On this splendid sunny morning about two dozen participants attended a  
hawk watch organized by the Mascoma Chapter of the Audubon Society of  
New Hampshire and held near the control tower at the Lebanon Airport  
in West Lebanon, NH. Sightings began with a fairly fast start around  
9:30 am and then slowed down a bit as the morning progressed. Seven  
species of raptors were sighted.

As many as 20 Turkey Vultures were in sight at once as those roosting  
in West Lebanon took flight for the day. Other raptor sightings  
included an adult Bald Eagle, a Northern Harrier, a Sharp-shinned  
Hawk, at least three Broad-winged Hawks, a mature Red-tailed Hawk, and  
an American Kestrel. In addition, a few other buteos were seen at long  
distance, too far for definite identification.

Other bird species sighted included 2 Great Blue Herons, about 20  
distant gulls presumed to be Ring-billed Gulls, two Yellow-shafted  
Flickers, four Eastern Kingbirds together, Blue Jays, American Crows,  
a few hundred European Starlings wheeling about, a few American  
Goldfinches, and a few intrepid House Sparrows mingling among the hawk  
watchers and even standing on their vehicles. Numerous migrating  
Monarch butterflies provided a colorful addition to the hawk watch.

Thanks to Art Mudge for an introductory talk on hawk watching and to  
Don Lacey for compiling the sightings.

George Clark
Norwich, VT