated by all the angles it was giving us. It was fun getting such a great look. We also saw two Cooper’s Hawks zooming by, giving us 4 total species. Happy we got to see some raptors out today!

-Ren Chen

Dayleader: Gretchen Zantzinger

Count Team: Megan Fradley-Smith, Pauline Yeckley, Tom Luster, Wing Ng, Allen Fish, Rose Fielding, Luke Scott, Ren Chen

Total Sightings: 72
Hours Counted: 3.75
HPH: 19.2
Total Species: 4

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 31
Osprey: 2
Cooper's Hawk: 2
Red-tailed Hawk: 36

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 1
Total unidentified: 1

Wednesday 2 – 8/21/2024

The fog in the headlands seemed to concentrate directly at the top of Hawk Hill today, so today’s team couldn’t count hawks. Instead, we convened down at the lagoon for some birding and a short walk. We saw a family of river otters tumbling around in the lagoon, plenty of Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets, Brown Pelicans, a Belted Kingfisher and an Osprey. We sat down for lunch and watched some Red-tailed Hawks soaring around under the fog, spotted a juvenile Northern Harrier, a female Western Tanager, and plenty of American Goldfinches. It was a beautiful day despite the fogged-out hill.

-Luke Scott

Dayleader: Don Bartling

Count Team: Stefanie Arthur, Joan Duffield, Courtney Buechert, Wing Ng, Heller Stanton, Rose Fielding, Luke Scott

Total Sightings: 0
Hours Counted: 0
HPH: 0
Total Species: 0

After lots of summer fog, it was downright confusing to see miles of clear skies over SF Bay today. We finally found the fog bank cloaking the Farallones, 26 miles away, but it stayed offshore which was just fine with us. Morning still winds and warm air (75-deg) turned to a stiff west wind in the afternoon. The hawks were mostly working the ridges, and mostly juvenile Red-tailed Hawks, with a few Cooper’s Hawks and Northern Harriers thrown in.

The “best” bird of the day was a juvenile Bald Eagle spotted just west of Hawk Hill by Hawkwatch Manager Rose Fielding as she was driving, and so didn’t make it on to the official count. But it’s great to know these young eagles are moving around.

Another non-Hawk Hill raptor note: Thanks to Deborah Crooks and Ben Dudek for alerting us to the California Condor sighting/photo by George Chrisman on Mines Road east of Livermore yesterday – a mere 60 miles straight-line distance from the Golden Gate.

- Allen Fish

Dayleader: Horacio Mena

Count Team: Woody Woodbury, Dennis Davison, Dan Foldes, Nate Smale, Holly Thomas, Wing Ng, Lisa Sargent, Ren Chen, Sam Hontalas

Total Sightings: 102
Hours Counted: 4
HPH: 25.5
Total Species: 4

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 42
Northern Harrier: 3
Cooper's Hawk: 5
Red-tailed Hawk: 49

Unidentified...
Buteo: 2
Raptor: 1
Total unidentified: 3

Monday 2 – 8/19/2024

The Headlands weather treated us to a little bit of everything today, but we ended up finally getting in a full day of counting! Despite starting off with strong sun that had us quickly shedding layers, by midafternoon the chilly fog had rolled in and we found ourselves bundling up again. Luckily it didn’t last long, and the sun reappeared long enough to warm us up and usher in some new raptors with a nice breeze. A highlight of the day was spotting 7 American Kestrels, which was quite a treat! Other notable birds were a gorgeous, chocolatey juvenile dark morph Red-tailed Hawk flying overhead, and a Peregrine Falcon perched on the north tower of the Golden Gate Bridge. What a spectacular day!

-Rose Fielding

Dayleader: Linda Schneider

Count Team: Roy Pisetsky, Deborah Crooks, Jim Yampolsky, Conner Cimmiyotti, Peter Sapienza, Amy Gilgan, Holly Thomas, Rose Fielding

Total Sightings: 99
Hours Counted: 4.5
HPH: 22
Total Species: 6

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 38
Cooper's Hawk: 5
Red-shouldered Hawk: 2
Red-tailed Hawk: 40
American Kestrel: 7
Peregrine Falcon: 1

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 1
Buteo: 3
Raptor: 2
Total unidentified: 6

Sunday 1 – 8/18/2024

August continues to remind us why it’s been nicknamed “Fogust” out here in the Headlands! Unfortunately, the Sunday 1 team did not get to count today due to the unrelenting fog shrouding the hill. However, we still had great morning of getting to know each other and doing some raptor quizzes and landmark reviews! Fingers crossed tomorrow we finally get some clear skies and raptor sightings!

-Rose Fielding

Dayleader: Sam Hontalas

Count Team: Laura Coatney, Parker Holzman Smith, Melissa Kohner, Annalise Fox, Rose Fielding

Total Sightings: 0
Hours Counted: 0
HPH: 0
Total Species: 0

Saturday 1 – 8/17/2024

A persistently foggy day in the headlands meant that today’s Hawkwatch team (Saturday 1) had plenty of time to get to know one another! We exchanged introductions and stories and quizzed each other on hawk identification. We saw a few passerines and enjoyed listening to the Pygmy Nuthatches while observing the dew-covered spider webs strung throughout the bushes. Hopefully the fog lets up so that tomorrow’s Hawkwatch can get counting again!

Dayleader: Mary Malec

Count Team: Melissa Hero, Chris Cruz, Rina Kor, Carole Garrett, Ben Dudek, Carmen DeLeon, Luke Scott, Allen Fish

Total Sightings: 0
Hours Counted: 0
HPH: 0
Total Species: 0

A fog-free Hawk Hill became partially fogged by 11 am, then it was as if the fog was a giant wave, ebbing and flowing throughout the day – at least 5 ins and outs. Big westerlies blew through the day spiking at 18 mph but mostly in the 6-10 mph range.

Most of the raptor activity was a steady dance of juvenile Red-tailed Hawks stringing along the Slacker Ridge above Hwy 101, and a few close Cooper’s Hawk flybys, and a wonderful braiding flight by three female American Kestrels. Late in the day a juvenile Bald Eagle (brown belly, white wingpits, big dark head) made a slow and direct flight north to south across the west side of Hawk Hill, barely noticing the slamming west winds. The eagle tracked right across the Golden Gate heading toward Baker Beach, San Francisco. First Bald of the 2024 season!

Allen Fish

Dayleader: Holly Thomas

Count Team: Ma’ayan Pe’er. Tomas McKay, Sonja Raub, Yvette MacDonald, Denise Peck, Nick Yatsko, Allen Fish

Total Sightings: 103
Hours Counted: 4.25
HPH: 24.2
Total Species: 6

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 22
Bald Eagle: 1
Northern Harrier: 2
Cooper's Hawk: 7
Red-tailed Hawk: 65
American Kestrel: 5

Unidentified...
Buteo: 1
Total unidentified: 1

Thursday 1 – 8/15/2024

What a day! The sun was shining, the winter jackets came off, and the raptors were soaring. The team had an excellent day counting and identifying 8 different species! Two of the most exciting sightings of the day were a Merlin and a Golden Eagle, along with some of the more common but no less spectacular raptors: Turkey Vultures, Northern Harriers, Cooper’s Hawks, Red-shouldered Hawks, Red-tailed Hawks, and American Kestrels. There wasn’t a cloud in sight all day – let's hope that weather holds for the rest of the teams this week, although I’m sure the August fog will be back with us soon!

-Rose Fielding

Dayleaders: Christine Carino and John Davis

Count Team: Bob Blumberg, Susan Greef, Arden Bucklin-Sporer, Patty Contaxis, Lydia Bruno, Ashley Friscia, Rose Fielding

Total Sightings: 120
Hours Counted: 4
HPH: 30
Total Species: 8

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 26
Northern Harrier: 4
Cooper's Hawk: 3
Red-shouldered Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 73
Golden Eagle: 1
American Kestrel: 3
Merlin: 1

Unidentified...
Buteo: 7
Falcon: 1
Total unidentified: 8

The day started with thick fog giving us time for introductions and to brush up on some ID skills. Of course, that also meant little visibility for hawks but the team was optimistic that the sky would clear up. We started the count at 11:30 am and our optimism brought out 2 female American Kestrels from the fog. Eventually a Red-tailed Hawk and Turkey Vulture popped out of the fog as well. With our fingers crossed, we stared at the white fogged background hoping for breakage, but it didn’t let up today and the team ended up leaving Hawk Hill at 1pm.

-Ren Chen

Dayleaders: Jon Altemus & Courtney Buechert

Count Team: Jan Ambrosini, Kimberlie Moutoux, Wing Ng, Kendra Armer, Holly Thomas, Allen Fish, Ren Chen

Total Sightings: 4
Hours Counted: 1.5
HPH: 2.7
Total Species: 3

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 1
American Kestrel: 2

Tuesday 1 – 8/13/2024

It was a beautiful day on Hawk Hill with mostly clear skies and good light. We got started at 11am and stayed busy counting a sky full of juvenile Red-tailed Hawks and Turkey Vultures. A few American Kestrels and Northern Harriers cruised by the hill to keep things exciting. A highlight for me was when a juvenile Cooper’s Hawk landed in a nearby bush for a few minutes, then circled over us, putting on quite the show. We also spotted two Red-shouldered Hawks as well as a couple adult Red-tailed Hawks. Great day on the Hill!

-Luke Scott

Dayleaders: Mary Kenney & Andy Bradshaw

Count Team: Rich Eliason, Woody Woodbury, Paula Moser, Lisa Sargent, Don Bartling, John Davis, Rose Fielding, Luke Scott, Ren Chen, Allen Fish

Total Sightings: 116
Hours Counted: 4
HPH: 29
Total Species: 6

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 18
Northern Harrier: 5
Cooper's Hawk: 3
Red-shouldered Hawk: 2
Red-tailed Hawk: 74
American Kestrel: 4

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 3
Buteo: 5
Raptor: 2
Total unidentified: 10

Our favorite holiday is here – it’s the first official day of the Hawkwatch season! The day started off cold and thick with fog, and it didn’t show any signs of relenting as we spent the morning doing introductions and getting back into the migration season mindset. At 12:45, we were about ready to call it a day and have our dreams of Hawkwatching dashed – but luckily, the rest of the team was more optimistic than the staff members, and we decided to head up the hill for one last look just in case.

It’s a good thing we did – the fog lifted enough to give us one amazing, sunny hour of counting! We saw 23 Red-tailed Hawks, 5 Turkey Vultures, 2 beautiful juvenile Northern Harriers, and one lone Cooper’s Hawk for some accipiter representation. Not bad for one hour of data collection!

What a lovely start to the season – can't wait to do it all again tomorrow!

–Rose Fielding

Dayleaders: Deborah Crooks, Conner Cimmiyotti

Count Team: Linda Schneider, Keith Gress, Sam Wong, Mary Malec, Wing Ng, Maureen Grabowski, Rose Fielding, Allen Fish

Total Sightings: 31
Hours Counted: 1
HPH: 31
Total Species: 4

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 5
Northern Harrier: 2
Cooper's Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 23

Well folks, that's a wrap for the 2023 GGRO Hawkwatch season! We wish the weather had gotten the memo, but unfortunately, the fog kept us from collecting any data today. Instead, we took a nice walk along Rodeo Lagoon and spotted several waterfowl species, including Buffleheads, Ring-necked Ducks, Common Goldeneyes, and a pair of Redheads. Despite the fog, we had a nice lunch atop the hill and spent some time enjoying each other's company before calling it a day. Thanks to all our amazing volunteers for a wonderful season. Until next fall!

-Isabella Plummer

Dayleaders: Ken Wilson, Becky Olsen

Count Team: Cody Levin, Kinley Renger, Maggie Montenegro, Ana Olivar, Carol Weinstein, Allen Fish, Krista Fanucchi, Isabella Plummer

Total Sightings: 0
Hours Counted: 0
HPH: 0
Total Species: 0

It was a damp day to end the season with for our Saturday 2 team, but spirits remained high and we made the most of our last hours together. After meeting briefly in the visitor center parking lot, we returned to building 1064 to share snacks and conversation, as well as educate ourselves using a few of the preserved raptor specimens from the GGRO vaults. With our curiosity and appetites sated, the beach beckoned and we ventured out to comb the sands, comparing nuggets of vibrant stone, wave-worn sea glass, and fiery carnelian. Having returned these motes of earth to the beach mélange, we parted ways and wished one another well. Until next year!

- Oliver Chesley

Dayleaders: Jane Rudebusch, Jan Ambrosini

Count Team: Jennifer Miller, Tim Stroshane, Erin Lacour, Brian Kemler, Laura Echávez, Carmen DeLeon, Oliver Chesley

Total Sightings: 0
Hours Counted: 0
HPH: 0
Total Species: 0

Our Friday 2 team could not have asked for a more pleasant day on Hawk Hill to conclude the season! With great visibility, mixed clouds and sun, temperatures in the low 60 degrees F, and mild variable wind, we were able to both hawkwatch and consume potluck dishes comfortably! As expected, we didn't have an influx of raptors, but that made what we saw even more eventful. The team was able to enjoy views of adult Peregrine Falcons swooping by the hill, juvenile and adult male and female Northern Harriers hunting acrobatically, and late-migrating Red-tailed Hawk after Red-tailed Hawk flying from north to the southeast.

We're sad this is our last day on Hawk Hill together, but everyone is already looking forward to experiencing more of these beautiful raptors in one another's company next season!

-Clare SantaColoma

Dayleader: Courtney Buechert, Libby Rouan

Count Team: Chris Cruz, Nick Yatsko, Paulette Sherry, Tomas McKay, Will Ludan

Total Sightings: 161
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 32.2
Total Species: 7

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 47
Northern Harrier: 5
Cooper's Hawk: 1
Red-shouldered Hawk: 4
Red-tailed Hawk: 97
American Kestrel: 1
Peregrine Falcon: 4

Unidentified...
Buteo: 2
Total unidentified: 2

Today made for a spectacular conclusion to the season for our Thursday 2 team, with lovely weather and a great range of raptor species on the hill. It was sunny and clear all day, with a light breeze that escalated to a gusty wind from the west in the early afternoon before calming down again during the last hour of the count. From the hilltop we clocked gusts up to 25mph, and at times the wind howled audibly through the cables of the Golden Gate bridge. Beautiful cumulus clouds lined the horizon, and temperatures ranged from the high 50s to the low 60s.

The raptor species diversity stole the show today, especially for this late in the season! A number of unexpected species cropped up, including an Osprey, a Broad-winged Hawk, and a Ferruginous Hawk. We also picked up a sub-adult Bald Eagle as it was being harassed by a pair of Peregrine Falcons - always a dramatic sight! A big thank you to our wonderful Thursday 2 volunteers, it was a memorable day to close with and we'll see you next season!

- Oliver Chesley

Dayleader: Christine Cariño

Count Team: Jim Yampolsky, Pauline Yeckley, Patricia Contaxis, Lydia Bruno, Laura Echávez, Oliver Chesley

Total Sightings: 150
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 30.0
Total Species: 12

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 35
Osprey: 1
Bald Eagle: 1
Northern Harrier: 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 3
Cooper's Hawk: 1
Red-shouldered Hawk: 1
Broad-winged Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 93
Ferruginous Hawk: 1
Merlin: 1
Peregrine Falcon: 6

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 3
Total unidentified: 3

We definitely had some late fall weather with late fall raptor activity for Wednesday 2's last day of the season. Gusty winds from the north made the frigid low 50s temperature feel even colder, but luckily once we got some sunshine, we were able to warm ourselves up. As we chatted in the parking lot before starting the count, we watched the adult pair of Peregrine Falcons in their usual haunt above Kirby Cove, but unfortunately, they didn't feel like being included in our official tally for the day since we never saw them again. Of the four species we saw today, Red-tailed Hawks and Turkey Vultures made up the vast majority of our sightings. But that just meant we got to appreciate the endless diversity of Red-tailed Hawk plumages as they soared around us. Thanks to the Wednesday 2 team for always being a pleasure to hawkwatch with! Until next season!

-Isabella Plummer

Dayleaders: Catherine Elliot, Don Bartling

Count Team: Wing Ng, Patti Lessard, Tom Luster, Stefanie Arthur, Allen Fish, Isabella Plummer

Total Sightings: 132
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 26.4
Total Species: 4

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 49
Northern Harrier: 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 79

Unidentified...
Buteo: 2
Total unidentified: 2

As all good things come to a close, so must it be for our Tuesday 2 Hawkwatch team. It was a worthy day to end on - clear skies, a breeze from the east, and pleasant temperatures on the hilltop. And most importantly, birds to count! It was a relatively quiet day, to be expected for the tail-end of the season. Our count was dominated by Red-tailed Hawks and Turkey Vultures; though a fairly distant sub-adult Bald Eagle was spotted near Mt. Tam in the afternoon, continuing our streak during this final week. Our day was rounded out with an abundance of snacks and goodwill as the team made their goodbyes and departed the hill. Thank you to all who contributed to making this team great, and we look forward to next year!

- Oliver Chesley

Dayleader: Horacio Mena

Count Team: Dan Foldes, Woody Woodbury, Maureen Grabowski, Dennis Davison, Mary Kenney, Allen Fish, Juan Esparza, Oliver Chesley

Total Sightings: 187
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 37.4
Total Species: 8

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 76
Bald Eagle: 1
Northern Harrier: 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 2
Cooper's Hawk: 2
Red-tailed Hawk: 99
American Kestrel: 1
Peregrine Falcon: 2

Unidentified...
Buteo: 2
Raptor: 1
Total unidentified: 3

We couldn't have asked for a more pleasant day for the last Monday 2 of the season. Although the day started out with gusty winds from the northeast, the winds died down in the afternoon and we had mostly clear skies with temperatures in the high 50s. We experienced a bit of a late season spike in raptor activity, spotting several small kettles of Red-tailed Hawks and Turkey Vultures. We were also excited to get a fairly close view of an adult Bald Eagle as it swiftly headed south past the Golden Gate. Some folks were lucky enough to see a second, much more distant adult Bald Eagle later in the day, too. And just as we were about to finish up our count, a juvenile Northern Harrier graced us with its presence, bringing our raptor species total for the day up to 7. Thanks to today's team for a great day!

-Isabella Plummer

Dayleaders: Linda Schneider, James McDermott

Count Team: Denise Peck, Jared Westbrook, Deborah Crooks, Peter Sapienza, Roy Pisetsky, Isabella Plummer

Total Sightings: 247
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 49.4
Total Species: 7

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 74
Bald Eagle: 2
Northern Harrier: 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 5
Cooper's Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 158
Peregrine Falcon: 2

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 2
Raptor: 2
Total unidentified: 4

Unruly winds and cold temperatures welcomed us atop Hawk Hill today. Throughout the day, temperatures hovered in the high 50s, keeping Sunday 1's team layered up and reaching out for more layers. The skies were clear but with some high clouds towards the south. Although this team was met with such fierce, brisk conditions, they were ready to brave it through to get the last count for this team in for the season.

As is typical for the tail end of the fall migration, many of the birds seen today were Red-tailed Hawks. Although late into the morning we were lucky enough to see not just one, but two adult Bald Eagles! They were flying across the sky together, tussling at points before disappearing into the northeast. Winds died down by early afternoon, as did raptor activity. It was a good day for Sundays 1's team. We hope that the rest of the teams end off with some great sights as well!

-Juan Esparza

Dayleaders: Sam Hontalas, Rod Santos

Count Team: Melissa Kohner, Alexandra Cox, Parker Holzman Smith, Mona Broukhim, Laura Echávez, Juan Esparza

Total Sightings: 124
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 24.8
Total Species: 7

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 32
Bald Eagle: 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 4
Cooper's Hawk: 1
Broad-winged Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 73
Peregrine Falcon: 4

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 1
Buteo: 4
Raptor: 2
Total unidentified: 7

Our final Saturday 1 of the 2023 season was dominated by delicious potluck food, visitors from other days and years, Hawkwatch jeopardy, and of course- some raptors! Gusty winds from the northeast between 9-13 m.p.h. were consistent throughout the day alongside clear blue skies and chilly temperatures in the mid 50 degrees F; making for some bundled hawkwatchers. As can be typical of late November, raptors were fewer and farther between than earlier in the season. However, we got some great looks at juvenile and adult Red-tailed Hawks, a close-flying male American Kestrel, some accipiters, and even a subadult Bald Eagle! Rivaling in importance to today's raptor count, it was also one of our beloved volunteer's last days up on Hawk Hill after a solid 25 years. So of course, a potluck celebration was in order! Hawkwatchers from other days came to join in the celebration, and we ate, chatted and played bird jeopardy (Allen's creation).

Thanks to everyone on Saturday 1 for a great season! Rain, sun or fog- we always had a blast spending the day together. Looking forward to all the laughs and raptors that 2024 is sure to bring.

-Clare SantaColoma

Dayleader: Brian O'Laughlin, Mary Malec

Count Team: JJ Harris, Jeff Boissier, Rina Kor, Carole Garrett, Krista Fanucchi, Carmen DeLeon, Clare SantaColoma

Total Sightings: 109
Hours Counted: 4.5
HPH: 24.2
Total Species: 7

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 27
Bald Eagle: 1
Northern Harrier: 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 9
Red-tailed Hawk: 65
American Kestrel: 1
Peregrine Falcon: 1

Unidentified...
Buteo: 1
Raptor: 2
Total unidentified: 3

The hill was abuzz today with both birds and people! The holiday brought many visitors, birders and tourists alike who came to enjoy the beautiful, clear day. Intermittent winds from the southeast clocked in at 8-10mph during the morning and died to a whisper in the afternoon. Sunny and clear all day, with expansive sightlines and temperatures in the high 50s to low 60s F.

Most of today's birds were distant and appeared along the north and western skylines, making for a dizzying day of identifying far-flung bird-specks. Good practice for getting familiar with the scopes! We had a good range of species today and an overall high count for this late in the season, powered by our perennial friends the Red-tailed Hawks and Turkey Vultures. A wonderful day to end the field season for our Friday 1 team.

-Oliver Chesley

Dayleader: Holly Thomas

Count Team: Laura Thomas, Yvette MacDonald, Sonja Raub, Courtney Buechert, Nick Yatsko, Laura Echávez, Oliver Chesley

Total Sightings: 243
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 48.6
Total Species: 11

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 77
Osprey: 1
White-tailed Kite: 1
Bald Eagle: 1
Northern Harrier: 4
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 6
Cooper's Hawk: 4
Red-shouldered Hawk: 2
Red-tailed Hawk: 141
American Kestrel: 1
Peregrine Falcon: 3

Unidentified...
Buteo: 2
Total unidentified: 2

11/23/23 - Thursday 1

The Thanksgiving hawk count was a short day, only a three-hour count, kept by a few but mighty hawk counters. Red-tailed Hawks kept us awake averaging about 20 rph. A handful of Sharpshins, and a harrier rounded out the day. White-throated Swifts stayed around while the wind was nil in the 10-11 am hour, then quieted when the wind became a light NW breeze. The Redtails started lining up to move when the wind flipped.

Great Thanksgiving gratitudes for the amazing GGRO community that comes together to conduct this annual pulse-taking of Pacific Raptor Flyway, counting and banding each fall now for four decades.

- Allen Fish

Dayleaders: John Davis, Allen Fish

Count Team: Mitch Green, Patricia Contaxis, Susan Greef

Total Sightings: 91
Hours Counted: 3
HPH: 30.3
Total Species: 4

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 21
Northern Harrier: 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 7
Red-tailed Hawk: 61

Unidentified...
Buteo: 1
Total unidentified: 1

What a day to end off Wednesday's 1 team of Hawkwatch! Although raptor activity was not buzzing throughout the day, we nonetheless saw spectacular birds flying through, making us all turn our heads in excitement and joy. The day started off with nice, classic November temperatures, keeping us bundled but not freezing. It was great having the skies littered with clouds all around as it gave the team a great contrast for spotting raptors. We had a steady stream of Red-tailed Hawks coming from the west flying toward Golden Gate Bridge, with a bundle of juveniles and adults. Other notable mentions were a zipping dark Merlin and a few early morning Peregrines keeping us hyper-fixated. Overall it was an amazing day on the hill! Here's to finishing the season strong!

-Juan Esparza

Dayleaders: Gretchen Zantzinger, Jon Altemus

Count Team: Joan Duffield, Kimberlie Moutoux, Wing Ng, Allen Fish, Juan Esparza

Total Sightings: 158
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 31.6
Total Species: 8

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 25
White-tailed Kite: 1
Northern Harrier: 4
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 18
Cooper's Hawk: 6
Red-tailed Hawk: 99
Merlin: 1
Peregrine Falcon: 2

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 2
Total unidentified: 2

Our final Tuesday 1 Hawkwatch for the 2023 season can be described in three words: crisp, sentimental, and epic. We counted our last hawks under mostly cloudy skies, buffeted against gusty autumnal November winds and air temperatures in the high 50 degrees F. Despite declining raptor numbers typical of late-season migration, we still enjoyed watching multiple adult accipiters flitting and zipping around Hawk Hill, many Red-tailed Hawks both distant and far, as well as our pair of adult Peregrine Falcons seen frequently throughout the season. If all of this isn't considered epic enough, our hawkwatching expectations were blown out of the water in the early afternoon. A few of our counters observed a buteo flying in the north quadrant that looked... "different", and quickly asked other hawkwatchers to get their eyes on it for a faster identification! Within moments, yelps and cheers could be heard all the way from the platform because a Rough-legged Hawk was in our midst!! This second Roughie of the season was alternating between stilling and gliding west, giving hawkwatchers plenty of time to "ooh" and "aah" and orient it in their scopes.

Seeing a Roughie certainly provided excitement reflective of our team's vibe throughout the season! However, Roughie or not, our Tuesday 1 team had a great day in each other's company and are already missing our bi-weekly time together. Here's to a great season and looking forward to 2024!

-Clare SantaColoma

Dayleaders: Mary Kenney, Andy Bradshaw
Count Team: Paula Moser, Rich Eliason, Woody Woodbury, Carmen DeLeon, Isabella Plummer, Clare SantaColoma

Total Sightings: 115
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 23
Total Species: 8

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 38
Northern Harrier: 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 9
Cooper's Hawk: 7
Red-tailed Hawk: 52
Rough-legged Hawk: 1
Merlin: 1
Peregrine Falcon: 2

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 1
Raptor: 3
Total unidentified: 4

Hey everyone! We had a good day! This should be no surprise, as it's always a good day when you're out hawk-watching with the GGRO. However, today was just a touch more magical than other days. As some of you might know, we are in the final stretch of the fall migration monitoring season with only two more weeks left. Oh, how time flies by! The Monday 1 team was greeted on the hill with impeccable weather; crystal clear skies and a brisk breeze kept us energized throughout the day. From the moment we started counting, we had a slow but steady stream of birds flying through the Headlands, mainly consisting of Red-tailed Hawks. Around noon, Hawkwatchers spotted a subadult Golden Eagle as it drifted around Kirby Cove! Not only that, but about an hour later we saw a juvenile Bald Eagle rise from the very same location! Everyone on the hill was able to get a close look at these two amazing species before they flew off towards San Francisco and beyond. The Monday 1 Hawkwatch team was satisfied by the incredible bird observations along with the great company on the hill. For the rest of the teams, we wish you good luck!

-Juan Esparza

Dayleader: Deborah Crooks

Count Team: Linda Schneider, Denise Peck, Keith Gress, Mary Malec, Krista Fanucchi, Juan Esparza

Total Sightings: 199
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 39.8
Total Species: 11

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 53
Bald Eagle: 1
Northern Harrier: 4
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 8
Cooper's Hawk: 7
Red-shouldered Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 112
Golden Eagle: 1
American Kestrel: 1
Merlin: 4
Peregrine Falcon: 4

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 1
Buteo: 2
Total unidentified: 3

Today was a typical late season day on Hawk Hill. Frigid winds from the north made the morning feel colder than 59 degrees F, but thankfully the winds died down early on and we experienced pleasant weather for the rest of the day. Raptor activity continues to dissipate as winter slowly descends upon us. Despite the emptier skies, we spotted a couple of Red-shouldered Hawks, some Northern Harriers, and two last-minute Merlins. One of those Merlins decided to stick around for longer than usual and we got to watch as it plucked a few unsuspecting insects out of the sky. The Sunday 2 team is looking forward to the next and final cycle of the season!

-Isabella Plummer

Dayleaders: Becky Olsen, Ken Wilson

Count Team: Carol Weinstein, Ana Olivar, Maggie Montenegro, Kinley Renger, Cody Levin, Allen Fish, Krista Fanucchi, Isabella Plummer

Total Sightings: 128
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 25.6
Total Species: 7

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 56
Northern Harrier: 6
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 1
Red-shouldered Hawk: 2
Red-tailed Hawk: 57
Merlin: 2
Peregrine Falcon: 3

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 1
Total unidentified: 1

Unfortunately, the rain is forecasted to continue today in the headlands, and this Saturday's hawkwatch was preemptively cancelled. Stay warm, stay dry, and better luck tomorrow!

- Oliver Chesley

Total Sightings: 0
Hours Counted: 0
HPH: 0
Total Species: 0

11/17/23 - Friday 2

Another interesting weather day in the Marin Headlands! Despite rain forecasted for the early afternoon, our Friday 2 team started counting at 10 a.m. amidst overcast skies mixed with sun, good visibility, gusty winds from the northeast, and moderate temperatures in the high 60 degrees F. Following similar trends as of late, the skies were sparser with raptors compared to peak-weeks-past. However, this allowed hawkwatchers ample time to observe some beautiful hawks! Adult Red-tailed Hawks were seen consistently throughout the day- often dropping their feet and stooping on one another in what looked like either a playful or territorial fashion. We also watched a juvenile Peregrine Falcon swooping around the hill as well as a dark morph juvenile Red-tail.

As promised, dark rainclouds started to move in from the south slightly before 2 p.m., signaling an early end to the day. Our Friday 2 team is excited to have one final day together before the season comes to a close!

-Clare SantaColoma

Dayleader: Libby Rouan

Count Team: Chris Cruz, Nick Yatsko, Will Ludan, John Davis, Deborah Crooks, Krista Fanucchi, Clare SantaColoma


Total Sightings: 82
Hours Counted: 4
HPH: 20.5
Total Species: 6

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 27
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 16
Cooper's Hawk: 2
Red-tailed Hawk: 31
Merlin: 1
Peregrine Falcon: 2

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 2
Buteo: 1
Total unidentified: 3

It's been a week of dramatic skies, textured clouds, and the looming promise of rain - which began to fall softly on our heads near the end of the day. Today was a bit chilly, with temperatures in the high 50s and a consistent 8-12mph wind from the north. Rain started to fall over the ocean, with the front moving steadily north until it reached us and ended the count a half-hour early. The bulk of today's numbers were made up of Turkey Vultures and Red-tailed Hawks, with a smattering of Sharp-shinned Hawks and a lone adult male Northern Harrier close to the end of the day. A beautiful day under moody skies, despite the relatively low late-season numbers.

- Oliver Chesley

Dayleader: Christine Cariño

Count Team: John Davis, Patricia Contaxis, Lydia Bruno, Laura Echávez, Oliver Chesley

Total Sightings: 122
Hours Counted: 4.5
HPH: 27.1
Total Species: 4

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 62
Northern Harrier: 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 11
Red-tailed Hawk: 46

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 1
Total unidentified: 1

With the threat of rain on the horizon, we weren't sure how long we'd get to count today; but luckily the rain stayed away all day and we witnessed some marvelous clouds throughout our time on the hill. Temperatures ranged from 57-65 degrees F with varying winds from the east; a crisp chill in the air reminding us of the change in season. Our morning was full of action, with a pair of territorial adult Peregrine Falcons making dives on several Red-tailed Hawks and a Sharp-shinned Hawk. The high-octane thrills continued with a pair of adult Redtails chasing off a juvenile Redtail over the channel. Although the afternoon was slower, we still enjoyed looks at a closely perched adult Redtail (with a visible band!) and an adult male Northern Harrier. Despite lower raptor numbers at this time of year, we can still see some amazing raptor behaviors!

- Isabella Plummer

Dayleaders: Don Bartling, Catherine Elliot

Count Team: Stefanie Arthur, Tom Luster, Wing Ng, Allen Fish, Isabella Plummer

Total Sightings: 115
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 23
Total Species: 6

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 57
Northern Harrier: 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 9
Cooper's Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 41
Peregrine Falcon: 2

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 2
Total unidentified: 2

Luck smiled upon us today with the weather. The entire team expected to have been rained out of the hill, but we played it by ear and boy did it pay off. The skies were littered with beautiful formations of clouds, all hit with a lovely glow of light from the sun. The air was clear and crisp, allowing us to see as far down as San Jose! With great conditions to start off our day, we got right to counting. Like the last few days though, raptor numbers have been dwindling. Most of the day was filled with empty skies, with not too many Turkey Vultures to be seen either. With the slowdown, Tuesday's 2 team still kept their sharp eyes out for anything that may have been out there. Toward the end of the count, we were visited by an amazing adult male Northern Harrier! He kept us company for a while before disappearing into the north. With the forecast predicting rain for the next few days, we can only wish the same luck we had with the weather for tomorrow's team. Until then!

-Juan Esparza

Dayleaders: Pat Bacchetti, Horacio Mena

Count Team: Dennis Davison, Maureen Grabowski, Woody Woodbury, Juan Esparza, Oliver Chesley, Allen Fish

Total Sightings: 89
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 17.8
Total Species: 7

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 23
Northern Harrier: 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 1
Cooper's Hawk: 1
Red-shouldered Hawk: 2
Red-tailed Hawk: 55
Peregrine Falcon: 4

Unidentified...
Falcon: 1
Total unidentified: 1

Despite a downtick in raptor numbers, Monday 2's team enjoyed a beautiful day out on the hill. We had some picturesque clouds surrounding us, with temperatures in the 60s and a slight breeze from the southwest throughout most of the day. Our accipiter and Red-tailed Hawk numbers were lower than they had been for the last few days, but we were lucky enough to get a great view of a Swainson's Hawk as it flew over us. Thanks to today's team for a great day!

-Isabella Plummer

Dayleaders: Linda Schneider, James McDermott

Count Team: Roy Pisetsky, Deborah Crooks, Peter Sapienza, Denise Peck, Jared Westbrook, Laura Echávez, Isabella Plummer

Total Sightings: 159
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 31.8
Total Species: 6

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 66
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 7
Cooper's Hawk: 2
Swainson's Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 79
Merlin: 2

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 1
Buteo: 1
Total unidentified: 2

We continue to enjoy the late-season crispness in the air that brings stellar visibility all around Hawk Hill. The day started at a pleasant 66-degrees F and a mild 8-mph breeze from the east. As the day warmed up, wispy clouds were accompanied by a still whisper of wind, but we closed the day with a steady 10-mph gust from the west at a cool 63-degrees F.

Perhaps due to the coming rain, today's flight was slower than the last couple of days. However, years of GGRO Hawkwatch data suggest that we are in the middle of the second peak in Red-tailed Hawk sightings, and we indeed saw a decent number of Redtails! A few accipiters still trickled through, including a couple of adult Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawks. At around 1:30PM, a large M-shaped raptor rose over Rodeo Lagoon, its long wings held perfectly bowed. The entire team excitedly turned to the west to admire the adult Osprey as it steadily made its way over the Golden Gate.

-Laura Echávez, GGRO Biotech

Dayleaders: Rod Santos

Count Team: Laura Coatney, Alex Cox, Parker Holzman Smith, Holly Thomas, Allen Fish, Laura Echávez

Total Sightings: 170
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 34
Total Species: 9

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 55
Osprey: 1
Northern Harrier: 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 12
Cooper's Hawk: 3
Red-shouldered Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 91
American Kestrel: 2
Merlin: 1

Unidentified...
Buteo: 1
Raptor: 1
Total unidentified: 2

We had a warm and sunny day with excellent visibility on Hawk Hill- a perfect recipe for hawkwatching! Despite little-to-no wind throughout the day, there was a steady stream of mostly high-flying Red-tailed Hawks in what appeared to be a distinct line of migration coming from the northwest. It's always a treat to watch migration in real time!

The day would not have been complete without a couple instances of bird drama! Amongst one of the many kettles of Red-tails there was a mysterious hybrid buteo with carpal marks like a Rough-legged Hawk but a tail pattern closer to a juvenile Red-tail. This closely resembled a buteo that was near Hawk Hill on October 26th and captured on video by volunteer Wing Ng. Additionally, a distant adult Golden Eagle was identified after much deliberation between hawkwatchers; making for a very exciting day!

-Clare SantaColoma

Dayleaders: Brian O'Laughlin, Mary Malec

Count Team: Jeff Boissier, JJ Harris, Melissa Hero, Krista Fanucchi, Clare SantaColoma

Total Sightings: 211
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 42.2
Total Species: 9

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 50
Northern Harrier: 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 15
Cooper's Hawk: 8
Red-shouldered Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 126
Golden Eagle: 1
Merlin: 3
Peregrine Falcon: 1

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 2
Buteo: 2
Total unidentified: 4

The light is beautiful these days, as the season begins to wind down and the shadows grow longer. The sun hangs low in the sky, adding an element of challenge to hawkwatching just as it enriches the earth tones of the landscape and the plumage of passing raptors. Today's conditions were mild, with a light breeze for most of the day that began from the east before shifting to the northwest later in the afternoon. Temperatures remained in the mid 60s to low 70s. A beautiful patchwork of clouds drifted slowly overhead, filtering the light as the sun charted its course along the horizon.

We had a particularly high count of Turkey Vultures today compared to recent weeks, as well as a steady flow of Red-tailed Hawks. One juvenile Ferruginous Hawk sailed high overhead, along with handfuls of late-season accipiters. A lovely penultimate day for our Friday 1 team, as we close in toward the last weeks of the season.

- Oliver Chesley

Dayleader: Holly Thomas

Count Team: Laura Thomas, Linda Sudduth, Yvette MacDonald, Sonja Raub, Courtney Buechert, Nick Yatsko, Laura Echávez, Oliver Chesley

Total Sightings: 290
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 58
Total Species: 10

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 126
Northern Harrier: 4
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 18
Cooper's Hawk: 4
Red-shouldered Hawk: 4
Red-tailed Hawk: 121
Ferruginous Hawk: 1
American Kestrel: 1
Merlin: 3
Peregrine Falcon: 5

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 3
Total unidentified: 3

Our Thursday 1 team enjoyed a pleasantly typical November day on the hill! Little-to-no wind coupled with the tail-end of fall migration made for fewer raptor sightings. However, mostly cloudy skies mixed with sun and air temperatures in the low 60 degrees F created a brisk but comfortable hawkwatching atmosphere! Despite lower numbers of raptors than of the past few weeks, our team still got wonderful views of both near and far birds! Arguably the most exciting 15 minutes of today rivaled any sightings of peak-days-past: first, an adult Bald Eagle was spotted soaring over the ocean near Lands' End, giving onlookers a show with or without binoculars. During this experience, hawkwatchers were quickly pulled in the opposite direction to gaze at a subadult Bald Eagle simultaneously flying near Slacker Hill which provided a great contrast to the differences in plumage between the two. Lastly, another adult Bald Eagle was spotted flying distantly in the north, bringing today's Bald Eagle count to a final total of three!

-Clare SantaColoma

Dayleader: John Davis, Allen Fish

Count Team: Arden Bucklin-Sporer, Bob Blumberg, Susan Greef, Krista Fanucchi, Clare SantaColoma

Total Sightings: 160
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 32
Total Species: 10

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 47
Bald Eagle: 3
Northern Harrier: 4
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 25
Cooper's Hawk: 5
Red-shouldered Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 66
American Kestrel: 2
Merlin: 2
Peregrine Falcon: 1

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 3
Buteo: 1
Total unidentified: 4

We're nearing the end of the season folks! With that comes a great variety of species flying through along with an uptick of adult raptors, primarily Red-tailed Hawks. This will be the second to last day for Wednesday's 1 team, and knowing the end is near, everyone was as eager as ever to count for the day and see some amazing birds. We started the morning with a brisk autumn breeze from the northeast to keep us layered up, although there were intermittent moments where the sun beating down on us kept us toasty and shaved off a few jackets. Activity is not the same as it was during early October, but we had some interesting birds fly through nonetheless! With the shift in time from daylight savings, the low light keeps us on our toes with raptor identification, but not enough to stump this team. The bulk of the birds seen today were adult Red-tails, with some amazing pass-bys from Merlins, Sharp-shinned Hawks, and even a juvenile Bald Eagle! We're hoping tomorrow's team will also get the chance to spot some great raptors. Until next time!

-Juan Esparza

Dayleaders: Gretchen Zantzinger, Jon Altemus

Count Team: Jan Ambrosini, Conner Cimmiyotti, Joan Duffield, Wing Ng, Juan Esparza

Total Sightings: 224
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 44.8
Total Species: 11

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 68
Osprey: 1
Bald Eagle: 1
Northern Harrier: 4
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 10
Cooper's Hawk: 8
Red-shouldered Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 113
Merlin: 5
Peregrine Falcon: 5
Prairie Falcon: 1

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 7
Total unidentified: 7

After 3 cycles in a row of relentless fog-watching, our Tuesday 1 team was finally able to make it up to the hill for a full day of counting! In full-blown autumn fashion, our count was conducted with mostly blue skies, mild breezes from the NW, and temperatures in the high 50s to low 60s degrees F throughout the day.

The morning started on an exciting note with a flurry of Northern Harrier activity! While a few hawkwatchers had their sights set on an adult female Harrier (rare for the Headlands, as they account for only about 4% of sightings on Hawkwatch), other team members were watching a high-speed Harrier chase! A raven was relentlessly chasing after a juvenile Harrier for enough time that hawkwatchers were afforded a good glimpse of the action.

Some other notable sightings throughout the day included more adult and juvenile Red-tailed Hawks with a wide variety of plumages, as well as a Common Raven that whizzed back and forth the hill with a snake in its bill!

-Clare SantaColoma

Dayleader: Andy Bradshaw

Count Team: Chris Tarr, Jody Newman, Rich Eliason, Woody Woodbury, Carmen DeLeon, Isabella Plummer, Clare SantaColoma

Total Sightings: 292
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 58.4
Total Species: 10

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 73
Northern Harrier: 8
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 15
Cooper's Hawk: 5
Red-shouldered Hawk: 4
Broad-winged Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 164
Ferruginous Hawk: 1
Merlin: 4
Peregrine Falcon: 4

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 8
Buteo: 2
Raptor: 3
Total unidentified: 13

Hawk Hill was cloaked in a dense, misty cloud for most of the morning. Although the official day of hawkwatching was cancelled, the Monday 1 team still enjoyed the morning meeting and lunch together among the many Wrentits, White-crowned Sparrows, and Spotted Towhees on the hill. Always in good company... Until next time!

-Krista Fanucchi, GGRO Biotechnician

Dayleader: Deborah Crooks

Count Team: Linda Schneider, Denise Peck, Keith Gress, Wade Eakle, Krista Fanucchi, Juan Esparza

Total Sightings: 0
Hours Counted: 0
HPH: 0
Total Species: 0

We had high hopes for the day, but once the encroaching fog and heavy-ish rain arrived we headed down the hill. We had a total of one Turkey Vulture during the 30 minutes of counting! Thanks to today's team for their patience; hopefully we can get some real counting in next time!

-Isabella Plummer

Dayleader: Becky Olsen, Ken Wilson

Count Team: Carol Weinstein, Maggie Montenegro Cody Levin, Allen Fish, Krista Fanucchi, Isabella Plummer

Total Sightings: 0
Hours Counted: 0
HPH: 0
Total Species: 0

We were treated to a beautiful inversion layer today, with fog below and blue skies above for most of the day, obscuring the landscape aside from a few high points poking through the dense mist. While picturesque, this made it challenging to spot raptors! The fog climbed and receded throughout the day, occasionally sweeping over the hill for short spells and forcing us to pause the count. Regardless, the team remained in good spirits, and we were rewarded with a sub-adult Bald Eagle sighting in the afternoon, as it took a brief flying tour around the headlands before venturing farther south.

- Oliver Chesley

Dayleaders: Jan Ambrosini, Jane Rudebusch

Count Team: Jennifer Miller, Tim Stroshane, Maryrose Kulick, Brian Kemler, Laura Echávez, Carmen DeLeon, Oliver Chesley

Total Sightings: 92
Hours Counted: 4.5
HPH: 20.4
Total Species: 7

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 36
Bald Eagle: 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 5
Cooper's Hawk: 2
Red-tailed Hawk: 40
Merlin: 2
Peregrine Falcon: 1

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 1
Raptor: 4
Total unidentified: 5

An eventful, warm day for the Friday 2 Hawkwatch crew! As temperatures increased throughout the day, the flight got both higher and further away from the hill. With little to no wind, Red-tailed Hawks stacked up along Slacker ridge and gained lift easily in the thermals.

A Swainson's Hawk, with its slim pointed wings, was spotted near Mt. Tam before it drifted right above Hawk Hill and beyond. Another less common sighting from Hawk Hill, a Ferruginous Hawk, was observed teetering slightly as it flew close to the hillside by Slacker ridge. The shifting autumn light has a distinct quality to it, making many birds appear brighter or warmer in tone.

Our Friday 2 team is looking forward to our final two cycles together and the slow but steady nature of the tail-end of fall migration!

Dayleader: Libby Rouan, Courtney Beuchert

Count Team: Will Ludan, Tomas McKay, Chris Cruz, Paulette Sherry, Nick Yatsko, Krista Fanucchi, Clare SantaColoma

Total Sightings: 306
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 61.2
Total Species: 12

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 112
White-tailed Kite: 1
Northern Harrier: 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 37
Cooper's Hawk: 14
Red-shouldered Hawk: 3
Swainson's Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 122
Ferruginous Hawk: 1
American Kestrel: 1
Merlin: 2
Peregrine Falcon: 5

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 4
Raptor: 1
Total unidentified: 5

Today the smell of pizza was wafting through the air, and... wait, what is that bird? Could it be? Yes, that is a juvenile Rough-legged Hawk coming straight for the hill! Circling once, twice, three times, showing off its big dark belly band and carpal patches, and peering down at us wondering what all the commotion was about. Hawkwatchers scrambling for the scopes, jumping up and down and exclaiming - the very image of celebration. This bird graced us with a good, long look while it circled languidly overhead before drifting south toward the Golden Gate. Little did it know that its long journey from the Arctic north would end up conjuring such joy on the ground below.

Conditions today were warm, mostly sunny, and windless, which made the hill feel much hotter than the recorded air temperature of about 70 degrees F. Red-tailed Hawk numbers are still relatively high, and today we got good views of several dark-morph birds, including one remarkably charcoal-colored adult Redtail. Another notable sighting was a late-season Osprey that flew through in the morning - overall, a very exciting day!

Dayleader: Christine Cariño

Count Team: John Davis, Patricia Contaxis, Lydia Bruno, Holly Thomas, Laura Echávez, Oliver Chesley

Total Sightings: 299
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 59.8
Total Species: 11

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 93
Osprey: 1
Northern Harrier: 5
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 51
Cooper's Hawk: 14
Red-shouldered Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 123
Rough-legged Hawk: 1
American Kestrel: 3
Merlin: 3
Peregrine Falcon: 3

Unidentified...
Falcon: 1
Total unidentified: 1

Where'd all the time go? It's already November! We had a fruitful first day of the month on Hawk Hill, with mostly pleasant weather. Gusty winds from the northeast kept us cool until the afternoon, when temperatures peaked at 72 degrees F, but the full sunshine made it feel a bit warmer. Our Red-tailed Hawk numbers continue to peter off, but we still reached over a hundred for today's count. Perhaps our most exciting bird of the day was a beautiful adult Ferruginous Hawk that gave us great views of its uniquely marked ventral side. Other highlights include a White-tailed Kite, a very late season Broad-winged Hawk, and several adult accipiters.

-Isabella Plummer

Dayleaders: Don Bartling, Catherine Elliot

Count Team: Stefanie Arthur, Conner Cimmiyotti, Tom Luster, Sam Hontalas, Holly Thomas, Wing Ng, Allen Fish, Isabella Plummer

Total Sightings: 309
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 61.8
Total Species: 11

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 95
White-tailed Kite: 1
Northern Harrier: 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 41
Cooper's Hawk: 17
Red-shouldered Hawk: 9
Broad-winged Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 128
Ferruginous Hawk: 1
Merlin: 3
Peregrine Falcon: 1

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 3
Buteo: 5
Raptor: 1
Total unidentified: 9

Happy Hawkwatch Halloween all you raptor aficionados and avid blog readers! We're lucky the hawks don't dress up as other species today to fool us (except perhaps those eminent tricksters, the shapeshifting ravens). Our morning started under wispy clouds with a gusty east wind, which kept temperatures cool until the breeze ceased rather suddenly in the mid-afternoon, and we ended the day with our layers shed.

The steady flow of Red-tailed Hawks continues, although numbers dropped today from their recent peak over the weekend. We've also seen a slight pickup in the number of Northern Harrier sightings this week, with today making the highest count so far this season - we can only hope the trend continues upward. Throughout the morning, we watched a pair of adult Peregrine Falcons rise from Kirby Cove now and then to harass other raptors passing through. One of these pugnacious peregrines even stooped at a Red-tail, making contact and knocking a few feathers loose before the hawk took the hint and exited the falcon's airspace. All trick, no treat - how rude.

- Oliver Chesley

Dayleaders: Horacio Mena, Pat Bacchetti

Count team: Dan Foldes, Woody Woodbury, Maureen Grabowski, Dennis Davison, Mary Kenney, Holly Thomas, Allen Fish, Juan Esparza, Oliver Chesley

Total Sightings: 326
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 65.2
Total Species: 10

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 74
Bald Eagle: 1
Northern Harrier: 14
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 38
Cooper's Hawk: 16
Red-shouldered Hawk: 3
Red-tailed Hawk: 149
American Kestrel: 2
Merlin: 9
Peregrine Falcon: 5

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 8
Buteo: 1
Falcon: 2
Raptor: 4
Total unidentified: 15

Happy Monday! After a bit of a blustery start, Hawk Hill experienced pleasant weather for most of the day, with temperatures up to 68 degrees F and great visibility in all directions. We had a steady flow of birds throughout the day, the majority of which were Red-tailed Hawks of all ages and morphs. The adult accipiters also really put on a show, giving us some close views of their slaty blue backs as they zoomed by. Perhaps the rarest sighting of the day was an adult female Northern Harrier. Adult female Harriers make up the smallest percentage of Harrier sightings on Hawk Hill so we were very excited to see her!

-Isabella Plummer

Dayleader: Linda Schneider

Count Team: Roy Pisetsky, Deborah Crooks, Peter Sapienza, Denise Peck, Allen Fish, Krista Fanucchi, Laura Echávez, Isabella Plummer

Total Sightings: 387
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 77.4
Total Species: 9

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 65
White-tailed Kite: 1
Northern Harrier: 10
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 53
Cooper's Hawk: 27
Red-shouldered Hawk: 5
Red-tailed Hawk: 217
Merlin: 4
Peregrine Falcon: 3

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 2
Total unidentified: 2

The Sunday 1 team had a fantastic day of counting raptors up on Hawk Hill! These past few mornings have been brisk and chilly, so we came prepared with many layers of sweaters, hoodies, puffers! Skies were clear and warm winds came from the southeast. Before the start of the count, a White-tailed Kite flew low in the valley and slowly meandered towards Slacker Ridge for several minutes! This rare sight foreshadowed the great day we would have.

The second sighting of the day was of two adult Peregrine Falcons effortlessly gliding around the coastal ridges. Our team was also amazed by the sheer number of Red-tailed Hawks passing through throughout the day. However, an even more unusual buteo graced us with its presence -an adult Ferruginous Hawk. It circled no more than 100 feet over the team, looking down at the spectating hawkwatchers.

We were also visited by a very energetic group of young birdwatchers, all members of the Junior Raptor Society eagerly spotting birds and curious about the GGRO's Hawkwatch program. It was great to have the team share their knowledge and impart curiosity on those who someday may join us on the hill to count birds as well! We ended the day having filled our hearts with so many species and fantastic moments and are looking forward to the next time we can do all this again!



-Juan Esparza

Dayleaders: Sam Hontalas, Rod Santos

Count Team: Laura Coatney, Melissa Kohner, Parker Holzman Smith, Mona Broukhim, Laura Echávez, Juan Esparza

Total Sightings: 420
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 84
Total Species: 13

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 64
White-tailed Kite: 1
Bald Eagle: 1
Northern Harrier: 6
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 39
Cooper's Hawk: 22
Red-shouldered Hawk: 4
Broad-winged Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 245
Ferruginous Hawk: 1
American Kestrel: 1
Merlin: 8
Peregrine Falcon: 10

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 14
Buteo: 3
Total unidentified: 17

An eventful day for hawkwatchers out on the hill! Our Saturday 1 team spent the day counting raptors with clear blue skies, distant haze, mild-moderate wind gusts mostly from the northeast, and comfortable temperatures in the low-mid 60 degrees F. Following historical migration patterns in the Marin Headlands, we have recently been seeing a second peak of both juvenile and adult Red-tailed Hawks passing through! Today was no different, with a steady flow of Red-tails forming distant kettles over Mt. Tam, Bolinas Ridge and the FM towers, as they made their way over Hawk Hill and beyond. This included a higher proportion of dark morph juveniles! Also of note, the second Swainson's Hawk of the season was spotted over Rodeo Lagoon and made its way directly over the hill, leaving our team awestruck!

It was a very pleasant day to be a hawkwatcher! We're looking forward to seeing more adult accipiter activity, Red-tailed Hawks, and to spot that Rough-legged Hawk before the season concludes!

-Clare SantaColoma

Dayleaders: Brian O'Laughlin, Mary Malec

Count Team: JJ Harris, Jeff Boissier, Melissa Hero, Rina Kor, Carole Garrett, Krista Fanucchi, Clare SantaColoma

Total Sightings: 314
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 62.8
Total Species: 8

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 81
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 39
Cooper's Hawk: 19
Red-shouldered Hawk: 4
Swainson's Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 147
Merlin: 5
Peregrine Falcon: 4

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 10
Buteo: 1
Raptor: 3
Total unidentified: 14

Our Friday began with a few auspicious birds, even before the count officially started - an adult male Northern Harrier, an American Kestrel, and a Peregrine Falcon were all spotted from the parking lot below Hawk Hill! Given the crystal-clear skies and light breeze, things seemed to be looking up.

Our optimism turned out to be well-warranted, as it unfolded into a beautifully crisp autumn day on the hill with some exciting raptor diversity. Temperatures stayed in the high 50s to low 60s, with a light breeze from the south shifting to the west later in the afternoon. Broad-winged Hawks are back on the board after a week with no sightings, including a rare dark-morph adult bird - hopefully these late-comers are on track to reunite with their friends further south! We also spotted both eagle species, with a far-off Golden Eagle and two Bald Eagles that passed closer by the hill. And finally, we caught a glimpse of an adult Ferruginous Hawk making its lonesome way along a distant ridgeline. Aside from these relative rarities, our Red-tailed Hawk sightings are climbing steadily back up as we enter the second red-tail peak of the season. There are still many more to come, as the days grow steadily shorter and the hawks reach their destinations to settle in for the winter, one by one.

- Oliver Chesley

Dayleaders: Holly Thomas, Michaela Figari

Count Team: Linda Sudduth, Yvette MacDonald, Sonja Raub, Courtney Buechert, Nick Yatsko, Laura Echávez, Oliver Chesley

Total Sightings: 282
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 56.4
Total Species: 13

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 58
Bald Eagle: 2
Northern Harrier: 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 26
Cooper's Hawk: 27
Red-shouldered Hawk: 1
Broad-winged Hawk: 3
Red-tailed Hawk: 147
Ferruginous Hawk: 1
Golden Eagle: 1
American Kestrel: 1
Merlin: 4
Peregrine Falcon: 7

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 1
Buteo: 1
Total unidentified: 2

Today's blue skies, comfortable temperatures and mild wind definitely did not disappoint our Thursday 1 team! In true autumnal fashion, temperatures ranged from the high 50s to low 60s throughout the day, accompanied by a mostly gentle breeze that shifted in both direction and strength as the afternoon progressed. Despite being past peak migration, we still had a total of 267 raptor sightings that included an interesting variety of species and soap opera-esque drama! While most of the team had their eyes glued to an adult Bald Eagle soaring close to the hill, one hawkwatcher had her focus set on a stooping Peregrine Falcon instead. As she loudly announced that this fierce raptor was, in fact, stooping, it became clear that it was about to make contact with a Cooper's Hawk flying below. With one quick blow, the Coop's fate was sealed and began falling out of the sky like a "baseball wrapped in newspaper". If that wasn't cool enough, we also had the pleasure of two adult male Northern Harrier sightings (more famously known as "Gray Ghosts") flying above and below Hawk Hill at a relatively close distance.

It was a great day on the hill! Our team is looking forward to more raptor drama and to finally seeing that long-awaited Rough-legged Hawk before the season comes to an end.

-Clare SantaColoma

Dayleaders: John Davis, Allen Fish

Count Team: Bob Blumberg, Susan Greef, Patricia Contaxis, Arden Bucklin-Sporer, Mitch Green, Krista Fanucchi, Clare SantaColoma

Total Sightings: 267
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 53.4
Total Species: 10

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 90
Bald Eagle: 1
Northern Harrier: 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 25
Cooper's Hawk: 14
Red-shouldered Hawk: 5
Red-tailed Hawk: 106
American Kestrel: 4
Merlin: 5
Peregrine Falcon: 4

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 8
Buteo: 1
Raptor: 1
Total unidentified: 10

The realization of autumn is really beginning to hit us up on Hawk Hill. Aside from the uptick of people drinking pumpkin spice lattes and talking about carving pumpkins, Wednesday 1's team had a lot of luck and good chance at spotting some Northern Harriers today, with many juveniles displaying that pumpkin-colored chest. The other realization was of course with the weather. With the slightly dense cloud cover, temperatures stayed in the high 50s to low 60s, keeping the air frigid and our layers of clothing on. Though with the cold I'd like to believe that it kept us wide awake and sharp to spotting out the many raptors passing through the Headlands today! Aside from two great passes of some adult male Northern Harriers, many Merlins continued to make their way through, along with a few great stoop displays from some adult Peregrine Falcons. Red-tailed Hawks are beginning to show up in higher numbers again, with the majority being adults. We are grateful that the weather was cooperative today, knowing how fickle it could be. Until tomorrow to see what shows up on the hill!

-Juan Esparza

Dayleaders: Gretchen Zantzinger, Jon Altemus

Count Team: Jan Ambrosini, Joan Duffield, Wing Ng, Allen Fish, Juan Esparza

Total Sightings: 208
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 41.6
Total Species: 9

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 51
Northern Harrier: 6
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 14
Cooper's Hawk: 13
Red-shouldered Hawk: 5
Red-tailed Hawk: 93
American Kestrel: 4
Merlin: 9
Peregrine Falcon: 10

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 1
Buteo: 2
Total unidentified: 3

It's a good thing our Tuesday 1 team gets along so well because we have, for the third time in a row, spent the day chatting and birdwatching around Rodeo Lagoon rather than counting on Hawk Hill! Despite our fearless leaders and fellow staff and volunteers manifesting optimal hawkwatching conditions, Karl the Fog has proved persistent. However, we still had an enjoyable day in each other's company and are keeping all of our fingers and toes crossed that the next cycle brings some clear skies! In the meantime, we were able to get a close-up look at a juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk perched in a eucalyptus tree and felt collective cute-aggression towards adorable songbirds like Pine Siskin and Pygmy Nuthatch.

-Clare SantaColoma

Dayleaders: Mary Kenney, Andy Bradshaw

Count Team: Chris Tarr, Jody Newman, Rich Eliason, Woody Woodbury, Paula Moser, Carmen DeLeon, Isabella Plummer, Clare SantaColoma

Total Sightings: 0
Hours Counted: 0
HPH: 0
Total Species: 0

What a day full of weather whiplash. Monday's team was welcomed to Hawk Hill with crystal clear skies, the blaring sun showering us with more warmth than anticipated. However, by 10:45 a distant fog began to thicken and crept slowly into the valley below us. A few minutes later, a monumental wall of dense mist reached us at the peak. We were quickly enveloped and soon surrounded by visibility no more than ten feet.

The team decided to wait in the cold by huddling in conversation around the center platform. Sure enough, after an hour of chilly fog, the skies began to clear again! Throughout the day we counted the usual culprits, with a large uptick in adult accipiters. We also saw many Merlins zoom by the hill headed toward the city! Overall, we were pleased that we persevered through the always intimidating wall of fog and got to stay on the hill to see and count new birds flying through. As always, wishing tomorrow's team the best! Hopefully they'll get a glimpse of a species yet to be seen this season...

-Juan Esparza

Dayleader: Deborah Crooks

Count Team: Linda Schneider, Denise Peck, Keith Gress, Wade Eakle, Mary Malec, Krista Fanucchi, Juan Esparza

Total Sightings: 123
Hours Counted: 3.75
HPH: 32.8
Total Species: 9

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 40
Northern Harrier: 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 16
Cooper's Hawk: 12
Red-shouldered Hawk: 2
Red-tailed Hawk: 34
American Kestrel: 4
Merlin: 7
Peregrine Falcon: 3

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 4
Total unidentified: 4

Today's forecast calls for: no Hawkwatch. The rain and fog hath thwarted us again. In the meantime, perhaps we'll try reading a book about hawks, or looking at pictures of hawks, or thinking about hawks. Hopefully we'll see everyone back on the hill tomorrow!

-Isabella Plummer

Total Sightings: 0
Hours Counted: 0
HPH: 0
Total Species: 0

Clear skies and perfect NW winds kept hawks moving around in the morning. By 1 pm the fog started threatening, with some in and out action that made us appreciate the occasional long views of sun-lit Mt Diablo and the East Bay hills.

Avian highlights included watching an adult Peregrine corral some 800 Band-tailed Pigeons into a kind of moebius-donut flock with no beginning and no end - just above Kirby Cove.

A juvenile Northern Harrier made a big show of catching a mouse then contour-flying along the west side of Hawk Hill showing off the prey to either us or, perhaps to the two Ravens. The Ravens eventually tail-chased the harrier and forced a drop of the mouse. Moral: don't show off.

Lots of great looks at adult accipiters; these year-old and older Sharpshins and Cooper's tend to show up more in October. And a fine look across the back of a close-flying, late-season adult Osprey.

Wonderful to have the Roving Ranger crew greeting the public on Conzelman Road today. Thanks to Zaira Sierra, Yakuta Poonawalla, and Vassar Terry and others.

- Allen Fish

Dayleaders: Jan Ambrosini, Jane Rudebusch

Count Team: Sam Hontalas, Denise Peck, Maryrose Kulick, Erin Lacour, Tim Stroshane, Jennifer Miller, Brian Kemmler.

Total Sightings: 142
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 28.4
Total Species: 8

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 34
Osprey: 1
Northern Harrier: 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 26
Cooper's Hawk: 13
Red-tailed Hawk: 52
Merlin: 1
Peregrine Falcon: 4

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 8
Falcon: 1
Raptor: 1
Total unidentified: 10

In classic Marin Headlands fashion, today's cold and gusty hawkwatching conditions were a stark contrast to the heatwave of the last couple of days. Our Friday 2 team was greeted by dense fog upon first meeting in the Hawk Hill parking lot this morning, prompting us to migrate down to the old Marin Headlands visitor center. After conducting the morning meeting and enjoying a leisurely bird walk around Rodeo Lagoon, we returned to Hawk Hill cautiously optimistic that conditions had improved. Fortunately, the fog layer had risen enough to provide sufficient visibility for hawkwatching! We darned ourselves with extra layers of clothing and started counting at noon, with temperatures in the low- to mid- 50 degrees F and wind gusts between 10-20 mph.

It was great we were able to count today or else we would have missed out on some action! It seemed like there was a never-ending train of Sharp-shinned Hawks whizzing in and out of the fog, captivating hawkwatcher's attention despite the cold conditions! A comparatively large proportion of these sharpies were adults, adding another dimension to the show. We were also lucky enough to see some Kestrels and Merlins as they zipped around the hill.

-Clare SantaColoma

Dayleader: Courtney Buechert

Count Team: Will Ludan, Tomas McKay, Chris Cruz, Paulette Sherry, Nick Yatsko, Krista Fanucchi, Clare SantaColoma

Total Sightings: 139
Hours Counted: 3
HPH: 46.3
Total Species: 10

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 8
Northern Harrier: 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 59
Cooper's Hawk: 17
Broad-winged Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 39
Ferruginous Hawk: 1
American Kestrel: 2
Merlin: 2
Peregrine Falcon: 1

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 3
Buteo: 4
Total unidentified: 7

It was a scorcher of a day on Hawk Hill, with morning temperatures starting at 77 degrees and climbing steadily throughout. In the afternoon our easterly wind shifted to a pleasant breeze from the west, bringing some ocean air and keeping temperatures from reaching the 90 degree cutoff. Regardless, it was a day that demanded fortitude and plenty of hydration.

The birds clearly felt the weather as well, and adapted their plans accordingly - numerous passerines, large flocks of Band-tailed Pigeons, and much of our raptor count passed the hill in the morning, slowing to a near trickle in the heat of the afternoon. The birds were high and far out, riding the shimmering heat of distant ridgelines. It ended up being a decent day for the Northern Harrier count, with five on the board after nearly a week without a documented sighting. Hopefully more will sail by soon.

- Oliver Chesley

Dayleader: Christine Cariño

Count Team: Jim Yampolsky, John Davis, Pauline Yeckley, Patricia Contaxis, Lydia Bruno, Allen Fish, Oliver Chesley

Total Sightings: 209
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 41.8
Total Species: 9

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 78
Northern Harrier: 5
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 24
Cooper's Hawk: 16
Red-shouldered Hawk: 4
Red-tailed Hawk: 60
American Kestrel: 8
Merlin: 1
Peregrine Falcon: 4

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 5
Buteo: 2
Falcon: 1
Raptor: 1
Total unidentified: 9

The day started off pleasantly warm with a moderate northeast wind, but temperatures climbed to 84 degrees by the afternoon. Luckily, there were plenty of birds in the sky to keep our minds off the heat! More and more adult birds are making their way through the Headlands, and we were treated to a few good looks at adult Sharp-shinned Hawks and Cooper's Hawks. Right around lunchtime, a juvenile Bald Eagle swept by, giving folks a close look at its mottled plumage. One more highlight from the day: witnessing a couple of Peregrine Falcons diving through a flock of Band-tailed Pigeons! Until next time!

--Isabella Plummer

Dayleader: Catherine Elliot

Count Team: Stefanie Arthur, Tom Luster, Patti Lessard, Wing Ng, Denise Peck, Holly Thomas, Allen Fish, Isabella Plummer

Total Sightings: 234
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 46.8
Total Species: 9

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 74
Bald Eagle: 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 30
Cooper's Hawk: 27
Red-shouldered Hawk: 5
Red-tailed Hawk: 75
American Kestrel: 2
Merlin: 6
Peregrine Falcon: 5

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 6
Buteo: 2
Raptor: 1
Total unidentified: 9

Interesting fog dynamic up in the Marin Headlands today. Upon driving to the hill, the valley was inundated with dense fog until we reached the top of the hill, where the skies were clear and the sun breathed warmth down our backs. Perhaps a tad too warm. Though the weather was nonetheless perfect for Tuesday's 2 team as we started our day with temps hovering around 69 degrees F. Looking toward the south was a bit rough on the eyes with the sun beating light onto the fog, bouncing it back onto our fragile pupils and making us squint to search for raptors.

We had some great close-up looks at a few Sharp-shinned Hawks and Cooper's Hawks throughout the day, with a few of them being adults! We also had a Broad-winged Hawk greet us as it circled in the north close to the hill. At around noon we even had a juvenile Ferruginous Hawk fly along Wolfback Ridge, it now being the 7th one seen for the season. Toward the end of the day, the fog had at that point dissipated, and a nice northwest wind kept us cool. Many more accipiters flew by, along with a few adult Red-tailed Hawks, Turkey Vultures, and some Red-shouldered Hawks. Overall it was a pretty great, steady day up on Hawkwatch for us! We're hoping that tomorrow is just as great, if not better!

- Juan Esparza

Dayleaders: Horacio Mena

Count Team: Woody Woodbury, Maureen Grabowski, Mary Kenney, Mary Malec, Nick Yatsko, Jody Newman, Holly Thomas, Allen Fish, Oliver Chesley, Juan Esparza

Total Sightings: 206
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 41.2
Total Species: 9

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 52
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 30
Cooper's Hawk: 38
Red-shouldered Hawk: 4
Broad-winged Hawk: 6
Red-tailed Hawk: 62
Ferruginous Hawk: 1
Merlin: 3
Peregrine Falcon: 2

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 7
Raptor: 1
Total unidentified: 8

The fog inversion layer was low over the Golden Gate this morning, but the balmy temperatures quickly dissipated any moisture that lingered in the air. Although the weather ranged from 66 - 75 degrees F, the nonexistent wind and the glare over the bay kept the team warm.

Once the fog over the ocean cleared, we could see far beyond the Farallon Islands and birds flew high and low past the hawkwatch team, mostly Violet-green Swallows and Band-tailed Pigeons. However, we still had some exciting raptor sightings throughout the day. A young Broad-winged Hawk welcomed the team to the Hill; and later a couple of Peregrine Falcons chased each other over Kirby Cove before heading for the bridge. Just after noon, an elegant white bird appeared below Hill 88, soon followed by another -two White-tailed Kites fluidly gliding against the rolling hills! Lastly, the afternoon brought a bouquet of Merlins! The team had the opportunity to discuss the defining fieldmarks of the small dark falcon.

- Laura Echávez, GGRO Biotech

Dayleaders: James McDermott, Linda Schneider

Count Team: Denise Peck, Roy Pisetsky, Peter Sapienza, Jared Westbrook, Isabella Plummer, Laura Echávez

Total Sightings: 168
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 33.6
Total Species: 9

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 42
White-tailed Kite: 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 22
Cooper's Hawk: 20
Red-shouldered Hawk: 3
Broad-winged Hawk: 3
Red-tailed Hawk: 61
Merlin: 7
Peregrine Falcon: 3

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 4
Falcon: 1
Total unidentified: 5

Early this morning, Conzelman Road and Hawk Hill were wrapped in an ominous white velvet blanket, but that did not deter our team from summitting to the count site. Once there, we could see hints of blue starting to peek through the thin upper layer of fog. Our optimism was rewarded by a warm easterly 8-mph breeze that pushed the mist into an inversion and opened up a 360-degree view of the Bay Area. The wind disappeared in the afternoon, and despite the fog dancing in and out of the Golden Gate and the faint haze that hung low to the east, visibility remained high.

The peak of today's raptor activity (which was not much) happened between 12 and 1PM. A juvenile Broad-winged Hawk rose over Rodeo Valley and circled over the team for several minutes before heading south. A female American Kestrel circled high over Kirby Cove with a juvenile Sharp-shinned Hawk. Sprinkled between Sharpies, a handful of Cooper's Hawks also passed by in small flurries. In the late afternoon, as the feathery fog crept over Rodeo Lagoon, a speedy Merlin flew straight for Hawk Hill and dove into Kirby to dive on another Merlin!

Overall, a beautiful day on the hill. Until next time!

- Laura Echávez, GGRO Biotech

Dayleaders: Sam Hontalas, Rod Santos

Count Team: Laura Coatney, Melissa Kohner, Alexandra Cox, Parker Holzman Smith, Laura Echávez, Allen Fish

Total Sightings: 122
Hours Counted: 4.5
HPH: 27.1
Total Species: 8

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 71
Osprey: 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 9
Cooper's Hawk: 20
Broad-winged Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 13
American Kestrel: 2
Merlin: 2

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 1
Buteo: 1
Raptor: 1
Total unidentified: 3

Our Saturday 1 team was welcomed with Hawkwatch-friendly conditions this morning and for most of the afternoon! The day began overcast with warm air and little-to-no wind, transitioning to partly sunny around 11 a.m. Despite sufficient visibility, the raptors were few and far between, leading hawkwatchers to wonder if peak numbers from the last couple of weeks are a thing of the past. Some highlights included a distant juvenile Broad-winged Hawk in west quadrant, a Cooper's Hawk in full adult plumage and a Kestrel! Dense fog swept in shortly before 2 p.m., leaving us with no choice but to stop counting and leave the hill an hour short.

Our team is looking forward to the slower part of migration season's silver lining- the possibility of seeing more adult raptors and a different variety of species in the next couple of cycles!

-Clare SantaColoma

Dayleader: Brian O'Laughlin, Mary Malec

Count Team: JJ Harris, Jeff Boissier, Melissa Hero, Carole Garrett

Total Sightings: 62
Hours Counted: 4
HPH: 15.5
Total Species: 7

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 34
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 1
Cooper's Hawk: 6
Red-shouldered Hawk: 1
Broad-winged Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 17
American Kestrel: 1

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 1
Total unidentified: 1

Despite some vaguely threatening wisps of fog that began materializing as we started our day, the weather remained fair for this Friday's Hawkwatch team. Today continued our trend of fairly slow days on the hill, but no day is entirely without its charms.

We spotted all four commonly seen falcon species when a lone Prairie Falcon sailed by in the afternoon, close enough for some great looks at its overall form and characteristic dark wingpits. Birds like this falcon, whose breeding and wintering habitats are so distinct from the coastal chaparral of the Golden Gate, always inspire the imagination and cause one to wonder where it began its journey, and what brought it all the way to the Pacific coast. Another good day on the hill, ever looking forward to what the next might bring.

- Oliver Chesley

Dayleader: Holly Thomas

Count Team: Laura Thomas, Yvette MacDonald, Sonja Raub, Courtney Buechert, Nick Yatsko, Laura Echávez, Oliver Chesley

Total Sightings: 221
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 44.2
Total Species: 12

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 110
White-tailed Kite: 1
Northern Harrier: 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 11
Cooper's Hawk: 18
Red-shouldered Hawk: 1
Broad-winged Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 67
American Kestrel: 3
Merlin: 2
Peregrine Falcon: 1
Prairie Falcon: 1

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 2
Buteo: 1
Falcon: 1
Total unidentified: 4

Clear skies and slight winds sent a slow but steady stream of raptors through the headlands today. Though the count was slightly slower, the observations remained lively and memorable. Low in the south quadrant, just above the glistening water, an adult Bald Eagle was spotted as it lifted to meet another Bald Eagle, this one a juvenile. Around noon, two adult Red-tailed Hawks and two Ravens were observed flying with a small, stocky bird with a noticeably stubby, fan-shaped tail; a Common Poorwill! Satisfied with the unique, fleeting observations from the count today, we Hawkwatchers are looking forward to the captivating moments yet to come. Always in good company... Until next time!

-Krista Fanucchi, GGRO Biotech

Dayleaders: John Davis, Allen Fish

Count Team: Bob Blumberg, Susan Greef, Patricia Contaxis, Arden Bucklin-Sporer, Mitch Green, Krista Fanucchi, Isabella Plummer

Total Sightings: 185
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 37
Total Species: 10

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 61
Bald Eagle: 2
Northern Harrier: 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 21
Cooper's Hawk: 17
Red-shouldered Hawk: 7
Broad-winged Hawk: 4
Red-tailed Hawk: 59
American Kestrel: 2
Merlin: 3

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 4
Buteo: 2
Raptor: 1
Total unidentified: 7

Finally! A break in the beautiful chaos of weather that sits up top of Hawk Hill. Our Wednesday 1 team was brimming with enthusiasm upon seeing clear skies and feeling a brisk breeze. After our quick morning meet-up, we went straight to counting. The skies were not particularly hustling and bustling, but a steady stream of the Red-tailed Hawks, Cooper's Hawks, and Turkey Vultures kept our eyes busy throughout the day. Aside from raptors, flocks of up to 100 Brown Pelicans were also making their way through the sky, making for stunning views of so many birds flying near one another. Toward the end of our day, the team witnessed a little tussle between two Peregrine Falcons in the west, with one stooping on the other and making its distinct "ee-chup" call. It was another great day for Hawkwatchers! We are all looking forward to another day to be up on the hill.

-Juan Esparza

Dayleaders: Gretchen Zantzinger, Jon Altemus

Count Team: Jan Ambrosini, Conner Cimmiyotti, Joan Duffield, Kimberlie Moutoux, Wing Ng, Allen Fish, Juan Esparza

Total Sightings: 216
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 43.2
Total Species: 9

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 114
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 11
Cooper's Hawk: 22
Red-shouldered Hawk: 4
Broad-winged Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 52
American Kestrel: 1
Merlin: 2
Peregrine Falcon: 4

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 4
Falcon: 1
Total unidentified: 5

Our Tuesday 1 team tried their hardest to manifest decent visibility today, but Karl the Fog had other plans. Despite blue skies when we arrived at the parking lot, dense fog rolled in when we got up to the hill. This allowed us to take our time conducting the morning meeting and incorporated some extra education which included getting more familiar with using the GGRO scopes. Things were looking up shortly before noon when some of the fog cleared, encouraging us to start the count! We counted for a full hour between 12-1 p.m., with temperatures in the low 60 degrees F and mild winds coming from the west. After a total of 9 raptors were spotted, the dayleaders decided to call it at 1 p.m. due to fog.

-Clare SantaColoma

Dayleaders: Mary Kenney, Andy Bradshaw

Count Team: Chris Tarr, Jody Newman, Woody Woodbury, Paula Moser, Wing Ng, Denise Peck, Isabella Plummer, Carmen DeLeon

Total Sightings: 9
Hours Counted: 1
HPH: 9
Total Species: 5

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 1
Cooper's Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 3
Merlin: 1
Peregrine Falcon: 2

Unidentified...
Buteo: 1
Total unidentified: 1

Well folks, unfortunately for today we had to cancel our counting extravaganza. With the forecasts predicting a slight rainfall for the morning, we decided not to risk our chances and leave the counting for another day. Perhaps the raptors will also hunker down, so our team will be taking a break today and maybe count in their dreams tonight. Wishing the next team luck tomorrow!



-Juan Esparza

Total Sightings: 0
Hours Counted: 0
HPH: 0
Total Species: 0

Sunday 2 gave it their most valiant effort, but alas, the fog did us in today. We started our count at noon with optimism and ended the count just two hours later. Visibility was poor in all directions, though there were glimpses of Mount Diablo between fog swells. Temperatures were in the mid-60s, and wind speeds peaked at 17 miles per hour, making the north quadrant feel like the Arctic. We managed to steal a few longing glances at a couple Kestrels, a Merlin, a Red-tailed Hawk, and some Turkey Vultures, but it wasn't enough to keep us going. Thanks to today's team for their perseverance and positive attitude!

-Isabella Plummer

Dayleaders: Becky Olsen, Ken Wilson

Count Team: Carol Weinstein, Ana Olivar, Maggie Montenegro, Kinley Renger, Cody Levin, Allen Fish, Krista Fanucchi, Isabella Plummer

Total Sightings: 16
Hours Counted: 2
HPH: 8
Total Species: 4

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 11
Red-tailed Hawk: 1
American Kestrel: 2
Merlin: 1

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 1
Total unidentified: 1

This is Day 3 of the heat wave. It was stifling and still. With no wind for respite nor clouds in the sky to sprinkle some shade, the team ended the count early when temps reached 87 degrees F. It is difficult to know everything that prompts raptor movement during migration, but perhaps the heat also affected the birds because the skies were somewhat quiet today.

To welcome us onto Hawk Hill, three juvenile Broad-winged Hawks circled over Slacker Hill for nearly 30 minutes. The theme of today's flight was far and few, however, notable sightings include a couple of adult Sharp-shinned Hawks, good views of a few juvenile Red-shouldered Hawks, and a couple of adult Peregrine Falcons catching ridge lift with a kettle of Red-tailed Hawks and Turkey Vultures. To close off our Hawkwatch sandwich, a juvenile Broadie rose from the valley and flapped hastily across the Golden Gate.

-Laura Echávez, GGRO Biotech

Dayleaders: Jane Rudebusch, Jan Ambrosini

Count Team: Jennifer Miller, Tim Stroshane, Maryrose Kulick, Erin Lacour, Brian Kemler, Carmen DeLeon, Laura Echávez

Total Sightings: 176
Hours Counted: 4.25
HPH: 41.4
Total Species: 9

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 72
Northern Harrier: 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 16
Cooper's Hawk: 27
Red-shouldered Hawk: 3
Broad-winged Hawk: 12
Red-tailed Hawk: 28
American Kestrel: 1
Peregrine Falcon: 4

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 4
Buteo: 2
Raptor: 5
Total unidentified: 11

It was a hot one out on Hawk Hill today, that's for sure! Temperatures started off around 80 degrees F when our Friday 2 team first arrived on the hill and continued to climb throughout the day. Factoring in the mild to non-existent breeze coming from the east and shadeless skies, we decided to pack up for the day at about 1 p.m. when temperatures reached 90 degrees F. Prior to heading out early, our team was still able to get in some decent hawkwatching! Some highlights included a couple of close-flying Peregrine Falcons, Merlins zipping around the hill, and a great look at an adult Golden Eagle!

-Clare SantaColoma

Dayleaders: Courtney Buechert

Count Team: Will Ludan, Tomas McKay, Chris Cruz, Paulette Sherry, Krista Fanucchi, Clare SantaColoma

Total Sightings: 224
Hours Counted: 3
HPH: 74.7
Total Species: 11

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 88
White-tailed Kite: 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 21
Cooper's Hawk: 20
Red-shouldered Hawk: 7
Broad-winged Hawk: 16
Red-tailed Hawk: 57
Golden Eagle: 1
American Kestrel: 1
Merlin: 2
Peregrine Falcon: 2

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 7
Falcon: 1
Total unidentified: 8

It was a balmy day for the Hawkwatch crew -the warm temps fluctuated between the mid-70s to high 80s! The morning greeted us with easterly 20-mph gusts that turned still by 2:30pm when we left the hill early. Although today's sightings were nowhere near the last few days' numbers, the team had great opportunities at viewing accipiters up close.

We had a few flurries of Sharp-shinned Hawks and Cooper's Hawks early on, many of which arrived at eye level and circled the team before heading off across the Golden Gate. The Broad-winged Hawks also continued to pass through today, but they kept their distance as they emerged above far-away ridgelines. Sprinkled between the many observations of Red-tailed Hawks and Turkey Vultures, were a handful of Red-shouldered Hawks and a Merlin.

Raptors were not the only species on the move today, however... Any movement prompts our team of Hawkwatchers to raise their binoculars, but today, they found many a Monarch Butterfly, multiple species of dragonflies, and even ballooning spiders moving across their field of view! Lastly, swifts and swallows, probably chasing after some of the winged insects, also crossed the bay in impressive numbers.

-Laura Echávez, GGRO Biotech

Dayleaders: Christine Cariño

Count Team: Lydia Bruno, Pat Contaxis, John Davis, Jim Yampolsky, Pauline Yeckley, Allen Fish, Laura Echávez

Total Sightings: 372
Hours Counted: 4.5
HPH: 82.7
Total Species: 10

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 110
Osprey: 1
Northern Harrier: 4
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 72
Cooper's Hawk: 58
Red-shouldered Hawk: 4
Broad-winged Hawk: 14
Red-tailed Hawk: 94
Merlin: 1
Peregrine Falcon: 2

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 9
Raptor: 3
Total unidentified: 12

It was cloudless and warm today on the hill, with temperatures reaching 81 degrees by the afternoon. Although the day started out gusty, a steady northeasterly breeze kept us from baking in the heat too much. Our Wednesday 2 team was treated with a steady stream of accipiters, Red-tailed Hawks, and Broad-winged Hawks throughout the day, with a few kettles forming here and there. We also witnessed large flocks of Greater White-Fronted Geese and a few species of swifts and swallows migrating overhead, but we tried not to get too distracted. Our highlights for the day include a nice view of a dark morph Broadie circling up into the sky with a light morph Broadie and a Ferruginous Hawk that we admired as it swung around the hill. Thanks to today's team and all our helpful visitors for their eagled-eyed spotting today!

-Isabella Plummer

Dayleaders: Don Bartling, Catherine Elliot

Count Team: Stefanie Arthur, Conner Cimmiyotti, Tom Luster, Patti Lessard, Wing Ng, Allen Fish, Isabella Plummer

Total Sightings: 628
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 125.6
Total Species: 11

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 130
Northern Harrier: 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 131
Cooper's Hawk: 124
Red-shouldered Hawk: 11
Broad-winged Hawk: 59
Red-tailed Hawk: 127
Ferruginous Hawk: 1
American Kestrel: 3
Merlin: 3
Peregrine Falcon: 1

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 28
Buteo: 7
Falcon: 2
Total unidentified: 37

More than anything else, today was a day of impressive kettles. Our morning started amidst dense fog, but the inveterate optimism of the group pulled us all to the top of Hawk Hill anyway. This proved a fortunate decision, for after we spent the first minutes of the day staring halfheartedly into the fog, we were rewarded with an inkling of what the day would bring - a group of fifteen Broad-winged Hawks, materializing from the mist and swirling around the hilltop in remarkably close quarters.

Not long after, the fog began to lift and the sky revealed itself at last. The rest of the morning proved to be a wonderful opportunity to witness large kettles of raptors and practice identifying the species within. This remained a theme of the day, although the largest kettles seemed to form primarily during the first hours of the count after the fog cleared and the weather warmed. It was a great day for the Broadies with our highest daily count for the season so far, and we were lucky enough to see a Peregrine Falcon catch and eat a dragonfly mid-air. Overall, today showcased the remarkable potential of migration over Hawk Hill, and serves as an inspiring example of why we keep coming back - day after day, year after year.

- Oliver Chesley

Dayleaders: Horacio Mena, Pat Bacchetti

Count Team: Woody Woodbury, Maureen Grabowski, Mary Kenney, Holly Thomas, Deborah Crooks, Wing Ng, Allen Fish, Juan Esparza, Oliver Chesley

Total Sightings: 907
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 181.4
Total Species: 12

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 137
Northern Harrier: 6
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 259
Cooper's Hawk: 178
Red-shouldered Hawk: 8
Broad-winged Hawk: 133
Swainson's Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 140
Ferruginous Hawk: 2
American Kestrel: 11
Merlin: 9
Peregrine Falcon: 5

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 17
Raptor: 1
Total unidentified: 18

At a final count of almost 700 raptor sightings, you could say today was a good day on Hawk Hill. Visibility improved throughout the day with temperatures staying around 60 degrees and winds between 10-15 miles per hour from the west. After a little bit of a slow start, the accipiter numbers took off and our Cooper's Hawk sightings today were the highest of the season. Our hawkwatch team was kept busy by the several mixed-flock kettles that kept forming over Gerbode Valley and Angel Island. We were lucky enough to catch some close glimpses of adult and juvenile Broad-winged Hawks, as well as a quick fly-by of a Prairie Falcon. Congrats to the Monday 2 team for their perseverance during such a busy day!

-Isabella Plummer

Dayleaders: James McDermott, Linda Schneider

Count Team: Deborah Crooks, Peter Sapienza, Denise Peck, Jared Westbrook, Laura Echávez, Isabella Plummer

Total Sightings: 693
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 138.6
Total Species: 11

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 50
Osprey: 2
Northern Harrier: 5
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 210
Cooper's Hawk: 146
Red-shouldered Hawk: 4
Broad-winged Hawk: 50
Red-tailed Hawk: 176
American Kestrel: 12
Merlin: 4
Prairie Falcon: 1

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 25
Buteo: 2
Falcon: 3
Raptor: 3
Total unidentified: 33

Alright folks, we've got Accipiters flying in by the droves! The Sunday 1 team arrived at the hill with clouds decorating the skies, blocking most of the sun until about noon when blue skies surrounded us. As soon as we started our count, the team was off, calling birds left and right. The skies were primarily filled with Sharp-shinned Hawks and Turkey Vultures, but a few other amazing birds also made appearances. Three White-tailed Kites flew past the hill rapidly; a Ferruginous Hawk was picked out from the direction of Mount Tamalpais; and two Broad-winged Hawks flew close to the hill before booking it south! Toward the end of the day, a looming sea of fog started to creep up onto the hill, obstructing our views completely for the last half hour. We stayed until the end, still able to call out a few Accipiters as they weaved in and out of the fog.

It was a great time up on the hill for other hawk aficionados as well! We also want to say a special thanks to the Feminist Bird Club of Sonoma, the Golden Gate Bird Alliance, and the San Joaquin Audubon Society for joining us today up on Hawk Hill and reveling in all the action we got to see today. Until tomorrow for another great day counting!

- Juan Esparza

Dayleaders: Sam Hontalas, Rod Santos

Count Team: Melissa Kohner, Alexandra Cox, Parker Holzman Smith, Mona Broukhim, Laura Echávez, Juan Esparza

Total Sightings: 424
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 84.8
Total Species: 13

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 138
Osprey: 8
White-tailed Kite: 3
Northern Harrier: 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 124
Cooper's Hawk: 49
Red-shouldered Hawk: 3
Broad-winged Hawk: 2
Red-tailed Hawk: 65
Ferruginous Hawk: 1
American Kestrel: 3
Merlin: 4
Peregrine Falcon: 1

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 17
Buteo: 2
Falcon: 1
Raptor: 2
Total unidentified: 22

Our Saturday 1 team enjoyed an ideal day on Hawk Hill! Slightly overcast skies mixed with sunshine greeted us this morning and persisted throughout the early afternoon, with sun dominating the sky between 1:30-3:00 p.m. There was a noticeably steady flight path of migration from the northwest heading over the bay, with raptors mostly flying high and continuing south. But like previous days, plenty of accipiters were spotted whizzing close to the hill, presumably on the lookout for prey. At one point, hawkwatchers got an up-close look at a juvenile Cooper's Hawk harassing a juvenile Peregrine Falcon in flight! More noteworthy sightings included a subadult Bald Eagle spotted over Slacker Ridge, exhibiting symmetrical primary wing molt (feather growth) as well as multiple juvenile Northern Harriers flying close to the hill before continuing their migration journey!

It was a great day to observe raptor migration in real time! Saturday 1 is looking forward to more days like this.

-Clare SantaColoma

Dayleaders: Brian O'Laughlin, Mary Malec

Count Team: Jeff Boissier, Melissa Hero, Rina Kor, Horacio Mena, Woody Woodbury, Paula Morer, Wing Ng, Krista Fanucchi, Clare SantaColoma

Total Sightings: 400
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 80
Total Species: 11

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 108
Osprey: 2
Bald Eagle: 1
Northern Harrier: 4
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 86
Cooper's Hawk: 78
Red-shouldered Hawk: 4
Broad-winged Hawk: 4
Red-tailed Hawk: 85
American Kestrel: 1
Peregrine Falcon: 5

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 17
Buteo: 1
Raptor: 4
Total unidentified: 22

The fog played a cruel trick on us this morning, when it materialized out of thin air just as we reached the top of Hawk Hill. It was clear and warm until about 9:30 a.m., but some days the weather simply has other plans. We remained on the hill for a while hopeful that the sun would overcome the drear, but when the Golden Gate Bridge foghorn sounded off its first morale-crushing blast, the team let out a collective groan and started packing up.

We descended partway down the hill to the "Annex", wondering if we'd get clearer views to the south from underneath the fog layer, but conditions were unfortunately similar. For the final hour before 1 p.m. we ventured back up to Hawk Hill under a persistent spell of optimism, but the fog was ever thickening and our time on the hill ran out.

Despite this unfortunate turn of events, the team made some notable, albeit unofficial sightings on and around the hill. We watched two Sharp-shinned Hawks wheel and dive on each other in and out of the mist, and a male American Kestrel perch on a fencepost near the top of the hill. The Common Raven pair, always in attendance, watched us in their glossy new coats. No strangers to fog and wind, who can say whether their spirits are dampened?

- Oliver Chesley

Dayleaders: Michaela Figari, Holly Thomas

Count Team: Linda Sudduth, Yvette MacDonald, Sonja Raub, Courtney Buechert, Nick Yatsko, Laura Echávez, Oliver Chesley

Total Sightings: 0
Hours Counted: 0
HPH: 0
Total Species: 0

Our Thursday 1 team enjoyed a beautiful day on Hawk Hill, filled with mostly blue skies, visiting day leaders and volunteers from other teams, balmy temperatures with mild-moderate winds mostly from the northwest, and most importantly- an abundance of raptors! We saw a bounty of the usual suspects- Cooper's, Sharp-shinned and Red-tailed Hawks, flying both high above and down below the hill. Some falcons decided to make appearances as well, such as a few Peregrines, American Kestrels and two Merlins. Around 12:30 this afternoon, a beautiful hawk with long, tapered wings and a white tail flew almost a full 360 degrees around Hawk Hill, leaving hawkwatchers rubbing their eyes and doing double takes. It was a juvenile Ferruginous Hawk! As if sightings for the day couldn't get any better, a White-tailed Kite was also spotted flying relatively close to the west quadrant, giving onlookers a clear view of itself from all angles. Finally, a dark morph juvenile Ferruginous Hawk was seen flying from the north quadrant, making its way along Slacker Ridge and ultimately kettling with a few Red-tails over Angel Island.

Our team left feeling rejuvenated from our exciting day, sweetened by the fact that this was our first opportunity to HawkWatch together due to persistent fog on all our previous days!

-Clare SantaColoma

Dayleader: John Davis

Count Team: Bob Blumberg, Susan Greef, Patricia Contaxis, Arden Bucklin-Sporer, Krista Fanucchi, Clare SantaColoma, Keith Gress, Gretchen Zantzinger, Wing Ng, Holly Thomas

Total Sightings: 401
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 80.2
Total Species: 13

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 91
Osprey: 4
White-tailed Kite: 3
Northern Harrier: 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 93
Cooper's Hawk: 68
Red-shouldered Hawk: 8
Broad-winged Hawk: 3
Red-tailed Hawk: 101
Ferruginous Hawk: 2
American Kestrel: 5
Merlin: 2
Peregrine Falcon: 4

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 13
Buteo: 1
Total unidentified: 14

We've got birds folks! Lots of great activity today up on Hawk Hill for Wednesday 1 team. Unlike yesterday's fog-in day, our day was greeted with clear skies and warm air. We quickly got to starting our count with a few raptors passing by in the morning, but by noon, boy, the sky was booming with birds of all types! At one point, we were able to pick out a Red-shouldered Hawk, a Northern Harrier, a Red-tailed Hawk, and our first Golden Eagle all in the same line of view. Some other noteworthy action from the day was when a banded juvenile Red-tailed Hawk stooped right in front of the Hawkwatchers and displayed a very tasty-looking snake, along with some in-flight Peregrine battles with Mt. Tamalpais in the backdrop. Toward the end of our day, we lucked out and saw a White-tailed Kite pass by underneath Golden Gate Bridge headed past Kirby Cove!

Along with great birds, we were also visited by some amazing groups up on the hill who heard GGRO talks about raptors and the key fieldmarks to identify them. It's always great to see people who want to learn more and share an appreciation for the raptors that fill the local skies. Thanks to the Marin Audubon Society, the University of San Francisco Ornithology class, and the Yale Blue Green Alumni Association for joining us and spending time with us on Hawk Hill!

- Juan Esparza

Dayleader: Gretchen Zantzinger

Count Team: Conner Cimmiyotti, Joan Duffield, Kimberlie Moutoux, Wing Ng, John Davis, Allen Fish, Juan Esparza

Total Sightings: 377
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 75.2
Total Species: 13

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 143
Osprey: 5
White-tailed Kite: 1
Northern Harrier: 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 63
Cooper's Hawk: 41
Red-shouldered Hawk: 15
Broad-winged Hawk: 2
Red-tailed Hawk: 81
Golden Eagle: 1
American Kestrel: 2
Merlin: 1
Peregrine Falcon: 4

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 13
Buteo: 2
Raptor: 2
Total unidentified: 17

Another strange weather day up on Hawk Hill! The Tuesday 1 team decided to conduct our morning meeting and educational presentation to volunteers up on the hill, despite the ever-present fog surrounding us. A photographer was snapping shots of Hawkwatchers in action alongside a Media & Communications Specialist at the GGNPC to capture "A Day in the Life of a GGRO Hawkwatcher." We had to officially call off the count at 1 p.m. due to the fog, but most of the Hawkwatchers stayed around just in case it cleared up--which it did (for a bit)! We caught a flurry of accipiters between the clouds, as well as Red-tailed Hawks and Turkey Vultures here and there! The Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy staff from Park Projects, Conservation & Community Science, and Youth Programs also happened to be visiting the hill to share updates on various projects and learn more about GGRO. We were lucky enough to have a recently banded adult Red-tailed Hawk released from the Wingspan platform for all to see. Glad we were able to still have some excitement on another fogged-out day!

Dayleaders: Mary Kenney, Andy Bradshaw

Count Team: Chris Tarr, Jody Newman, Rich Eliason, Woody Woodbury, Paula Moser, Carmen DeLeon, Clare SantaColoma, Isabella Plummer


Total Sightings: 0
Hours Counted: 0
HPH: 0
Total Species: 0

Peculiar days are upon us, with today being no exception. All of you who follow our blog are probably well-acquainted with our Hawkwatch trends, and based on our data we expect flurries of raptors (particularly accipiters) in the coming days! Yet today caught us off guard with how eerily slow it was. It was as though we were back at the start of the season when the migration had just begun. Fortunately, we did have crystal clear skies and lovely weather all around as we counted the few raptors that came by.

Winds began to pick up around noon, and it was around then we were graced with an uncommon sighting of a White-tailed Kite! Throughout the day we saw groups of Turkey Vultures and just a few accipiters, with only one Cooper's Hawk sighting. Our team today was vigilant in finding raptors, ready for the droves of raptors to pass by us. Until next time!

- Juan Esparza

Dayleader: Deborah Crooks

Count Team: Linda Schneider, Denise Peck, Keith Gress, Wade Eakle, Mary Malec, Krista Fanucchi, Juan Esparza

Total Sightings: 147
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 29.4
Total Species: 7

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 82
Osprey: 1
White-tailed Kite: 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 14
Cooper's Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 44
Peregrine Falcon: 1

Unidentified...
Buteo: 3
Total unidentified: 3

Today's numbers may not have been as flashy as the last few days, but the Sunday 2 team still managed to pick up a few exciting sightings! Early on, we witnessed the aerial agility of a Peregrine Falcon as it dove on a flock of Band-tailed Pigeons. We later got a close view of a Peregrine heckling a Turkey Vulture and Cooper's Hawk. Today was also the first day we had a greater number of Cooper's Hawks than Sharp-shinned Hawks, but we'll see if this trend continues. The day started out with minimal wind from the west and good visibility all around, despite some lingering haze. Temperatures rose from low 60's to low 70's by the end of the day. Despite less activity in the sky, we had quite a few human visitors to the hill. We were happy to have birded alongside folks from the Monterey Audubon Society, Sonoma County Feminist Bird Club, and College of Marin. Happy to see so many people excited about raptor migration today!

-Isabella Plummer

Dayleaders: Ken Wilson, Becky Olsen

Count Team: Carol Weinstein, Ana Olivar, Kinley Renger, Cody Levin, Krista Fanucchi, Isabella Plummer


Total Sightings: 294
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 58.8
Total Species: 9

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 86
Osprey: 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 43
Cooper's Hawk: 53
Red-shouldered Hawk: 4
Broad-winged Hawk: 5
Red-tailed Hawk: 77
Merlin: 1
Peregrine Falcon: 4

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 10
Buteo: 1
Raptor: 8
Total unidentified: 19

The haze thinned somewhat today, and high clouds gave way to bright sunshine to reward our Saturday 2 team with a pleasant day of hawkwatching on the hill. Numbers were down a bit from the previous two days but still high, as were the birds. Hawks soared high on thermals, making it a great day to practice identification from great distances. Red-tailed Hawk and accipiter numbers are still high as we make our way through peak season, and a dark morph Broad-winged Hawk was courteous enough to give us some great looks as it passed slowly overhead.

The hill was also abuzz with visitors today, drawing birders from all over the area to witness the raptor migration. It was great to see a sense of community forming on the hill amongst fellow birders of various ages and backgrounds. Special thanks to our Saturday 2 team for being great representatives of GGRO!

- Oliver Chesley

Dayleaders: Jane Rudebusch, Jan Ambrosini

Count Team: Tim Stroshane, Maryrose Kulick, Erin Lacour, Brian Kemler, Mary Kenney, Laura Echávez, Carmen DeLeon, Oliver Chesley

Total Sightings: 444
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 88.8
Total Species: 10

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 82
Osprey: 2
Northern Harrier: 4
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 102
Cooper's Hawk: 72
Red-shouldered Hawk: 1
Broad-winged Hawk: 5
Red-tailed Hawk: 141
American Kestrel: 9
Peregrine Falcon: 5

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 18
Buteo: 3
Total unidentified: 21

Peak migration is here, folks, and the accipiters and Broad-winged Hawks have certainly gotten the memo! Due to questionable air quality this morning, our Friday 2 team decided to closely monitor particulate levels throughout the day and check in with our teammates while HawkWatching. Fortunately, the gentle southwesterly winds between 1-5 m.p.h. began to slowly push the smoky air out and increase visibility as the day progressed! The team was counting in a comfortable low-mid 60 degrees F with mostly blue skies. As we began setting up, accipiters and at least 14 Broad-winged Hawks were forming kettles and flying high overhead, prompting a sense of urgency to finish our morning meeting and start HawkWatching! To highlight a few, we formally recorded 296 accipiters, 52 Broadies, and 10 Red-shouldered Hawk sightings by the end of the day.

Friday 2 had a great day on the hill and we're so excited to see what the next cycle brings!

-Clare SantaColoma

Dayleaders: Libby Rouan, Courtney Buechert

Count Team: Tomas McKay, Nick Yatsko, Krista Fanucchi, Clare SantaColoma

Total Sightings: 657
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 131.4
Total Species: 9

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 85
Osprey: 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 165
Cooper's Hawk: 121
Red-shouldered Hawk: 10
Broad-winged Hawk: 52
Red-tailed Hawk: 199
American Kestrel: 9
Peregrine Falcon: 4

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 10
Buteo: 1
Total unidentified: 11

It was a very exciting day on Hawk Hill, with raptors coming through fast and furious all day long! On top of that, the sun (something of a rarity these past weeks!) was shining from the moment we arrived in the morning to the end of the day, accompanied by a light southerly breeze that rarely exceeded 10 miles per hour. Haze from the northern wildfires limited visibility slightly, but it remained fairly clear throughout the day, and temperatures were pleasant in the mid 60s.

Today was our highest count day so far, with 617 birds counted at a rate of 123.4 hawks per hour! It was also our highest count day for a number of species: Sharp-shinned Hawks, Cooper's Hawks, Red-tailed Hawks, Red-shouldered Hawks, Osprey, and Merlins all made great showings today. We had some great, close views of several American Kestrels and Merlins as they careened past the hill on their journeys south.

- Oliver Chesley

Dayleader: John Davis

Count Team: Jim Yampolsky, Pauline Yeckley, Lydia Bruno, Holly Thomas, Michaela Figari, Wing Ng, Laura Echávez, Oliver Chesley

Total Sightings: 617
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 123.4
Total Species: 11

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 60
Osprey: 7
Northern Harrier: 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 220
Cooper's Hawk: 86
Red-shouldered Hawk: 6
Broad-winged Hawk: 4
Red-tailed Hawk: 189
American Kestrel: 11
Merlin: 9
Peregrine Falcon: 2

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 14
Raptor: 7
Total unidentified: 21

Smoke from the northern fires continued to impact the air quality today, but not enough to ruin a wonderful hawkwatch day! Temperatures stayed in the mid to high 60's all day with winds between 3 to 7 miles per hour from the west. Visibility was poorer than usual due to the haze, but we still spotted plenty of birds. It was a falcon-filled day, with several sightings of female and male American Kestrels, adult Peregrine Falcons, and a few Merlins. We also had our highest count of the season for Broad-winged Hawks at 8 sightings. The Sharp-shinned Hawks outshined the Cooper's Hawks today, giving us several close passes to really check out those field marks. Looking forward to more exciting days like today!

- Isabella Plummer

Dayleader: Don Bartling

Count Team: Connor Cimmiyotti, Tom Luster, Wing Ng, Allen Fish, Isabella Plummer

Total Sightings: 324
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 64.8
Total Species: 10

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 38
Osprey: 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 91
Cooper's Hawk: 24
Red-shouldered Hawk: 3
Broad-winged Hawk: 8
Red-tailed Hawk: 123
American Kestrel: 12
Merlin: 4
Peregrine Falcon: 8

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 3
Buteo: 6
Raptor: 1
Total unidentified: 10

Migration is well and truly underway here at Hawk Hill! This morning the fog seemed reluctant to release its grasp on the top of the hill, but partway through our morning meeting it lifted to reveal scores of accipiters flying above and around us. The meeting took on a slightly frantic pace as our expectations for the day lifted suddenly along with the last of the fog, and we summited the hill to begin the count at 10:15 a.m.

Conditions were mild, with a breeze between 7 and 12 mph from the west, and temperatures warming from 59 degrees to 69 degrees as the sun shone through a thin veil of clouds. Unfortunately, the team quickly realized that we were facing into a different, though no less detrimental atmospheric condition - smoke. We counted until 2 p.m., when the decision was made to end the day due to high AQI levels.

Nevertheless, it was a busy day on the hill with 325 total sightings at a rate of 81.3 hawks per hour. Almost half of the count today was Sharp-shinned Hawks, often appearing in the sky in small groups along with their larger cousin the Cooper's Hawk. Other highlights included 7 Merlins and a dark morph Broad-winged Hawk! Exciting to see the migration accelerating to full swing, and hopefully the haze won't stick around for long.

- Oliver Chesley

Dayleaders: Horacio Mena, Pat Bacchetti

Count Team: Dan Foldes, Maureen Grabowski, Dennis Davison, Mary Kenney, Oliver Chesley, Juan Esparza

Total Sightings: 325
Hours Counted: 4
HPH: 81.3
Total Species: 10

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 43
Northern Harrier: 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 152
Cooper's Hawk: 47
Red-shouldered Hawk: 1
Broad-winged Hawk: 6
Red-tailed Hawk: 54
American Kestrel: 3
Merlin: 7
Peregrine Falcon: 3

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 3
Raptor: 5
Total unidentified: 8

After a week of fog-outs, the Monday 2 team was lucky enough to be treated with good weather on Hawk Hill today. We started out with moderate visibility and lots of cloud cover. Temperatures were around 63 degrees and winds were between three to seven miles per hour from the south. As the day progressed, the skies cleared up with temperatures getting to 66 degrees and winds up to 15 miles per hour from the west. We even had a look at the Farallon Islands for a bit!

The accipiters were the stars of the show today, with a total of 85 Sharp-shinned Hawks and 61 Cooper's Hawks. Other notable sightings include some Northern Harriers, a Merlin, a couple Broad-winged Hawks, and one Monarch Butterfly. Today marks the most species seen in one day with 11 species at a rate of 59 hawks per hour. It seems like the chaos of migration has finally commenced!

-Isabella Plummer

Dayleaders: James McDermott, Linda Schneider

Count Team: Deborah Crooks, Peter Sapienza, Denise Peck, Jared Westbrook, Laura Echávez, Isabella Plummer

Total Sightings: 295
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 59
Total Species: 11

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 40
Osprey: 1
Northern Harrier: 5
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 85
Cooper's Hawk: 61
Red-shouldered Hawk: 3
Broad-winged Hawk: 2
Red-tailed Hawk: 71
American Kestrel: 6
Merlin: 2
Peregrine Falcon: 4

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 14
Raptor: 1
Total unidentified: 15

Have you noticed how obsessive birders can be about the weather yet? Specifically Hawkwatchers. For the sixth consecutive day, our hearts have been played with by the fog. All hope of a clear morning for counting was diminished upon turning the bend onto Conzelman Road and seeing the fog, thick like custard, rolling slowly through the hill. It was not as cold as other days though! Seeing as though we would not be able to count, we decided to change the usual pace for foggy days and drove down to the Gerbode Valley Trailhead.

During our meeting, we were pleasantly surprised by a piercing howl from a coyote on the nearby ridge, holding out a beautiful tone. We were also able to spot a few raptors flying by. By the end of it, the skies seemed to hold out some hope for us as the blue of the sky began to peak and say hello. We then decided to go back to Hawk Hill to see what the conditions were and if the fog still remained, which it did. Fortunately, we saw lots from the parking lot looking down to Kirby Cove! Many Sharp-shinned Hawks flew past, a few American Kestrels, and a Peregrine Falcon was spotted just over the water. Just after we called our day, we saw an adult Red-tailed Hawk swooping and gliding while hunting down a couple of Northern Flickers!

The one takeaway we all took from today is that even on these dense foggy days, there are still many great things to observe and experience on the hill. With that, whatever weather the next day brings us, we're ready for it.

- Juan Esparza

Dayleader: Rod Santos

Count Team: Laura Coatney, Alexandra Cox, Parker Holzman Smith, Mona Broukhim, Michaela Figari, Laura Echávez, Juan Esparza

Total Sightings: 0
Hours Counted: 0
HPH: 0
Total Species: 0

It has become clear that despite our HawkWatcher's wishful thinking and positive spirit, Karl the Fog does what he pleases. The Saturday 1 team arrived at our usual meeting place right below Hawk Hill, eager to begin a day filled with blue skies and raptors flying left, right, and overhead! But alas, the fog thwarted our ambitions yet again. The team headed down to the old Marin Headlands visitor center for our morning meeting, followed by an unhurried birdwalk around Rodeo Lagoon, and made our way back up to Hawk Hill for lunch. While snacking and enjoying each other's company around the new wingspan display on the hill, we decided to make the final call that official HawkWatching was not in the cards for today. However, we did see some accipiter activity before leaving which afforded us the chance to leisurely work through some Sharp-shinned vs. Cooper's Hawk identification skills!

The Saturday 1 team is looking forward to our time together next cycle, where we will hopefully have an exciting peak migration day of HawkWatching!

-Clare SantaColoma

Dayleaders: Brian O'Laughlin, Mary Malec

Count Team: JJ Harris, Jeff Boissier, Melissa Hero, Rina Kor, Carole Garrett, Krista Fanucchi, Clare SantaColoma

Wingspan: Carmen DeLeon

Total Sightings: 0
Hours Counted: 0
HPH: 0
Total Species: 0

Today continued our ongoing streak of foggy days, each bearing a striking resemblance to the last. It is difficult to say for sure, but fewer days have been as foggy as it was this morning, with visibility extending barely 100 feet in any direction. The top of the hill was shrouded even from the parking lot, and the only sign of bird life was that of a Wrentit call piercing the mist.

Once the team was assembled, we descended to the lagoon for our morning meeting, where at least we could see each other clearly. We spent a pleasant morning strolling to the beach, perusing the groups of Brown Pelicans and Heermann's Gulls for more exotic fare, and then making our way back along Rodeo Lagoon and up the Miwok Trail before returning for lunch. Always nice to come together, even when the weather disappoints. One of these days the sky will open up and it will be birds, birds, birds, as far as the eye can see! Until then, we remind ourselves - that day could be tomorrow. There is beauty in unpredictability.

- Oliver Chesley

Dayleaders: Michaela Figari, Holly Thomas

Count Team: Laura Thomas, Linda Sudduth, Yvette MacDonald, Sonja Raub, Courtney Buechert, Nick Yatsko, Laura Echávez, Oliver Chesley

Total Sightings: 0
Hours Counted: 0
HPH: 0
Total Species: 0

Our Thursday 2 team arrived at the Hawk Hill parking lot this morning carrying the usual- binoculars and bright spirits! But alas, our good friend, Karl had other plans. For the third cycle in a row, dense fog around Hawk Hill has inhibited our enthusiastic counters from doing what they do best- counting hawks! Instead, we spent the day conducting our morning meeting, giving an educational presentation to the volunteers, a brief bird-walk around Rodeo Lagoon, and repeatedly checking Karl's whereabouts on the hill. We ultimately made the final call around 1 p.m. but are keeping our hopes high for the next cycle!

-Clare SantaColoma

Dayleader: John Davis

Count Team: Bob Blumberg, Susan Greef, Patricia Contaxis, Mitch Green, Krista Fanucchi, Allen Fish, Clare SantaColoma

Total Sightings: 0
Hours Counted: 0
HPH: 0
Total Species: 0

Some of the better parts of our morning routine before beginning Hawkwatch is when we're driving up Conzelman Road and get to glimpse the beloved Hawk Hill from below. Although like the last few days, a thicket of dense fog has been living on the hill, thus thwarting our efforts to count raptors. You might even argue that it was the thickest amount of fog seen yet on the hill. That did not stop Wednesday 1 team from coming out and making the most out of the day! The team met around the relief map of the Marin Headlands where we analyzed and boggled our minds with the conception of landmarks and topography in relation to Hawk Hill. After many baffling revelations and amazement of our local geography, we comforted ourselves with a stroll around the lagoon, looking for any feathered animal through the lens of our bird watching instruments. We spotted some of the local birds, like Western Bluebirds, Common Yellowthroat, Hairy Woodpecker, Red-necked Phalaropes, and a few others. We were also able to glimpse a few Red-tailed Hawks and Cooper's Hawks in the far distance northeast of us enjoying their time in the fog. We ended the day happy to have seen some birds, and definitely excited for the next opportunity to be able to count raptors from Hawk Hill.

- Juan Esparza

Dayleader: Jon Altemus

Count Team: Jan Ambrosini, Connor Cimmiyotti, Joan Duffield, Wing Ng, John Davis, Tim Stroshane, Juan Esparza

Total Sightings: 0
Hours Counted: 0
HPH: 0
Total Species: 0

After two cycles of good visibility and warm weather gracing our Tuesday 2 team, it looks like our luck may have run out (leaving dense fog in its wake). In the spirit of optimism, we conducted our morning meeting and educational presentation at the old Marin Headlands Visitor Center after meeting in the Hawk Hill parking lot as usual. Following a brief bird-walk around Rodeo Lagoon, we moseyed back up to the parking lot and had our lunch nearby, keeping an eye on the fog surrounding the hill. Unfortunately, by 1 p.m. the fog had only gotten worse and we decided to call it for the day. Despite not being able to count, we did get a few quick glimpses of a Cooper's Hawk fly by during lunch!

We're looking forward to our next day out together during peak migration!

-Clare SantaColoma

Dayleaders: Mary Kenney, Andy Bradshaw

Count Team: Chris Tarr, Jody Newman, Rich Eliason, Woody Woodbury, Paula Moser, Carmen DeLeon, Clare SantaColoma, Isabella Plummer

Total Sightings: 0
Hours Counted: 0
HPH: 0
Total Species: 0

Clear skies and a crisp breeze greeted the Monday 1 team, giving us all a sense that it would be a great day for counting birds (but honestly, every day is a good day for counting). The hawkwatch team began at 10 a.m. with appearances of juvenile Red-tailed Hawks and Turkey Vultures slowly making their way around the hill. The number of birds passing through increased as the day progressed and, oh boy, there were many! Kettles of Redtails would populate the sky intermittently and several American Kestrels got up close and personal with Hawk Hill. We even had a few Sharp-shinned Hawks come out of nowhere to surprise us with their presence. Temperatures were around a balmy 62 degrees, though by early afternoon chilly winds picked up enough to make the team layer up with warmer clothing. Today was also a special day as we celebrated the late George Eade, an amazing hawkwatcher and friend to many here at GGRO. Friends gathered to share memories, laugh, and of course, look to the skies in search of birds. It was a splendid time having many hawkwatchers join us today in pursuit of continuing our research and celebrating our friend George.
We wish the best of luck to tomorrow's team in counting and in good weather!
--Juan Esparza
Dayleader: Deborah Crooks
Count Team: Denise Peck, Keith Gress, Wade Eakle, Mary Malec, Krista Fanucchi, Juan Esparza


Total Sightings: 238
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 47.6
Total Species: 10

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 38
Osprey: 5
Northern Harrier: 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 5
Cooper's Hawk: 12
Red-shouldered Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 158
American Kestrel: 11
Merlin: 1
Peregrine Falcon: 1

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 1
Buteo: 1
Falcon: 1
Total unidentified: 3

Another fickle fog day wasn't going to deter the Sunday 2 team from giving it a go on Hawk Hill--albeit after a late start. We began the count at noon with little visibility in any direction and 3-7 mph winds from the west, but it soon cleared up enough to get intermittent views of Mt. Diablo. Temperatures stayed roughly in the mid-60's all day with the winds picking up to 15 mph by the 2 o'clock hour. Although our average hawk sightings per hour was only 25.7, we were able to spot three Northern Harriers, two Red-shouldered Hawks, and a Prairie Falcon kiting near Slacker Ridge. We also caught some views of one of the recently released Turkey Vultures but couldn't get its tag number. Good luck to Monday 1's team tomorrow!

--Isabella Plummer

Dayleaders: Becky Olsen, Ken Wilson

Count Team: Carol Weinstein, Maggie Montenegro, Kinley Renger, Cody Levin, Allen Fish, Isabella Plummer

Total Sightings: 77
Hours Counted: 3
HPH: 25.7
Total Species: 7

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 14
Northern Harrier: 3
Cooper's Hawk: 7
Red-shouldered Hawk: 2
Red-tailed Hawk: 46
American Kestrel: 2
Prairie Falcon: 1

Unidentified...
Buteo: 2
Total unidentified: 2

The fog couldn't quite make up its mind today, but the team counted valiantly through the ever-changing conditions. Undeterred by intermittent visibility and chilly gusts from the west, we started counting just after 11:30 a.m., when the fog showed signs of lifting. For most of the day we had great views of Mt. Diablo to the east, the air clear enough to discern the texture of its contours, while to the west the wind was consistently pushing fog up to block our view. Nevertheless, we were rewarded with good views of a pair of American Kestrels, one Osprey that passed close by, and one Red-shouldered Hawk. We were also paid a visit by Turkey Vulture #476, a juvenile that was released locally in the Headlands this week! It appeared to be tagging along behind an adult, learning how to be a vulture from the best. Great to see that #476 is doing well! Special thanks to the Roving Ranger van and our team on the wingspan platform for providing educational outreach today. We had lots of happy visitors to the hill on this beautiful weekend day.

- Oliver Chesley

Dayleaders: Jane Rudebusch, Jan Ambrosini

Count Team: Jennifer Miller, Tim Stroshane, Maryrose Kulick, Brian Kemler, Laura Echávez, Carmen DeLeon, Oliver Chesley

Total Sightings: 70
Hours Counted: 3.5
HPH: 20
Total Species: 6

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 39
Osprey: 1
Cooper's Hawk: 4
Red-shouldered Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 21
American Kestrel: 3

Unidentified...
Raptor: 1
Total unidentified: 1

Our team promptly ascended the hill this morning around 9:15 a.m. where we were welcomed by a mystical inversion layer of fog beneath us and clear blue skies above. Landmarks and ridgelines started to slowly appear as the fog cleared after our morning meeting at 10:30 a.m., which we perceived as a sign to start counting! Temperatures were comfortable throughout the day, ranging from the low-60's to mid 70's degrees F, with wind picking up in the afternoon with gusts between 8-12 m.p.h. Some raptor highlights included three female American Kestrels flying with each other, a Peregrine Falcon swooping right past the hill, and the season's first Merlin! Friday 2 was happy to get up there for the first time this season, and we're certainly looking forward to our next time out together during peak migration!

- Clare SantaColoma

Dayleader: Libby Rouan, Courtney Buechert

Count Team: Will Ludan, Tomas McKay, Chris Cruz, Paulette Sherry, Nick Yatsko

Total Sightings: 170
Hours Counted: 4
HPH: 42.5
Total Species: 8

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 35
Osprey: 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 1
Cooper's Hawk: 8
Red-tailed Hawk: 113
American Kestrel: 4
Merlin: 1
Peregrine Falcon: 2

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 3
Buteo: 2
Total unidentified: 5

Our Thursday 2 team managed to eke out a full day of hawkwatching despite an intermittent fog that threatened to shut us down early. Nevertheless, it was a great day. Upon cresting the hill (but before we began counting!) we were met with a Northern Harrier that gave us some great looks as it wheeled through the breezy air and perched briefly in a nearby cypress tree. We started the count at 11 a.m. in partly foggy conditions, with winds between 10-15 mph from the west. The fog continued to blow in and out through the day, giving us brief clear views before moving back in and obscuring the landscape. Fortunately, the cloud layer stayed just at or above Hawk Hill, so we were able to maintain fairly consistent visibility of the slopes below. Highlights included a beautiful Red-shouldered Hawk that passed over the hill, and a locally banded Red-tailed Hawk hunting in the vicinity. If you ever recover a band or can clearly read a color-band on a bird, you can report the sighting at www.reportband.gov!

--Oliver Chesley

Dayleader: Christine Cariño

Count Team: Jim Yampolsky, John Davis, Pauline Yeckley, Susan Greef, Laura Echávez, Oliver Chesley

Total Sightings: 77
Hours Counted: 4
HPH: 19.3
Total Species: 4

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 29
Cooper's Hawk: 7
Red-shouldered Hawk: 2
Red-tailed Hawk: 38

Unidentified...
Raptor: 1
Total unidentified: 1

After a few days of thick fog, the sun decided to come out for the Wednesday 2 team! We started our count promptly at 10 a.m. with temperatures around 63 degrees and a light wind out of the southwest. The fog was creeping around, obscuring views of Mt. Tam and the East Bay, but visibility was still good enough to spot a few Red-tailed Hawks to start off the day. As the day got sunnier, the fog started dissipating and our temperatures rose to 70 degrees with winds between 8-12 mph. We were treated with a few close encounters of a Cooper's Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, and a last-minute Red-shouldered Hawk that gave the team a chance to pick out some good fieldmarks. Our other notable sighting was that of a distant juvenile Peregrine Falcon harassing a group of Redtails. Hopefully today's luck will continue for tomorrow's team!

--Isabella Plummer

Dayleaders: Don Bartling, Catherine Elliot

Count Team: Stefanie Arthur, Connor Cimmiyotti, Tom Luster, Patti Lessard, Wing Ng, Allen Fish, Isabella Plummer

Total Sightings: 167
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 33.4
Total Species: 6

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 43
Cooper's Hawk: 7
Red-shouldered Hawk: 1
Broad-winged Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 111
Peregrine Falcon: 1

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 1
Raptor: 2
Total unidentified: 3

The Tuesday 2 team met on the hill under thick fog, and after finishing our greetings opted to hold the morning meeting at the old visitor center next to the lagoon. The wonderfully detailed topographic relief map of the Headlands by the visitor center proved to be a productive distraction, as we gathered around while Allen gave an impromptu lesson on wind directions and common raptor flight paths. After a brief look at the lagoon, we ventured back up to Hawk Hill under a spell of meteorological optimism and started our count close to 12:30 p.m. The fog ebbed and flowed, with moments of tantalizing brightness shining through and the sky opening intermittently to the east with views as far as Mt. Diablo. But as time wore on, the fog seemed to be winning its battle with the sun, and we called the count at 2 p.m. after seeing only a lone Turkey Vulture and a handful of juvenile Red-tailed Hawks. We'll close the book on this foggy day with a haiku by intern Juan Esparza:

A blanket of fog
Thick like ice cream with sprinkles
Hiding birds in sky

-- Oliver Chesley

Dayleaders: Horacio Mena, Pat Bacchetti

Count team: Dan Foldes, Woody Woodbury, Maureen Grabowski, Dennis Davison, Mary Kenney, Allen Fish, Oliver Chesley, Juan Esparza

Total Sightings: 9
Hours Counted: 1.5
HPH: 6
Total Species: 2

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 7

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 1
Total unidentified: 1

Fog continues to put a wrench in our Hawkwatching plans, but the Monday 2 team still enjoyed a nice birding walk around Rodeo Lagoon this morning. We spotted the usual Heermann's Gulls, Brown Pelicans, Mallards, and some Red-necked Phalaropes over the water, with some Turkey Vultures and one Red-tailed Hawk also making appearances. We took one more peek at Hawk Hill after finishing our walk, hoping the fog had cleared, but alas, we had to call it a day. Thanks to all the volunteers for keeping their sunny dispositions even on such a cloudy day!

-- Isabella Plummer

Dayleaders: James McDermott, Linda Schneider

Count Team: Deborah Crooks, Peter Sapienza, Denise Peck, Jared Westbrook, Laura Echávez, Isabella Plummer

Total Sightings: 0
Hours Counted: 0
HPH: 0
Total Species: 0

Along the morning commute to Hawk Hill, one could tell that our Hawkwatching day would be inundated with fog. It appeared to be thinning out at our regular start time, but dense enough to thwart our attempts to spot migrating raptors. The team decided to head into the valley where we went on a short excursion around the lagoon starting from the old Marin Headlands Visitor Center. We saw the usual flock of birds that stop by for a swim, like Brown Pelicans, Heermann's Gulls, a few Red-necked Phalaropes, and a Great Egret. We stopped by for a quick lunch at the picnic tables by the lagoon, where we shared some very delicious chocolate and had a few moments of team bonding. It was then that we saw our first raptor of the day! A juvenile Red-tailed Hawk flapped quite vigorously as it battled to gain height. With a few hopeful glimpses of the sky to trudge us on, we ultimately decided to not go forth with a counting day and instead ended the day by looping back the way we started. The Sunday 1 team is optimistic and looking forward to the next time on Hawk Hill!

- Juan Esparza

Dayleaders: Sam Hontalas, Rod Santos

Count Team: Laura Coatney, Melissa Kohner, Alexandra Cox, Mona Broukhim, Laura Echávez, Juan Esparza

Total Sightings: 0
Hours Counted: 0
HPH: 0
Total Species: 0

Our Saturday 1 team happily welcomed some warm weather and great visibility today, especially after the last couple of foggy, wet days! We headed straight up the hill this morning and kept our daily meeting short so that HawkWatching could start promptly at 10 a.m. Our team enjoyed a mild day with temperatures in the high 60s - low 70s degrees F, accompanied by south to southeast winds less than 5 m.p.h., and mostly clear skies above and below our position on the hill. Despite these great weather conditions for our team, today's raptor sightings were on the lower side compared to earlier this week. But we didn't let that get us down! In the middle of the afternoon, two Peregrine Falcons dove and swooped around us near and far, allowing the team to get a great view of these impressive birds from various angles. It was also noted that migration has commenced, albeit in currently slower numbers, made clear by the many juvenile Red-tailed Hawks flying with purpose high overhead (in the 5th quadrant) from the north!

- Clare SantaColoma

Dayleaders: Brian O'Laughlin, Mary Malec

Count Team: JJ Harris, Melissa Hero, Rina Kor, Carmen DeLeon, Krista Fanucchi, Clare SantaColoma, Carole Garrett

Total Sightings: 130
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 26
Total Species: 6

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 69
Osprey: 2
Northern Harrier: 1
Cooper's Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 51
Peregrine Falcon: 3

Unidentified...
Buteo: 1
Raptor: 2
Total unidentified: 3

The month of "Fogust" might be over, but the weather hasn't gotten the memo yet! Today's team met on the hill in a dense, moisture-laden fog, with our faithful friends the Ravens keeping a close watch over the morning meeting. After wrapping up, and with the prospects for hawkwatching doubtful, we opted to descend the hill for a birding walk around the lagoon. Conditions were great - not too breezy, not too cold, and the moisture freshened up the landscape just enough. On the lagoon today we saw a mixed flock of primarily Heermann's Gulls and Brown Pelicans calling and splashing up a ruckus, as well as two Red-necked Phalaropes along the edge of the lagoon. Three River Otters, always a delight, were also spotted swimming and diving together. After sharing lunch by the old visitor center and catching the last hummingbirds and nuthatches of the morning, our Friday 1 team bid each other farewell in good spirits.

- Oliver Chesley

Dayleaders: Michaela Figari, Holly Thomas

Count Team: Linda Sudduth, Sonja Raub, Courtney Buechert, Nick Yatsko, Laura Echávez, Oliver Chesley

Total Sightings: 0
Hours Counted: 0
HPH: 0
Total Species: 0

In sharp contrast to the past two day's unseasonably warm weather, our Thursday 1 team was met with dense fog and cooler temperatures surrounding Hawk Hill this morning. Fortunately, the AQI had improved from yesterday and didn't play a significant role in determining the safety of conducting our daily count! Upon congregating in the Hawk Hill parking lot as per usual and looking at what we could (or couldn't!) see, we decided to head over to the old Marin Headlands visitor center adjacent to Rodeo Lagoon for our morning meeting. A brief walk on the Lagoon Trail provided us with sightings of Phalaropes, Brown Pelicans, Cormorants, Pygmy Nuthatches and even a Red-tailed Hawk! Our team headed up Conzelman Road one last time in hopes the fog had cleared, and quickly decided to enjoy lunch together while we commiserated over getting fogged out two cycles in a row. As always, the silver lining to being thwarted by fog is the time it gives everyone to re-connect and get to know one another!

- Clare SantaColoma

Dayleaders: Christine Carino, John Davis

Count Team: Bob Blumberg, Susan Greef, Patricia Contaxis, Arden Bucklin-Sporer, Mitch Green, Krista Fanucchi, Clare SantaColoma

Total Sightings: 0
Hours Counted: 0
HPH: 0
Total Species: 0

Before making our appearance on Hawk Hill today, we knew we were in for a toasty, warm day. The skies were clear of any hint of clouds, but there was a definite haze surrounding us and the horizon, giving an orange tinge to the light in the early morning. Nonetheless, we were ready and prepared with all the appropriate layers of sunblock and liters of water to keep us going through the day. Our count started at 10 a.m. with an Osprey off the bat ready to be counted. Throughout the day we had Turkey Vultures and Red-tailed Hawks flying near and far, specs of Red-shouldered Hawks flying over from the north, along with two Broad-winged Hawks dipping in and out of the horizon! Towards the end of our day, we were graced with the presence of a Northern Harrier fluttering quickly south and out of our view.

Looking forward to our next day with hopefully cool breezes to keep us company!

-- Juan Esparza, GGRO Intern

Dayleaders: Gretchen Zantzinger, Jon Altemus

Count Team: Jan Ambrosini, Connor Cimmiyotti, Kimberlie Moutoux, Wing Ng, Allen Fish, Juan Esparza

Total Sightings: 189
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 37.8
Total Species: 9

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 99
Osprey: 2
Northern Harrier: 1
Cooper's Hawk: 5
Red-shouldered Hawk: 2
Broad-winged Hawk: 2
Red-tailed Hawk: 72
American Kestrel: 3
Peregrine Falcon: 1

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 1
Buteo: 1
Total unidentified: 2

Our team lucked out today with a truly beautiful day from start to finish! We conducted our morning meeting on the hill under mostly clear blue skies with slight haze and fog, a comfortable 65 degrees F, and a mild breeze between 3-7 mph. Everyone was eager to get to their posts and start counting! Like yesterday, most of the birds counted throughout the day were in and around the north quadrant, but we also had clear textbook-like sightings from above and below as raptors circled the hill. Migration season is starting to pick up, with species such as Broad-winged Hawks, American Kestrels, Red-shouldered Hawks, and the first Prairie Falcon of the season spotted today! We also had the highest count of Redtails thus far this year, coming in at a whopping 123 hawks! To finish off the day, as we all said our goodbyes in the Hawk Hill parking lot a Northern Harrier waved us off, knowing they missed our count deadline by about 30 short minutes. It's worth noting that although the birds kept coming, the air temperatures gradually increased throughout the morning and afternoon, reaching a hot 80 degrees F. Temperatures are expected to be even warmer tomorrow, so HawkWatchers should plan on bringing appropriate food, water and sun-protection!

Our Tuesday 1 team is excited for the rest of the season, especially because the next time we all see each other will be closer to peak migration!

- Clare SantaColoma, GGRO Intern

Dayleaders: Mary Kenney, Andy Bradshaw

Count Team: Chriss Tarr, Jody Newman, Rich Eliason, Woody Woodbury, Paula Moser, Carmen DeLeon, Clare SantaColoma, Isabella Plummer

Total Sightings: 216
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 43.2
Total Species: 8

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 70
Osprey: 5
Cooper's Hawk: 3
Red-shouldered Hawk: 3
Broad-winged Hawk: 2
Red-tailed Hawk: 123
American Kestrel: 6
Prairie Falcon: 1

Unidentified...
Buteo: 3
Total unidentified: 3

Luck was on our side today! The early morning fog cleared up and the Monday 1 Hawkwatch team recorded the highest number of sightings and the highest species diversity for the season thus far! The count began at 10 a.m., with the team eager to get started. Temperatures remained around a balmy 72 degrees with a cool ocean breeze welcoming birds to the hill. Most of the action hovered around the north quadrant, where many feathered friends were spotted; American Kestrel, Osprey, and even an adult Bald Eagle surrounded by a kettle of Turkey Vultures!

Also need to make a special note that we officially counted the first two Broad-winged Hawks of the season! We're excited to see what the rest of the season has in store for us!

-- Juan Esparza, GGRO Intern

Dayleaders: Deborah Crooks

Count Team: Linda Schneider, Denise Peck, Keith Gress, Wade Eakle, Krista Fanucchi, Juan Esparza


Total Sightings: 149
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 29.8
Total Species: 8

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 54
Osprey: 1
Bald Eagle: 1
Cooper's Hawk: 5
Broad-winged Hawk: 2
Red-tailed Hawk: 77
American Kestrel: 1
Peregrine Falcon: 1

Unidentified...
Buteo: 2
Raptor: 5
Total unidentified: 7

It was 50/50 on whether today's fog would lift or thicken, but luckily, the fog mostly stayed over the ocean, accompanied by a slight haze in all directions. Our Sunday 2 team started the count at noon with winds from the northwest at 8-12 mph and a temperature of 69 degrees F. We had a flurry of activity to start, with notable sightings of an Osprey, a few close passes by Cooper's Hawks, and a light morph and dark morph Red-tailed Hawk flying side-by-side. The winds started to pick up around 2 p.m. with gusts as high as 20 mph, but the temperature stayed about the same at 70.8 degrees F. Raptor numbers slowed down after our first hour of counting, but we still managed to sight a pair of Kestrels, male and female, flying close to the hill and one Peregrine Falcon on the north tower of the bridge.

-- Isabella Plummer, GGRO Intern

Dayleaders: Becky Olsen, Ken Wilson

Count Team: Carol Weinstein, Ana Olivar, Maggie Montenegro, Kinley Renger, Cody Levin, Krista Fanucchi, Isabella Plummer

Total Sightings: 78
Hours Counted: 3
HPH: 26
Total Species: 6

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 23
Osprey: 1
Cooper's Hawk: 8
Red-tailed Hawk: 37
American Kestrel: 3
Peregrine Falcon: 1

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 1
Buteo: 3
Raptor: 1
Total unidentified: 5

Our Saturday 2 team's first day out on the hill was greeted this morning with typical "fogust" weather. A consistent breeze from the west blew the wispy fog up and over the crest of the hill, leaving little of the landscape visible. As the hawkwatch team met for introductions, the occasional Raven wheeled overhead, buffeted by the strong winds, and a small group of Band-tailed Pigeons careened across the gray sky. While the weather may not have improved today, at least we had plenty of time for questions, discussion, training, and good old friendly chatting. After the volunteer team left the hill at 1 p.m., staff members Laura, Carmen, and Oliver worked on improving the wingspan tapes located on the concrete platform just below the hilltop. Check it out the next time you head up to Hawk Hill!

-- Oliver Chesley

Dayleaders: Jane Rudebusch, Jan Ambrosini

Count Team: Jennifer Miller, Tim Stroshane, Maryrose Kulick, Erin Lacour, Brian Kemler, Laura Echávez, Carmen DeLeon, Oliver Chesley

Total Sightings: 0
Hours Counted: 0
HPH: 0
Total Species: 0

The weather has certainly been all across the board on Hawk Hill this week! With fog rolling in this morning while we conducted our morning meeting and beginning-of-the-season orientation, it seemed the level of visibility could go either way. Our team started the count at noon, feeling comfortable with an air temperature hovering around 60 degrees F and 10-13mph wind gusts. Low raptor counts for the first half of the day mirrored our low visibility, but when conditions began to clear during the second half of the day our raptor sightings increased as well! At about 1:45 p.m., the team ooh-ed and ah-ed as seven Red-tailed Hawks flew above and below us. Consisting of both adults and juveniles (light and dark morph), we were able to see the stark contrast between plumages in varying lighting, angles and directions. In what was hard not to anthropomorphize as a playful action, a light morph juvenile divebombed an adult and they both proceeded to continue flying together. We stopped our count at the scheduled 3 p.m. closing time and remarked on a great day well-spent together. Friday 2 is looking forward to the rest of the season together!

-- Clare SantaColoma, GGRO Intern

Dayleader: Libby Rouan, Courtney Buechert

Count Team: Will Ludan, Tomas McKay, Paulette Sherry, Nick Yatsko, Krista Fanucchi, Clare SantaColoma

Total Sightings: 61
Hours Counted: 3
HPH: 20.3
Total Species: 4

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 20
Osprey: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 38
Peregrine Falcon: 2

After yesterday's highs, we experienced a bit of weather whiplash on the hill today - strong gusts of westerly wind kept temperatures to a cool but pleasant 65 degrees F. Persistent fog crowned the hilltop, shielding us from the sun (but, unfortunately, also the birds). Optimism ran high as we started the count at 12 p.m., but unfortunately optimism alone was not enough to burn away the gray. Visibility improved intermittently enough to catch glimpses of the landscape below us, but the fog never quite lifted its veil entirely, and the team was rewarded with only a small handful of Red-tailed Hawks and Turkey Vultures as they appeared suddenly out of the fog before being enveloped again moments later. After an hour with no change in conditions and a mere 9 birds counted, we ended the day at 1 p.m.

-- Oliver Chesley, GGRO Intern

Dayleader: Christine Cariño

Count Team: Jim Yampolsky, John Davis, Pauline Yeckley, Patricia Contaxis, Lydia Bruno, Laura Echávez, Oliver Chesley

Total Sightings: 9
Hours Counted: 1
HPH: 9
Total Species: 2

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 7
Red-tailed Hawk: 2

It was a bit of a scorcher on Hawk Hill today, with temperatures ranging from 77-90 degrees F and little to no wind. At least the fog stayed away today, giving us beautiful views of Mount Diablo and, for a little while, the Farallon Islands. The birds also seemed to favor us today, with our sighting rate at an average of 27.5 sightings per hour. We spotted several distant kettles of Turkey Vultures and Red-tailed Hawks enjoying the thermals, but our most exciting bird of the day was a juvenile Bald Eagle--the first sighting of the season! Besides raptors, the sky was filled with the buzzing and twittering of dragonflies, butterflies, swifts, swallows, and even a small group of Purple Martins. We got an early start to the count at 10:30 a.m., but the heat was getting to us by the end of the day, and we called the count at 2:30 p.m.

-- Isabella Plummer, GGRO Intern

Dayleader: Don Bartling

Count Team: Stefanie Arthur, Connor Cimmiyotti, Tom Luster, Keith Gress, Wing Ng, Isabella Plummer, Allen Fish

Total Sightings: 110
Hours Counted: 4
HPH: 27.5
Total Species: 6

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 68
Osprey: 1
Bald Eagle: 1
Cooper's Hawk: 2
Red-tailed Hawk: 37
American Kestrel: 1

Well, this day may have amounted to one of the better days of hawkwatch so far! Crystal clear skies, not too warm (hovering around 70-78 degrees F) with just the right amount of 3-7 mph ocean breeze washing over our faces. Not only that, but we counted the most birds out of all the hawkwatch days thus far! Not that any of us are keeping track of course. Today's team was glowing, working in perfect, harmonized unison when calling out birds and identifying them quickly with much confidence. Highlights included a pair of Cooper's Hawks dancing through the sky, taking turns in hot pursuit, chasing one another. There was also the first White-tailed Kite sighting of the season. In total, the team counted 121 bird sightings! We kept an average of 34.6 sightings per hour, starting the count day at 11:30 a.m. and ending at 3 p.m. Though we are not at the peak of our season just yet, with more species and a higher volume of birds flying around, today was a good sign for what's to come as the weeks go by.

-- Juan Esparza & Oliver Chesley, GGRO Interns

Dayleaders: Horacio Mena, Pat Bacchetti

Count Team: Woody Woodbury, Maureen Grabowski, Dennis Davison, Mary Kenney, Carmen DeLeon, Oliver Chesley, Juan Esparza

Total Sightings: 121
Hours Counted: 3.5
HPH: 34.6
Total Species: 7

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 64
White-tailed Kite: 1
Cooper's Hawk: 7
Red-shouldered Hawk: 4
Red-tailed Hawk: 39
American Kestrel: 1
Peregrine Falcon: 1

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 1
Buteo: 3
Total unidentified: 4

Even though Hurricane Hilary is all the way in Southern California, Hawk Hill was not immune to her impacts today. We started our count at 11:45 a.m. with views of the Bay Bridge below the fog bank, but by noon we were completed socked in. Temperatures stayed around 63 degrees with southerly winds up to 22 mph and a surprising amount of humidity. Our only sighting for the day was a small flock of Band-tailed Pigeons that disappeared into the fog almost immediately after being spotted. With no sign of the fog lifting, Hawkwatch left the hill at 1 p.m. Hopefully tomorrow's crew will have better luck!

-- Isabella Plummer, GGRO intern

Dayleaders: Linda Schneider, James McDermott

Count Team: Roy Pisetsky, Deborah Crooks, Peter Sapienza, Denise Peck, Jared Westbrook, Isabella Plummer, Laura Echávez, Allen Fish

Total Sightings: 0
Hours Counted: 1
HPH: 0
Total Species: 0

Here at GGRO, not only are we good at talking about and counting birds, but we're also great at talking about the weather. For those of you who are curious about our ever-fluctuating weather patterns, it was an incredibly scorching day (at least that is what the general consensus was amongst today's hawkwatchers). We were at the mercy of the elements, hoping for a cool breeze from the ocean to wash over us and cool us off. Alas, even the wind that we have been getting all week did not make an appearance.



For the first day for Sunday's 1 team, we were thrown straight into what felt like the toughest day of the season so far, but handled it like champs! No heat can stop these hawkwatchers from counting. Not too many birds were out today, with a total of 36 birds being counted over 3.25 hours. Despite the heat, we were graced with the appearance of a dark morph juvenile Red-tailed Hawk! Not only that, but we also gathered around to spot and identify a juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk, where we were easily able to pick up on the translucent light crescents in it's wings. We are most definitely excited to start seeing more of our migrating friends to make an appearance, and ready for when they do!



- Juan Esparza



Dayleaders: Sam Hontalas, Rod Santos



Count Team: Laura Coatney, Melissa Kohner, Alexandra Cox, Parker Holzman Smith, Mona Broukhim, Laura Echavez, Juan Esparza

Total Sightings: 36
Hours Counted: 3.25
HPH: 11.1
Total Species: 5

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 21
Cooper's Hawk: 1
Red-shouldered Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 10
Peregrine Falcon: 1

Unidentified...
Buteo: 2
Total unidentified: 2

We had a great first Saturday 1! Unfortunately, the fog was at it again and our team was unable to conduct any official HawkWatching today despite our best efforts. However, this allowed for a longer foggy morning meeting filled with heartfelt introductions between new and old HawkWatchers! Staff also shared notes and updates regarding changes and reminders for the upcoming season, and our intern gave an educational presentation to volunteers. Aside from low visibility, the air was mostly warm with a mild, sustained wind throughout the morning, picking up in the afternoon. Saturday 1 is looking forward to another great season together and is excited to share our findings with you all!

-Clare SantaColoma

Dayleaders: Mary Malec, Brian O'Laughlin

Count team: Brian O'Laughlin, Carole Garrett, Jeff Boissier, JJ Harris, Mary Malec, Melissa Hero, Rina Kor, Krista Fanucchi, Carmen DeLeon, Clare SantaColoma

Total Sightings: 0
Hours Counted: 0
HPH: 0
Total Species: 0

The weather warmed a bit for us on this very first Friday of the season, after a mostly foggy week. A high cloud ceiling and a mild breeze started off our morning with good visibility in all directions, an auspicious sign for the day to come. And another sign of feathered favor - a pair of Common Ravens kindly attended our morning meeting, inching closer as we made our way through the agenda (to better hear Allen wax poetic about birds, no doubt). They remained our companions throughout the day and saw us off at the close. As the hours passed the temperature warmed, the clouds cleared, and the northwesterly wind picked up in gusts, occasionally removing hats from unsuspecting heads. The birds picked up as well, with Red-tailed Hawks at the forefront of the day's count. The team spotted 96 total birds, or a respectable 27.4 raptors per hour - great early-season numbers! We also had the pleasure of being joined on the hill by NPS GGNRA superintendent, David Smith, who arrived mid-day to meet the team and learn about birds with his young niece. Thanks for stopping by David! All in all, a wonderful day on the hill.

- Oliver Chesley

Dayleaders: Michaela Figari, Holly Thomas

Count team: Linda Sudduth, Yvette MacDonald, Sonja Raub, Courtney Buechert, Nick Yatsko, John Davis, Oliver Chesley, Laura Echávez, Allen Fish

Total Sightings: 96
Hours Counted: 3.5
HPH: 27.4
Total Species: 6

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 34
Osprey: 1
Cooper's Hawk: 4
Red-shouldered Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 51
Peregrine Falcon: 2

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 2
Buteo: 1
Total unidentified: 3

We had a great first Thursday 1 today, despite the fog inhibiting our team from actually leaving the Hawk Hill parking lot! The last few mornings this week have started off foggy but cleared up mid-morning/afternoon, so we were hopeful we'd be able to get up to the hill and start counting some raptors, but alas, the fog had other plans. However, this allowed our team to spend some quality time together! We were able to have a much needed, in-depth meeting about the upcoming season as well as an educational presentation to the volunteers given by our intern. Fortunately, whether the fog was present or not this week, we've lucked out with some warm weather! Everyone is stoked for the rest of the season and is excited to share more updates!

-Clare SantaColoma

Dayleaders: Christine Cariño, John Davis

Count team: Arden Bucklin-Sporer, Christine Cariño, John Davis, Mitchell Green, Patricia Contaxis, Robert Blumberg, Susan Greef, Krista Fanucchi, Clare SantaColoma

Total Sightings: 0
Hours Counted: 0
HPH: 0
Total Species: 0

Sun! Then some fog, but then some more sun! Then a thick blanket of fog bringing alongside gusts of chilly wind (up to 27 mph)! The weather was relentless today, playing with our hearts and soul. But our team today was not shaken! We were hopeful to spot some early migratory raptors for day one of the Wednesday season. Despite the variation of clear skies and dense fog, we were still able to spot out some common raptor species up on the hill. We were lucky that a few folks from the team brought up some cookies to warm up our souls as we scanned the skies for our friends. It was a slow day today with not too many raptors being seen. Overall we observed 9.5 birds per hour, with the majority of them being Turkey Vultures. A few Cooper's Hawks and Red-tailed Hawks were seen, along with the first sighting of a Sharp-shinned Hawk for the season!
Things are off to a slow start, but the buzz and excitement for the season is here and we are ready for all the raptors!
- Juan Esparza
Dayleaders: Gretchen Zantzinger, Jon Altemus
Count Team: Jan Ambrosini, Joan Duffield, Kimberlie Moutoux, Wing Ng, Juan Esparza, Allen Fish


Total Sightings: 38
Hours Counted: 4
HPH: 9.5
Total Species: 4

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 22
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 1
Cooper's Hawk: 3
Red-tailed Hawk: 11

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 1
Total unidentified: 1

Tuesday 1 - 8/15/23

We had a great day out on Hawk Hill during our first Tuesday 1 of the season! The morning started off foggy, and we conducted our morning meeting unsure if the sky would clear up or if we'd be sent down the hill early. Fortunately, the fog cleared as our meeting finished up around 11 a.m. and we were met with beautiful blue skies, ready to spot raptors! Our team was excited to be there and help train our two new interns, Clare and Isabella. They were trained on Dunkadoo and all aspects of conducting our formal Hawk Count up on the hill. There weren't many raptors to be had- overall we spotted many Turkey Vultures, a handful of Red-tailed Hawks (both juveniles and adults), and one juvenile male Cooper's Hawk as it rose above Hawk Hill. One of our Redtails was even a dark-morph juvenile which was exciting for everyone! At the very end of the day, an Osprey must have been able to sense we had just finished our count, because it flew gracefully past us at 3:13 p.m. The team felt warm throughout the day, with temperatures ranging from about 65-73 degrees and clear skies, despite consistent westerly and northerly winds with gusts up to nearly 30 mph.

The entire team is feeling invigorated after a beautiful day out on the hill and can't wait to see how the rest of the season unfolds!

-Clare SantaColoma, Carmen DeLeon and Isabella Plummer

Dayleaders: Mary Kenney, Andy Bradshaw

Count Team: Chris Tarr, Jody Newman, Rich Eliason, Woody Woodbury, Paula Moser, Carmen DeLeon, Clare SantaColoma, Isabella Plummer

Total Sightings: 74
Hours Counted: 4
HPH: 18.50
Total Species: 3

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 46
Cooper's Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 27

The first day of Hawkwatch season is upon us! A small but mighty team kicked off the season with quick reflexes to spot raptors soaring through the sky, weaving in and out of the fog. The sun joined us for the first hour of counting, but quickly retreated behind some clouds as the day progressed. Dense fog, brisk winds, and even a little bit of rain accompanied the hawkwatch team as we kept our eyes peeled for feathered friends.

Starting off this season's count, we observed 11.4 birds per hour! There were plenty of Turkey Vultures, a few close encounters with Red-tailed Hawks, and a Cooper's Hawk that swiftly flew by and disappeared in the fog below the Golden Gate Bridge. At one point, a Northern Harrier darted over our heads; even a Peregrine Falcon made an appearance on this eventful first day of counting! Looking forward to next time...

Dayleaders: Deborah Crooks

Count Team: Linda Schneider, Denise Peck, Keith Gress, Wade Eakle, Krista Fanucchi, Juan Esparza, Allen Fish

Total Sightings: 40
Hours Counted: 3.5
HPH: 11.43
Total Species: 7

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 23
Osprey: 2
Northern Harrier: 1
Cooper's Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 9
American Kestrel: 1
Peregrine Falcon: 1

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 1
Raptor: 1
Total unidentified: 2

Sunshine, beautiful array of distant clouds, blue skies... but wait, wasn't today supposed to rain? We thought so, but the 20-mph S gusts kept the storm at bay to the north of the Headlands.

Even with a late start, we managed to count the tail end of the migrating Turkey Vultures and Redtails. The highlight of the day, an adult Bald Eagle kiting the winds above North Slacker. Though it never got close, it flashed the low winter afternoon light and rushed north on the ridge, past FM Towers, where it did a tango with an adult Redtail and then continued back north.

With only fifteen minutes left in the count, an adult Cooper's Hawk moved skyward across Rodeo Valley. It pushed against the south wind and across the Golden Gate Bridge -the last migrant of the season.

We want to thank all of you that followed our journey this season. We encourage you to stay in touch and support our program. If you are interested in donating or joining as a volunteer, please contact us at ggro@parksconservancy.org.

- Laura Echávez, GGRO Senior Biotech

Count Team: Allen Fish & Laura Echávez

Total Sightings: 49
Hours Counted: 3.25
HPH: 15.1
Total Species: 6

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 23
Bald Eagle: 1
Northern Harrier: 1
Cooper's Hawk: 2
Red-tailed Hawk: 21
Peregrine Falcon: 1

Hawkwatch was cancelled today due to rain. Hard to believe there is only one more day left in the 2022 fall migration monitoring season.

Total Sightings: 0
Hours Counted: 0
HPH: 0
Total Species: 0

The hawkwatch team was greeted on Hawk Hill by a perfect adult female Peregrine kiting a slice through a 15 mph east wind this AM at 9 am. Frozen in 3-dimensional apace.

With continued winds in the 40-50-degree range we layered up for the next five hours, and counted a good flight of Redtails, and a nice mix of accips, Kes, and Harrier in the 1's and 2's.

- Allen Fish

- Dayleaders: Horacio Mena, Holly Thomas

- Count Team: Mitch Green, Tomas McKay, Will Ludan, Allen Fish


Total Sightings: 141
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 28.2
Total Species: 7

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 64
Northern Harrier: 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 2
Cooper's Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 68
American Kestrel: 2
Peregrine Falcon: 1

Unidentified...
Raptor: 1
Total unidentified: 1

Rain closed the last Thursday of the 2022 season. All the best.

- Allen Fish

Total Sightings: 0
Hours Counted: 0
HPH: 0
Total Species: 0

The northern horizon was riddled with many layers of clouds that signaled the coming storm. The heavy clouds were accompanied by light 3-mph winds, and despite the chill in the air, we enjoyed the 50-60 degree-F weather as we counted the few birds passing by.

Even though the numbers hint at the final days of the season, the species diversity was something to be excited about. Turkey Vultures and Red-tailed Hawks lazily circled about, but Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawks as well. A few Northern Harriers teetered along the contours of the Headlands, and the Peregrine Falcons that seem to have claimed Hawk Hill as their own, patrolled the skies. The most exciting species of the day arrived during the last hour. A juvenile Golden Eagle rose from behind a grove of trees to the north and slowly made its way over Slacker Ridge, gaining altitude before heading south. Within five minutes of that sighting, an adult Bald Eagle appeared over the Pacific Ocean, lined up with Rodeo Lagoon. It flew across the reflection of the descending Sun on the water before blending into the background of Golden Gate Park.

- Laura Echávez, GGRO Senior Biotech

Dayleaders: Don Bartling

Count Team: Stefanie Arthur, Conner Cimmiyotti, John Davis, Sue Morgan, Laura Echávez

Total Sightings: 129
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 25.8
Total Species: 8

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 81
Bald Eagle: 1
Northern Harrier: 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 3
Cooper's Hawk: 5
Red-tailed Hawk: 29
Golden Eagle: 1
Peregrine Falcon: 5

Unidentified...
Buteo: 1
Total unidentified: 1

My head hurts! But it's
Clear in San Francisco.
But no wind.

A north wind brings one
Steady in the stiff breezes
A Yurok Condor!

Bright sun and chill wind.
Not too many raptors
But plenty of good cheer.

Ninety-nine times: hawk,
Vulture, falcon, harrier.
Monarch butterfly.

Memories of George
Quietly pointing out birds.
We thank him today.

Hawk Hill watch closes.
Ahead next comes rain, green hills.
We'll return next year.

Tuesday Two's last day.
We've been aloft all season.
Now it's time to roost.

Thanks to the entire Tuesday Two Count Team for this group haiku. No we have not yet seen a Yurok Condor over the Marin Headlands, but we do dream of that future moment. Perhaps our children or grandchildren will know them. Thank you Yurok nation and condor biologists for the huge gift of wild-flying condors in Northern California.

- Allen Fish

Dayleaders: Catherine Elliott, Mary Kenney

Count Team: Tom Luster, Dennis Davison, Maureen Grabowski, Allen Fish, Laura Kwasnoski

Total Sightings: 99
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 19.8
Total Species: 5

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 69
Northern Harrier: 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 23
Peregrine Falcon: 1

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 1
Raptor: 1
Total unidentified: 2

Icy wind blue skies
Clouds holding contrails aloft
Not 60 degrees

Hawk long-tail tip talk
Small falcon glows orange talk
Vulture head color talk

Redtails point to west
Show the wind where to blow next
Talk about that too

- Allen Fish

Dayleader: James McDermott

Count team: Roy Pisetsky, Jan Ambrosini, Linda Schneider, Deborah Crooks


Total Sightings: 154
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 30.8
Total Species: 6

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 89
Cooper's Hawk: 2
Red-shouldered Hawk: 2
Red-tailed Hawk: 51
American Kestrel: 1
Peregrine Falcon: 8

Unidentified...
Raptor: 1
Total unidentified: 1

So here's a fun mental exercise: Imagine in the morning in the Marin Headlands, breezes are warmish and from the East. A fog bank sits a dozen miles off the Marin Coast, enveloping the Farallones. There's some haze in the North and in the East bay. At mid-day, there is an hour of warm doldrums until tiny wisps of light West winds start to tickle Hawk Hill. By 130 pm, the westerlies are a steady 5 mph, and the Pacific marine layer (aka fog) has made it to Rodeo Beach. In the next hour, fog fingers into the Golden Gate and overtakes the outer Sunset, and by 245 pm, fog blots out the West and North vistas. At a few minutes to 3 pm (quitting time for a regular hawkwatch day), all views from Hawk Hill are snuffed out by the fog.

What time of year is this? Of course, it is perfect late August weather at the Golden Gate. Perhaps September. But today? November 27, 2022.? An August day slipped into late November? Go figure.

We had a thin raptor day on Hawk Hill today - not abnormal for the last week of the fall migration. Were it not for one juvenile harrier, the day would have been a solid run of the Big Four species: Redtail, Coop, Sharpshin, and TV. Thanks to Red-tailed Hawks and Turkey Vultures we averaged one sighting every two mins. Enjoy the fog. And bravo Costa Rica!

- Allen Fish

Dayleaders: Sam Hontalas, Dennis Davison

Count Team: Laura Coatney, Melissa Kohner, Rod Santos, Courtney Buechert, Allen Fish

Interp support: Lynn Schofield, Carmen DeLeon


Total Sightings: 153
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 30.6
Total Species: 5

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 74
Northern Harrier: 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 6
Cooper's Hawk: 3
Red-tailed Hawk: 65

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 2
Buteo: 1
Raptor: 1
Total unidentified: 4

Blazing southwest sun! No, we aren't talking about the desert, but rather this odd weather for a day in late November. High 60's and intermittent breezes up to 7 mph from the east made for a warm day with very few birds. Everyone who knows this Saturday 1 Team knows we love our Peregrine Falcons! Unfortunately, our falcon friend didn't stick around for the official count, but she did make her presence known early on from the parking lot viewpoint. If we needed any convincing on whether or not the migration was coming to an end for the winter, the migratory flow (lack thereof) confirmed it. Let's hope for a breezy day tomorrow to bring in the last birds of the season.

-Carmen DeLeon, CCS Program Coordinator

Dayleaders: Mary Malec & Brian O'Laughlin

Count Team: Jeff Boissier, Rasia Holzman Smith, Melissa Hero, Alexandra Cox, Allen Fish, Carmen DeLeon



Total Sightings: 108
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 21.6
Total Species: 5

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 52
Northern Harrier: 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 4
Cooper's Hawk: 6
Red-tailed Hawk: 40

Unidentified...
Buteo: 1
Raptor: 2
Total unidentified: 3

The weather was pleasant, though we will still throw in a slight complaint about the wind direction steady from the east and then switching south around 3-7 mph. Partly cloudy skies brought plenty of sunshine with smudgy clouds and a bit of haze to the south. Temperatures were in the mid 60's getting quite warm midday to 68 degrees F.

Every day is a good day when you see a Sharp-shinned Hawk. A close flyby of a Sharpie in the west headed just a wingtip away from our counter in the quadrant gave us all flashbacks to mid-October accipiters. Migration seemed to trickle along today with Turkey Vultures and Red-tailed Hawks. A Cooper's Hawk gave us an afternoon close-up that raised our spirits till we concluded and wished the Friday 1 Team well until the next season.

-Carmen DeLeon, Conservation and Community Science Program Coordinator

Dayleaders: Holly Thomas & Libby Rouan

Count Team: Horacio Mena, Yvette MacDonald, Allen Fish, Carmen DeLeon

Total Sightings: 131
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 26.2
Total Species: 6

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 77
Northern Harrier: 4
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 3
Cooper's Hawk: 4
Red-tailed Hawk: 39
Peregrine Falcon: 2

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 2
Total unidentified: 2

Though a far cry from a peak day of bird sightings, we suspect that we may have a peak in wind conditions with constant NE wind 25-30 mph and gusting upwards of 34 mph! Clear, sunny skies at 60 degrees F kept us able to gather some radiant heat. The usual suspects of Red-tailed Hawks and Turkey Vultures were in flight with a few other birds braving the wind. We had a nice look at an adult Red-shouldered Hawk rising above Rodeo Valley before gliding off toward Hill 88. An adult Peregrine Falcon was the only bird unphased by the windy conditions, gracefully slicing through the sky and overhead.

We concluded today's Hawkwatch early at 1 PM to set aside time for our team to choose and reflect on their own versions of Thanksgiving. We recognize that today is not a celebration for all and we hold space for those coming together in resilience, healing, resistance, and community. As a Hawkwatch team, we come with our own stories, yet are unified in gratitude for the opportunity to spend time in nature monitoring the migration made possible by the life-sustaining Earth.

-Carmen DeLeon, CCS Program Coordinator

Dayleader:Christine Cariño

Count Team: John Davis, Susan Greef, Gretchen Zantzinger Carmen DeLeon

Total Sightings: 67
Hours Counted: 3
HPH: 22.3
Total Species: 7

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 30
Northern Harrier: 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 1
Cooper's Hawk: 2
Red-shouldered Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 29
Peregrine Falcon: 3

Modest winds from the east, hardly detectable at times, kept temperatures around mid 60 degrees on Hawk Hill today. There was a shift during the last hour or so, where the winds became more noticeable and from the west, but the raptor activity stayed consistent with sightings being few and far between...

A pair of Northern Harriers were observed flying over the north ridge in tandem with one another, hovering Red-tailed Hawks stooped on unsuspecting prey beneath the coyote brush, a Merlin was spotted in forceful and steady flight out beyond the south platform...

Some of the count team caught a glimpse of a bobcat before it swiftly moved along and crossed the trail leading up to Hawk Hill. Just below the spot where the bobcat passed through, a visitor rested on the side of the trail and played a wooden flute for quite some time. We were grateful for those sweet, rich, and deep flute tones that filled the space and gathered our attention...

-Krista Fanucchi, GGRO Assistant Biotechnician

Dayleaders: Don Bartling, Jon Altemus

Count Team: Linda Sudduth, John Davis, Sue Morgan, Joan Duffield, Krista Fanucchi

Total Sightings: 132
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 26.4
Total Species: 7

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 64
Osprey: 1
Northern Harrier: 5
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 12
Cooper's Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 47
Merlin: 1

Unidentified...
Buteo: 1
Total unidentified: 1

Light NE winds and a wispy-cloud sky greeted us on Hawk Hill this morning. Temps started about 60-deg and peaked with no-wind around noon at 70, then fell off as the afternoon NW winds rallied. Raptors were steady but distant fliers today with a few dozen accipiters spread through the day and nearly a dozen harrier sightings.

Redtails and TV's accounted for most of the sightings, and a female adult Peregrine continued to be active near the hilltop, even perching on the western railing for ten-plus mins as we were setting up this AM.

With holiday vacations starting up, we had a small but steady arrival of friendly and curious people at the fence-line:

• A family from Atlanta, GA, thrilled to see an Atlanta (Peregrine) Falcon in the sky over Hawk Hill

• A couple from Durango, CO, doing research for a book on National Parks

• Scott and his daughter Sharon from Sausalito, CA

• 6 -year old Bobby practicing counting the rarest hawk species numbers on our count-board, and his mom from Austin, TX

• Two young adult brothers, together for the holiday, one stationed at Travis Air Force Base near Vacaville, CA, and the other from Orlando, FL, who described for me the damage to the Jurassic Park exhibit from the hurricanes and flooding this past fall

• Michele from Brentwood, CA, part-way through a two-year plan to hike all the trails in the Marin Headlands, and a great lover of wildlife

• Joe, a mechanical engineer with the US Army from Yuma, AZ, and his young son Wyatt, who explained to me that an Osprey was a Fish Hawk, and gave me several other useful raptor pointers

• Alexi, a pharmacy student from Toronto, raised in Brittany, France, who was heading to San Diego for a few days before flying back to the Northeast. He was excited to see the desert landscapes

It might seem odd to you that I have made a list of people on this bird-report for Hawk Hill, but one of the great joys of being up on Hawk Hill this season has been to meet some of the amazing migration of human travelers that are coming through this magnificent park landscape.

You might think that many Hawk Hill visitors were bird-lovers coming up to Hawk Hill to watch the raptor flight. Some are, but most are not. Most are wide-eyed travelers, some close to home, some far, who are just discovering Hawk Hill and are captivated by its vistas, by its historical structures, by its changing angles of light, by its fog and fog horns, its bunnies and ravens, its coyote brush and grasslands, and even, its birds of prey.

- Allen Fish

Dayleaders: Andy Bradshaw, Mary Kenney

Count Team: Woody Woodbury, Chris Tarr, Rich Eliason, Allen Fish


Total Sightings: 174
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 34.8
Total Species: 7

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 75
Northern Harrier: 11
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 18
Cooper's Hawk: 10
Red-tailed Hawk: 54
American Kestrel: 1
Peregrine Falcon: 5

East winds were persistent and gusted around 20 mph throughout the day up on Hawk Hill, and we observed 9 species at a rate of 34.8 hawks per hour. Red-tailed Hawks were tucked in tight glides, unsteady Sharp-shinned Hawks zipped overhead, and Northern Harriers teetered and gained lift easily in the howling wind. A male American Kestrel flickered and powered through the gusts, zipped directly overhead, and disappeared out beyond the Golden Gate Bridge.

On Hawk Hill, there are many compelling moments that claim your attention and often pull at your heartstrings. As we flow into the last two weeks of our fall migration monitoring field season, I am wondering which fleeting moments will come our way and draw us in...

-Krista Fanucchi, GGRO Assistant Biotechnician

Dayleaders: Deborah Crooks, Linda Schneider

Count Team: Linda Chambers, Patty Lessard, Denise Peck, Allen Fish, Krista Fanucchi

Total Sightings: 174
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 34.8
Total Species: 9

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 64
White-tailed Kite: 1
Northern Harrier: 5
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 22
Red-shouldered Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 73
American Kestrel: 1
Merlin: 3
Peregrine Falcon: 3

Unidentified...
Falcon: 1
Total unidentified: 1

Open skies and east winds gusting up to 20 mph kept this count day as cool as, well, November. The local Raven pair seemed to discover some pizza somewhere and flew by a bunch of times with bread and lacey swatches of melty cheese.

We had no real break in raptor flow throughout the day with good numbers of Redtails, TVs, and Sharpshins laying the foundation. A few mid-fielders came out: a stunning adult Redshoulder, two American Kestrels, and a fair flight of Northern Harriers including an adult female in the afternoon.

The best showing was a subadult Bald around 11 am that stayed about 200 feet up and made a ten-minute glide into San Francisco. Ninety mins later a juv Bald rose up from Rodeo Lagoon direction and wandered eastward climbing thru the sky with the east wind.

A great late season day of raptors -

- Allen Fish

Dayleaders: Ken Wilson, Becky Olsen

Count Team: Maggie Montenegro, Kinley Renger, Paul Meadow, Carol Weinstein, Holly Thomas, Allen Fish


Total Sightings: 208
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 41.6
Total Species: 9

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 83
Bald Eagle: 2
Northern Harrier: 16
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 16
Cooper's Hawk: 6
Red-shouldered Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 76
American Kestrel: 2
Peregrine Falcon: 4

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 1
Buteo: 1
Total unidentified: 2

A blustery day of strong winds from the east and northeast nearly sent some of our Hawkwatchers kiting like Red-tailed Hawks as they pushed against the gusts to stand steady in their quadrants. A consistent 15-19 mph wind made for challenging flight conditions. The sky was clear and blue with only a light haze and temperatures around 55 degrees F.

Peregrine Falcons sliced through the fierce wind with ease and a few Sharp-shinned Hawks were whooshed overhead. The highlight of our day was a smaller bird spotted down low in the Rifle Range. At first, we wondered if it was an accipiter hunting the scrubland. As the bird rose, we noticed the strong contrast pattern of black bars on the tail and a stubby buteo silhouette. It was a late-season adult Broad-winged Hawk! The Broadwing took its time circling alone higher and higher above Hawk Hill before gliding into the blue. The weather conditions made today a tough one to stick out, and we are sure glad we did!

-Krista Fanucchi, GGRO Biotech & Carmen DeLeon, CCS Program Coordinator

Dayleader: Jane Rudebusch

Count Team: Mary Malec, Lora Roame, Michael Voeltz, Maryrose Kulick, Krista Fanucchi, Carmen DeLeon

Total Sightings: 141
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 28.2
Total Species: 9

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 57
Northern Harrier: 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 13
Cooper's Hawk: 6
Broad-winged Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 57
American Kestrel: 1
Merlin: 1
Peregrine Falcon: 1

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 1
Total unidentified: 1

Just a whisper of wind and cloudless skies with sunshine all around kept the day warm and still with temperatures at 58-63 degrees F and scattered westerly gusts of up to 6 mph. A light haze dusted the cityscape and wrapped across the Farallones.

Without a consistent wind, birds were slowly rising up from the valley in varying directions before circling above the hillside or disappearing back north. A quick glance at Ferruginous Hawks got our hopes up for more buteo sightings. We eagerly awaited the possibility of interesting Red-tailed Hawk plumages as we often see a second peak of Redtails into mid-November. A Redtail with a light belly almost empty of brown speckling made us wonder if it was a migrant from the intermountain west. To round out the day, a smattering of Sharp-shinned Hawks made their way through the valley as they rose overhead to cross the bay and Merlins tore through the air high and low.

Dayleaders: Holly Thomas & Horacio Mena

Count Team: Will Ludan, Tomas McKay, Paulette Sherry, Mitchell Green, Carmen DeLeon

Total Sightings: 214
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 42.8
Total Species: 9

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 75
Northern Harrier: 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 25
Cooper's Hawk: 1
Red-shouldered Hawk: 2
Red-tailed Hawk: 100
Ferruginous Hawk: 2
American Kestrel: 1
Merlin: 2

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 1
Buteo: 2
Falcon: 1
Raptor: 1
Total unidentified: 5

A hazy shade of winter prevailed in partly cloudy skies with a crisp and variable wind up to 7mph and switching back and forth from northwest to northeast. As the wind stopped between each directional shift, then started again, we had small groups of birds swirl through with the gusts. Temperatures ranged from 55-62 degrees F.

Red-tailed Hawks and Turkey Vultures glided in from all directions before floating out across the bay. It was quite a treat to still see scattered Sharp-shinned Hawks twinkle up from Rodeo Valley. As we spotted one with a full crop, we wished it well along its migration and wondered what migratory songbird it had preyed upon.

Our excitement of the day was a chance to compare Northern Harrier plumages. The pumpkin glow of juvenile harriers was the most common age class sighted. A grey ghost- the adult male- swiftly rose from behind Hawk Hill to fly fast toward the ocean as it rose to the clouds. Not far behind was an adult female blazing across the rolling hillsides. It looks like our November migrators are ready to go and we can't wait to see who flies through next time!

-Carmen DeLeon, Conservation & Community Science Program Coordinator

Dayleaders: Christine Cariño & Gretchen Zantzinger

Count Team: Bob Blumberg, Patricia Contaxis, Holly Thomas, Carmen DeLeon



Total Sightings: 176
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 35.2
Total Species: 7

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 96
Northern Harrier: 10
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 8
Cooper's Hawk: 3
Red-tailed Hawk: 50
American Kestrel: 1
Peregrine Falcon: 4

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 3
Raptor: 1
Total unidentified: 4

Clear skies all around today, with a gradual haze line developing over the East Bay. Temps from 60-70 deg, and winds blew gusty in the morning, went dead as doldrums by mid-day, then re-emerged around 1 pm from the NW. Best flights happen with some kinda wind in the air - almost doesnt matter what direction. I said almost.

Great close looks today at accips, also some close Merlins and Kestrels and Harriers. Redtails are still streaming, and it's starting to feel like a normal "late peak" of Redtails (Redtails at the Marin Headlands nearly always show a late September peak, a dip in October, and then a mid November peak bigger than Sept.)

An adult Bald Eagle made a sudden and hard-flapping southbound flight east of Slacker Ridge before 11 am. Two WT Kites showed off at the day's end. A nice species day all around.

- Allen Fish

Dayleaders: Erica Harris, Don Bartling

Count Team: Susan Morgan, John Davis, Stefanie Arthur, John Davis, Conner Cimmiyotti, Allen Fish



Total Sightings: 227
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 45.4
Total Species: 10

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 90
White-tailed Kite: 2
Bald Eagle: 1
Northern Harrier: 9
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 23
Cooper's Hawk: 9
Red-tailed Hawk: 72
American Kestrel: 3
Merlin: 3
Peregrine Falcon: 6

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 3
Buteo: 5
Raptor: 1
Total unidentified: 9

Zero clouds and light winds made for an excellent late season flight today. Cool winds varied from nil to 10 mph from the NE, mid-50s to mid-60s in temps, and the flight occurred both far and overhead. Bright bright skies made for high contrast birds that were easy to tell to species but challenging to age, esp in the south where glare reigns supreme after high noon.

Some great looks at juv harriers today, also a good number of Sharps and many Redtails. The raptor highlight of the day was most likely the one or two adult Bald Eagles that appeared between 1:30 and 2:30 pm along the Wolf Ridgeline and as far east as Wolfback Ridge. Why one or two? Neither adult carried individual field-marks that one might look for on an adult Bald, for example missing/molty flight feathers, or brown-tipping on the tail or brown smudging around the eyes and auriculars. In other words, they both looked like adult Bald Eagles in excellent plumage.

Perhaps the greatest challenge of the Marin Headlands hawk count -- given the propensity of birds to move in many directions not North to South, and given the undulating terrain -- is to know which birds have been counted previously. If you have spent more than an hour on Hawk Hill, you will know this: a raptor cannot be reliably tracked from far North to far South on a clean line. So today we had two adult Bald Eagle sightings, spaced more than a half hour apart, at different altitudes, and the guiding question we use to decide whether to count a bird is this - can you be 95% sure this is the same bird you counted before? If no, the bird is counted. If yes, the bird is not counted.

So the data today will reflect 2 Bald Eagle sightings. Interestingly, those weren't the most startling birds of the day - that would have to be the lone Tundra Swan that appeared in the south flying 500 feet above the Golden Gate heading toward Sausalito. We enjoyed a dorsal view of this spectacularly large white bird as it cruised over the tourists at Battery Spencer and disappeared east of 101.

Cherish the unexpected.

- Allen Fish

Dayleaders: Catherine Elliott, Mary Kenney

Count Team: Dennis Davison, Maureen Grabowski, Woody Woodbury, Holly Thomas, Allen Fish




Total Sightings: 188
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 37.6
Total Species: 9

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 77
Bald Eagle: 2
Northern Harrier: 5
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 17
Cooper's Hawk: 4
Red-tailed Hawk: 71
American Kestrel: 2
Merlin: 1
Peregrine Falcon: 5

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 2
Buteo: 1
Falcon: 1
Total unidentified: 4

There was a mix of good company on chilly Hawk Hill today, hawkwatchers and hawks alike... Winds were mild and shifted frequently, but were predominantly coming from the NE. The count team observed 11 species at a rate of 42.8 hawks per hour, many of those sightings being close views of strikingly beautiful birds.

Some of those close individuals included a White-tailed Kite, an adult Ferruginous Hawk, a few Northern Harriers, and a Merlin that zipped fast overhead. We also had the good fortune of spotting a distant adult Bald Eagle just east of Mount Tam, before it stealthily flew beyond a ridge and remained out of sight. Looking forward to the company of more birds and bird-observers to come. Until next time!

-Krista Fanucchi, GGRO Assistant Biotechnician

Dayleader: Krista Fanucchi

Count Team: Linda Schneider, Deborah Crooks, Jan Ambrosini, Kimberlie Moutoux

Total Sightings: 214
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 42.8
Total Species: 11

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 97
White-tailed Kite: 1
Bald Eagle: 1
Northern Harrier: 6
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 20
Cooper's Hawk: 10
Red-shouldered Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 67
Ferruginous Hawk: 1
Merlin: 1
Peregrine Falcon: 5

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 1
Buteo: 2
Raptor: 1
Total unidentified: 4

It was a beautiful, unclouded blue sky day up on Hawk Hill. West winds were variable and at times it was completely calm with temperatures hovering around 64-degrees F. The count team observed 9 species at a rate of 24.8 hawks per hour, including a distant Ferruginous Hawk spotted near Mount Tam.

A very impressive, non-raptor sighting appeared in the form of a flock of around 150 Band-tailed Pigeons as they swirled around in a "murmuration" like formation above the Slacker ridge. They flew in this continuous loop, doughnut, or whirl for over 2 minutes, and the vortex fully absorbed our attention and delight. It is just so easy to get caught up, twisted, and spellbound by these fleeting moments...

-Krista Fanucchi, GGRO Assistant Biotechnician

Dayleaders: Dennis Davison, Allen Fish

Count Team: Laura Coatney, Melissa Kohner, Rod Santos, Holly Thomas, Krista Fanucchi

Total Sightings: 124
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 24.8
Total Species: 9

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 68
Northern Harrier: 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 7
Cooper's Hawk: 6
Red-shouldered Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 35
Ferruginous Hawk: 1
American Kestrel: 1
Peregrine Falcon: 2

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 1
Raptor: 1
Total unidentified: 2

A crystal clear day with a perfectly crisp autumn breeze set the stage for today's Hawkwatch. Wispy clouds and bright blue were the backdrop for most of the birds as the variable wind had birds coming high overhead and far along the neighboring ridgelines. Temperatures warmed up as the sun kept shining landing us around 65 degrees F.

The morning belonged to the tiny falcons. We were soaking in the sighting as a very relaxed Merlin as it was gliding across the sky without even flapping. American Kestrels zipped and hovered into the hillsides. With the bold presence of these smaller birds, we supposed that big falcons were still far away.

A bout of excitement came with an unexpected assist from a Red-tailed Hawk. We spotted the Redtail stilling high above the Rifle Range and drifting back and forth. It suddenly tucked its wings tight and dove straight down, down, down. That is until it collided with two other birds. As the tangle of talons and feathers rolled low above the scrubland, we put together the pieces of the puzzle to see that a pair of Redtails had chased a Short-eared Owl up out of its roost. The lofty owl floated up in a moth-like fashion, circling higher in the valley until it headed away toward Mount Tam.

The Saturday 1 Team sends a special thank you to our guest counter for the day! 2018 GGRO intern, Kirsti, recently returned from a season at the Goshute Mountains HawkWatch and was kind to lend us extra help on the hill today.

-Carmen DeLeon, Conservation & Community Science Program Coordinator

Dayleaders: Mary Malec & Brian O'Laughlin

Count Team: Jeff Boissier, Rasia Holzman Smith, Melissa Hero, Alexandra Cox, Carmen DeLeon

Guest Counter: Kirsti Carr

Total Sightings: 176
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 35.2
Total Species: 8

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 78
Northern Harrier: 5
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 11
Cooper's Hawk: 7
Red-tailed Hawk: 63
American Kestrel: 3
Merlin: 3
Peregrine Falcon: 3

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 1
Buteo: 1
Raptor: 1
Total unidentified: 3

The late autumn sky was fully displayed with glowing sunshine washing across the contour of the hills and bay. Just a thin haze was making its way around the clear visibility out to Mt. Diablo and the Farallones. Blue skies were dotted, dashed, and swooshed with clouds that framed small pockets of rainbows high above. There were variable whispers of wind with temperatures around 57 degrees F.

We continued to see the slow of birds with the season tapering off, finding enjoyment in spending quality time with each sighting. Without a steady wind, birds were spotted 5th quadrant high, far along the ridgelines, and popping up low along the valley. Groups of Turkey Vultures wobbled across Mount Tam and Red-tailed Hawks rose over the bay. A highlight of our day was a close look at an adult female Northern Harrier gliding along Hawk Hill. From above, we appreciated the variation in brown feathers showing retained and new.

One of our final sightings was a Sharp-shinned Hawk spotted as a mere speck at the Mt. Tam ridgeline. We followed it until it was directly overhead and was joined by a Cooper's Hawk. Both accipiters swirled toward the sun with only their dark silhouettes visible as if to put a stamp of approval on a lovely day of late-season Hawkwatch.

-Carmen DeLeon, Conservation and Community Science Program Coordinator

Dayleaders: Libby Rouan and Holly Thomas

Count Team: Laura Thomas, Conner Cimmiyotti, Horacio Mena, Yvette MacDonald, Carmen DeLeon


Total Sightings: 166
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 33.2
Total Species: 8

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 92
Northern Harrier: 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 4
Cooper's Hawk: 3
Red-shouldered Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 56
Merlin: 1
Peregrine Falcon: 7

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 1
Total unidentified: 1

Stellar visibility atop Hawk Hill today! The day started at a crispy 53-degrees F with gusty 9-mph winds from the south. The cold air came from all directions throughout the day, but we closed with a gentle 5-mph wind from the SW and at 58-degrees F.

This is the time of the season where we expect to see a peak in Northern Harrier sightings, and though they have been scarce this year, we did observe 6! Usually picked up in the valley, today's Harriers were caught as they rushed across the Bay. Fortunately, we are also still seeing accipiters trickling through -though no adults were amongst that handful. When we were setting up for the count, we lamented about a juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk that did not stick around until the official start. However, at around 11AM, another juvenile was seen flap-flap-gliding across Rodeo Valley.

As we get later in the season, the days are getting shorter and slower. However, there is always a chance for something exciting... like the trusty pair of Peregrine Falcons incessantly patrolling the grounds. Are these the new residents? Only time will tell!

- Laura Echávez, GGRO Senior Biotech & Carmen DeLeon, CCS Program Coordinator

Dayleader: Christine Cariño

Count Team: Pat Bacchetti, Bob Blumberg, Arden Bucklin-Sporer, John Davis, Susan Greef, Carmen DeLeon, Laura Echávez

Total Sightings: 110
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 22
Total Species: 9

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 45
White-tailed Kite: 1
Northern Harrier: 6
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 7
Cooper's Hawk: 4
Red-shouldered Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 34
American Kestrel: 1
Peregrine Falcon: 10

Unidentified...
Raptor: 1
Total unidentified: 1

Every day on Hawk Hill is uniquely beautiful, dynamic, and fascinating. The brilliance of the autumn light, a warm flash of orange from a juvenile Northern Harrier, the iridescent feathers of a Common Raven...!

There was a steady west wind, and the count team observed a total of 8 species at a rate of 27.8 hawks per hour. Red-tailed Hawks were seen kiting and lifting way overhead on an invisible elevator before being stooped on and chased off by the pair of Peregrine Falcons. An adult Bald Eagle was spotted near the north tower of the Golden Gate Bridge, soaring steadily as it flew against the east bay and drifted off in a northern direction; an adult Red-tailed Hawk and Turkey Vulture were trailing close behind in good company. A lovely display...

-Krista Fanucchi, GGRO Assistant Biotechnician

Dayleaders: Don Bartling, Jon Altemus

Count Team: Linda Sudduth, John Davis, Sue Morgan, Jan Ambrosini, Joan Duffield, Krista Fanucchi

Total Sightings: 139
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 27.8
Total Species: 8

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 68
Bald Eagle: 1
Northern Harrier: 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 4
Cooper's Hawk: 2
Red-shouldered Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 51
Peregrine Falcon: 8

Unidentified...
Buteo: 1
Falcon: 1
Total unidentified: 2

Strong rains and wind hammered the Bay Area over the last 24 hours and kept the GGRO count team off of Hawk Hill on Tuesday.

Although raptor numbers have been less than average lately, we will continue the 2022 annual count through Dec 4th. Please come out for some raptortime any clear-ish day before then.

- Allen Fish

Total Sightings: 0
Hours Counted: 0
HPH: 0
Total Species: 0

As soon as the count team arrived to Hawk Hill for the day, bets were placed on when the downpour of rain would begin; what can we say, we cannot resist a friendly competition! The autumn light shifted and illuminated pockets of the Marin Headlands, and we experienced a mild sprinkling of rain around noon. The weather was dynamic and the conditions shifted quickly, so we continued counting until around 1:30pm.

The series of loud, harsh, "kak-kak-kak-kak..." calls from two adult Peregrine Falcons were frequently heard from Hawk Hill as the pair have been spotted many times chasing Red-tailed Hawks in wide circles above Slacker ridge. We look forward to more lively days up on Hawk Hill to come!

-Krista Fanucchi, GGRO Assistant Biotechnician

Dayleaders: Linda Schneider, Allen Fish

Count Team: Linda Chambers, Patty Lessard, Peter Sapienza, Wade Eakle, Denise Peck, Krista Fanucchi

Total Sightings: 99
Hours Counted: 3.5
HPH: 28.3
Total Species: 5

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 54
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 2
Red-shouldered Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 36
Peregrine Falcon: 4

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 1
Raptor: 1
Total unidentified: 2

We managed a day without fog between storms! It was a calm morning with a gentle wind from the NE that varied throughout the day, only reaching 8-mph gusts by the end of the day. Though clouds began to creep in after noon, for the most part, the temps lingered in the mid to upper 50's F.

Once again a pair of adult Peregrine Falcons welcomed our team at the top of Hawk Hill this morning. Many wispy cirrus clouds served as a backdrop as the Peregrines cut through the air, patrolling the area, and dutifully escorted any intruding Red-tailed Hawks out of the area. Luckily, a handful of adult and juvenile Cooper's and Sharp-shinned Hawks avoided confrontations with the vociferous falcons. Another individual that dodged a pointed encounter was an adult Bald Eagle -probably because it was so far away, just below the peak of Tamalpais.

Our day ended just as it began, with a Peregrine tormenting anything in sight. Perhaps only the setting sun, an hour earlier today thanks to daylight saving time, will be what gives the Redtails some respite from the persistent falcons!

- Laura Echávez, GGRO Senior Biotech

Dayleader: Becky Olsen & Ken Wilson

Count Team: Paul Meadow, Maggie Montenegro, Ana Maria Olivar, Carol Weinstein, Allen Fish, Laura Echávez

Total Sightings: 167
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 33.4
Total Species: 7

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 72
Bald Eagle: 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 5
Cooper's Hawk: 6
Red-tailed Hawk: 68
Merlin: 2
Peregrine Falcon: 11

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 1
Buteo: 1
Total unidentified: 2

Dense fog on Hawk Hill this morning quickly shifted to rain, preventing the team from conducting a hawk count.

-Krista Fanucchi, GGRO Assistant Biotechnician

Total Sightings: 0
Hours Counted: 0
HPH: 0
Total Species: 0

Friday was a strange hawk-count day in the Marin Headlands. The wind -- around 2-5 mph -- squirreled from the SW to the NW to the S, all of which is typical for a pre-storm day. Or maybe this was an actual storm day. Twice in the mid-day there were actual drops of rain patting the data tablet, and a rainbow was visible in the northern landscape from 1030 am til at least 1 pm. Temps ranged from 58 to 65.

The migration rate was 19 raptor-sightings per hour with about a 45% Vulture Index. High points for the day were: a circling adult Peregrine doing surveillance on the western hill for a good 20 mins; and two handfuls of Sharpshins like up-falling leaves, circling upward zooming past Hawk Hill, alulas expanded and coasting on the wind.

- Allen Fish

Dayleader: Holly Thomas

Count Team: Tomas McKay, Paulette Sherry, Will Ludan, Mitchell Green, Allen Fish


Total Sightings: 95
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 19
Total Species: 6

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 42
Northern Harrier: 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 10
Cooper's Hawk: 5
Red-tailed Hawk: 34
Peregrine Falcon: 1

Unidentified...
Buteo: 1
Total unidentified: 1

Thursday, November 3rd was another spectacularly beautiful day from Hawk Hill. A cold, but gentle wind tip-toed from the south and circled the hill throughout the day as the temps lingered in the mid- to upper-50s. As the team walked up to the count site, a mother Humpback Whale and its calf meandered near the mouth of the Golden Gate, spouting and breaking the glassy surface of the San Francisco Bay.

The morning consisted of the usual migrants, mainly Red-tailed Hawks and Turkey Vultures, though we had a sprinkle of Cooper's Hawks as well. After lunch time, more species began to make an appearance. Sharp-shinned Hawks, Northern Harriers, and Peregrine Falcons were all in the mix -even a White-tailed Kite that seemed to be flying over the Earth's stratosphere. Around 2pm, a couple of Buteos circled over Slacker Ridge, one was a Redtail and the other a mysterious dark morph. As the dark morph bird broke off, it banked south and straight for San Francisco. Optics flew to the hawkwatchers' eyes, and we realized it was not another Redtail, instead... the eagerly awaited Rough-legged Hawk! At the end of the day, a juvenile Swainson's Hawk flew east over Mount Tamalpais, capping off an amazing day for the team.

- Laura Echávez, GGRO Senior Biotech

Dayleaders: Allen Fish & Laura Echávez

Count Team: Pat Contaxis, Michaela Figari, Jim Yampolsky, Pauline Yeckley

Total Sightings: 179
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 35.8
Total Species: 10

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 74
White-tailed Kite: 1
Northern Harrier: 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 11
Cooper's Hawk: 8
Red-shouldered Hawk: 1
Swainson's Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 75
Rough-legged Hawk: 1
Peregrine Falcon: 3

Unidentified...
Buteo: 1
Total unidentified: 1

After yesterday's rain, there was a crispness in the air today. Our hawkwatchers were back on Hawk Hill, despite a brief 15-min rain at 11am. The magnificent storm clouds passed and made way for blue skies and a variety of clouds (cumulus, nimbus, and many wispies).

The bird front was very quiet, but the storm brought us two Bald Eagles! The first arrived straight out of the north, slowly soaring as it made its way right over the team. As we watched it cross the Golden Gate, another adult materialized overhead and followed the same trajectory to the city. Not a bad day to be atop Hawk Hill!

- Laura Echávez, GGRO Senior Biotech

Dayleader: Don Bartling & Erica Harris

Count Team: John Davis, Sue Morgan, Laura Echávez

Total Sightings: 122
Hours Counted: 4.75
HPH: 25.7
Total Species: 8

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 47
Bald Eagle: 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 2
Cooper's Hawk: 2
Red-shouldered Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 57
American Kestrel: 2
Peregrine Falcon: 5

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 2
Buteo: 2
Total unidentified: 4

With the first major winter-ish storm system raking across the SF Bay Area today, we did not conduct a hawk count.

- Allen Fish

Total Sightings: 0
Hours Counted: 0
HPH: 0
Total Species: 0

Hawk Hill was wrapped in fog this morning, but the conditions shifted, and the hawkwatch team was able to begin officially counting around 11. The fog lingered for most of the day, creeping closer and closer at times, but we maintained enough visibility to continue counting. The sun did peak out from the fog for the last couple of hours and the fall lighting illuminated the birds flying against Slacker ridge in a beautiful, glowing way. One of those birds was a juvenile Northern Harrier, and the rusty or "pumpkin" color seemed to radiate as the bird quickly passed through and continued its journey south.

The hawkwatch team was a bit slim today, a "skeleton" crew as one hawkwatcher put it, and most agreed that the highlight of the day was a slow moving and steady Bald Eagle. It was a bit challenging to distinguish between juvenile and sub-adult plumage in the hazy mist and unfavorable light conditions, but we genuinely enjoyed the sighting, nonetheless...

-Krista Fanucchi, GGRO Assistant Biotechnician

Dayleader: Allen Fish

Count Team: Roy Pisetsky, Linda Schneider, Jan Ambrosini, Tim Stroshane, Krista Fanucchi

Total Sightings: 74
Hours Counted: 4.25
HPH: 17.4
Total Species: 8

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 39
Bald Eagle: 1
Northern Harrier: 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 3
Cooper's Hawk: 3
Red-shouldered Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 21
Peregrine Falcon: 4

Unidentified...
Falcon: 1
Total unidentified: 1

We were standing right on the edge of the fog, fading in and out of the mist, for a couple hours of hawk counting this afternoon. There were times when the veil was lifted and views of Slacker ridge, Angel Island, and the Golden Gate appeared quite clear; though the visibility did not remain. We did manage to get a couple hours of hawk counting in before being immersed in the fog, and enjoyed some good looks at an American Kestrel, a few Sharp-shinned Hawks, and quite a few Red-tailed Hawks. Hoping for clearer skies and more birds tomorrow!

-Krista Fanucchi, GGRO Assistant Biotechnician

Dayleader: Dennis Davison

Count Team: Rod Santos, Courtney Buechert, Ryan Overhiser, Holly Thomas, Jean Perata, Krista Fanucchi

Total Sightings: 50
Hours Counted: 2
HPH: 25
Total Species: 6

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 14
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 8
Cooper's Hawk: 1
Red-shouldered Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 24
American Kestrel: 1

Unidentified...
Buteo: 1
Total unidentified: 1

Through the light haze, an adult Peregrine Falcon speedily escorted the hawkwatch team as we hiked up to the top of Hawk Hill. A second Peregrine joined but neither stayed long enough to be included in the official count.

It was a comfortable 60F - 65F throughout the day, and the wind danced in and out, shifting from the SE to the NW by then end. Although it was beautiful out there, with strips of clouds perfect for using as skymarks, the migration appeared to have slowed down significantly. However, we did see many Red-tailed Hawks, 64 of them -which felt very "Redtail-y" compared to yesterday! The countdown to the first Rough-legged Hawk is underway.

- Laura Echávez, GGRO Senior Biotech & Carmen DeLeon, CCS Program Coordinator

Dayleader: Mary Malec & Brian O'Laughlin

Count Team: Jeff Boissier, Alex Cox, Rasia Holzman Smith, JJ Harris, Melissa Hero, Carmen DeLeon, Laura Echávez

Total Sightings: 105
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 21
Total Species: 5

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 23
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 4
Cooper's Hawk: 7
Red-tailed Hawk: 64
American Kestrel: 1

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 2
Buteo: 3
Raptor: 1
Total unidentified: 6

We had a layer cake of a sky today with light haze low, partly cloudy above, and clear blue skies in the middle. Visibility was out to Mount Diablo and the Farallon Islands for most of the time. The wind was slow to start and variable, eventually gusting southwest up to 13 mph. Temperatures stayed at just about 60 degrees F ending with very chilly conditions for the North and West.

The day was slow to start with a handful of Turkey Vultures and Red-tailed Hawks far along the ridgelines and hugging the hillside down to Kirby Cove. We eagerly awaited the wind as we admired a full circle fog bow glowing around the sun-soaked clouds. Peregrine Falcons effortlessly zoomed through the increasing winds as a puff of fog moved in from the ocean. One was diving on a Red-tailed Hawk and the other circled higher alongside a Cooper's Hawk. We wondered if it was being considered competition or prey.

As a few scattered Cooper's Hawks and Sharp-shinned Hawks zipped through the Headlands, we hoped that the day would end with a surprise. Indeed it did! Our team in North Quadrant noticed an interesting buteo flapping in from the ridge with distinctly pointed wingtips. An adult Swainson's Hawk navigated the swaths of clouds and blue as we watched it fly off toward the Bay Bridge. With a theatrical bookend to the day's adventure, our team recounted our appreciation for each other and the birds that bring us together as the skyline glowed a brilliant orange before extinguishing the light with a frigid burst of fog to wrap up the count.

-Carmen DeLeon, Conservation and Community Science Program Coordinator

Dayleader: Holly Thomas

Count Team: Laura Thomas, Sonja Raub, Conner Cimmiyotti, Yvette MacDonald, Allen Fish, Carmen DeLeon

Total Sightings: 162
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 32.4
Total Species: 8

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 105
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 4
Cooper's Hawk: 8
Red-shouldered Hawk: 2
Swainson's Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 38
American Kestrel: 1
Peregrine Falcon: 2

Unidentified...
Buteo: 1
Total unidentified: 1

Sunshine and blue skies continue to welcome us atop Hawk Hill! A cool 5-mph breeze graced the hillside, enough to provide birds with a little lift, but still keeping them at a comfortable just above eye-level flight!

As we approached the count site, a familiar face sat along the south platform lookout and carefully eyed our approach. An adult Peregrine Falcon that has been a frequent visitor for a couple of weeks now! It lazily circled over the area, close enough to project its shadow on the diligent hawkwatchers. Around lunch time, a raptor that we don't often see during migration emerged and nimbly crossed the Mt. Tamalpais ridgeline -a White-tailed Kite. Barely an hour later, another special raptor was picked up by our guest counter, Raptor Biologist & Banding Manager, Teresa Ely! A subadult Golden Eagle made a full tour around the Headlands and almost all the way across to downtown San Francisco. One Golden Gate crossing was not enough, however, as it turned around and headed back to the Headlands.

With just a little over a month left in the season, we could not ask for a better assortment of raptors for the Thursday hawkwatch team!

- Laura Echávez, GGRO Senior Biotech & Carmen DeLeon, CCS Program Coordinator

Dayleader: Christine Cariño

Count Team: Pat Bacchetti, Arden Bucklin-Sporer, Susan Greef, Teresa Ely, Carmen DeLeon, Laura Echávez

Total Sightings: 188
Hours Counted: 5
HPH: 37.6
Total Species: 10

Species Counts:
Turkey Vulture: 96
White-tailed Kite: 2
Northern Harrier: 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 13
Cooper's Hawk: 8
Red-shouldered Hawk: 3
Red-tailed Hawk: 57
Golden Eagle: 1
Merlin: 1
Peregrine Falcon: 5

Unidentified...
Accipiter: 1
Total unidentified: 1