Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!maverick.ksu.ksu.edu!unmvax!nmt.edu!john
From: john@nmt.edu (John Shipman)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: Hawks flying
Message-ID: <1990Sep13.195812.12714@nmt.edu>
Date: 13 Sep 90 19:58:12 GMT
References: <1990Sep11.191415.1572@oz.plymouth.edu> <1990Sep13.164049.4435@portia.Stanford.EDU>
Distribution: usa
Organization: Zoological Data Processing
Lines: 39

Daniel Spielman (spielman@amy8.stanford.edu) writes:
+--
| Where are good areas in the San Francisco Bay Area to watch
| the hawk migration, and what time of the year is the best?
+--

RIGHT NOW is the best time.  The hawk migration runs from
early September to mid-October, with the heavist flights
typically in the last half of September.

The best spot is in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
Cross the Golden Gate Bridge northbound and take the exit
for the scenic overlook just after getting off the bridge.
Take the underpass that heads west under the freeway and
continue west on the road that climbs up to another scenic
overlook.  Just before the road changes from two-way to
one-way and starts to descend, park your car along the road.

Walk up to the top of the hill, either by the path that
winds around the west end of the hill, or by going through
either of the tunnels that go north under the hill and then
climbing a trail up the north side.  At this time of year,
there should be hawk-watchers present on most days.  The
best spot is a small rise east and a bit north of the
railings overlooking The City.

You should be there about the time the fog burns off,
typically around 10 AM; usually the action slows down about
2-3 in the afternoon.  A good way to spend the time between
dawn and 10 is to look for migrant warblers around the
oases at Point Reyes (Fish Docks, Nunez, Mendoza, and the
Abandoned Ranch) or at Rodeo Lagoon.

Breezes blowing offshore will inhibit raptor movement.
The best wind conditions are still or slightly onshore.

-- 
John Shipman/Zoological Data Processing/Socorro, NM/john@jupiter.nmt.edu
``Let's go outside and commiserate with nature.''  --Dave Farber