Field Reports

The Late October Wrap-up

It’s late October at the Observatory, and the golden oaks are in their full glory on the ridgeline and valleys below. Adult Red-tailed Hawks add their own reddish hue to the airspace above, and lucky observers may spot an occasional adult Golden Eagle showing off its namesake golden nape. The slow transition of seasons at the Hawk Watch continues into November, as many species are beginning to drop off in number while a few others are still picking up.

Among these are Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawks, as well as Golden Eagles, all of which will reach their peaks in the coming days to weeks. Additionally, northern non-raptor visitors like scoters, winter finches, Snow Buntings, and Northern Shrike, are all possible on a daily basis as we welcome the arrival of November and its shorter, colder days ahead.

A Golden Eagle in flight. (photo © Tom Koerner, USFWS)

The Raptor Count So Far

For daily totals from the Observatory, please visit hawkcount.org.

Visiting the Observatory: New Hours and Road Closures

November 1 marks the end of Daylight Savings Time, and the official Hawk Watch hours shift to 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. As always, be prepared for cooler weather at the summit, and dress for the conditions if you hope to spend some time watching hawks with our team of staff and volunteers. It’s also worth keeping in mind that the auto road to the Observatory is slated to close for the season on November 12 and may close sooner if ice or snow falls at elevation — but Harris Center staff and/or volunteers will be onsite throughout November 20 barring poor weather, and we look forward to greeting you!

Rough-legged Hawk Steals the Show on October 17

Observatory counters were treated to a memorable day of hawk watching on a ‘cold, November-like day with temps in the low thirties and winds from the northwest.’ October 17 — a day that even featured a brief snow squall — proved favorable to migrating raptors, ushering along thirteen species (all but two of the regularly occurring species). Among them were the season’s first two (and still only) Golden Eagles, an American Goshawk, and a stunning dark-morph Rough-legged Hawk! Counter, Kate McKay, captures the magical moment in the daily hawkcount.org report:

“Later in the day, just after 4 p.m., an interesting raptor was spotted flying above North Pack, surrounded by three ravens. Dark underneath with long black-and-white wings, it was none other than a Rough-legged Hawk! It flew high towards the southeast, with one of the ravens following it for most of the way. Just as it was about to disappear behind the trees, it miraculously turned around and started coming back, flying lower and lower until it was right out in front of the Hawk Watch. What a special moment! Gorgeous dark-morph bird with crisp, eye-catching plumage. Observers were able to capture many beautiful photographs. Eventually it flew up and off towards the southwest.”

A dark morph Rough-legged Hawk soars over Pack Monadnock. (photo © Chuck Carlson)

Peregrine and Harrier Numbers Soar

Two species are seeing particularly high tallies in 2026. Peregrine Falcon just broke the all-time high count (65), surpassing the previous record for this species, which was set in 2017.

An adult male ‘gray ghost’ Northern Harrier in flight is always a crowd-pleaser at the Observatory. (photo © Chuck Carlson)

Peregrines have made a remarkable recovery in the past decades and are now listed as ‘state-threatened’ in New Hampshire.

The Northern Harrier, which is trending slowly in the opposite direction, is now listed as ‘state-endangered’ in New Hampshire, and has seen another very good year at the Observatory.

As of this writing, 122 have been tallied — just three individuals shy of the record-high count. My prediction is that the past-season high count of 125 will be surpassed, as the harrier is an expected later-season migrant, with plenty of November appearances.

Black Vultures Rising?

You may have noticed more Black Vultures being reported at the Observatory — and elsewhere around New Hampshire.

Harris Center ecologist Nate Marchessault holds (gently restrains) Black Vulture 503 during processing. Note: the bird in this photo was handled for research purposes under
appropriate state and federal permits. (photo © Phil Brown)

Though our counters have only documented three as true ‘migrants’ this season, groups of up to five have been observed this season from the Hawk Watch. That’s part of a growing trend as this species continues to expand its range northward.

And perhaps you’ve heard that the Harris Center’s own Nate Marchessault made an incredible discovery in a remote cliffside cave in southwest New Hampshire this past breeding season — the state’s first-ever documented Black Vulture nest!

After sharing word of this exciting find with our raptor research collaborators at Hawk Mountain, two chicks were wing-tagged and one outfitted with a GPS transmitter that will track this bird’s movements.

Monitoring species near the edges of their range is of particular interest to understanding their migration and movement ecologies, as well as understanding how to best protect them.

Read more about that project in this story by Nate, and keep your eyes peeled for Black Vultures –especially ones with wing tags 502 and 503!

Join us for the Big Soup on November 1!

Bring a bowl and a spoon (and maybe a soup) to participate in the Hawk Watch community’s 15th Annual Big Soup contest! This just-for-fun contest is a fan favorite event and attempts to add some warmth to the chill of late autumn days. Prizes include a vintage Pack t-shirt and a year’s worth of bragging rights, as well as a belly full of delicious homemade goodness. The tasting begins at noon sharp.

— Phil Brown, Bird Conservation Director

The View from Mid-October

October at the Observatory features colorful foliage (and crowds of leaf peepers) as well as later-season migrant raptors. Though the Broad-winged Hawk migration has passed, there’s plenty more excitement still to come.

Canada Geese herald the changing of the season. (photo © raven.digital)

October’s star migrants include Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawks, Turkey Vultures, Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawks, Merlins, and Peregrine Falcons. Less common migrants, American Goshawks and Golden Eagles, also begin to appear, as skeins of Canada Geese migrate past the watch, heralding the onset of cooler weather.

The Raptor Count So Far

Bundle up if you’re planning to visit the summit in October!
(photo © Phil Brown)

For up-to-date daily totals, please visit hawkcount.org.

Follow along here or visit the Observatory during the second half of the season to enjoy thrilling days of raptor migration with great diversity, some close fly-bys, and stunning seasonal moments.

Be prepared for cold weather at the summit, and dress for the conditions if you hope to spend some time watching hawks with our team of staff and volunteers. Barring poor weather, we’ll be there from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily throughout October. We look forward to greeting you!

Broad-winged Hawks: Where Are They Now?

You might be wondering where “our” Broad-winged Hawks are now. Thanks to transmitter data – including some from the Harris Center’s own tagging efforts – we know that many of these hemispheric travelers are now winging their way past hawk watches in Mexico and central America. The Cardel Hawk Watch in Veracruz, Mexico recently counted over 200,000 Broad-winged Hawks in a single day, and hawk watches in Costa Rica should be seeing the pulse in the next few days.

A Broad-winged Hawk tagged on her nesting grounds in Dublin, NH. (photo © Chuck Carlson)

Hawk Mountain’s Broad-winged Hawk project – in which the Harris Center is a key partner – continues to track the movements of these highly migratory birds. Recently, Granite (a breeding female from Dublin, NH) checked in from southern Mexico, and Moose (a female who nested in Hancock, NH) made it to her wintering grounds in Guatemala earlier this week. Through mapping data and visual observations, this project has demonstrated that Broad-wings require intact forests during their breeding, wintering, and migratory journeys.

‘Moose’ left Hancock, NH in mid-September and is currently in Guatemala, where she spent last winter. (graphic © Hawk Mountain)

Big Sit! Yields 30 Species of Birds

This year’s Big Sit! birding event coincided with World Migratory Bird Day on October 10. The Paccipiters (the Observatory’s own Big Sit! team), led by Katrina Fenton, Levi Burford, and Kate McKay, tallied 30 different bird species, including 90 individual migratory raptors. Over 3,000 Canada geese led the way in number, followed by 455 human spectators who enjoyed the watch that day! In truth, every day at the Observatory is a Big Sit, and the cumulative bird list tallied by the end of the migration season often exceeds 100 species.

Peak Peregrines and Other Late-Season Migrants

Peregrine Falcons are having a strong October at the Observatory. (photo © Chuck Carlson)

Compared to September, this month got off to a rather slow start for migration. However, October has already produced three of the four American Goshawks, 49 Cooper’s Hawks, and 42 of the 50 Peregrine Falcons tallied (through 10/13). Next up? Perhaps a Golden Eagle or two!

This uncommon, late-season migrant often puts in its first showing during mid-late October, soaring by delighted observers. There’s only one way to see one at Pack, and that involves putting in your time on these cooler October days. While you’re waiting, you may enjoy days with dozens of migrating Red-shouldered and Red-tailed Hawks, Turkey Vultures, a few more falcons, and maybe even a regal American Goshawk, in addition to spectacular scenery.

NH Chronicle

Finally, the Observatory was recently featured on WMUR’s New Hampshire Chronicle. Their story included footage of the Broad-winged Hawk migration in September and showcased our community of raptor observers and visitors. One long-time hawkwatcher said, “It couldn’t have been scripted better.” If you missed it when it aired on TV, you can now watch it online. Thanks, NH Chronicle!

A Record-setting Broad-winged Hawk Day!

A Broad-winged Hawk kettle swirls above Pack Monadnock. (photo © Judd Nathan)

On September 19, Observatory staff and volunteers — along with a big crew of visiting hawk watchers — witnessed a remarkable flight of Broad-winged Hawks. A perfect combination of winds, weather, and skilled observers came together for this biggest single day in the Observatory’s 22-year history.

In the words of raptor biologist Kate McKay, “An exceptional 4,435 broad-wings passed by during the 12 o’clock hour alone, including one long river of birds flying low behind the trees near the summit. There were many amazing kettles in the hundreds that often appeared over North Pack or the Uncanoonuc hills and re-formed right above us… We ended with a new single day high count for broad-wings, breaking the previous record of 5,208 broad-wings in 2011.”

This flight, which doubled the season’s total raptor count, and subsequent others (three days have now borne witness to over 1,000 Broad-wings each) have buoyed the season’s count to well over 15,000 total raptors. There’s still a little way to go if we’re to top the high water mark of 16,593 Broad-wings (and nearly 20,000 total raptors) in 2015 — but our observers will surely be trying!

Sharpies Play Second Fiddle

A Sharp-shinned Hawk in flight above Pack Monadnock. (photo © Judd Nathan)

Behind Broad-wings, Sharp-shinned Hawks are the second most counted raptor, and the 700+ thus far is a respectable total for ‘sharpies,’ which should continue to have strong pulses of up to 100 in a day through October.

The fierce antics of these exciting little raptors are fun to watch, as they dive on larger raptor species and even the plastic decoy owl! Ospreys, Bald Eagles, and American Kestrels have also topped 100 migrants apiece thus far, as well.

Free Birds

On September 22, visitors to the Observatory were treated to an exciting spectacle — the release of two rehabilitated raptors back to the wild. This event featured the release of both juvenile American Kestrel and Merlin from Wings of the Dawn in Henniker, NH, a long-time project partner that cares for injured and sick wildlife. It’s always special to be part of this opportunity for raptors to have a second chance to fly free in the wild, and this release didn’t disappoint!

Phil Brown releases a rehabilitated American Kestrel at Pack on September 22. (photo © Gigi Chen)

Songbirds, Butterflies, and a Rare Gull

Two Lesser Black-backed Gulls fly past Pack on September 21 — an Observatory first! (photo © Chuck Carlson)

We’ve now tallied over 800 Monarch butterflies — the highest number in several years — and 70 hummingbirds, in addition to many other bird and butterfly species.

One exciting find came on September 21, when volunteer Chuck Carlson photographed what turned out to be not one, but two Lesser Black-backed Gulls, representing the first Pack record — and first documented record for the entire Monadnock Region!

Looking Ahead

A changing of the guard is in the works, as Broad-winged numbers continue to diminish and the bulk of their flight migrates south through the Appalachians. Expect only a few by early October.

Other species, such as Osprey and American Kestrel, will soon reach and pass their own peaks. And some, like the American Goshawk, will begin to appear. (The first migrant ‘gos’ arrived on September 21.) Expect more Peregrine Falcons, Merlins, Sharp-shinned Hawks, and Cooper’s Hawks in the coming week or two.

Please stay tuned to the hawkcount.org forecast for next day’s predictions and to follow the count each day. We continue to encourage visitors to make reservations to visit Miller State Park through the busy months of September and October.

Broad-winged Flights Kick Off International Hawk Migration Week!

Just over two weeks into the hawk watch season, the Observatory is off to a strong start, with more than 5,100 raptors tallied so far. Broad-winged Hawks — which typically account for nearly 70% of the annual raptor flight — got an early start this year, with triple-digit days on September 6 and 7.

Harris Center Naturalist Emeritus Meade Cadot talks with a WMUR TV crew during a day of hawkwatching on Pack Monadnock.
(photo © Phil Brown)

The real breakout came on September 15, when a remarkable 2,626 Broad-winged Hawks drifted over Pack Monadnock, circling lazily in towering “kettles” of up to several hundred birds. Several dozen spectators (as well as a film crew from WMUR’S New Hampshire Chronicle) were also treated to the season’s highest-to-date tally of Osprey, Bald Eagle, and Peregrine Falcon.

International Hawk Migration Week (IHMW) is a weeklong celebration of raptor migration across the Americas, where over 200 hawk watch locations under the umbrella of the Hawk Migration Association (a project partner) contribute data and showcase the magic of raptor migration.

While many of us remain focused on raptors, the Harris Center’s staff and volunteers keep track of so much more! Over 400 monarch butterflies and 63 hummingbirds have winged their way south past the lookout this season. Common Loons, Common Nighthawks, and several species of warblers have added diversity to the airspace, and interesting dragonfly and butterfly species have been tallied too.

A kettle of Broad-winged hawks soars over Pack Monadnock. (photo © Chuck Carlson)

Raptor Release on September 20

A raptor release is planned at the Observatory for Tuesday, September 22 at noon sharp. It’s always special to see raptors get a second chance at life in the wild. This event features the release of rehabilitated raptors from Wings of the Dawn, and it will take place only if weather conditions permit. Please stay tuned to the hawkcount.org forecast for updates. Reservations to visit Miller State Park are strongly recommended for this popular event.

What’s Ahead?

Broad-winged Hawks should continue to dominate the leaderboard for another week or so. As we progress through IHMW, several other species should reach their peak flights, including Osprey, American Kestrel, Northern Harrier, and Sharp-shinned Hawk. Cooper’s Hawks and Red-shouldered Hawks should also become more numerous, while a diversity of other migrating bird species keeps the count dynamic from day to day.

Our community of human visitors also increases during Broad-winged season and builds to a peak during the first few weekends of October, when foliage is at its best. We welcome all to join the fun, but please be advised that online reservations are encouraged during these busy periods.

An autumn view from the Observatory platform. (photo © Phil Brown)

For an in-depth look at what it’s like to work at the Observatory, read Fall Hawkwatching on Pack Monadnock, a thoughtful and informative new essay by our raptor biologist Kate McKay — and stay tuned to this Field Report page for further updates!

Soaring into Our 22nd Season…

Another season of hawk watching is upon us! Now entering its 22nd consecutive year, the Pack Monadnock Raptor Observatory continues to thrive, thanks to support from the Harris Center, NH Parks, and all of you. Eager star volunteer Glen Chretien has already tallied 110 migratory birds of seven species during the past “pre-season” week, and migration should pick up soon.

Bird conservation director Phil Brown & raptor biologist Kate McKay (photo © Glen Chretien)

Welcome Back, Kate

We’re excited to welcome Kate McKay back as our full-time raptor counter for a second year. Kate, a former wildlife intern for the Harris Center, returns to us most recently from a position monitoring grassland birds and educating landowners about grassland bird conservation in NH and VT. She’s excited to greet our awesome community of raptor fans, be outside with birds (and dragonflies!), and be a welcoming face for the Observatory’s many visitors. Kate will be the lead counter from Thursdays through Mondays.

Our 2026 Hawk Watch Team

This year, Harris Center ecologist Nate Marchessault will also be returning to the Hawk Watch on Wednesdays, and Julie and Phil Brown will again cover most Tuesdays. Harris Center teacher-naturalist Nikko Gagnon also returns for a fourth season to help with interpretation and school group visits on Wednesdays from early September to late October. What a team!

Visiting the Hawk Watch

Every year, more than 6,000 visitors enjoy the science and spectacle of migration from the Pack Monadnock Raptor Observatory.
(photo © Ben Conant)

The Harris Center and NH Parks welcome all to enjoy and learn about the science and spectacle of migration with us! While the Hawk Watch is free to visit, reservations for visiting Miller State Park are strongly recommended to guarantee your space on the mountain, especially on busy weekends. Please contact the Park with any questions about school or other group visits. You can find more information about visiting the Hawk Watch here. This season, you may notice a newly re-paved road to the summit and improved access to the Hawk Watch platform!

Thank You & Stay Tuned…

The Harris Center relies on private contributions to keep the Observatory strong. Your support of this important conservation research and education project enables our team to reach more than 6,000 people every year, and to contribute important data to a long-term hawk migration database. To contribute, visit harriscenter.org/donate and select “Pack Monadnock Raptor Observatory” from the dropdown menu, or donate by mail, noting “PMRO” on the check. Thank you!

More updates and hawk-watching adventures are on the way. Keep your eyes to the sky, and stay tuned to this Field Reports page for more news from atop Pack Monadnock!