Preserve’s Scenic Overlook, Woodridge (Sunday, October 27, will be the ‘rain date’.)
No limit on number of participants, but RSVP to Bob so you can get an email update on weather conditions and receive the handouts.
Root for N/NW winds! This will be our last opportunity in 2024 to see migrating raptors from the Scenic Overlook, aka Fisher Point, at Greene Valley (the overlook is closed to the public after this weekend). The Broadwings are long gone, but some of the later migrating raptor species may sail by—Northern Harriers, Red-shouldered and Rough-legged Hawks, and if we’re lucky, maybe a goshawk or Golden Eagle! Plus, of course, Redtails (sometimes we get those dark morph westerns) and TVs. Plus, pipits, Lapland longspurs and maybe a Snow Bunting or two may be hanging around the hill.

Bring a chair, hat, water, and a lunch or snacks, binocs, camera, and a scope, if you have one. It will be much cooler than at ground level, especially with N winds; so please bring layers.

We suggest you review the DBC Hawk Watch/Buteos talk. A 2nd club talk on the other families of hawks-accipiters, falcons, eagles is also helpful. We’ll have raptor field guides on hand as well. Check out and consider installing the free Cornell Lab/HawkWatch International Raptor ID mobile phone app, worthwhile for descriptions, photos, and, especially, videos that show flight styles of different hawks.

Gather at the top of the overlook at 10 am (come earlier if you wish – the gate opens around 9 am). We’ll have a brief site orientation, explain hawk watching techniques, plus do a quick review of the Hawk Migration Association of North America’s Hawk ID sheet. HMANA is the place where you can find all the data from the GV hawkwatch, as well as the multitude of hawkwatches dotting the north American landscape. (NOTE: If you’re unable to join us on this date, you can still visit the hawk watch any weekend during October, from when it opens around 9 am.)
Leader: Bob Fisher, bfisher928@aol.com