PaudurHill (Nepal) Raptor Migration Update 23 Sept – Day 8

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Today my colleague Surya Gurung has accompanying me in the migration count. The weather was not so good all the day. Mainly the thick cloud covered the mountain slopes most of the time. Especially the Dhampus ridge was hiding mostly under the cloud after 9:00. We got south wind of average 4.5 km/hr.
Today it was a great day in terms of species we got in the watch site. Two newcomer species (Saker Falcon and Osprey) were the main attraction.  Wow!!! the pretty big and beautiful falcon. I remembered my colleague Bob. I am sure he would love to have a nice picture of Saker and he is missing. It is very difficult to do two different things together. So I missed to photograph with my tiny camera but clearly observed the field markings. Surya also impressed very much. The Eurasian Hobby was also pretty close for about 20 seconds. Now I am feeling the need of good camera but it would be hard to afford … how to manage? Four species of vultures were seen most of the time. Passerine migrants were Barn swallows and House swift. Few butterflies were also seen. I am not sure whether they are migrating? 

Species

Today’s migration
Total Migration of the Season
Oriental Honey-buzzard

13
Common Buzzard

0
Long-legged Buzzard

0
Upland Buzzard

0
Unidentified Buteo

0
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
1
4
Northern Goshawk

0
Unidentified Accipiter

0
Black Kite
4
28
Osprey
1
1
Hen Harrier

0
Eastern Marsh Harrier

0
Unidentified Harrier

0
Steppe Eagle

0
Booted Eagle

0
Crested Serpent Eagle

9
Short-toed Eagle

0
Imperial Eagle

0
Bonelli's Eagle

1
Greater Spotted Eagle

0
Changeable Hawk-eagle
2
2
Golden Eagle

0
Unidentified Eagle

0
Peregrine Falcon

7
Saker Falcon
3
3
Eurasian Hobby
6
9
Amur Falcon

0
Lesser Kestrel

0
Common Kestrel
1
13
Unidentified Falcon
1
3
Egyptian Vulture

4
Himalayan Griffon Vulture

0
Cinereous (Black) Vulture

0
Eurasian Griffon

0
Unidentified Vulture

0
Unidentified Raptor

1
Total
19
98

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