The season of the hawk is upon us

by John Karrigan

Last year I wrote about the record numbers of hawks passing by Hawk Ridge in Duluth. This year I have not heard anything about Hawk Ridge, let alone record numbers. The fact that September has been warmer than August probably has something to do with that. Maybe there will be large numbers of raptors migrating in October and/or November. Large birds can wait until weather or feeding conditions turn bad. Small birds cannot risk that, and usually leave on their usual schedule, based on the length of daylight, no matter what the weather.

And, speaking of small birds, a Ruby-throated Hummingbird visited the yard briefly on September 19. And I mean briefly, probably about 5 seconds. I suppose it, or other hummingbirds could have made other visits to the yard, but it would be pure luck to be outside and looking the right direction to spot one in that short time. For some reason, we had the luck and a few minutes later, we spotted a White-lined Sphinx Moth (or hummingbird moth) in the yard, in increasing darkness. I am sure the hummingbird was a hummingbird and the sphinx moth was a sphinx moth. I also saw a sphinx moth 5 days earlier, in somewhat brighter light. Continuing on flying insects, butterflies have been more common in September than in August, both in the park and in the yard. Most usual are Cabbage butterflies and Monarchs, with a few Tiger Swallowtails. I have seen a beautiful copper-colored butterfly in the yard several times. I cannot find it in my rudimentary butterfly book, but an expert would probably know exactly what it is.

Now back to birds (that eat moths and other flying insects). Nighthawks, which, as I always say, are not hawks, but closely related to Whippoorwills, are no doubt gone for the year. I saw some migrating early in the month and saw the last one over the yard on September 12.

And now on to real hawks. I again saw a Cooper’s Hawk in the park, late in the month. I have not found a regular spot where it hangs out, as I sometimes do, but if the past is any indication, the hawk (or hawks) might stay until early winter. Highway hawk watching has been quite good this month. It is often fairly hard to identify them, but I have seen Red-tail, Sharp-shinned and who knows what else.

The regular fall waterfowl are on or around the lake. The Great Blue Heron is still usually somewhere around the lake. Canada Geese numbers vary from zero to thirty and Ring-billed Gull numbers from zero to forty or more. The mature male Wood Ducks have returned to join the females and immature “woodies.” I don’t know where they go, probably “up North” somewhere, but mature male Wood Ducks and males of several other duck species leave their families for some or most of the summer. A Double-crested Cormorant was on the lake once (September 12) that I know of.

A couple of Flickers were in the park on the 20th; on September 20th, three years ago, there were 50 or100 or more Flickers there. There were from 10 to 40 Yellow-rumped Warblers near the lakeshore late in the month. Four years ago there were 200 or more. I have not seen any migrating Sparrow species so far this year. This does not necessarily mean there are fewer Flickers, Yellow-rumps or Sparrows. I just might not be at the right place at the right time.

Goldfinch numbers are steady or increasing in the park. They were going crazy when the new shoreline plantings were blooming. I saw one Eastern Phoebe this month, the same as last year.

Miscellaneous
I am not sure why I am writing about the next subject, but as a sort of unofficial chronicler of park events, I feel I should. A relatively young man committed suicide in the park early in September. I have no idea if I ever saw the man in the park or what his struggles or problems were, but they were overwhelming to him and it is a loss to his friends, family and our community. May he rest in peace.

Another serious, but unrelated subject: The November Southside Pride will come out on election day, so I am giving my readers a one-month-in-advance plea: Please vote!

Comments and observations are always welcome. Send them to me, in care of the Southside Pride. Thank you.