Raptor Migration at Cape Tenaro - Spring 2015

Small number so raptors arrive at Cape Tenaro most days in spring; this was the case again this year however the weather conditions meant that we also had a more substantive arrival of Marsh Harriers on two days in March (44 on 27th and 25 on 29th). There was also a marked influx of Kestrels on one day (16 on 31st March) as well as small numbers moving through on most days during our stay. 


Raptor Migration at Cape Tenaro
26 March to 6 April 2015

Species	Number
Marsh Harrier	84
Hen Harrier	2
Montagu's Harrier	1
Pallid Harrier	3
Harrier Sp.	3
Sparrowhawk	1
Steppe Buzzard	2
Osprey	1
Lesser Kestrel	10
Kestrel	55
Total	162

Note: The table has sought to exclude birds that had apparently stayed off passage for one or more days, so any individual is only counted once.

In addition the resident raptors - Short-toed Eagle, Common Buzzard and Kestrel have also been excluded.

This year's observations serve to reinforce the importance of Cape Tenaro and the Mani peninsula as a whole as a landfall for migrant birds of prey. The estimate I made in an earlier post (11 April 2013) of 500 to 1000 raptors arriving each spring may well be too conservative.