The final chapters of the fall migration season continued with pages into November. Staring out along the Ridge at the bare treeline, the early days in August seem like a distant dream. The warblers and shorebirds that passed throughout September have likely reached Central and South America by now, finding quiet refuge in dense tropical forests or remote coastlines on the opposite hemisphere where days are gradually getting longer. The Broad-winged Hawks that passed along the Ridge months ago may now be settling into wintering territories throughout the Amazon River basin while the four Swainson's Hawks this season may already be hunting the open grasslands of Argentina. Despite the passage of time, the month of November still brings a multitude of migrant raptor species from northern latitudes that have still yet to make passage.
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| Young GOLDEN EAGLE passes along the Ridge on November 2 (Photo: Jess Cosentino) |
The month began with southwest winds; however, a decent raptor flight unfolded. It was predominantly RED-TAILED HAWKS (27) and BALD EAGLES (29) with a few ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS (2) and NORTHERN HARRIERS (3) as well. A late TURKEY VULTURE slowly lingered down the shoreline - quite possibly the last migrant we will document this fall as it is getting quite late. A late migrant ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER flitted throughout the dense vegetation below the count platform in the early morning hours. An afternoon subadult/adult GOLDEN EAGLE slowly passed high along the
Ridge and provided excellent views for three minutes or more while
riding into the slight headwind.
November 2 brought more southwest winds and the day saw a slow but gradual flight with decent movement of RED-TAILED HAWKS (76) and BALD EAGLES (97), as well as several GOLDEN EAGLES (6) mixed in throughout the count. Several large groups of SNOW BUNTINGS (54) fluttered by overhead. A pair of FOX SPARROWS lingered at the count platform feeders throughout the day while good finch movement took to the skies with nice diversity, including: RED CROSSBILLS (63), WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS (15), AMERICAN GOLDFINCH (169), PINE SISKINS (540), and the first sizeable flock of migrant COMMON REDPOLLS (16) observed pushing south along the Ridge this fall.
The following day (November 3) brought northwest winds and a great flight took place! Taking a while to gain momentum throughout a slower morning, migrant raptors gradually began to pour in with the assisting winds. RED-TAILED HAWKS (87) and BALD EAGLES (146) were moving consistently throughout the late morning hours, while GOLDEN EAGLES (25) were popping up every hour throughout the morning. The day's Golden Eagle count pushed the season total over the 100-mark and the most exciting migrant of the 25 Goldens was one observed wearing a transmitter on it's back while passing along the Ridge! The birds passed slowly at treetop-level and was close enough to observe the tracking unit while it was in flight down the Ridge. A non-raptor flight highlight on the day was a great RED CROSSBILL (132) flight. While Bald Eagles dominated the flight on the day, the bulk of the movement came in the final hours before sunset as a steady stream of migrant eagles pushed steadily for close to 90 minutes down the shore and along the Ridge (with 74 migrants documented in the final two hours of daylight).
November 4 brought more southwest winds and a decent raptor flight passed the Ridge while the following day shifted to less favorable east winds. Despite poor wind conditions, there was a morning push of movement of BALD EAGLES (38) down the shore with several RED-TAILED HAWKS (14) seeming to liftoff in the morning hours. Many Red-tails spent the day hunting and riding the winds along the Ridge as wind speeds picked up off of the lake and the afternoon flight never gained much momentum. A group of TRUMPETER SWANS (7) passed high along the Ridge, echoing out their thunderous calls. Poor conditions continued into November 6 with heavy bands of rain moving north of the Ridge and remaining in that area throughout most of the day, shutting down any flight. November 7 continued with more heavy east winds; however, surprisingly witnessed migrant raptors pushing south in spite of this. Many BALD EAGLES (43) were pushing down the shore fast with minimal movement along the Ridge. Southwinds continued into November 8 with only a single migrant raptor passing.
Finally, west winds returned on November 9 coupled with a drop in temperature. The early morning west winds were funneling out towards the shore from sunrise onward; however, it took several hours for raptor momentum to pick up. The Ridge flight line was sparse with much of the movement taking place along the shore. A steady stream of eagle kettles (as many as 15 in a single group together!) pooled up along the shore and slowly worked their way south. GOLDEN EAGLES (13) began moving more by late morning with a steady trickle pushing down the west side of the Ridge low at treetop-level and moving quickly. A group of late migrant AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS (16) moved slowly down the shore in the early afternoon. A few adult female NORTHERN HARRIERS (3) passed throughout the day as well a nice pulse of ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS (14). Raptor momentum carried into the mid-afternoon hours but abruptly shutoff within a couple hours before sunset. This was a great early November raptor flight to enjoy along the Ridge.
Finally, west winds returned on November 9 coupled with a drop in temperature. The early morning west winds were funneling out towards the shore from sunrise onward; however, it took several hours for raptor momentum to pick up. The Ridge flight line was sparse with much of the movement taking place along the shore. A steady stream of eagle kettles (as many as 15 in a single group together!) pooled up along the shore and slowly worked their way south. GOLDEN EAGLES (13) began moving more by late morning with a steady trickle pushing down the west side of the Ridge low at treetop-level and moving quickly. A group of late migrant AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS (16) moved slowly down the shore in the early afternoon. A few adult female NORTHERN HARRIERS (3) passed throughout the day as well a nice pulse of ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS (14). Raptor momentum carried into the mid-afternoon hours but abruptly shutoff within a couple hours before sunset. This was a great early November raptor flight to enjoy along the Ridge.
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| An adult (top) and young (bottom) GOLDEN EAGLE pass along the Ridgeon November 10 (Photos: Jess Cosentino) |
The following day (November 10) continued with another great eagle and buteo flight thanks to more northwest/west winds! It took until late morning to pick up and then migrant raptors began collecting on the shore as the winds pushed them out, and this continued for the next 4-5 consistently. Mixed-species kettles of BALD EAGLES (111), RED-TAILED HAWKS (103), ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS (30), and GOLDEN EAGLES (23) were pouring throughout the cold grey skies. To add to the excitement, another late AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN mixed in with the migrant raptors pushing down the shore as the northwest winds funneled birds southward!
Both November 11 and 12 shifted to south winds and experienced slower raptor flights in the wake of the fantastic one on the 10th.
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| An adult BALD EAGLE (left) and GOLDEN EAGLE (right) spiral directly above the count platform on November 13 (Photo: Jess Cosentino) |
However, November 13 shifted abruptly back to west/northwest and a massive mid-November flight unfolded. The best GOLDEN EAGLE (35) flight of the season passed throughout the count, tilting the season total over the 200-mark. Strong west winds were churning down onto the Ridge in the first hours of daylight which had many Goldens moving early (a total of 20 migrant Goldens being documented before noon!). Additionally, great BALD EAGLE (120), RED-TAILED (189) and ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (30) flights passed along the Ridge and shore. For hours, it was just constant waves of all four species in large kettles slowly pushing southward down the shore. At times there were kettles of more than 25 Red-tailed Hawks spiraling over the shoreline as eagles and other raptors mixed in as well. The flight line along the Ridge was also productive as many migrant raptors offered some incredible views while making passage directly overhead while others passed at eye-level. This was a classic big mid-November day on the Ridge with excellent diversity, great looks, and an overall fantastic count by the time the sun began to set on Duluth.
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| Dark-morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK passes along the Ridge on November 13 (Photo: Jess Cosentino) |
November 14 shifted back to less favorable wind conditions and unseasonably warmer temperatures, almost reaching 60 F by afternoon. However, a decent push of late morning migrant raptors did make passage but tapered off dramatically into the afternoon as blustery southwest winds (gusts up to 30 mph) created a formidale headwind. Southwest winds persisted into November 15 with a few more RED-TAILED HAWKS (22), BALD EAGLES (24), and GOLDEN EAGLES (5) - adding to what has shaped up to be a banner November and overall great season for Goldens!
The final pages of fall migration lay ahead before the blanket of winter envelopes the northern hemisphere. The second half of November offers only brief windows of diurnal daylight which each passing square on the calendar; however, with favorable conditions there can be fantastic late season raptor flights down the Ridge before the month is over. The air can feel raw and winds unforgiving to those standing on the overlook below, yet these can provide some of the best conditions to observe late season raptor migration here.
The final pages of fall migration lay ahead before the blanket of winter envelopes the northern hemisphere. The second half of November offers only brief windows of diurnal daylight which each passing square on the calendar; however, with favorable conditions there can be fantastic late season raptor flights down the Ridge before the month is over. The air can feel raw and winds unforgiving to those standing on the overlook below, yet these can provide some of the best conditions to observe late season raptor migration here.
Follow the HRBO count daily here at: https://www.trektellen.org
Jess Cosentino
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