Dunning's Mtn Hawk Watch

This weekend I helped out Corey Ritter, an PA Audubon Society Intern, with hawk watching at the Dunning's Mountain Hawk Watch on the border of Blair and Bedford Counties. Saturday was a slow day with only 22 raptors migrating past. Highlights were 3 Bald Eagles and 2 juvenile Northern Harriers that flew past together. Sunday was much better with 62 raptors migrating past, not including the 87 Turkey Vultures that migrated past. Anna Fasoli counted with Corey and I on Sunday. Highlights were 3 adult Peregrine Falcons, two of which came through in our last hour of watching for the day; 3 Bald Eagles, 2 Northern Harriers, and lots of great looks at Cooper's and Sharp-shinned Hawks. The most numerous migrant of the weekend however were Blue Jays. We had 619 fly past on Saturday and 232 fly past on Sunday. The Blue Jays migrated past in groups ranging in size from 1 or 2 individuals up to groups of more than 55 individuals. Two young Herring Gulls soared past also.

Blue Jay migrating past the site

4th year Bald Eagle soaring over the hawk watch.