Sorry – not in West Virginia. Am on vacation in Cancun, Mex. Went out yesterday with my favorite Mayan bird guide, Luis Ku, to Coba (an archeological site) and Punta Laguna, a nature preserve nearby. On the way, Luis stopped the car when he spotted it. We climbed out of the car trying to find the toucan. Next, a large group of Collared Aracaris appeared, making my day. I had seen aracaris before but this was my first Keel-billed, which Luis knew. After seeing it fly through the air, I still find it hard to believe there is a reason for the adaptation and that he can actually fly with so much weight up front. I’ll have to Google it.  Other highlights of the day were a Blue-crowned Motmot, a Ruddy Crake, and an Oscellated Turkey. I go out with Luis again next Monday to Muyil and Xel-ha, two other archeological site.

FYI – archeological sites are often prime birding locations in the Yucatan Peninsula as long as one goes early and before the crowds arrive.

Regards

Sandy Sagalkin

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The PVAS raptor class held its forth and final field trip of the season by visiting Waggoner’s Gap hawk watch site just north of Carlise, PA. The conditions were perfect for movement with overcast conditions, snow showers, brisk NW winds 10-20 mph and temps in the low 40’s. The class was not disappointed. After an hour and half drive from Spring Mills, WV to the rocky out cropping overlooking the Cumberland Valley we were never without a bird in the sky for more than 45 seconds the rest of the day. Waggoner’s Gap is one of the premier hawk watching locations in the east having started in 1952. Today, they set a new single day record for Golden Eagles with 50 (We saw 36 during our time there). Upon first arrival the first birds seen were 4 Golden Eagles flying in concert. What a start! About 5 minutes after that our first Northern Goshawk came flying by. We stayed from 10am until 3:30pm and it will be a day to remember for all. Also of note were Pine Siskins, Common Loons (71) and a few gulls.

Raptor totals seen while we were there:
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I posted this note on the old PVAS blog, but am reposting it on the new site.

PVAS sponsored a hawk watch trip October 12-15 to Cape May, NJ, my favorite hawk watching venue. Most of us rolled into Cape May late Friday. Friday had very favorable winds pushing over 1800 Sharpies, 1000 American Kestrels and 400 Merlins past the lighthouse. By Saturday, the wind shifted to the south. Nonetheless, although nothing like Friday, we had good numbers of all of the expected species, including:
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PVAS sponsored a birding trip to the Eastern Shore of Delaware August 3-5.  Mattt Orsie led the trip.  Eight participants visited Cape Henlopen SP, Prime Hook NWR, Mispillion Harbor, and Bombay Hook NWR over one and one days. Temperatures ranged between 90-94 for daytime highs and lows were only in the mid seventies. We all  baked but had a great time with 22 shorebird species and 97 species total.

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