Wildcat Ridge in New Jersey was the first hawkwatch to officially open the spring 2010 hawkwatching season. Counter Fred Vanderburgh spent four hours on the lookout on February 15. He didn't see any migrating hawks but saw 2 local Red-tailed Hawks, "a few TV's" and noted 5 visitors in his report to HawkCount.
Three days later on February 18, Fort Smallwood Park in Maryland became the first hawkwatch to post migrants when counter Sue Ricciardi saw two Turkey Vultures in 3.25 hours at her site. The next day Sue counted 13 migrants--11 Turkey Vultures, a Bald Eagle and a Northern Harrier.
Not to be outdone, Second Mountain in Pennsylvania counted 53 migrants on February 20. The breakdown was 27 Turkey Vultures, 23 Black Vultures and 3 Red-Tailed Hawks in three hours of counting by Morris Cox. The next day the site also counted a sub-adult Golden Eagle and a Red-shouldered Hawk, among more vultures.
To date, no other sites have joined these three, but it's obviously time to ready the gear for spring hawkwatching!
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