Observation start time: 13:00:00 Observation end time: 17:30:00 Total observation time: 2.5 hours
Official Counter: Michael Ceci
Observers:
Visitors: None
Weather: Early morning temperatures were in the high 30's with a NNE wind, overcast skies and poor visibility. During 12:00 - 12:30, temperatures increased to 50F with clearing skies. During the last hour, temperatures increased to the low 60's and the wind shifted to SSE.
Raptor Observations: Briefly, I visited Site 1A @ 9:15 AM while in route to North East PA. There were no migrating TV's or raptors while driving the stretch of Rt 5 from Westfield NY to North East PA. During my return trip via Rt 20 @ 11:00 AM. I stopped at Forsyth Rd Site 1B and scanned towards the escarpment and the Lake. The NNE wind continued, offering no improvement from earlier in the morning. By noon, the weather improved with brighter skies, reduced wind, and higher temperatures. I returned to Site 1A @ 12:45. When viewed towards the escarpment a few TV's were migrating. Moves were made to 1B (Forsyth Rd) and Site 2 (Parker Rd). TV's were moving further up the escarpment. Spotting from Sites 3 & 4, 54 TV's were counted 1-2PM. From 2:00 - 2:30, 5 more TV's moved over Site 2. The flight completely shut down @ 2:15 As the afternoon progressed, the weather continued to improve with higher temperatures and wind changing to SSE. Returning to Site 2 @ 4:30 to 5:30, 129 TV's, 1 OS and 1 SS were counted. The flight came to an abrupt halt @ 5:10, and the watch was concluded at 5:30 PM.
Non-raptor Observations: Very few non-raptors today, but frequent sitings of local Bald Eagles and TV's
Predictions: With today's late afternoon resumption of TV's and and raptors, tomorrow (4/3/2026) looks promising. It will be cloudy in the morning with partial sunshine expected by early afternoon, temperature of 67F, and SW winds 15-25mph. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Michael Ceci (<michael.ceci541...>) Ripley Hawk Watch information may be found at: www.facebook.com/groups/3193820734258889/
Observation start time: 13:00:00 Observation end time: 17:30:00 Total observation time: 2.5 hours
Official Counter: Michael Ceci
Observers:
Visitors: None
Weather: Early morning temperatures were in the high 30's with a NNE wind, overcast skies and poor visibility. During 12:00 - 12:30, temperatures increased to 50F with clearing skies. During the last hour, temperatures increased to the low 60's and the wind shifted to SSE.
Raptor Observations: Briefly, I visited Site 1A @ 9:15 AM while in route to North East PA. There were no migrating TV's or raptors while driving the stretch of Rt 5 from Westfield NY to North East PA. During my return trip via Rt 20 @ 11:00 AM. I stopped at Forsyth Rd Site 1B and scanned towards the escarpment and the Lake. The NNE wind continued, offering no improvement from earlier in the morning. By noon, the weather improved with brighter skies, reduced wind, and higher temperatures. I returned to Site 1A @ 12:45. When viewed towards the escarpment a few TV's were migrating. Moves were made to 1B (Forsyth Rd) and Site 2 (Parker Rd). TV's were moving further up the escarpment. Spotting from Sites 3 & 4, 54 TV's were counted 1-2PM. From 2:00 - 2:30, 5 more TV's moved over Site 2. The flight completely shut down @ 2:15 As the afternoon progressed, the weather continued to improve with higher temperatures and wind changing to SSE. Returning to Site 2 @ 4:30 to 5:30, 129 TV's, 1 OS and 1 SS were counted. The flight came to an abrupt halt @ 5:10, and the watch was concluded at 5:30 PM.
Non-raptor Observations: Very few non-raptors today, but frequent sitings of local Bald Eagles and TV's
Predictions: With today's late afternoon resumption of TV's and and raptors, tomorrow (4/3/2026) looks promising. It will be cloudy in the morning with partial sunshine expected by early afternoon, temperature of 67F, and SW winds 15-25mph. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Michael Ceci (<michael.ceci541...>) Ripley Hawk Watch information may be found at: www.facebook.com/groups/3193820734258889/
Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 11:00:00 Total observation time: 2 hours
Official Counter: Sharon Sisti
Observers:
Weather: Cloudy, low 40s. ENE winds. Storm front coming in from Ohio. Very few TVs given the weather conditions.
Raptor Observations:
Non-raptor Observations: Several Hooded Mergansers saved the day from being a washout.
Predictions: Chance for a better flight with increased temps and winds SW at 20-30mph. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Sharon Sisti (<sharonsisti...>)
Site Description: This spring only "all volunteer" watch is conducted at Lakeside Cemetery in Hamburg, NY. It is located on flat lake plain located along the shoreline of the east end of Lake Erie, about 10 miles south of Buffalo, NY. For additional information contact Jim Landau at <landaujr...>
Observation start time: 13:00:00 Observation end time: 17:30:00 Total observation time: 2.5 hours
Official Counter: Michael Ceci
Observers:
Visitors: None
Weather: Early morning temperatures were in the high 30's with a NNE wind, overcast skies and poor visibility. During 12:00 - 12:30, temperatures increased to 50F with clearing skies. During the last hour, temperatures increased to the low 60's and the wind shifted to SSE.
Raptor Observations: Briefly, I visited Site 1A @ 9:15 AM while in route to North East PA. There were no migrating TV's or raptors while driving the stretch of Rt 5 from Westfield NY to North East PA. During my return trip via Rt 20 @ 11:00 AM. I stopped at Forsyth Rd Site 1B and scanned towards the escarpment and the Lake. The NNE wind continued, offering no improvement from earlier in the morning. By noon, the weather improved with brighter skies, reduced wind, and higher temperatures. I returned to Site 1A @ 12:45. When viewed towards the escarpment a few TV's were migrating. Moves were made to 1B (Forsyth Rd) and Site 2 (Parker Rd). TV's were moving further up the escarpment. Spotting from Sites 3 & 4, 54 TV's were counted 1-2PM. From 2:00 - 2:30, 5 more TV's moved over Site 2. The flight completely shut down @ 2:15 As the afternoon progressed, the weather continued to improve with higher temperatures and wind changing to SSE. Returning to Site 2 @ 4:30 to 5:30, 129 TV's, 1 OS and 1 SS were counted. The flight came to an abrupt halt @ 5:10, and the watch was conclused at 5:30 PM.
Non-raptor Observations: Very few non-raptors today, but frequent sitings of local Bald Eagles and TV's
Predictions: With today's late afternoon resumption of TV's and and raptors, tomorrow (4/3/2026) looks promising. It will be cloudy in the morning with partial sunshine expected by early afternoon, temperature of 67F, and SW winds 15-25mph. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Michael Ceci (<michael.ceci541...>) Ripley Hawk Watch information may be found at: www.facebook.com/groups/3193820734258889/
Date: 4/2/26 1:08 pm From: Candace E. Cornell <cec222...> Subject: [GeneseeBirds-L] Re: [cayugabirds-l] Some thoughts on the turning of the year
Sar-
You hit the nail on the head each time.
🪶
On Thu, Apr 2, 2026 at 3:53 PM Cherilyn Jackmin <cj45...> wrote:
> Awesome poem- Thanks for sharing!
>
>
>
> *From:* <CAYUGABIRDS-L...> <CAYUGABIRDS-L...> *On
> Behalf Of *Peter Saracino
> *Sent:* Thursday, April 2, 2026 1:36 PM
> *To:* <eatonbirdingsociety...>; Cayuga Birds List <
> <Cayugabirds-L...>; Geneseebirds <
> <geneseebirds-googlegroup...>
> *Subject:* [cayugabirds-l] Some thoughts on the turning of the year
>
>
>
> "At turn of year, when winter's past
>
> and spring's at hand, I think at last
>
> I understand. Then comes the night
>
> when peepers shrill and geese in flight
>
> gabble the moon. And then I say that all I know can be stowed away
>
> in an acorn cup. But this is plain:
>
> That snow is snow and rain is rain,
>
> that wind is change, that water ran
>
> before earth felt the foot of man;
>
> that flesh and blood of me are kinned
>
> with grass and bush and tree and wind;
>
> that love is sweet and salt are tears;
>
> that days become the turning years;
>
> that I am new and time is old;
>
> that love is warm and hate is cold.
>
> What more is there to understand
>
> when winter's past and spring's at hand?"
>
>
>
> "For Barbara"
>
> 'Hal Borland's Book of Days'
>
> Sar
>
>
>
> "Instructions for living life:
> Pay attention
> Be astonished
> Tell about it."
> Mary Oliver
>
> --
> Cayugabirds-L List Info:
> Visit: http://LISTS.cornell.edu <http://lists.cornell.edu/> for more
> information
> Posting Address: <Cayugabirds-L...>
> Archives:
> The Mail Archive: //www.mail-archive.com/<cayugabirds-l...>
> <https://%3ca%20href=>/maillist.html" class="hft-urls">https:
> //www.mail-archive.com/<cayugabirds-l...>/maillist.html
> Sightings: Please submit your observations to eBird at
> http://www.ebird.org.
> --
> --
> Cayugabirds-L List Info:
> Visit: http://LISTS.cornell.edu for more information
> Posting Address: <Cayugabirds-L...>
> Archives:
> The Mail Archive: //www.mail-archive.com/<cayugabirds-l...>
> <https:%3Ca%20href=>/maillist.html" class="hft-urls">https:
> //www.mail-archive.com/<cayugabirds-l...>/maillist.html
> Sightings: Please submit your observations to eBird at
> http://www.ebird.org.
> --
>
Observation start time: 09:00:00
Observation end time: 11:00:00
Total observation time: 2 hours
Official Counter: Maili Waters
Observers:
Visitors:
1
Weather:
The morning had some scattered showers with east winds at 10-15mph. There
were a couple hours with no precipitation, but then it started to sprinkle
again. The cloud cover was very low and visibility was limited. Temps were
in the 30s.
Raptor Observations:
The only raptors seen today were the local Bald Eagle, American Kestrel,
and Northern Harrier.
Non-raptor Observations:
Not much was flying around except a few Tree Swallows.
Predictions:
Tomorrow�s weather: Mostly cloudy in the morning becoming partly sunny in
the afternoon. Temps will reach a high of 69F. Winds will be SW at 20-30mph
with some stronger gusts possible. The winds will be strong which could
limit the number of birds on the move. However, the wind direction is good,
so I am expecting a decent flight.
========================================================================
Report submitted by Maili Waters (<mailirwaters...>)
Braddock Bay information may be found at:
http://www.bbrr.org/
Date: 4/2/26 10:36 am From: Peter Saracino <petersaracino...> Subject: [GeneseeBirds-L] Some thoughts on the turning of the year
"At turn of year, when winter's past and spring's at hand, I think at last I understand. Then comes the night when peepers shrill and geese in flight gabble the moon. And then I say that all I know can be stowed away in an acorn cup. But this is plain: That snow is snow and rain is rain, that wind is change, that water ran before earth felt the foot of man; that flesh and blood of me are kinned with grass and bush and tree and wind; that love is sweet and salt are tears; that days become the turning years; that I am new and time is old; that love is warm and hate is cold. What more is there to understand when winter's past and spring's at hand?"
"For Barbara" 'Hal Borland's Book of Days' Sar
"Instructions for living life: Pay attention Be astonished Tell about it." Mary Oliver
Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 12:30:00 Total observation time: 3.5 hours
Official Counter: Michael Ceci
Observers:
Visitors: Kate Ebersol, despite the unfavorable conditions, stopped briefly by Site # 2 at the end of the 11-12 hour, as I departed for one final look at Sites 1B and 1A from 12:00 - 12:30.
Weather: Yesterday's large flight of TV's and raptors is better explained by severe thunderstorms and heavy winds that passed through the area after the watch concluded 03/31/2026. Early this morning (04/01/2026) remnants of the storm continued in the form of light rain until 8:30 AM. Today's watch began at 9 AM at Site 1A with NNE wind and a temperature of 38 F. Their was a low cloud ceiling throughout the watch, with very poor visibility from 11:00 - 12:30. Humidy averaged 94%, and the wind speed increased during the final 90 minutes of the watch.
Raptor Observations: As expected, yesterday's massive push of birds, combined with weather conditions were factors for today's extremely light flight. From 9-10AM, there were no migrators. With the continuing NNE wind, each inland site was used. Site 4 (Douglas Road) proved to be a valuable location to spot low flying TV's that were flying slightly below the tree line and could not be viewed from Site # 3, Creamery Road. We need to utilize Site 4 to check for activity when the other sites have empty skies. This is particularly the case when the Broad Wings are projected to come through the RHW by mid-April. It was another day of considerable watch-site changes, mostly on the escarpment.
Non-raptor Observations: Minimal migration of non-raptors today, but our local Bald Eagles and TV's continued to make their presence known throughout the morning.
Predictions: For Thursday, 04/02/26, showers in the morning, then cloudy in the afternoon. High 64F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%. With the rising temperatures, showers potentially ending late morning, and SE winds, it's possible that a flight will materialize. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Michael Ceci (<michael.ceci541...>) Ripley Hawk Watch information may be found at: www.facebook.com/groups/3193820734258889/
Observation start time: 09:00:00
Observation end time: 14:00:00
Total observation time: 4 hours
Official Counter: Maili Waters
Observers: Tim Willis
Visitors:
1
Weather:
Today was overcast with some intermittent sprinkles. Winds were NNW at
10-15mph. Temps were in the upper 30s.
Raptor Observations:
There were a few local birds seen today, including a Northern Harrier and
an American Kestrel hunting over the marsh. The only migrating raptor today
was one single Turkey Vulture.
Non-raptor Observations:
Predictions:
Tomorrow�s weather: Cloudy in the morning, then on and off rain showers in
the afternoon. High of 47F. Winds will be ENE at 10-20mph. Given the wind
direction I expect very few, if any, birds to move. Friday will be mostly
cloudy with some sun and will have strong SW winds at 20-30mph (with some
stronger gusts). Temps will reach a high of 68F. I am expecting there to be
some migration on Friday. As long as the winds aren�t too strong for the
birds, there is potential for a good flight!
========================================================================
Report submitted by Maili Waters (<mailirwaters...>)
Braddock Bay information may be found at:
http://www.bbrr.org/
Observation start time: 08:30:00
Observation end time: 12:00:00
Total observation time: 3.5 hours
Official Counter: Alec Humann
Observers:
Visitors:
No visitors
Weather:
A bummer of a day for sure! A cold front passage yesterday evening dropped
temperatures by 25 degrees and provided today with completely overcast
skies, temperatures not able to climb above 39 with light winds out of the
NNE�pretty much the worst case scenario! Oh yeah, forgot to mention a
west-east band of rain from Ohio into Pennsylvania slowly lifting north
into viewing area which no doubt kept even an adventurous TV from going
north over the watch site today.
Raptor Observations:
Only the local Coop pair showed once, a single local Red-tail and a single
local TV. No visible migrants.
Non-raptor Observations:
Nineteen species recorded into eBird today. The only birds that were
possibly on the move north were a handful of robins and Ring-billed Gulls.
Predictions:
Looking like another day of nothingness given the temperatures (30�s) with
ENE winds and then rain moves in around 1. Winds are not expected to go
southerly until after sunset. With two days of inclement weather, Friday
looks like it has some definite promise with SSW winds and temps in the
60�s and sunshine! Birds held up today and likely tomorrow will be hot to
trot on FriYay! Rain predicted for Saturday as a cold front enters the
region - go to the hawkwatch on Friday if you want to see a flight within
the next 5 days or so (unless the forecast changes).
========================================================================
Report submitted by Alec Humann (<alechumann...>)
Site Description:
This spring only "all volunteer" watch is conducted at Lakeside Cemetery in
Hamburg, NY. It is located on flat lake plain located along the shoreline
of the east end of Lake Erie, about 10 miles south of Buffalo, NY.
For additional information contact Jim Landau at <landaujr...>
Observation start time: 09:30:00 Observation end time: 15:30:00 Total observation time: 6 hours
Official Counter: Andy Dickson
Observers:
Visitors: Sherry Mattison came during the 9 hour and helped through noon. She's a fast learn and was clicking TVs on her first day on the job.
Weather: On arrival... 100% cloud cover, 54F, light rain and light SSW down escarpment turning SW at the lake shore. Temperatures rose throughout the day until 3pm when they dropped sharply due to a wind shift to N. By 4pms winds had returned to S and temperature noticeably rose again. Skies were mostly cloudy all day.
Raptor Observations: Excellent AK, SS and RT numbers, finally. The TV parade continued today bringing our March count over 20,000, a great start to the season. Hopefully, the numbers continue to improve throughout the season.
Non-raptor Observations:
Predictions: NE wind with increasing rain probability throughout the day, rising pressure and dropping temps. Not ideal conditions for a flight but who's to judge? ======================================================================== Report submitted by Andrew J. Dickson (<adickson3...>) Ripley Hawk Watch information may be found at: www.facebook.com/groups/3193820734258889/
Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 14:00:00 Total observation time: 5.5 hours
Official Counter: Sue Barth
Observers:
Visitors: None
Weather: Lots of rain in the first hour which cleared by 10:30 DST. Temperatures warmed from 51F to 67 in the afternoon. Winds were strong with a SW component all day, peak gusts were reported from the airport @ 35mph. Light rain returned around 2 DST and intensified with thunder and lightning by 2:30. Radar showed an extensive amount to come so I ended the watch at that point.
Raptor Observations: Today was better than I was expecting given the unsettled weather. An Osprey appeared in the pouring rain during the first hour, convincing me to stick around. Finally, midway through the 2nd hour, the rain stopped and TV's began to materialize from the gray clouds. The day's total came to just under 600, followed by 5 sharpies, then 1 each of Bald Eagle, Osprey, coop, red-tail, red-shoulder, Merlin, and kestrel. It was nice to have a little diversity.
Non-raptor Observations: 1 Common Loon, several ducks off and on at the pond, and just about 200 migrating robins that started moving en masse right after the morning rain ended. <br><br> <b>Today's eBird Checklist:</b> <a href="https://ebird.org/checklist/S315251723" title="Today's eBird Checklist">https://ebird.org/checklist/S315251723</a>
Predictions: Tomorrow: only a 20% chance of rain, cloudy with high of about 48F, but mild Northerly winds. Better than they were saying a few days ago...
Thursday: looks rainy (70% chance) but more favorable winds from the SSE at 6mph; temps around 70F. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Sue Barth (<suebarth...>)
Site Description: This spring only "all volunteer" watch is conducted at Lakeside Cemetery in Hamburg, NY. It is located on flat lake plain located along the shoreline of the east end of Lake Erie, about 10 miles south of Buffalo, NY. For additional information contact Jim Landau at <landaujr...>
Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 17:00:00 Total observation time: 7.75 hours
Official Counter: Kate Ebersol, Michael Ceci
Observers: Kate Ebersol, Keith Stock
Visitors: None
Weather: A pleasant late March morning and afternoon with temperatures remaining in the mid 60's F. The conditions at the start of the watch were near perfect with mild SSW wind and skies perfectly contrasted with white clouds. As the day progressed, wind changed with a westerly element. Accordingly, the birds began to move inland. Drizzle began at 1 PM and ended at 1:15PM. During the 1:00 hour, wind became WNW prompting a move up the escarpment. SSW wind resumed during the 2PM - 4 PM period. Accordingly, a brief time was spent at 1B, and the majority from 2-4PM was conducted from 1A, closest to the Lakeshore. The final hour (4-5PM) had another wind change NNW when the count was taken from sites 1B and 2.
Raptor Observations: After yesterday's record count, the observers of the RHW communicated a bit of doubt that today's flight would be substantial. After 3700+ birds 03/29/26, could the pipeline be dwindling? These concerns were put to rest, especially during the 11-12PM hour when a possible hourly record was set for the RHW with 1062 TV's. Records will be reviewed. During that hour, there were several kettles of 80 - 110 TV's that streamed over Forsyth Rd. Relatively high numbers continued during the 12-1PM hour with 726 TV's. Our newest Official Counter, Kate Ebersol came aboard at 1:45 PM to meet Keith and Mike at Site # 3(Creamery Road) and immediately noted the wind shifted to SSW. Immediately, Kate moved towards the Lake, initially counting from Site 1B (Forsyth Rd) and then, a quick move to 1A. Kate's sole efforts from 2:00 - 5:00 added 1098 TV's to the count, as well as some quality raptors. All in all, this will be a day to remember.
Non-raptor Observations: There were various sightings of local Bald Eagles, Red Tails, and AK's. Given the conditions, it was impossible to identify some of the migrating raptors. With great certainty, we surmise there were raptors that we couldn't concentrate on, as we were utilizing clickers and charts to concentrate on the TV flight.
Predictions: For Tuesday, 03/31/2026, Thunderstorms, severe at times are in the forecast with temperatures remaining in the mid-60's. Chance of rain is 90%. SSW wind is projected to be 15-25MPH. During the past two days, we've counted approximately 7400 birds. So, the question becomes: what's left in the pipeline? Were today's high numbers a result of the birds staying ahead of the projected weather fronts? As we've learned from past seasons, Tuesday's weather has the potential for a decent flight in between the T storm activity. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Michael Ceci (<michael.ceci541...>) Ripley Hawk Watch information may be found at: www.facebook.com/groups/3193820734258889/
Observation start time: 06:00:00
Observation end time: 17:00:00
Total observation time: 11 hours
Official Counter: Maili Waters
Observers: Bridget Watts, Candy Giles, Daena Ford, Dominic Sherony,
Greg Lawrence, Greg Sanda, Janis George, Pat Martin,
Roger Clark, Rosemary Reilly, Shannon Sanda,
Sheryl Gracewski, Vid Killius
Visitors:
20
Weather:
Another awesome day! The morning started off mostly cloudy with light SW
winds and temps in the upper 30s. The winds slowly increased throughout the
day to 20-30mph and shifted more to the west. The skies remained partly
cloudy all day. Temps reached a high of 64F.
Raptor Observations:
A total of 2,574 raptors passed over Braddock Bay today! The flight was
mostly very high along the lakeshore, with only a handful of birds that
were lower. Turkey Vultures continue to be the most abundant species by far
with a total of 2,325 birds. Sharp-shinned Hawks were the second most
abundant species with a total of 81. Red-tailed Hawks (54), Red-shouldered
Hawks (37), and American Kestrels (34) were also mixed in with the vulture
flight. Besides the great numbers of Turkey Vultures, the highlight of the
day were two Black Vultures! Both birds flew by in the afternoon, the first
was just after 3pm and the second was at 5pm.
Non-raptor Observations:
Other birds: The morning produced a few hundred robins and blackbirds
moving, along with a few flocks of Canada Geese. The first Golden-crowned
Kinglets of the season were calling by the parking lot. A White-crowned
Sparrow was heard singing several times in the morning. The �honorary
raptor� highlight of the day was a beautiful Northern Shrike that hung out
for a little while in the late afternoon.
Predictions:
Tomorrow�s weather: Showers and thundershowers in the morning, then cloudy
with rain likely in the afternoon. Temps will reach a high around 55F.
Winds will be WSW in the morning, shifting to east at 10-15mph. With the
amount of rain predicted, I�m not expecting there to be much, if any,
migration.
========================================================================
Report submitted by Maili Waters (<mailirwaters...>)
Braddock Bay information may be found at:
http://www.bbrr.org/
Observation start time: 09:00:00
Observation end time: 14:00:00
Total observation time: 5 hours
Official Counter: Carl Carbone
Observers: Stephanie Carbone
Visitors:
Shelley Seidman, Kimberly Adriaansen, Joe Sullivan and Peter Yoerg assisted
for parts of the watch.
Weather:
Mostly to variably cloudy with a brisk SW to WSW breeze and gusts strong
enough to almost knock us over! Temps were around 60�F, but felt much
cooler with the wind.
Raptor Observations:
Excellent Turkey Vulture flight. Red-tailed were next up, with a few
Cooper's and Sharp-shined. A few Merlin and one American Kestrel. A couple
of Bald Eagles and Ospreys.
Non-raptor Observations:
A couple of Killdeer getting busy on a roof of a nearby business. A few
flights of Double-created Cormorants.
Predictions:
From NWS: Showers and thunderstorms before 1pm, then showers and possibly a
thunderstorm, mainly after 1pm. High near 67. Southwest wind 10 to 13 mph,
with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall
amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
========================================================================
Report submitted by Carl Carbone (<csquared63...>)
Site Description:
This spring only "all volunteer" watch is conducted at Lakeside Cemetery in
Hamburg, NY. It is located on flat lake plain located along the shoreline
of the east end of Lake Erie, about 10 miles south of Buffalo, NY.
For additional information contact Jim Landau at <landaujr...>
Directions to site:
Lakeside Cemetery is located in Hamburg, NY which is about 10 miles
southwest of Buffalo, NY at the Hamburg Exit 57 of the NY State Thruway.
Bear right after the toll booth onto Camp Road (Route 75). Proceed through
the traffic light at Southwestern Blvd.(Route 20). The entrance to Lakeside
Cemetery is on the left, less than 1/4 mile from the light. The watch is
normally conducted half way between the entrance and the woods.
There is currently one alternate location for easterly winds that move the
flight path to the west and closer to the lake shore. That is farther into
Lakeside Cemetery at Section H.
Observation start time: 06:00:00
Observation end time: 17:00:00
Total observation time: 10.5 hours
Official Counter: Maili Waters
Observers: Bridget Watts, Dominic Sherony, Greg Lawrence, Greg Sanda,
Luke Seitz, Mitch Barry, Pat Lindsay, Pat Martin,
Roger Clark, Shannon Sanda, Sheryl Gracewski, Vid Killius
Visitors:
20
Weather:
What a great day! The morning started off with temps in the mid 30s and SSW
winds at 10-15mph. It was partly sunny all day and the temps reached a high
of 52F. Winds stayed SW all day.
Raptor Observations:
As expected, today featured a great flight of Turkey Vultures! We ended the
day with just over 2,500 individuals! The flight included a smattering of
other species with Red-shouldered Hawks (68), Red-tailed Hawks (56), and
Sharp-shinned Hawks (49) being the most abundant. The second Osprey of the
season passed by as well as a light morph Rough-legged Hawk. The rarity
highlight of the day was a beautiful Black Vulture!!
Non-raptor Observations:
Other birds: The first Great Egret of the season flew over and a Canvasback
x Redhead hybrid was seen on the bay! The morning was quiet with very few
passerines moving around.
Predictions:
Tomorrow�s weather: Cloudy with a high of 62F. Winds will be WSW at
10-20mph. Slight chance of rain in the afternoon. I am expecting another
good day, especially for Turkey Vultures, and hopefully other fun species
mixed in!
========================================================================
Report submitted by Maili Waters (<mailirwaters...>)
Braddock Bay information may be found at:
http://www.bbrr.org/
Observation start time: 08:15:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 7.75 hours
Official Counter: Katelyn Davis
Observers: Devin Banning, Gary Bletsch, Janis Bowman, Mike Ceci
Visitors: Gary Bletsch, Jan Bowman
Weather: Starting off very chilly with a steady SSW wind. Temps gradually warmed throughout the day to 49F. Winds were fickle once again, with SW winds eventually giving way to a lake breeze which forced the observers to site 1B, 2, and finally 3. Winds constantly shifted between NW, SW, and SE. Overcast skies that were forecasted never materialized, and we have a terrific blend of blue and white that helped us see birds. Visibility was also wonderful, and from Site 3 one could clearly see the 50 miles to the factories across the lake, we also had great views of Long Point PP and the lighthouse there! Around 4pm, heavier clouds moved in which seemed to signal the end of the
Raptor Observations: The flight began in earnest during the 9am hour. While the flight was initially spread out over 1, 1b, and 2, the flight consolidated directly over site one and was thrilling with kettles of over 100 birds. Eventually, the lake breeze won out, and observers moved briefly to 1B before settling at 2 just after 12pm. By 12:45pm, the flight had again drifted inland, so the remaining observers moved to site 3 while Mike Ceci provided good counts of separate birds moving over the Forsythe Bridge. Our first bigger Sharpie day with 20, six NHs, 29 RTs and a smattering of Kestrels, Eagles, and Cooper's Hawk.
Non-raptor Observations: 3,600+ Turkey Vultures! Our biggest TV day since 03/26/2020, which had 4345. They came through in kettles of 100+ over all four sites we utilized today.
Eleven Sandhill Cranes! including seven over site 3. Horned Larks, Great Blue Heron, Common Ravens, Song Sparrows, Blackbird Flocks, Green-winged Teal, Bufflehead, Canada Goose, many Robins, Flickers on the move, Tree Swallow, Bluebird, House Finches, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Killdeer and many more species on this busy day!
Farmer's Daughter is open for business.
Predictions: Monday looks great, but what could be left in the pipeline? We will see!
Tuesday looks good, but all about timing with the rain. Very warm and excellent winds. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Devin Banning (<devincban...>) Ripley Hawk Watch information may be found at: www.facebook.com/groups/3193820734258889/
Date: 3/29/26 6:25 am From: Peter Saracino <petersaracino...> Subject: [GeneseeBirds-L] Winter Into Spring Interpretive Walk at the Montezuma Refuge 4/4/26
The Sun, our star, is bringing Earth's Northern Hemisphere back to life! The cranes know it, the pintails know it, the tree swallows know it, the wood frogs, peepers and spotted salamanders know it, and the aspens and silver maples know it too. Even the purple martins are on their way back! Come this Saturday, April 4th, and see for yourself. And bring a friend. Walks are free and begin at 10 am at the Refuge Visitor Center. All ages welcomed. No pets please. Pete Saracino m/ Refuge Volunteer Naturalist/ New York State Master Naturalist Volunteer
Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 6 hours
Official Counter: Michael Ceci
Observers:
Visitors: None
Weather: Forecasted S/SW winds never materialized. For the entirety of today's watch, the wind was N to N/W at various speeds. There was no definitive flight line, as the birds were spread from Route 5 inland 1.8 miles to the cell tower (Site 4) At the start of the Watch, temperature was -2.2C and increased to -.555 when the Watch concluded @ 3:00 PM. For the entire day, it was necessary to change sites, depending on the movement. As the cloud cover decreased, the flight was somewhat predictable, as the birds used the thermals over Rt 20, I-90, and Rt 5
Raptor Observations: As the day progressed, the count increased due to improved weather conditions. The largest flight of TV's was 123 during the 1:00 - 2:00 hour. Due to the height and distance, several raptors could not be identified.
Non-raptor Observations: Throughout the day, there was a steady presence of local Bald Eagles, Red-Tailed hawks, and an AK that was hovering over the field west of Site # 2. Non-raptors included American Crows, and a variety of passerines.
Predictions: For Sunday, 03/29/2026: partly to mostly cloudy. Much warmer. High 51F. S and SW winds are predicted for most of the day, causing optimism for a meaningful flight. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Michael Ceci (<michael.ceci541...>) Ripley Hawk Watch information may be found at: www.facebook.com/groups/3193820734258889/
Observation start time: 09:00:00
Observation end time: 14:00:00
Total observation time: 5 hours
Official Counter: Maili Waters
Observers: Daena Ford, Peter Burns, Tim Willis
Visitors:
13
Weather:
Today started off with a snow squall that lasted until around 10am. It then
became mostly sunny with west winds at 15-25mph. Temps reached a high of
32F. It became more cloudy in the afternoon.
Raptor Observations:
A total of 146 Turkey Vultures passed by, mostly over the barrier island. 4
Red-tailed Hawks migrated over along with 8 Bald Eagles, all immatures. 1
Northern Harrier, 1 Cooper�s Hawk, 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk, and 1 American
Kestrel were high flying migrants.
Non-raptor Observations:
Other birds: A handful of ducks continue in the bay. Several Tree Swallows
were getting blown around in the wind. Two Common Ravens flew over calling.
Predictions:
Tomorrow�s weather: Overcast with temps reaching a high of 52F. Winds will
be SW at 10-20mph. There is good potential for a big Turkey Vulture flight!
Hopefully there will also be a nice mix of other species including some
Red-shouldered Hawks and Bald Eagles. Monday also looks like it has
potential with SW winds at 10-20mph and temps reaching a high of 59F!
========================================================================
Report submitted by Maili Waters (<mailirwaters...>)
Braddock Bay information may be found at:
http://www.bbrr.org/
Observation start time: 09:15:00 Observation end time: 12:15:00 Total observation time: 2.75 hours
Official Counter: Steve Pitt
Observers:
Visitors: None
Weather: Partly cloudy, cold day.
Raptor Observations: Between 10:30pm and 12:15pm, there was a steady stream of Turkey Vultures heading North and Northeast. I saw one kettle form with seventeen Turkey Vultures and two Red-tailed Hawks.
Non-raptor Observations:
======================================================================== Report submitted by Steve Pitt (<spitt...>)
Site Description: This spring only "all volunteer" watch is conducted at Lakeside Cemetery in Hamburg, NY. It is located on flat lake plain located along the shoreline of the east end of Lake Erie, about 10 miles south of Buffalo, NY. For additional information contact Jim Landau at <landaujr...>
Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 13:00:00 Total observation time: 4 hours
Official Counter: Fred Harrington
Observers: Joe Sullivan
Visitors: Joe Sullivan
Weather: Cold, light N wind. Temps just below freezing. Count started nearly completely cloudy and ended with clear skies.
Raptor Observations: Just a trickle of Turkey Vultures moved through along with 2 Red-tailed Hawks. Local Cooper's Hawk and Red-tails hunted over the count area on the main cemetery road near the Camp Road entrance. As I came in the back way to the cemetery, I found a committee of ~20 TVs roosting in the woods. They took flight and moved NE around 9:30 am.
Non-raptor Observations: Very few birds on the ground or in flight - crows, gulls, robins, starlings, Cardinal, Killdeer and red-wings. On the pond -3 Common Merganser, 4 Hooded Merganser, 2 Canada Geese and 4 Lesser Scaup.
Predictions: Temps near freezing, gusty W wind, partly cloudy with chance of light snow. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Frederick Harrington (<harrinfe...>)
Site Description: This spring only "all volunteer" watch is conducted at Lakeside Cemetery in Hamburg, NY. It is located on flat lake plain located along the shoreline of the east end of Lake Erie, about 10 miles south of Buffalo, NY. For additional information contact Jim Landau at <landaujr...>
Observation start time: 09:00:00
Observation end time: 13:00:00
Total observation time: 4 hours
Official Counter: Maili Waters
Observers: Vid Killius
Visitors:
1
Weather:
Today was sunny with temps in the 20s and NNE winds at 15-20mph.
Raptor Observations:
Due to the northerly winds and the cold temps, only a handful of raptors
were on the move. The birds that did go by were moving very slowly into the
headwinds. 33 Turkey Vultures decided to brave the winds and power east.
The only other birds seen were 4 Bald Eagles and 1 Cooper�s Hawk.
Non-raptor Observations:
The strong winds plus the amount of heat shimmer made scoping the bay
almost impossible, and there weren�t many birds flying around.
Predictions:
Tomorrow�s weather: Partly cloudy with temps reaching a high of 34F. Winds
will be WNW at 15-25mph. I expect there to be a similar number of birds as
there was today. Sunday will be overcast with a high of 52F. Winds will be
SW at 10-20mph. It looks like there could be real potential for a good
flight as long as the overcast skies don�t damper it too much!
========================================================================
Report submitted by Maili Waters (<mailirwaters...>)
Braddock Bay information may be found at:
http://www.bbrr.org/
Observation start time: 11:30:00 Observation end time: 12:30:00 Total observation time: 1 hours
Official Counter: Michael Ceci
Observers:
Weather: 26F, NNE winds 4-6mph, 90% cloud cover
Raptor Observations: Only local RT and BE. Some TVs but not moving.
Non-raptor Observations: 2 Sandhill cranes
Predictions: Cold, WNW winds and some sun. Not ideal for a flight but something might move. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Andrew J. Dickson (<adickson3...>) Ripley Hawk Watch information may be found at: www.facebook.com/groups/3193820734258889/
Date: 3/27/26 9:45 am From: 'Lynn A. Braband' via Geneseebirds <geneseebirds-l...> Subject: [GeneseeBirds-L] Study in search of a tropical spring is first to show some birds flip their breeding season in response to climate
Study in search of a tropical spring is first to show some birds flip their breeding season in response to climate https://share.google/lwYLjpydveYyrRmo8
Date: 3/27/26 4:53 am From: Peter Saracino <petersaracino...> Subject: [GeneseeBirds-L] Built to Fly, Wade, and Dance: Inside Crane Anatomy from Head to Toe
For we lovers of cranes:
What makes a crane’s anatomy so perfectly suited for life in wetlands, long
migrations, and graceful courtship dances? Join Sara Kalani, Veterinary
Technician with the International Crane Foundation’s Conservation Medicine
Team, for a fun, behind-the-scenes look at crane anatomy—from head to toe.
Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 6 hours
Official Counter: Chris Rockwell
Observers: Josh Ketry, Sandy Radigan
Visitors: Josh Ketry Sandy Radigan
Weather: Warmer today than it has been for days. Light SE winds switched to western wind by the end. Partly cloudy with increasing cloud cover in the afternoon.
Raptor Observations: Excellent flight today. Practically no raptor activity for the first two hours. I set up by the pond given the minimal winds and the floodgates opened at 11am. Regular kettles of turkey vultures with other raptors mixed in, including 8 bald eagles, 2 harriers, a rough-legged hawk, and a merlin. Relocated to the normal eastern hawkwatch spot at 1pm as the flight drifted inland. Greatly appreciated having help from Josh and Sandy. Ten raptor species detected today!
Non-raptor Observations: Lesser scaup and hooded mergansers on the pond. My FOY eastern phoebe.
Predictions: Forecast is high of 61 with WSW winds with heavy rain in the afternoon. Could be a good flight prior to the rain. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Christine Rockwell (<rockwell.christina...>)
Site Description: This spring only "all volunteer" watch is conducted at Lakeside Cemetery in Hamburg, NY. It is located on flat lake plain located along the shoreline of the east end of Lake Erie, about 10 miles south of Buffalo, NY. For additional information contact Jim Landau at <landaujr...>
Observation start time: 06:30:00
Observation end time: 12:30:00
Total observation time: 6 hours
Official Counter: Maili Waters
Observers: Brad Carlson, Bridget Watts, Cliff Dekdebrun,
Dominic Sherony, Pat Lindsay, Pat Martin, Robin Morey,
Roger Clark, Rosemary Reilly, Sheryl Gracewski,
Vid Killius
Visitors:
20
Weather:
The day started with temps in the 50s with mostly sunny skies and light SE
winds. As the morning progressed, it became overcast and the winds
increased and shifted to the WSW. Temps reached a high of 60F. Around 1pm a
strong lake breeze started up and the temperature dropped several degrees.
This pushed the flight to Frisbee Hill, but it was soon shut down
completely when the rain started. Solid rain for the rest of the day.
Raptor Observations:
The flight was slow to start but picked up dramatically from 12pm to 1pm.
Over the course of the day, there were a total of 808 individuals
representing 11 different species. Turkey Vultures were the most numerous
species with a total of 638. Red-tailed Hawks (46), Red-shouldered Hawk
(44), and Sharp-shinned Hawks (33) were moving in good numbers. Highlights
of the day include the first Osprey of the season, 3 Rough-legged Hawks,
and 1 Golden Eagle!
Non-raptor Observations:
Other birds: There were several hundred blackbirds and robins migrating in
the morning. Double-crested Cormorant (38), Tree Swallows (75), and
Killdeer (27) numbers have increased. A flock of 15 Tundra Swans flew by
over the barrier island.
Predictions:
Tomorrow�s weather: Cold. Temps will reach a high of 29F. Some clouds in
the morning will give way to mostly sunny skies for the afternoon. Winds
will be north at 10-20mph. I do not expect any raptors to be migrating
tomorrow. Saturday: cloudy in the morning with sun in the afternoon. Temps
will reach a high of 33F. Winds will be WNW at 15-25mph. Some snow showers
are possible. I expect very few, if any, migrating raptors. Sunday:
Overcast with a high of 52F. Winds SW at 10-15mph. Depending on how
overcast it is, I think there should be some migration! Most likely Turkey
Vultures will be the majority of the flight with some other species mixed
in!
========================================================================
Report submitted by Maili Waters (<mailirwaters...>)
Braddock Bay information may be found at:
http://www.bbrr.org/
Observation start time: 08:30:00 Observation end time: 13:30:00 Total observation time: 5 hours
Official Counter: Andy Dickson, Michael Ceci
Observers: Kate Ebersol, Mike Ceci
Visitors: Don & Stephanie Banazak
Weather: Cloudless skies and warm SW wind. Cloud cover grew to 100% at 1:30 when heavy rain ended the count.
Raptor Observations: Skied were filled with kettles as I drove west to site #1 at 9AM. Mike counted big numbers on his trip to Northeast PA in the 8AM hour. Numbers reported in the 8-9 hour of this report are estimates based on the numbers seen in the four miles between Barcelona and site #1, as well as Mike's hard count for a portion of the hour. Count began at Forsythe Rd bridge and continued there until move to #2 around 1:14pm. Clearly reported numbers today are a significant under-count for both TVs and raptors. I expect a BV or two or three came through during the 9-10 rush but the skies were too big and too full to use optics for the count and some birds got past unnoticed.
Non-raptor Observations: 15 Sandhill cranes came through high in tight V formation at 11:30.
Predictions: Cold with NE winds. A meaningful flight is unlikely. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Andrew J. Dickson (<adickson3...>) Ripley Hawk Watch information may be found at: www.facebook.com/groups/3193820734258889/
Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 13:00:00 Total observation time: 4 hours
Official Counter: Sharon Sisti
Observers: Jennifer Caughel
Visitors: Jenifer Caughel
Weather: Initially sunny with some clouds, low-moderate winds in anticipation of a front coming in from the NW. Over a four hour period the sky grew increasingly cloudy with rain toward the end of the count.
Raptor Observations: Good TV flight with a few accipiters, RT and RSH, and one Bald Eagle.
Non-raptor Observations: Three Common Loons.
Predictions: Much colder, 33F, N winds. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Sharon Sisti (<sharonsisti...>)
Site Description: This spring only "all volunteer" watch is conducted at Lakeside Cemetery in Hamburg, NY. It is located on flat lake plain located along the shoreline of the east end of Lake Erie, about 10 miles south of Buffalo, NY. For additional information contact Jim Landau at <landaujr...>
Date: 3/26/26 7:38 am From: Peter Saracino <petersaracino...> Subject: [GeneseeBirds-L] Winter Into Spring Interpretive Walk Continues This Saturday at the Montezuma Refuge
See attached for details. Hope to see you there. And bring a friend! Pete Saracino/Refuge Volunteer Naturalist/New York State Master Naturalist Volunteer
Observation start time: 07:00:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 8.5 hours
Official Counter: Maili Waters
Observers: Bridget Watts, Dominic Sherony, Mike Tetlow, Pat Lindsay,
Robin Morey, Rosemary Reilly, Tim Willis
Visitors:
10
Weather:
Today started off cloudy with temps in the low 30s. Winds were south at
5-10mph. By mid-day it was mostly sunny and temps reached a high of 44F,
but a strong lake breeze took over and pushed the flight inland. We moved
to Frisbee Hill, however the flight was even farther in, and only a few
birds were seen. Around 2pm I moved back to Braddock Bay Park in hopes that
there were some vultures going down the lakeshore again. The winds remained
NE and it became completely cloudy with the temps dropping back into the
30s.
Raptor Observations:
The flight was a little frustrating today. There were birds seen early,
giving me hope, however the strong lake breeze pushed the flight too far
inland and a flight line never materialized within sight of either count
location. Over the course of the day, we had a few hundred Turkey Vultures
and only a handful of other raptors. We had single digit Red-tailed Hawks,
Red-shouldered Hawks, Bald Eagles, and Cooper�s Hawks. The first two birds
of the day were a Merlin and an American Kestrel.
Non-raptor Observations:
Other birds include my first Eastern Phoebe of the season, 6 Sandhill
Cranes, and a few hundred robins and blackbirds on the move. All three
species of grebe were on the bay this morning with 4 Horned, 2 Pied-billed,
and 1 Red-necked.
Predictions:
Tomorrow�s weather: Cloudy skies in the morning with periods of rain in the
afternoon. Temps will reach a high of 56F. Winds will be WSW in the
morning, shifting to WNW in the afternoon. Depending on how heavy the cloud
cover is and when the rain hits, there could be raptors on the move in the
morning. Most likely Turkey Vultures will be the most abundant species with
a handful of other species mixed in.
========================================================================
Report submitted by Maili Waters (<mailirwaters...>)
Braddock Bay information may be found at:
http://www.bbrr.org/
Observation start time: 09:15:00 Observation end time: 15:30:00 Total observation time: 6.25 hours
Official Counter: Andy Dickson
Observers: Keith Stock
Weather: Calm wind and high uniform clouds on arrival at lake shore site #1,. while winds inland were SSW coming down escarpment. Winds moved to west midday, then onshore northerly to end the count. We migrated the count inland throughout the day ending high at Creamery Rd #3. Significant clearing beginning mid morning generated good thermals but 100% cloud cover returned mid afternoon.
Raptor Observations: Good number of species. Most were easy to find while a moderate TV flight marked the flight paths. Mid day flight path spread wide across the lake plane between I90 and above Parker Rd #2. Flight ended high on the escarpment where we counted from Creamery Rd #3. Without Keith, many birds would have been missed.
Non-raptor Observations: 2 Sandhill cranes
Predictions: SW winds, warmer temps, dropping pressure and a front arriving early afternoon might push birds through. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Andrew J. Dickson (<adickson3...>) Ripley Hawk Watch information may be found at: www.facebook.com/groups/3193820734258889/
Observation start time: 07:00:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 9 hours
Official Counter: Maili Waters
Observers: Bob Crandall, Bridget Watts, Daena Ford, Luke Seitz,
Mike Tetlow, Mitch Barry, Shelly Rackovsky, Tim Willis
Visitors:
12
Weather:
Today was a chilly yet productive day for raptor migration! The morning
started off in the 20s with light west winds and clear blue skies. As the
morning progressed, a few clouds moved in, but it stayed mostly sunny all
day. Around noon the winds shifted to SW and the flight picked up
substantially. Just after 2pm the lake breeze kicked in and we moved the
watch to Frisbee Hill. After around two hours at Frisbee, the southerly
winds increased a bit and pushed the birds toward the lakeshore again, so
we ended the day back at Braddock Bay Park. Temps reached a high of 39F.
Raptor Observations:
The day ended with a total of 579 raptors representing 11 different
species! Turkey Vultures were the most numerous species today with a total
of 419. Quite a few Bald Eagles were moving today, some in groups of up to
7 or 8, and we ended the day with a total of 61. Red-tailed Hawks (48),
Red-shouldered Hawks (21), and Cooper�s Hawks (10) were also moving in
decent numbers. We were excited to see a Rough-legged Hawk and four Golden
Eagles!
Non-raptor Observations:
The first Fox Sparrow of the season was feeding along the hedge row. A
Trumpeter Swan flew by at close range providing excellent views.
Predictions:
Tomorrow�s weather: Cloudy. Light south winds in the morning become
slightly stronger ESE in the afternoon with a chance of the lake breeze
taking over, although upper level winds look like they�ll still be S or
even SW later in the day. Temps will reach a high of 47F. Honestly I�m not
sure what tomorrow will look like in terms of raptor migration! I am
expecting some Turkey Vultures to be on the move, and probably a handful of
other species, but numbers will depend on how overcast it is and if the
lake breeze takes over.
========================================================================
Report submitted by Maili Waters (<mailirwaters...>)
Braddock Bay information may be found at:
http://www.bbrr.org/
Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 14:00:00
Total observation time: 6 hours
Official Counter: Sue Barth
Observers:
Visitors:
None
Weather:
Chilly but sunny - temps went from 28 to 38�F by 1pm then started to cool
back down after that. Winds stayed pretty low, SSW to W by midday. Once
the winds changed more from the west, the birds began flying more inland
unlike the morning when they flew very close to the lake. It was a
cloudless sky for the morning, but afternoon brought in a lot of clouds.
Raptor Observations:
A good day for Turkey Vultures, with a total of 1599. 23 migrating
Red-tails, 8 Red-shoulders, 2 migrating coops, and 4 migrating Bald Eagles.
Non-raptor Observations:
Lesser Scaup continue in the pond along with a few Hooded Mergansers. A
flock of pintail flew overhead and a Belted Kingfisher made his presence
known throughout the day.
<br><br>
<b>Today's eBird Checklist:</b> <a
href="https://ebird.org/checklist/S312793932" title="Today's eBird
Checklist">https://ebird.org/checklist/S312793932</a>
Predictions:
Tomorrow (Wed) looks better but cloudy. Temperatures should warm up to
51�. The SSW winds will be a bit on the mild side but with the favorable
direction and warmer temps, it should be a decent day. Thursday holds a
70% chance of rain later in the day but the higher temperatures and SW
winds earlier on should make for another good day for at least the first
half, depending on when the rain arrives.
========================================================================
Report submitted by Sue Barth (<suebarth...>)
Site Description:
This spring only "all volunteer" watch is conducted at Lakeside Cemetery in
Hamburg, NY. It is located on flat lake plain located along the shoreline
of the east end of Lake Erie, about 10 miles south of Buffalo, NY.
For additional information contact Jim Landau at <landaujr...>
Observation start time: 09:15:00 Observation end time: 15:30:00 Total observation time: 6.25 hours
Official Counter: Andy Dickson
Observers: Mike Ceci
Weather: Clear skies on arrival, near 0C temps. Light SSW wind coming down escarpment turning to SW along the lake shore at site #1. Anticipated wind change was more abrupt than expected with winds turning to WNW at 12:20. Cloud cover transitioned to 95% by end of watch.
Raptor Observations: The first group of TVs passed early at 9:25 and never let up until 3pm. Early flight line was overhead at #1 and sometimes drifted back and forth to the lake shore at manageable height. Some early groups came through very low over the western trees then directly overhead and gave us little warning; some came very high and smalls were likely missed. After wind shift, flight was spread 1.5 miles wide wide between high on escarpment and lake shore, with most of the birds passing between the I90 and #2 Parker Rd location.
Non-raptor Observations: Too busy to notice.
Predictions: Dropping pressure, southerly winds and warmer temps: very good flight conditions.
A front arriving Thursday afternoon might push birds through. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Andrew J. Dickson (<adickson3...>) Ripley Hawk Watch information may be found at: www.facebook.com/groups/3193820734258889/
Date: 3/24/26 10:27 am From: 'Lynn A. Braband' via Geneseebirds <geneseebirds-l...> Subject: [GeneseeBirds-L] Re: Urban blue tits use discarded cigarette butts to protect their nests
Date: 3/24/26 10:24 am From: 'Lynn A. Braband' via Geneseebirds <geneseebirds-l...> Subject: [GeneseeBirds-L] Re: Scientists track millions of bird movements to protect declining shorebirds
Observation start time: 09:00:00
Observation end time: 13:00:00
Total observation time: 4 hours
Official Counter: Maili Waters
Observers:
Visitors:
1
Weather:
Today was cloudy with north winds at 10-15mph. Temps were in the low 30s.
Snow flurries started around 1pm, continuing on and off for the rest of the
day.
Raptor Observations:
Despite the north winds, there were 6 brave souls that decided to move
east; 2 Bald Eagles and 4 Turkey Vultures.
Non-raptor Observations:
Duck numbers continue to slowly decrease in the bay. Two Tree Swallows flew
over, fighting the north wind.
Predictions:
Tomorrow�s weather: Partly sunny skies in the morning will give way to
cloudy skies in the afternoon. Temps will reach a high of 42F. Winds will
WNW in the early morning, but switch to WSW in the late morning. The west
winds should encourage some birds to move! I�m hoping the partly sunny
conditions last into the afternoon, which would entice more movement.
Turkey Vultures will probably be the majority of the flight. Wednesday also
looks like it could have a decent number of birds on the move.
========================================================================
Report submitted by Maili Waters (<mailirwaters...>)
Braddock Bay information may be found at:
http://www.bbrr.org/
Observation start time: 09:30:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 5.5 hours
Official Counter: Chris Rockwell
Observers:
Visitors: One uncommunicative visitor present for about an hour.
Weather: Consistently cold (high of 31F) and cloudy with light southern winds.
Raptor Observations: Slow start to the day, with first migrant raptor (turkey vultures) starting at 10:45. Small groups of turkey vultures migrating fairly close to the count location, plus a local pair of red-tailed hawks.
Non-raptor Observations: One sandhill crane flyover was the highlight for the day's count.
Predictions: Likely similar to today, slightly warmer and stronger winds. Possible morning showers. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Christine Rockwell (<rockwell.christina...>)
Site Description: This spring only "all volunteer" watch is conducted at Lakeside Cemetery in Hamburg, NY. It is located on flat lake plain located along the shoreline of the east end of Lake Erie, about 10 miles south of Buffalo, NY. For additional information contact Jim Landau at <landaujr...>
Observation start time: 07:00:00
Observation end time: 09:00:00
Total observation time: 1.25 hours
Official Counter: Maili Waters
Observers:
Visitors:
2
Weather:
There was a little bit of sun for the first hour of the day, however it
became completely overcast for the rest of the day. The rain started just
after 9am and lasted until ~4pm. Temps in the 40s. The count was shortened
to just an hour and 15 minutes in the morning before the rain started.
Raptor Observations:
There were no migrating raptors seen today
Non-raptor Observations:
There were a decent number of robins and blackbirds moving around this
morning. There were also 7 Pine Siskins that flew over.
Predictions:
Tomorrow�s weather: Cloudy. A few snow flurries are possible. High of 36F.
Winds will be NNW at 10-20mph. With the northerly winds, I am not expecting
much, if any, migration. Tuesday will have a mix of sun and clouds in the
morning, becoming cloudy in the afternoon. Temps will reach a high of 42F.
Winds will be west at 10-20mph. Hopefully the westerly winds will push some
raptors through! I�m not expecting a huge flight, but I think there will be
some movement. The majority of the birds will probably be Turkey Vultures.
========================================================================
Report submitted by Maili Waters (<mailirwaters...>)
Braddock Bay information may be found at:
http://www.bbrr.org/
Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 13:30:00 Total observation time: 4.5 hours
Official Counter: Katelyn Davis, Michael Ceci
Observers: Devin Banning, Mike Ceci
Visitors: Mike Ceci stopped by and took over the last hour of the count.
Weather: Perhaps the most fickle weather I have ever seen at RHW! Upon arrival Winds were out of the S and sun blanketed the watch, quickly that changed. By 1000 some light precipitation had moved through and winds shifted westerly. At one point during the 1000 hour, the Parker Rd windmill showed W, the windmill east of that showed S, and there was a northerly breeze at Site 1! Rounds of precipitation continued throughout the count period. Temps remained in the 50s. The Parker Rd windmill was occasionally reading an easterly wind, but would then flip back to NW. The wind flipped to N around 12:30pm, and then back S by 1pm. The rain was too frequent and after the 1100 we did not see another substantial push.
Raptor Observations: Three AKs and couple CHs. The highlight was a gray ghost NH that flew low over site 2. Resident Bald Eagles and AKs at Sites 1 and 2.
The tree that has held the Red-tailed Hawk nest at Site 2 for years either fell or was deliberately cut down, unfortunately.
Non-raptor Observations: TV flight line established south of Site 2, but since conditions at Site 3 are so messy, and also since we could see everything perfectly fine from Site 2, we decided to stay put.
Eastern Meadowlark, at least 1,063 Red-winged Blackbirds, 644 Common Grackles, 127 Brown-headed Cowbirds. Three Eastern Meadowlarks at Site 1, Horned Larks, many Killdeer. Double-crested Cormorants, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Great Blue Heron. At the Forsyth Rd. Pond we had Geese, Ring-necked Ducks, Bufflehead, and Hooded Mergansers.
Predictions: Not looking good. Cold and northerly winds usually doesn't produce a flight. Tuesday, Wednesday, and especially Thursday look promising! ======================================================================== Report submitted by Devin Banning (<devincban...>) Ripley Hawk Watch information may be found at: www.facebook.com/groups/3193820734258889/
Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 14:15:00 Total observation time: 6.25 hours
Official Counter: David Gordon
Observers: Peg Clukey
Visitors: Peg Clukey came and spent the first three hours watching the sky with me.
Weather: Weather conditions were very steady today. Clouds were 100% in place over the watch site for the entire count period. There was no change precipitation (0), barometric pressure (30.0), visibility (16K), or wind speed (3) for the entire period. The air temperature began at 2 degrees C and rose steadily to 5 degrees C at the end. Conversely, humidity fell from 80% to 69% over the count period. The mainly north wind varied slightly, NW to NE, throughout the count period .
Raptor Observations: We waited out the first two hours of no sighting. The last 15 minutes of the third hour started the slow but steady flow of TVs and small numbers of other early season movers. As I was leaving, all packed up and driving out, a Sharpie flew by, asking to be added to the count.
Non-raptor Observations: American Robins were the main seasonal bird, sight and sound wise. No major movement of any particular species.
Predictions: Seems like a rainy day with more favorable winds is in the offing . ======================================================================== Report submitted by David Gordon (<dgordonphoto...>)
Site Description: This spring only "all volunteer" watch is conducted at Lakeside Cemetery in Hamburg, NY. It is located on flat lake plain located along the shoreline of the east end of Lake Erie, about 10 miles south of Buffalo, NY. For additional information contact Jim Landau at <landaujr...>
Observation start time: 09:45:00 Observation end time: 14:30:00 Total observation time: 3.75 hours
Official Counter: Steve Pitt
Observers:
Visitors: None
Weather: The temperature ranged between 45 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit with a mostly mild southerly wind. It rained most of the day with few breaks. The two longest breaks in the rain between 10:50am and 11:30am and 1:15pm to 2:20pm saw some migratory activity, including some Turkey Vulture kettles during the 1:15pm-2:20pm period.
Raptor Observations: Mostly Turkey Vultures, but also a solo Osprey and Merlin.
Non-raptor Observations:
======================================================================== Report submitted by Steve Pitt (<spitt...>)
Site Description: This spring only "all volunteer" watch is conducted at Lakeside Cemetery in Hamburg, NY. It is located on flat lake plain located along the shoreline of the east end of Lake Erie, about 10 miles south of Buffalo, NY. For additional information contact Jim Landau at <landaujr...>
Date: 3/22/26 8:53 am From: Peter Saracino <petersaracino...> Subject: [GeneseeBirds-L] Winter Into Spring Interpretive Walks Continue this Saturday at the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge
Hope you can join us this Saturday as we explore various aspects of the planet's marvelous rebirth. See poster for details. Peter Saracino/Refuge Volunteer Naturalist/New York State Master Naturalist Volunteer
Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 14:00:00
Total observation time: 6 hours
Official Counter: Maili Waters
Observers:
Visitors:
6
Weather:
The morning started out with some scattered sprinkles that ended around
9:30am. The rest of the day was overcast with temps in the low 30s. Winds
were light, starting as NW but shifting to east and then to NE.
Raptor Observations:
There were only three migrating raptors today. The first was an American
Kestrel, the second was a Merlin, and the third was an immature Bald Eagle.
Non-raptor Observations:
Other birds around the park today included a small flock of White-winged
Scoter, a Red-throated Loon, and 6 Horned Grebes on the bay.
Predictions:
Tomorrow�s weather: Cloudy with occasional rain showers. Temps will reach a
high around 45F. Winds will be SW in the morning at 10-15mph, but shifting
later in the day to NNW. Depending on the amount of rain in the morning,
there could be some raptors moving in the gaps. I expect the flight, if
there is any, to shut down in the afternoon when the winds shift north.
========================================================================
Report submitted by Maili Waters (<mailirwaters...>)
Braddock Bay information may be found at:
http://www.bbrr.org/
Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 11:00:00 Total observation time: 2 hours
Official Counter: Fred Harrington
Observers:
Visitors: none
Weather: Rain moved in just before the count period started. Very light, southeast winds with 8 degree C temps. Result being no hawks during the count period.
Raptor Observations: none
Non-raptor Observations: Highlight of the day was a low flying Great Blue Heron. 3 killdeer on the lawn with lots of American Robins, European Starlings and Red-winged Blackbirds. Also flyovers of gulls and American Crows.On the pond were 2 Canada Goose, 3 Lesser Scaup, 3 Common Mergansers, and 1 Bufflehead.
Predictions: No rain forecasted, but mostly cloudy with winds switching to the NNW. Temps about 8 degrees C. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Frederick Harrington (<harrinfe...>)
Site Description: This spring only "all volunteer" watch is conducted at Lakeside Cemetery in Hamburg, NY. It is located on flat lake plain located along the shoreline of the east end of Lake Erie, about 10 miles south of Buffalo, NY. For additional information contact Jim Landau at <landaujr...>
Date: 3/20/26 11:35 am From: James Kimball <kimball...> Subject: [GeneseeBirds-L] Chandler Rd. (Piffard) Snipe, T. Swans
I saw 5 Wilson’s Snipe this afternoon - maybe a couple more - in wet spots along Chandler Rd., near the end of Flats Rd. Other birds in the general area include 25 Tundra Swans (in fields north of Rte. 63), a Killdeer, a pair of Wood Ducks and plenty of Canada geese, RB Gulls and Mallards. It was raining the whole time I was there - came home with wet binoculars and camera.
Jim Kimball
<kimball...>
Date: 3/20/26 6:28 am From: Peter Saracino <petersaracino...> Subject: [GeneseeBirds-L] American Tree Sparrow Song
As I write I'm listening to a song that Merlin tells me is an American Tree Sparrow. It occurred to me that I've ve never heard one sing before. It is truly beautiful in its simplicity. Happy March Equinox to all! Sar
Date: 3/20/26 6:27 am From: 'Lynn A. Braband' via Geneseebirds <geneseebirds-l...> Subject: [GeneseeBirds-L] More grass, more birds, more problems - The Wildlife Society
Observation start time: 07:00:00
Observation end time: 15:00:00
Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Maili Waters
Observers: Cliff Dekdebrun, Greg Sanda, Mike Tetlow, Nate Ukens,
Shannon Sanda, Vid Killius
Visitors:
10
Weather:
Today started off with overcast skies and temps in the low 30s. Eventually
the cloud cover started to break up and the sun came out. Temps rose to a
high of 44F. Winds were from the SSW at 10-15mph. Around 2:45pm the lake
breeze took over and the flight stopped.
Raptor Observations:
We had 135 individuals across 8 different species. Turkey Vultures
continue to be the most numerous species with a total of 94. Red-tailed
Hawks were the second most abundant species with a total of 22. There were
a few Bald Eagles, Cooper�s Hawks, and Red-shouldered Hawks. The highlight
of the day was an immature American Goshawk!! It was heading east along the
lakeshore above the trees. It then circled several times providing nice,
but relatively distant, views.
Non-raptor Observations:
Other birds seen today include two Eastern Meadowlarks, several Horned
Larks, and a beautiful Iceland Gull that flew right over the platform!
Predictions:
Tomorrow�s weather: Rain early, then remaining cloudy with showers in the
afternoon. Temps will reach a high around 47F. Winds will be from the SE at
10-20mph. I�m not expecting too much movement considering the amount of
rain that is predicted.
========================================================================
Report submitted by Maili Waters (<mailirwaters...>)
Braddock Bay information may be found at:
http://www.bbrr.org/
Observation start time: 10:00:00
Observation end time: 13:00:00
Total observation time: 3 hours
Official Counter: Sharon Sisti
Observers:
Weather:
Upper 30�s, cloudy, light winds.
Raptor Observations:
Few raptors but those that came in were easily seen.
Non-raptor Observations:
Predictions:
Early rain then couldy with showers in the afternoon. High 48F. Winds SSW
10-20. Chance of rain 100%.
========================================================================
Report submitted by Sharon Sisti (<sharonsisti...>)
Site Description:
This spring only "all volunteer" watch is conducted at Lakeside Cemetery in
Hamburg, NY. It is located on flat lake plain located along the shoreline
of the east end of Lake Erie, about 10 miles south of Buffalo, NY.
For additional information contact Jim Landau at <landaujr...>
Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 14:30:00 Total observation time: 5.5 hours
Official Counter: Andy Dickson
Observers: Mike Ceci
Weather: 9:30am, site #1 on Rt 5, 34F. 100% cloud cover. Light SSW wind coming down escarpment, turning SW at lake plane. Some remaining snow on the ground. Clouds parted to 70% coverage at 10:30 that created thermals and launched the day's flight. Full cloud coverage returned by 1:00pm and winds shifted to westerly.
Raptor Observations: Began at site 1 with no flight until sunlight warmed some of the landscape at about 11:00am. By 1pm winds shifted to westerly and we moved all the way inland to #3 then back down to #2 on Parker Rd to end the day. All but 3 birds came through between 11am and 2pm. Flight was not well defined all day and saw birds coming through on a wide path.
Non-raptor Observations: Wood cock
Predictions: Rain coming mid-day. South winds moving to west in afternoon. Maybe a flight before or after the rain. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Andrew J. Dickson (<adickson3...>) Ripley Hawk Watch information may be found at: www.facebook.com/groups/3193820734258889/
Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 15:00:00
Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Maili Waters
Observers: Daena Ford, Mike Tetlow, Robin Morey, Rosemary Reilly,
Vid Killius
Visitors:
8
Weather:
Today was mostly cloudy with SSW winds at 5-10mph. Temps started in the low
20 and reached a high of 33F.
Raptor Observations:
The very first migrating bird of the day was an immature Golden Eagle! It
was a high flying migrant that circled a few times before continuing
eastward. The most abundant species today was Bald Eagle with a total of
22. There were a handful of Turkey Vultures, 5 Red-tailed Hawks, and two
Red-shouldered Hawks.
Non-raptor Observations:
There was an increase in the numbers of ducks on the bay today. The bay,
which was completely open yesterday, was 80% iced over this morning. The
lack of open water really concentrated the ducks into small open areas.
There were over a thousand Ring-necked Ducks, nearly 500 American Wigeon,
and almost 300 Green-winged Teal.
Predictions:
Tomorrow�s weather: Cloudy. Slight chance of rain showers. Temps will reach
a high of 42F. Winds will be WSW at 10-15mph. The wind direction is good,
so I think there will be some movement. However, depending on how overcast
it is, the flight might be minimal.
========================================================================
Report submitted by Maili Waters (<mailirwaters...>)
Braddock Bay information may be found at:
http://www.bbrr.org/
Observation start time: 09:30:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 5.5 hours
Official Counter: Andy Dickson
Observers: Mike Ceci
Visitors: Cyndie Hart, recently relocated to Ripley, joined us for 45 minutes and got a crash course in hawk watching.
Weather: Cold, clear, 10% high cirrus clouds or contrails. Light SSW wind coming down escarpment, turning SW at lake plane. Ice-free Lake Erie, 4" remaining snow blanket from previous day's storm.
Placid start after yesterday's storm that slammed the east coast with high winds and white-outs. Snow even drifted inside the port-a-john. The America flag which hung proudly 1/4 mile SSW of site #1 for 20 years and which provided us invaluable wind readings is in tatters. Vineyard tanks blown over.
Raptor Observations: 2 AKs and one BE all day. The few TVs we had started to develop a flight line between I90 and count location at Rt5. Local BEs and RTs
Non-raptor Observations: Empty skies until 10:30am when Starlings started to move but very little passerine movement all day.
Predictions: Warmer with southerly wind early moving to westerly later in the day. Probably more of flight possible than today. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Andrew J. Dickson (<adickson3...>) Ripley Hawk Watch information may be found at: www.facebook.com/groups/3193820734258889/
Observation start time: 10:00:00 Observation end time: 11:30:00 Total observation time: 2 hours
Official Counter: Michael Ceci
Observers:
Weather: Windy with blowing snow and wind chills in the single digits.
Raptor Observations: Local BEs.
Non-raptor Observations:
Predictions: Favorable winds but clouds, expect a light flight, perhaps moderate if the pipeline has had time to refill. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Michael Ceci (<michael.ceci541...>) Ripley Hawk Watch information may be found at: www.facebook.com/groups/3193820734258889/
Observation start time: 10:00:00 Observation end time: 12:00:00 Total observation time: 2 hours
Official Counter: Steve Pitt
Observers:
Visitors: None
Weather: Between 10am and 11am, snow squalls limited visibility. The wind was about 13mph to the West. The temperature was 17 degrees Fahrenheit but felt like 2 degrees. After 11am, it cleared up a bit, but no sign of any migration
Raptor Observations: No Raptors
Non-raptor Observations: Gulls, Robins, and Killdeer ======================================================================== Report submitted by Steve Pitt (<spitt...>)
Site Description: This spring only "all volunteer" watch is conducted at Lakeside Cemetery in Hamburg, NY. It is located on flat lake plain located along the shoreline of the east end of Lake Erie, about 10 miles south of Buffalo, NY. For additional information contact Jim Landau at <landaujr...>
Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 15:00:00
Total observation time: 4.25 hours
Official Counter: Maili Waters
Observers:
Visitors:
0
Weather:
Today was an interesting day! Heavy snow squalls were mixed with partly
sunny breaks throughout the day. The winds were very strong from the west
at 25-35mph. Even when it wasn�t actually snowing, snow was almost
constantly getting blown around, limiting visibility at times. Temps were
in the low 20s all day.
Raptor Observations:
The count was conducted in bits and pieces around snow squalls. There were
a total of 3 birds that decided to move today and two of them were Golden
Eagles! Shortly after I got to the park in the morning, all the ducks and
gulls in the bay took flight. I looked around to see what might have caused
the disturbance, and sure enough there was an immature Golden Eagle! It
chased a gull and flew down the creek before moving on. The other bird was
a high flying adult that coasted over quickly in the strong west winds. The
third bird of the day was a young Bald Eagle. A couple local birds made
brief appearances throughout the day including two adult Bald Eagles, a
Northern Harrier, and an American Kestrel hunting the marsh.
Non-raptor Observations:
Due to the weather I only did one quick scan of the bay. Duck numbers seem
to continue in similar proportions. Gull numbers increased exponentially
over night, with almost a thousand birds in the bay, mostly being
Ring-billed Gulls.
Predictions:
Tomorrow�s weather: Mix of sun and clouds in the morning followed by cloudy
skies in the afternoon. Temps will reach a high of 36F. Winds will be SSW
at 5-10mph. With the SSW wind direction, I�m expecting some birds to be
moving, however they are light winds and might be overpowered by the lake
breeze in the late morning or afternoon.
========================================================================
Report submitted by Maili Waters (<mailirwaters...>)
Braddock Bay information may be found at:
http://www.bbrr.org/
Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 15:00:00
Total observation time: 4.25 hours
Official Counter: Maili Waters
Observers:
Visitors:
0
Weather:
Today was an interesting day! Heavy snow squalls were mixed with partly
sunny breaks throughout the day. The winds were very strong from the west
at 25-35mph. Even when it wasn�t actually snowing, snow was almost
constantly getting blown around, limiting visibility at times. Temps were
in the low 20s all day.
Raptor Observations:
The count was conducted in bits and pieces around snow squalls. There were
a total of 3 birds that decided to move today and two of them were Golden
Eagles! Shortly after I got to the park in the morning, all the ducks and
gulls in the bay took flight. I looked around to see what might have caused
the disturbance, and sure enough there was an immature Golden Eagle! It
chased a gull and flew down the creek before moving on. The other bird was
a high flying adult that coasted over quickly in the strong west winds. The
third bird of the day was a young Bald Eagle. A couple local birds made
brief appearances throughout the day including two adult Bald Eagles, a
Northern Harrier, and an American Kestrel hunting the marsh.
Non-raptor Observations:
Due to the weather I only did one quick scan of the bay. Duck numbers seem
to continue in similar proportions. Gull numbers increased exponentially
over night, with almost a thousand birds in the bay, mostly being
Ring-billed Gulls.
Predictions:
Tomorrow�s weather: Mix of sun and clouds in the morning followed by cloudy
skies in the afternoon. Temps will reach a high of 36F. Winds will be SSW
at 5-10mph. With the SSW wind direction, I�m expecting some birds to be
moving, however they are light winds and might be overpowered by the lake
breeze in the late morning or afternoon.
========================================================================
Report submitted by Maili Waters (<mailirwaters...>)
Braddock Bay information may be found at:
http://www.bbrr.org/
Date: 3/17/26 11:24 am From: Peter Saracino <petersaracino...> Subject: Re: [GeneseeBirds-L] Live Crane Cam at Nebraska's Rowe Sanctuary
On my way tomorrow for my 4th stint as a Guide.
Once you see it, you'll never be the same.
Sar
On Tue, Mar 17, 2026, 1:17 PM Alice Hilczmayer <alicehilcz...>
wrote:
> Good afternoon, all,
>
> We just got back from Kearney, NE AND Rowe Sanctuary and count before we
> left was over 500,000 it was a great experience! Even got to see prairie
> chickens!
>
> Alice
>
>
>
>
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
>
>
> On Mar 17, 2026, at 10:37 AM, Peter Saracino <petersaracino...>
> wrote:
>
>
>
> My friends at Rowe Sanctuary are telling me there are a half million
> sandhills currently staged on the Platte River in Nebraska. Best times to
> view this live-view (see link below) are just after sunrise before cranes
> leave for the day and just before sunset when they return to the river for
> the night.
>
> Enjoy!
>
> Sar
>
> https://explore.org/ >
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
> "Geneseebirds" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an
> email to geneseebirds-l+<unsubscribe...>
> To view this discussion visit
> https://groups.google.com/a/geneseo.edu/d/msgid/geneseebirds-l/CAJoK8kq%2B7aN3fqLGs7L8RO91_gDtqMSKQHc9%<3Dkg2moZYWKaj6w...> > <https://groups.google.com/a/geneseo.edu/d/msgid/geneseebirds-l/CAJoK8kq%2B7aN3fqLGs7L8RO91_gDtqMSKQHc9%<3Dkg2moZYWKaj6w...>?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > .
>
>
Date: 3/17/26 10:17 am From: Alice Hilczmayer <alicehilcz...> Subject: Re: [GeneseeBirds-L] Live Crane Cam at Nebraska's Rowe Sanctuary
Good afternoon, all,
We just got back from Kearney, NE AND Rowe Sanctuary and count before we left was over 500,000 it was a great experience! Even got to see prairie chickens!
Alice
Sent from my iPad
On Mar 17, 2026, at 10:37 AM, Peter Saracino <petersaracino...> wrote:
My friends at Rowe Sanctuary are telling me there are a half million sandhills currently staged on the Platte River in Nebraska. Best times to view this live-view (see link below) are just after sunrise before cranes leave for the day and just before sunset when they return to the river for the night.
Date: 3/17/26 7:37 am From: Peter Saracino <petersaracino...> Subject: [GeneseeBirds-L] Live Crane Cam at Nebraska's Rowe Sanctuary
My friends at Rowe Sanctuary are telling me there are a half million sandhills currently staged on the Platte River in Nebraska. Best times to view this live-view (see link below) are just after sunrise before cranes leave for the day and just before sunset when they return to the river for the night. Enjoy! Sar https://explore.org/
Observation start time: 07:00:00
Observation end time: 14:00:00
Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Maili Waters
Observers: Bridget Watts, Mike Tetlow, Pat Lindsay, Shannon Sanda,
Shelly Rackovsky, Sheryl Gracewski, Vid Killius
Visitors:
20
Weather:
What a day! Today is a great example of how unpredictable the weather
forecast can be! The predicted rain that was supposed to hit in the
afternoon fizzled out completely, allowing for more migration than
anticipated. The morning started off partly sunny with temps in the high
50s and SSE winds at 15-20mph. A cold front came through around 12:30pm,
shifting the winds to WSW and increasing speed to 25-35mph. Temps reached a
high of 65F just before the front hit, then quickly dropped into the high
40s. It was partly sunny all morning, but thick cloud cover moved in with
the front.
Raptor Observations:
First 1,000 bird day of the season! Today was a great day with 1,005 birds
migrating over Braddock Bay. The vast majority were Turkey Vultures with a
total of 839 birds. Red-tailed Hawks, Cooper�s Hawks, and American Kestrels
all had day totals right around 30. The two highlight birds of the day were
Rough-legged Hawk and Golden Eagle!
Non-raptor Observations:
Other birds around today include many American Robins, Red-winged
Blackbirds, and Common Grackles. Earlier in the morning there were a decent
number of Rusty Blackbirds moving through with the other blackbirds. Duck
numbers on the bay continue to fluctuate a little day to day. Today, in
addition to the continuing numbers of Gadwall and American Wigeon there
were over 70 Canvasbacks, over a dozen Northern Shovelers, and 4
Blue-winged Teal.
Predictions:
Tomorrow�s weather: Cloudy and windy with on and off snow showers during
the morning. Winds will be west at 20-30mph with stronger gusts possible.
Temps will reach a high of 26F. With the predicted snow wind strength, and
cloudy skies, I don�t think there will be much, if anything, moving
tomorrow. Wednesday has winds from the SSW, but they will be light at only
5-10mph. I bet there will be some migrants, however the lake breeze could
overtake the southerly winds, shifting any birds that are migrating further
inland.
========================================================================
Report submitted by Maili Waters (<mailirwaters...>)
Braddock Bay information may be found at:
http://www.bbrr.org/
Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 13:00:00 Total observation time: 4 hours
Official Counter: Carl Carbone
Observers: Stephanie Carbone
Visitors: None
Weather: The watch started off relatively warm and breezy with heavy cloud cover. Occasional showers passed early, before the main front came in with heavier rain, stronger, gusty winds and a 20-degree drop in temperature.
Raptor Observations: Very few birds passing by except for one large group of Turkey Vultures ahead of the cold front.
Non-raptor Observations: Many American Robins and Common Grackles migrating through.
Predictions: Tuesday March 17th looks cold and windy with some light snow. Not very favorable for migration. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Carl Carbone (<csquared63...>)
Site Description: This spring only "all volunteer" watch is conducted at Lakeside Cemetery in Hamburg, NY. It is located on flat lake plain located along the shoreline of the east end of Lake Erie, about 10 miles south of Buffalo, NY. For additional information contact Jim Landau at <landaujr...>
Observation start time: 09:00:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Maili Waters
Observers: Bridget Watts, Daena Ford, Luke Seitz, Mitch Barry,
Niki Banke, Tim Willis
Visitors:
20
Weather:
The morning started off cold and gloomy with temps in the low 30s and east
winds at 15-20mph. At around 2pm the sun started to break through the
clouds and it became mostly sunny. The winds shifted from east to SSE by
the end of the day. There was a brief sleet shower around noon, but it
didn't last too long. By the end of the day the temps had gotten into the
50s
Raptor Observations:
Between 2pm and 5pm a total of 76 birds passed by the platform. The most
numerous bird was Turkey Vulture with a total of 45. 14 Bald Eagles, 6
American Kestrels, and 4 of both Cooper�s hawks and Northern Harriers also
moved through. The highlight of the day was a beautiful adult male
Rough-legged Hawk that passed over the barrier island.
Non-raptor Observations:
The mix of ducks on the bay continues with plenty of American Wigeon,
Gadwall, and Ring-necked Ducks. Green-winged Teal numbers were higher than
previous days, with a total of 76.
Predictions:
Tomorrow�s weather: The morning will be cloudy with SSE winds at 15-20mph.
By the afternoon, the winds will become SW and there will be some scattered
rain. Temps will reach a high of 61F. Now that the rain has been pushed
back into the afternoon, the morning has some potential for raptor
migration! Tuesday will be cold and windy with a high of 27F and west winds
at 25-35mph. Snow showers are expected in the morning. I am not expecting
any raptor migration on Tuesday. Wednesday will be overcast with SSW winds
at 5-10mph. Hopefully the winds will stay SSW and bring some birds!
========================================================================
Report submitted by Maili Waters (<mailirwaters...>)
Braddock Bay information may be found at:
http://www.bbrr.org/
Observation start time: 10:15:00 Observation end time: 17:15:00 Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Devin Banning, Michael Ceci
Observers: Mike Ceci
Visitors: None
Weather: Breezy with a high wind warning issued from 2pm on. Winds consistent out of the SSE and building throughout the day. Cloud cover was consistent but thin.
Raptor Observations: The flight was split for the majority of the day, with some birds passing through over I-90, others passing through over Parker Road, and some passing through over Site 1. Earlier in the day, most birds passed through right along the deck, but as temps warmed some birds started to get pretty high up, even with wind gusts over 50mph!
All migratory AKs passed through north of Site 1 right along the Lake Erie Shoreline. Two light-morph RLs were a treat and came through over the field south of Site 1.
Non-raptor Observations: Biggest TV day so far this season. Tree Swallow, almost 100 Killdeer, Flicker, duck sp.
Predictions: Tomorrow: Winds favorable, but snow will likely inhibit any raptor movement. Prediction: No Count
Tuesday: Strong Westerlies with limited precipitation. Frigid temps. There could be some movement, likely a light flight if any.
Wednesday: Cold, light south winds. Chance for a light to moderate flight. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Devin Banning (<devincban...>) Ripley Hawk Watch information may be found at: www.facebook.com/groups/3193820734258889/
Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 15:30:00 Total observation time: 6.5 hours
Official Counter: Andy Dickson
Observers:
Visitors: None
Weather: Cold, cloudy and WNW winds to start. Temps rose and wind became westerly. Clouds retreated along the lake shore in the afternoon allowing warming in the lake plane and a small flight to develop along Rt 20.
Raptor Observations: Very little movement most of the day with some afternoon activity. First osprey of the season came through in the afternoon. Began the day atop the escarpment but moved to the lake plane in the afternoon. Local BEs crisscrossed the count locations throughout the day.
Non-raptor Observations:
Predictions: Brisk ESE winds early moving to SE. Cloudy early with some clearing in the afternoon. It's a long shot for a flight. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Andrew J. Dickson (<adickson3...>) Ripley Hawk Watch information may be found at: www.facebook.com/groups/3193820734258889/
Observation start time: 09:00:00
Observation end time: 14:00:00
Total observation time: 3.25 hours
Official Counter: Maili Waters
Observers:
Visitors:
2
Weather:
Today was windy! Winds were out of the west at 25-35mph with stronger
gusts. There was some snow early in the morning but it stopped around 8am.
Temps were in the low 30s all day, but with the wind chill it felt much
colder! Cloudy in the morning, becoming partly sunny in the afternoon.
Raptor Observations:
I spent 45 minutes in the morning at the park just to see what the weather
was doing. It was way too windy and overcast for any raptors to migrate, so
I went home until the sun started to break through around 12:30pm. As the
cloud cover broke up, I was surprised to see a couple high flying migrants
going over, one Bald Eagle and one Red-tailed Hawk. Over the next hour
there were a couple Turkey Vultures, another Bald Eagle, and a Cooper�s
Hawk.
Non-raptor Observations:
Other birds included a flock of Tundra Swans, a couple Killdeer on the
lawn, and a small flock of Snow Geese.
Predictions:
Tomorrow�s weather: Snow in the morning will taper off during the
afternoon, but it will remain cloudy with increasing winds. Winds out of
the ESE at 20-30mph. High around 50F. With the strong ESE winds and
overcast skies, I am not expecting much, if anything, to move. Looking
further ahead, Monday will have favorable SW winds, however it will be very
strong and there will be some rain with overcast skies all day. I am not
expecting much migration. Tuesday will be windy and cloudy again, with a
few snow flurries possible. The winds will be out of the west at 25-35mph.
Again, not ideal conditions for raptor migration.
========================================================================
Report submitted by Maili Waters (<mailirwaters...>)
Braddock Bay information may be found at:
http://www.bbrr.org/
Observation start time: 07:00:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 6 hours
Official Counter: Maili Waters
Observers: Luke Seitz, Mitch Barry, Vid Killius
Visitors:
4
Weather:
The morning started off mostly cloudy with SSE winds at 10-15mph. At noon,
a snow squall came through and lasted about two hours. The sun made a brief
appearance around 3pm but it clouded back over within 30 minutes.
Raptor Observations:
The only birds moving were two Northern Harriers. At noon, a heavy snow
squall came through and lasted about two hours. The sun then made a brief
appearance around 3pm but it clouded back over within 30 minutes. After the
snow, there were 5 Bald Eagles, 4 Northern Harriers, and two Turkey
Vultures.
Non-raptor Observations:
Other birds included three Sandhill Cranes, a Bonaparte�s Gull, and a
continuing mix of ducks on the bay.
Predictions:
Tomorrow�s weather: Windy. Snow in the morning will taper off by the
afternoon. Winds will be from the west at 25-35mph. Temps in the mid 30s
and it will remain cloudy all day. With the strength of the winds and the
overcast skies, I am not expecting much, if any, raptor migration.
========================================================================
Report submitted by Maili Waters (<mailirwaters...>)
Braddock Bay information may be found at:
http://www.bbrr.org/
Date: 3/13/26 4:24 pm From: 'Gracewski, Sheryl' via Geneseebirds <geneseebirds-l...> Subject: [GeneseeBirds-L] Cancelling tomorrow's (3/14/2026) RBA trip to Hamlin Beach
Hello All,
Due to the high wind warning for tomorrow, the 3/14/2026 Rochester Birding Association’s field trip, Braddock Bay and Hamlin Beach State Park, has been canceled.
Observation start time: 08:30:00
Observation end time: 13:30:00
Total observation time: 5 hours
Official Counter: Maili Waters
Observers: Tim Willis
Visitors:
1
Weather:
Today was overcast with temps in the low 30s. Winds were out of the WNW at
20-30mph. Snow showers started around 4pm.
Raptor Observations:
There were only three individual raptors that decided to move today; a
Merlin, a Bald Eagle, and a Northern Harrier.
Non-raptor Observations:
There were some Tundra Swans migrating in the morning, but less than the
previous few days, with a total of 98. Two Tree Swallows flew by and there
were three Blue-winged Teal mixed in with the other ducks on the bay.
Predictions:
Tomorrow�s weather: Snow during the morning will give way to showers of
rain and wet snow during the afternoon. Temps may reach a high of 41F.
Winds out of the SSE at 15-20mph. 1-3 inches of snow is possible. Depending
on how steady the precipitation is, the count may be shortened or
cancelled.
========================================================================
Report submitted by Maili Waters (<mailirwaters...>)
Braddock Bay information may be found at:
http://www.bbrr.org/
Date: 3/12/26 6:06 am From: Peter Saracino <petersaracino...> Subject: [GeneseeBirds-L] Winter Into Spring Interpretive Walks Continue this Saturday at the Montezuma Refuge
Folks. Just a reminder that our 'Winter Into Spring' Interpretive Walks at the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge in Seneca Falls, NY, continue this Saturday at 10 am at the Refuge Visitor Center. Walks are free with no signups necessary. Bring a friend. See poster for details. Pete Saracino/Refuge Volunteer Naturalist/New York State Master Naturalist Volunteer
Observation start time: 08:30:00
Observation end time: 10:00:00
Total observation time: 1.5 hours
Official Counter: Maili Waters
Observers: Vid Killius
Visitors:
1
Weather:
Today was very rainy. There was only an hour and a half in the morning when
it wasn�t precipitating. I spent that time at the park, but it was still
very overcast and slightly foggy. The temps were in the low 40s. Winds were
SE at 5-10mph.
Raptor Observations:
The only raptors seen were one of the local Bald Eagles and one Northern
Harrier hunting the marsh.
Non-raptor Observations:
40 Tundra Swans
Predictions:
Tomorrow�s weather: Cloudy and windy. There is a chance of a few flurries
throughout the day. Temps will be in the mid 30s. Winds will be WNW at
20-30mph. I am not expecting much, if anything, to be migrating tomorrow.
========================================================================
Report submitted by Maili Waters (<mailirwaters...>)
Braddock Bay information may be found at:
http://www.bbrr.org/
Date: 3/11/26 10:10 am From: 'Lynn A. Braband' via Geneseebirds <geneseebirds-l...> Subject: [GeneseeBirds-L] Re: Parrot dna reveals ancient trade route
Observation start time: 08:30:00
Observation end time: 17:00:00
Total observation time: 7.5 hours
Official Counter: Maili Waters
Observers: Dale Drexel, Karen Drexel, Mike Tetlow, Mitch Barry,
Pat Lindsay
Visitors:
12
Weather:
The morning started out partly sunny, with SW winds at 5-10mph. It clouded
over in the mid morning and the wind shifted to a northerly lake breeze at
5-15mph. The clouds broke up again in the afternoon. The temps started in
the mid 50s and reached a high in the mid 60s. The afternoon rain didn�t
hit until 6pm.
Raptor Observations:
Overall there were a lot less birds today than yesterday, with our day
tally only reaching 60 individuals. The most abundant species was Turkey
Vulture with a total of 32. There were 5 of each of the following species;
Bald Eagles, Cooper�s Hawks, and Northern Harriers. Only 4 Red-tailed and 4
Red-shouldered Hawks passed by today. There were a handful of Cooper�s and
Sharp-shinned Hawks that went over. There were also 2 American Kestrels.
Non-raptor Observations:
Other birds today include large numbers of ducks out on the bay, Tundra
Swans passing over, and a handful of blackbirds and robins migrating in the
morning. Ring-necked Ducks were the most numerous duck. The Red-throated
Loon continued and a Horned Grebe decided to join the other waterfowl on
the bay.
Predictions:
Tomorrow�s weather: There will be showers and thunderstorms throughout the
day. Temps will reach a high of around 60F. Winds will be SSE at 15-20mph.
With all the rain predicted for tomorrow I�m not expecting much, if
anything, to move. Thursday will be cloudy and very windy with west winds
at 20-30mph. The temps will reach a high of only 35F and there is a chance
of a snow shower. I�m not expecting much to move in that weather. Looking
at the 10 day weather prediction, there really isn�t a stand out day that
looks good for raptor migration. Hopefully that will change as the week
continues!
========================================================================
Report submitted by Maili Waters (<mailirwaters...>)
Braddock Bay information may be found at:
http://www.bbrr.org/
Observation start time: 08:30:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 7.5 hours
Official Counter: Andy Dickson
Observers: Marc Nichols, Mike Ceci
Visitors: Ripley native Mark Nichols again helped in the morning hours while sporting his Sabres attire.
Weather: Cloudless skies on arrival and for the entire count. Some contrails eased the very difficult spotting conditions. Steady SSW and SW winds strong enough to knock our chairs over when we stood up. Some clouds over Lake Erie never came ashore. Cool temperatures warmed to high sixties by the end of the count and pressure dropped slightly.
Raptor Observations: We hoped for a bigger day than materialized. Maybe the pipeline is depleted? One accipiter (SS) but a good BE showing. 2 local BEs made multiple showings. By mid afternoon, the flight was so high that sharpies or AKs might be missed with 10X optics.
Non-raptor Observations: Tree swallow. Kingfisher. Gulls. Killdeer. Canada Geese. Several groups of distant waterfowl. Several hundred Redwing blackbirds headed upwind, stopping intermittently.
Predictions: Mild but showers and heavier rain on Wednesday, then turning cold. We are unlikely to staff the watch midweek. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Andrew J. Dickson (<adickson3...>) Ripley Hawk Watch information may be found at: www.facebook.com/groups/3193820734258889/
Observation start time: 08:30:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 7.5 hours
Official Counter: Andy Dickson
Observers: Marc Nichols, Mike Ceci
Visitors: Ripley native Mark Nichols again helped in the morning hours while sporting his Sabres attire.
Weather: Cloudless skies on arrival and for the entire count. Some contrails eased the very difficult spotting conditions. Steady SSW and SW winds strong enough to knock our chairs over when we stood up. Some clouds over Lake Erie never came ashore. Cool temperatures warmed to high sixties by the end of the count.
Raptor Observations: We hoped for a bigger day than materialized. Maybe the pipeline is depleted? One accipiter (SS) but a good BE showing. 2 local BEs made multiple showings. By mid afternoon, the flight was so high that sharpies or AKs might be missed with 10X optics.
Non-raptor Observations: Tree swallow. Kingfisher. Gulls. Killdeer. Canada Geese. Several groups of distant waterfowl. Several hundred Redwing blackbirds headed upwind, stopping intermittently.
Predictions: Mild but showers and heavier rain on Wednesday, then turning cold. We are unlikely to staff the watch midweek. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Andrew J. Dickson (<adickson3...>) Ripley Hawk Watch information may be found at: www.facebook.com/groups/3193820734258889/
Observation start time: 07:30:00
Observation end time: 17:30:00
Total observation time: 9.5 hours
Official Counter: Maili Waters
Observers: Alan Bloom, Brad Carlson, Bridget Watts, Daena Ford,
Dominic Sherony, Jessie Barry, Luke Seitz, Mike Tetlow,
Mitch Barry, Robin Morey, Roger Clark, Rosemary Reilly,
Stephen Menzie, Vid Killius
Visitors:
45
Weather:
The morning started out in the low 50s with SSW winds at 15-20mph. It was
mostly cloudy to start, but became mostly sunny as the day progressed. The
temps reached a high of 68F. Winds were consistently SW and had some pretty
strong gusts at times.
Raptor Observations:
The raptor movement didn�t really get going until around 10:30am. Over the
course of the day we tallied a total of 558 individuals representing 12
different raptor species! The most abundant species for the day was Turkey
Vulture with a total of 284. Red-shouldered Hawks were the next most
abundant species with a total of 155. Almost 70 Red-tailed Hawks were mixed
in with today�s flight. All three falcon species were seen again today!
Non-raptor Observations:
The non-raptor highlights of the day were the sheer numbers of geese and
swans migrating. Along with thousands and thousands of Canada Geese, there
were over 20 Cacking Geese and several dozen Snow Geese. Throughout the
morning, Tundra Swans were migrating west in flocks, ending up totalling
over a thousand individuals! The waterfowl diversity on the bay was stellar
with 26 different species including two early Blue-winged Teal. There was
also an early Tree Swallow!
Predictions:
Tomorrow�s weather: Cloudy with occasional rain in the afternoon. Temps
will reach a high in the mid 50s. Winds in the morning will be out of the
west at 5-10mph, but then it will shift to a north onshore breeze in the
afternoon. There could be a few birds moving in the morning, but it will
depend on how cloudy it is and when the winds shift to the north. The rain
along with the northerly wind in the afternoon will probably cut off any
flight there may be.
========================================================================
Report submitted by Maili Waters (<mailirwaters...>)
Braddock Bay information may be found at:
http://www.bbrr.org/
Date: 3/9/26 2:38 pm From: Peter Saracino <petersaracino...> Subject: [GeneseeBirds-L] Winter Into Spring Interpretive Walk this Saturday at the Montezuma Refuge
The Sun is slowly bringing the Earth's Northern Hemisphere back to life, and we can actually begin seeing winter in our rear-view mirror. Snow drops are braving the cold, early migrant birds are arriving, recently thawed wooly bear caterpillars are wiggling. adult mourning cloak and eastern comma butterflies have joined the pre-vernal scene, and amphibians are making their way to breeding pools. Come join us as we seek to experience various aspects of this magical time of year. See poster for details. Pete Saracino/Refuge Volunteer Naturalist/New York State Master Naturalist Volunteer
Observation start time: 11:00:00 Observation end time: 13:30:00 Total observation time: 2.5 hours
Official Counter: Sue Barth
Observers: Josh Ketry
Visitors: Joe Sullivan, David Todtenhagen
Weather: Sunny and warm (65-68F) with strong SSW winds, gusting up to 43mph.
Raptor Observations: Only 20 Turkey Vultures, 1 adult Bald Eagle, 2 Red-shoulders, and 2 migrating Red-tails. A pair of local Red-tails were around - but not much else.
Predictions: Looks like the conditions for the next couple of days will be pretty poor with much rain in the forecast. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Sue Barth (<suebarth...>)
Site Description: This spring only "all volunteer" watch is conducted at Lakeside Cemetery in Hamburg, NY. It is located on flat lake plain located along the shoreline of the east end of Lake Erie, about 10 miles south of Buffalo, NY. For additional information contact Jim Landau at <landaujr...>
Date: 3/9/26 1:35 pm From: James Kimball <kimball...> Subject: [GeneseeBirds-L] Groveland Flats: Tundra Swans et al
There were about 500 Tundra Swans down in the Groveland Flats area this afternoon, about half along Pioneer Rd. and other along Flats Rd. Rte 258, west from Groveland Station - that road may be partly closed because of potential flooding (near Rte. 36), but you can generally get there from Rte. 63. Lots of other waterfowl in that area.
Observation start time: 06:00:00
Observation end time: 15:30:00
Total observation time: 9.5 hours
Official Counter: Maili Waters
Observers: Jessie Barry, Luke Seitz, Niki Banke, Stephen Menzie
Visitors:
15
Weather:
Today started off cloudy with west winds at 15-20mph. Temps started in the
low 40s and reached a high of 52F. As the day progressed, the clouds
started to dissipate and by the end of the day it was completely clear. The
winds picked up throughout the day ending with 20-25mph WSW winds with some
stronger gusts.
Raptor Observations:
Over the course of the day we tallied a total of 192 raptors! It was
another great day for Rough-legged Hawks with a total of 21. This makes our
season total so far 62, beating last year�s whole season total of 52! The
most abundant species today were Red-tailed Hawks (52), Turkey Vultures
(43), and Red-shouldered Hawks (27). There were also Bald Eagles,
Sharp-shinned Hawks, Cooper�s Hawks, and all three falcons seen today! The
highlight of the day was a beautiful adult Golden Eagle that flew over the
platform providing excellent views.
Non-raptor Observations:
Overall the numbers of other birds were a lot lower today than yesterday.
Only a few robins and blackbirds were moving around and Canada Goose
numbers were a lot lower. There were however lots of Snow Geese with about
1,225 birds going over. A few small flocks of Tundra Swans passed by, along
with a few Sandhill Cranes here and there. Nearing the end of the day, a
relatively small flock of Canada Geese flew into the bay and among them was
a single Ross�s Goose!
Predictions:
Tomorrow�s weather: Some clouds in the morning will give way to mainly
sunny skies for the afternoon. Temps reaching a high of 65F. Winds will be
SW at 15-20mph. These conditions are very favorable for raptor migration! I
am expecting to see a decent number of birds tomorrow with Turkey Vultures
probably being the most abundant species.
========================================================================
Report submitted by Maili Waters (<mailirwaters...>)
Braddock Bay information may be found at:
http://www.bbrr.org/
Observation start time: 11:45:00 Observation end time: 16:15:00 Total observation time: 4.75 hours
Official Counter: Katelyn Davis
Observers: Devin Banning
Visitors: Marc Nichols was a great extra set of eyes through the entire count, we thank him for stopping by and helping spot some tough to see birds!
Weather: Starting breezy and cold, clouds were clearing by 12:30 and skies were fully blue by 1pm. The winds died down through the count which allowed thermals to form. Winds were variable, but generally were a WSW direction.
Raptor Observations: Today was dominated by Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawks, which came through with entourages of Turkey Vultures. Two adult Bald Eagles appeared to begin their courtship SE of Site 2, towards the proposed wind development area. Four local BEs were noted.
Non-raptor Observations: Over 400 TVs. Many came through high and fast, but as temps warmed they came through in groups of up to 46.
Predictions: Tomorrow looks promising, mild to strong SW winds with gusts over 30mph. No clouds, and high temps. Total numbers will depend on what is in the pipeline. Andy Dickson will count.
Tuesday looks good. S/SW winds but clouds. Expect a medium flight.
Wednesday looks like a washout. Rain all day, likely no-count. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Devin Banning (<devincban...>) Ripley Hawk Watch information may be found at: www.facebook.com/groups/3193820734258889/
Observation start time: 09:00:00
Observation end time: 15:00:00
Total observation time: 5.67 hours
Official Counter: Sue Barth
Observers:
Visitors:
Josh Ketry
Jennifer Caughel
Weather:
Warm and windy! Temperatures rose from 61�F to 73�, peeking around noon.
Winds were strong from 15-25mph, gusting up to 36mph. Rain came through
around 1:15pm but cleared a little later letting a few more migrants
through.
Raptor Observations:
134 Turkey Vultures, 5 migrating Red-tails, 1 adult Bald Eagle, 1 coop, 1
Merlin, and 1 Northern Harrier in the last minutes of the last hour. Local
coop, Red-tail pair, and Merlin were all out and about.
Non-raptor Observations:
5 Sandhill Cranes came over - first 4 at 11:28, then 1 at 12:19. An
Iceland Gull was nice to see as were a small flock of Rusty Blackbirds that
settled onto the grounds after the rain. A local Merlin gave a pass at
some Killdeer down by the pond while a Ring-necked Duck appeared oblivious
to the drama.
Predictions:
More rain tonight should end in the wee hours, giving way to cloudy skies
in the morning and clearing by afternoon. Temps will be in the 40's and the
moderate to strong winds look to be a favorable WSW direction but maybe a
bit too strong. Could be some movement.
========================================================================
Report submitted by Sue Barth (<suebarth...>)
Observation start time: 07:00:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 9 hours
Official Counter: Maili Waters
Observers: Chris Wood, Greg Lawrence, Jessie Barry, Joann Tetlow,
Luke Seitz, Mike Tetlow, Nick Kachala, Robin Morey,
Roger Clark, Sheryl Gracewski, Stephen Menzie, Vid Killius
Visitors:
~45
Weather:
The day started and ended with rain but was clear for the middle of the
day! The temps started out in the mid 50s and reached a high in the upper
60s. The winds were SSW at 15-25mph all day.
Raptor Observations:
Over the course of the day we observed 97 individuals representing 11
different species! In addition to the 33 Rough-legged Hawks (!!!), the next
most numerous species were Red-tailed Hawks (15), Turkey Vultures (13), and
Bald Eagles (12). We also had the first two Red-shouldered Hawks of the
season! At one point there was an exciting moment where there were 3
different Golden Eagles in view at the same time! Other raptors seen today
included 6 American Kestrels, 5 Northern Harriers, 4 Sharp-shinned Hawks,
and 2 of each of Merlins and Cooper�s Hawks.
Non-raptor Observations:
In addition to raptors, there were large numbers of American Robins,
Red-winged Blackbirds, and European Starlings moving today. Lots of Snow
Buntings, Horned Larks, and a few Lapland Longspurs were flying over the
platform all day. Throughout the day there were thousands of Canada Geese,
along with a few dozen Snow Geese, 5 Cackling Geese, 4 Greater
White-fronted Geese, and one Snow Goose X Canada goose hybrid. Ducks were
also on the move today with especially large numbers of Northern Pintails
going over.
Predictions:
Tomorrow�s weather: Partly cloudy and very windy. WSW winds at 20-30mph
with some stronger gusts possible. Temps will reach a high around 48F.
There should not be any rain. In terms of what we might see at the platform
tomorrow, I�m expecting a couple birds because of the wind direction,
however the strength of the wind will limit the flight. Monday is still
looking very good! It should be mostly sunny with a high of 63F. Winds will
be out of the WSW at 15-20mph. It is still early in the season, so the
numbers won�t be crazy, but I�m expecting a decent flight.
========================================================================
Report submitted by Maili Waters (<mailirwaters...>)
Braddock Bay information may be found at:
http://www.bbrr.org/
Observation start time: 07:30:00 Observation end time: 14:00:00 Total observation time: 6.5 hours
Official Counter: Andy Dickson
Observers: Mike Ceci
Weather: Predawn storm cleared and strong southwesterly winds dominated throughout the watch. Mid morning skies cleared 50%. Temps exceeding 70F. A front came through at 2pm pushing a good numbers ahead of it then shutting down the flight.
Raptor Observations: Excellent opening day for RHW with higher species count than expected. Good cloud cover made spotting easier, though birds came through at varying altitudes, some without warning and just skimming the vineyards, others painfully high. Spotting was difficult with numerous passerines always in the field of vision. We had a low fly-by and excellent look at a goshawk.
Non-raptor Observations: 3 groups of Sandhill cranes numbering 4,3 & 3. Thousands of Redwing blackbirds mostly in the first 3 hours of the watch. Killdeer, Starlings Merganzers, crows, Ringbill gulls, Canada geese.
Predictions: Mostly sunny, westerlies and cooler temps... good flight conditions. Devin and Kaytelyn plan to cover the watch. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Andrew J. Dickson (<adickson3...>) Ripley Hawk Watch information may be found at: www.facebook.com/groups/3193820734258889/
Observation start time: 09:00:00
Observation end time: 14:00:00
Total observation time: 5 hours
Official Counter: Maili Waters
Observers: Tim Willis, Vid Killius
Visitors:
2
Weather:
The only good thing I can say about today's weather is that it was
consistent. Consistently bad! The park today was encased in ice, so much so
that I couldn�t safely get up the platform ramp, so I conducted the watch
from the parking lot. It was overcast and foggy all day with temps in the
30s. The wind was out of the ENE at 5-10mph. It never rained, but it was
often misting lightly during my time at the park.
Raptor Observations:
None
Non-raptor Observations:
4 American Crows, a few Mute Swans, some gulls flying around and not much
else!
Predictions:
Tomorrow�s weather: In some ways it will kind of be the opposite of today.
The weather will be changing a lot throughout the day. It might start off
drizzly early in the morning, but it should become partly sunny as the day
progresses. The afternoon might have some scattered thunderstorms bringing
along some stronger wind gusts. The temps will start in the low 50s and
reach a high in the mid 60s. The winds will be out of the SW at 10-20mph.
I�m hopeful there will be some raptor movement tomorrow. It is still early
in the season so numbers could be relatively low. However, we might see a
few more Rough-legged Hawks, Bald Eagles, Red-tailed Hawks, and Turkey
Vultures!
========================================================================
Report submitted by Maili Waters (<mailirwaters...>)
Braddock Bay information may be found at:
http://www.bbrr.org/
Observation start time: 10:00:00 Observation end time: 14:00:00 Total observation time: 4 hours
Official Counter: Maili Waters
Observers:
Visitors: 0
Weather: Today was overcast with ENE wind at 15-20mph. The temps were in the 30s. Light rain started around 1:30.
Raptor Observations: With the strong ENE winds, raptors were not migrating today. The only raptor that was seen was one of the local adult Bald Eagles.
Non-raptor Observations: There were a few blackbird flocks in the parkway trees. Several Horned Larks flew over the platform throughout the day. The highlight of the day was when three Common Ravens flew by calling.
Predictions: Cloudy with a high of 48F. Winds are from the ESE at 5-10mph. I'm not expecting much to migrate into a headwind, however it is light enough that a few birds might trickle by. Saturday will have SW winds, but the rain could damper any potential migration. However, Monday and Tuesday look promising with SW winds and mostly sunny skies! ======================================================================== Report submitted by Maili Waters (<mailirwaters...>) Braddock Bay information may be found at: http://www.bbrr.org/
Date: 3/5/26 7:47 am From: Peter Saracino <petersaracino...> Subject: [GeneseeBirds-L] Winter Into Spring Interpretive Walks at the Montezuma Refuge in March
Winter Into Spring The constellation Leo rises in the East throwing the switches on the great engine of the seasons. Everywhere in the fields and woods the small, often unnoticed, natural events that make up the early part of the season are firing off: sap rising in trees, skunk cabbage poking up through the soil, resident birds singing spring songs, early migrants appearing, and amphibians migrating to vernal pools. Join New York State Master Naturalist Volunteer, Pete Saracino, as we explore the myraid signs of Nature's rejuvination. See attached poster for time and dates. Pete Saracino/Refuge Volunteer Naturalist/New York State Master Naturalist Volunteer
Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 15:00:00
Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Maili Waters
Observers: Cindy Kindle, Cliff Dekdebrun, Daena Ford, Mike Tetlow,
Vid Killius
Visitors:
15
Weather:
Today started out with light SW winds and a light layer of fog. The
fog/haze lingered over the lake all day, but burned off over land. Around
9:45 the wind shifted to the NE. Sunny with a cloudless sky; temps started
in the 30s but reached a high in the 40s.
Raptor Observations:
Due to the NE winds there were only a few migrant raptors today. We had one
male Northern Harrier, one Bald Eagle and one Red-tailed Hawk. There were a
few more local birds around including one Sharp-shinned Hawk, one Northern
Harrier, and a pair of Bald Eagles.
Non-raptor Observations:
There was a nice mix of ducks continuing on the bay. Two American Coot were
trying to blend in with the geese sitting on the ice. Along with over a
thousand Canada Geese, there were 6 Greater White-fronted Geese, two
Cackling Geese, and one Snow Goose x Canada Goose hybrid. The first
Killdeer of the season flew over calling and there were a few more Common
Grackles around than previous days.
Predictions:
A few showers in the morning, becoming a steady light rain in the
afternoon. Temps in the mid 30s. Winds out of the ENE at 15-25mph. I�m not
expecting much, if anything, to move tomorrow. The strong ENE wind along
with showers won�t excite many birds to try to migrate.
========================================================================
Report submitted by Maili Waters (<mailirwaters...>)
Braddock Bay information may be found at:
http://www.bbrr.org/
Date: 3/4/26 1:19 pm From: Jeanne Verhulst <jeanne.verhulst...> Subject: [GeneseeBirds-L] Rochester Birding Association's Saturday, March 21, Beginning Birder Trip to Owl Woods rescheduled to Sunday, March 15, 2026
Hello All,
A heads up: Owl Woods will be closed to all access for a single day, Saturday, March 21, for dead ash tree removal by the DEC. As a result, the RBA has rescheduled the Beginning Birder field trip to Sunday, March 15 at 8:30 AM. Please pass on this information. Thanks!
Jeanne Verhulst
Rochester Birding Association Field Trips
Date: 3/4/26 9:58 am From: 'Lynn A. Braband' via Geneseebirds <geneseebirds-l...> Subject: [GeneseeBirds-L] Jackdaw chicks learn to recognize predators by listening to adults - Earth.com
Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Maili Waters
Observers: Greg Sanda, Robin Morey
Visitors: 7
Weather: Today was mostly cloudy with some sun in the morning. It was cold to start with temps in the 20s but warmed to a high of 40. Winds were out of the SSE at 5-10mph.
Raptor Observations: The local birds included one Red-tailed Hawk and three Bald Eagles that made quick appearances. The highlight of the day was the first Turkey Vulture of the season! There was also a Peregrine Falcon that quickly passed by.
Non-raptor Observations: I got to the park early enough to beat the heat shimmer, so scoping the bay resulted in lots of ducks. Along with a few hundred scaup and some smaller numbers of other ducks, there were 174 Redheads, 55 Canvasback, and 73 Northern Pintail. Red-winged Blackbirds are back in town with around 40 flying past throughout the day. The blue Snow Goose was seen again flying out of the bay again with Canadas.
Predictions: Potentially some fog early on with a mix of sun and clouds for the rest of the day. High of 43F. Winds out of the NNE at 5-10mph. There probably won't be too much on the move due to the northerly component to the wind, however it is light enough that there could be a few birds moving around. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Maili Waters (<mailirwaters...>) Braddock Bay information may be found at: http://www.bbrr.org/
