Derby Hill Bird Observatory

Derby Hill Bird Observatory An Onondaga Audubon Sanctuary and premier spring hawk watch site located on the shore of Lake Ontario This is the location of the main (north) lookout.

There are two hawk watch lookouts, north and south, that are used depending on the wind direction. Sage Creek Marsh on the south side of the entry road also has a kiosk and a platform for watching waterfowl, herons and other wetland species. The sanctuary headquarters is located at the top of the hill on a bluff overlooking Lake Ontario. A series of trails also start there. The trails start at a l

arge rock and flower garden, and then move south across fields, swamp and woodlands. There is a boardwalk through the wet area. The trails are open year round. Except possibly for the deep part of winter, December and January, Derby Hill has something to offer in all seasons. The official hawk count starts March 1 and continues through May. March starts the major raptor migration period with many species peaking between mid-March and mid-April. March also starts the tremendous movement of icterids – Red-winged Blackbirds, Common Grackles and Brown-headed Cowbirds. April starts the migration of many passerines. Being at the edge of the lake you can also watch duck migration and the many terns and gulls. May brings most of the warblers, vireos, flycatchers and other small birds. There are times when the trees lining the road and hedgerows are full of nervous energy. Summer months are not as dramatic as spring and fall but the trails are open for the local breeding bird, botany and butterfly enthusiasts. With the remarkable return of the Bald Eagle in our country, Derby Hill is an excellent place to spot these birds during their summer movements along the lakeshore. By late September and through October and sometimes into November both Parasitic and Pomarine Jaegers can be seen from the bluff. In addition many species of geese, ducks, gulls and sometimes terns make this a worthwhile visit in the fall. The sanctuary has signs directing visitors to parking and lookouts.

Derby Hill Hawk Watch, 5/31/26Photo is the North Lookout the morning of the last day of the season.Today's total: 113May...
05/31/2026

Derby Hill Hawk Watch, 5/31/26

Photo is the North Lookout the morning of the last day of the season.

Today's total: 113
May total: 11,351
Season total: 96,089
https://hawkcount.org/day_summary.php?rsite=358&ryear=2026&rmonth=05&rday=31

Weather: Mostly sunny becoming mostly cloudy with cirrus clouds then a thickening cloud layer as rain moved in from the north at the end of the count. Winds moderate from the west. Count conducted from the South Lookout.

Raptors: A moderate migration of Turkey Vultures (75), a trickle of Broad-winged Hawks (30) and a few Bald Eagles (8). Also local Ospreys, Cooper's Hawks, and Red-tailed Hawks.

Non-raptors:
North Lookout (morning birding): 77 Canada Geese (northbound flocks), 3 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, 100 Double-crested Cormorants, Red-headed Woodpecker, Magnolia Warbler, 3 Blackpoll Warblers.
https://ebird.org/checklist/S350079891

South Lookout: 210 Canada Geese (northbound flocks), 26 Rock Pigeons, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Willow Flycatcher, Yellow-throated Vireo, Eastern Warbling Vireo.
https://ebird.org/checklist/S350479064

No new species for season.

Forecast:
Today was the final day of the 2026 season of the Derby Hill Hawk Watch. This season had the 2nd highest overall total ever with more than 96,000 migrating raptors. Turkey Vultures set a new season record with more than 40,000. New single-day records were set for Black Vulture (4) and Turkey Vulture (10,624). More than 200 species of birds were recorded.

A big thank you to the Onondaga Audubon Society and to all of the volunteers and visitors who made it a successful season!
-David Brown

Derby Hill Hawk Watch, 5/30/26Photo is a Turkey Vulture.Today's total: 164May total: 11,238Season total: 95,976https://h...
05/30/2026

Derby Hill Hawk Watch, 5/30/26

Photo is a Turkey Vulture.

Today's total: 164
May total: 11,238
Season total: 95,976
https://hawkcount.org/day_summary.php?rsite=358&ryear=2026&rmonth=05&rday=30

Weather: Mostly sunny. Moderate to strong winds starting northeasterly, shifting northerly, and then westerly for the last hour. A pleasant day when out of the wind.

Raptors: A steady Turkey Vulture flight with over a hundred fifty. The only other migrants were four Bald Eagles and an Osprey. A few local red-tails and Cooper's Hawks plus the local kestrel.

Non-raptors:
North Lookout (morning birding): Yellow-throated Vireo, Veery, 2 Blackpoll Warblers.
https://ebird.org/checklist/S349351199

South Lookout: 3 Killdeer, 2 Great Blue Herons, 10 Cedar Waxwings.
https://ebird.org/checklist/S349729749

No new species for season.

At 2:05pm a fireball was seen just to the left of the cell phone tower (ESE) heading straight down (directly away from us). A loud boom was heard throughout Massachusetts and surrounding states. In a coincidence a U.S. Navy Boeing E-6B Mercury 'Doomsday Plane" later flew over.

Forecast:
TOMORROW: Last day of the count. Partly cloudy becoming cloudy. High 66F. Winds W at 5-10mph. Probably South Lookout. It is looking like a pleasant day to end on. I would expect light to moderate migration for the morning, though it may slow down as the clouds move in for the afternoon.

Derby Hill Bird Observatory, 5/29/26Photo is an immature Bald Eagle.Today's total: 85May total: 11,074Season total: 95,8...
05/29/2026

Derby Hill Bird Observatory, 5/29/26

Photo is an immature Bald Eagle.

Today's total: 85
May total: 11,074
Season total: 95,812
https://hawkcount.org/day_summary.php?rsite=358&ryear=2026&rmonth=05&rday=29

Weather: Clear skies in the early morning became overcast by the midday with some short periods of sprinkles. Remaining overcast. Light to moderate winds shifting between WSW and NW. Count conducted from the South Lookout.

Raptors: A moderate flight to start the day, then slower once the clouds moved in. Broad-winged Hawks were most numerous with nearly fifty. Thirty-two Turkey Vultures. Other migrants were four Bald Eagles, one sharpie, and one red-tail.

Non-raptors:
North Lookout and marsh: Common Gallinule, Least Bittern, Mute Swan, Red-headed Woodpecker, Magnolia Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Wilson's Warbler.
https://ebird.org/checklist/S348752221

South Lookout: Chimney Swift, Killdeer, Eastern Kingbird, Common Raven.
https://ebird.org/checklist/S349005370

No new species for season.

Forecast:
TOMORROW: Morning clouds then sunny. Cooler. High near 65F. Winds N at 10-20mph. South Lookout. Expect minimal to light migration.

SUNDAY: Last day of the season. Partly cloudy skies becoming cloudy. High 66F. Winds W at 10-15mph. Probably South Lookout. Expect light to moderate migration.

Derby Hill Hawk Watch, 5/28/26Photo is an Eastern Bluebird feeding a juvenile.Today's total: 66May total: 10,989Season t...
05/28/2026

Derby Hill Hawk Watch, 5/28/26

Photo is an Eastern Bluebird feeding a juvenile.

Today's total: 66
May total: 10,989
Season total: 95,727
https://hawkcount.org/day_summary.php?rsite=358&ryear=2026&rmonth=05&rday=28

Weather: Mostly sunny with some cloudier periods. A moderate NW wind. Chilly at times with the breeze. Count conducted from the South Lookout.

Raptors: A light migration, mostly inland with occasional small groups of migrants overhead. Turkey Vultures were most numerous with 39. Twenty Broad-winged Hawks. The only other migrants were four Bald Eagles, a harrier, a Coop, and a red-tail.

Non-raptors:
North Lookout (morning birding): Common Gallinule, Magnolia Warbler.
https://ebird.org/checklist/S348202900

South Lookout: Wild Turkey, 3 Eastern Bluebirds (feeding young).
https://ebird.org/checklist/S348459867

No new species for season.

Forecast:
TOMORROW: A mix of clouds and sun early then cloudy. High 66F. Winds W increasing to 15-25mph. Probably South Lookout. Expect light to moderate migration.

SATURDAY: Mostly cloudy then afternoon sunshine. Cooler. High 64F. Winds N at 10-20mph. A strong unfavorable wind. South Lookout. Expect light migration.

SUNDAY: Cloudy. High 66F. Winds W at 10-15mph. Probably South Lookout. Expect light to moderate migration. Last day of count!

Derby Hill Hawk Watch, 5/27/26Photo is a Willow Flycatcher.Today's total: 303May total: 10,923Season total: 95,661https:...
05/27/2026

Derby Hill Hawk Watch, 5/27/26

Photo is a Willow Flycatcher.

Today's total: 303
May total: 10,923
Season total: 95,661
https://hawkcount.org/day_summary.php?rsite=358&ryear=2026&rmonth=05&rday=27

Weather: Partly sunny with an extensive layer of cirrus clouds becoming mostly sunny. Light winds that moved between north and west. Warm with temperatures reaching around 70F. Count conducted from the South Lookout.

Raptors: Slow for the first few hours then two hours of a decent flight with groups of broad-wings low overhead. Light but steady throughout the afternoon. Broad-winged Hawks were most numerous with just over 200. Moderate flights of Turkey Vultures (73) and Bald Eagles (17). Five harriers was another highlight.

Non-raptors:
North Lookout (morning birding): 3 Willow Flycatchers, Black-and-white Warbler.
https://ebird.org/checklist/S347623820

South Lookout: Wild Turkey, Purple Finch, Blue-winged Warbler.
https://ebird.org/checklist/S347916119

New species for season: Yellow-billed Cuckoo (overnight nocturnal flight call)

Forecast:
TOMORROW: Intervals of clouds and sun. High 59F. Winds NW at 10-15mph. Fairly strong wind from a less favorable direction. South lookout. Expect light migration.

FRIDAY: Partly cloudy early. A few showers later. High 63F. Winds W at 10-20mph. A day with some potential especially if there is some south in the wind for the morning. Keep an eye on.

SATURDAY: Some clouds then mainly sunny. High 62F. Winds N at 10-20mph. Strong winds from an unfavorable direction. Expect light migration.

Derby Hill Hawk Watch, 5/26/26Photo is a Blackpoll Warbler.Today's total: 397May total: 10,620Season total: 95,358https:...
05/27/2026

Derby Hill Hawk Watch, 5/26/26

Photo is a Blackpoll Warbler.

Today's total: 397
May total: 10,620
Season total: 95,358
https://hawkcount.org/day_summary.php?rsite=358&ryear=2026&rmonth=05&rday=26

Weather: Mostly sunny becoming mostly cloudy later in the day. Moderate southwesterly winds became light and variable, mostly a very weak north lake breeze. A shift to west in the early afternoon then becoming stronger southwest for a bit before a shift back to the lake breeze. Quite warm at times with temperatures reaching the low 80s. Count conducted from the North Lookout all day.

Raptors: A light, but steady flight. Mostly high altitude with tough spotting. The flight line shifted between overhead, a bit inland, and cutting the corner of the lake. Broad-winged Hawks were most numerous with almost 200. A moderate Turkey Vulture flight (139) and fifty Bald Eagles. Six Ospreys, 2 Coops, and 4 red-tails were the other migrants.

Non-raptors:
25 Brant, Mute Swan, Common Gallinule, 8 Caspian Tern, 4 Common Terns, Common Loon, 8 Eastern Wood-Pewees, 450 Blue Jays, 225 Cedar Waxwings, Purple Finch, Pine Siskin, Lincoln's Sparrow, Orchard Oriole, 11 species of warbler including 15+ Blackpoll Warblers, 6 Indigo Buntings, 83 Common Nighthawks.
https://ebird.org/checklist/S347416910

New species for season: Semipalmated Plover (overnight nocturnal flight call)

Forecast:
TOMORROW: Sunny with some cloudy intervals. High 69F. Winds WNW at 5-10mph. Probably South Lookout. Could be a bit of a cleanup flight from today, but I wouldn't expect a big flight.

THURSDAY: Intervals of clouds and sun. High 63F. Winds NW at 10-15mph. Less favorable winds. South Lookout. Expect light migration.

FRIDAY: A mix of clouds and sun then becoming cloudy later. High 66F. Winds W at 10-15mph. Probably South Lookout. Expect light to moderate migration.

Derby Hill Hawk Watch, 5/25/26Photo is a juvenile Broad-winged Hawk.Today's total: 344May total: 10,233Season total: 94,...
05/25/2026

Derby Hill Hawk Watch, 5/25/26

Photo is a juvenile Broad-winged Hawk.

Today's total: 344
May total: 10,233
Season total: 94,961
https://hawkcount.org/day_summary.php?rsite=358&ryear=2026&rmonth=05&rday=25

Weather: Overcast and calm in the early morning. A westerly wind picked up bringing fog and delaying the start of the count. Moved to the South Lookout at 11am (10am EST) but there was no raptor activity for several hours. Winds were light from the WNW. Finally the sun started to come out and I started the count as raptors got up. Mostly sunny at the end of the count.

Raptors: A decent flight of Broad-winged Hawks (210), Turkey vultures (90), and Bald Eagles (30) plus a handful of migrants of other species.

Non-raptors:
North Lookout (morning birding): Common Loon, 2 Green Herons, Gray-cheeked Thrush, 2 Wilson's Warblers.
https://ebird.org/checklist/S346362342

South Lookout: 2 Common Mergansers, Killdeer, 2 Great Blue Herons, Yellow-throated Vireo, Warbling Vireo, 30 Cedar Waxwings.
https://ebird.org/checklist/S346741573

No new species for season.

Forecast:
TOMORROW: Sun with some clouds. High 79F. Winds SW at 5-10mph. A good wind, though a bit on the weak side so a lake breeze is a possibility. Overnight songbird migration should be decent. That should carry over into a decent non-raptor morning flight and hopefully at least a moderate raptor flight for at least the morning. Spotting may be difficult if there aren't many clouds and the raptors get high. Overall looking like the best day for the remainder of the season.

WEDNESDAY: Intervals of clouds and sun. High near 70F. Winds WNW at 5-10mph. South Lookout. Expect light to moderate migration.

THURSDAY: Partly cloudy. High 63F. Winds NW at 10-15mph. South Lookout. Expect light migration.

Derby Hill Hawk Watch, 5/24/26Photo is an Osprey.Today's total: 28May total: 9,879Season total: 94,617https://hawkcount....
05/24/2026

Derby Hill Hawk Watch, 5/24/26

Photo is an Osprey.

Today's total: 28
May total: 9,879
Season total: 94,617
https://hawkcount.org/day_summary.php?rsite=358&ryear=2026&rmonth=05&rday=24

Weather: Overnight rain continued into the early morning. Remaining overcast with occasional mist. A bit of sun at times in the afternoon. Strong southeast winds. Overall good winds but perhaps overly strong and it never cleared up enough to get a steady flight going.

Raptors: Very slow most of the day with only an occasional migrant. A bit more activity in the last two hours but still quite slow. Turkey Vultures were most numerous with 17. Three each of Osprey and Bald Eagle. Two Sharp-shinned Hawks. One Red-tailed Hawk. Two Merlins.

Non-raptors: 2 Common Goldeneyes, Iceland Gull, Red-headed Woodpecker, ACADIAN FLYCATCHER, 235 Cedar Waxwings, Orchard Oriole.
https://ebird.org/checklist/S345862979

New species for season: Acadian Flycatcher

Forecast:
TOMORROW: Cloudy. High 63F. Winds WSW at 5-10mph. Favorable winds to start though quite weak and it may still be gloomy from the rain. Winds shifting westerly later. Perhaps a bit of migration, but I wouldn't expect a decent flight.

TUESDAY: Some morning clouds then mainly sunny. High near 80F. Winds SW at 5-10mph. Good winds, though a bit weak, with sun. Probably the best shot we have a decent flight, perhaps for the rest of the season with an omega block setting up. Spotting may be difficult when there are few clouds. Keep an eye on.

WEDNESDAY: Intervals of clouds and sunshine. High 71F. Winds WNW at 5-10mph. Probably South Lookout. Expect light to moderate migration.

Derby Hill Hawk Watch, 5/23/26Photo is a Great Egret.Today's total: 11May total: 9,851Season total: 94,589https://hawkco...
05/23/2026

Derby Hill Hawk Watch, 5/23/26

Photo is a Great Egret.

Today's total: 11
May total: 9,851
Season total: 94,589
https://hawkcount.org/day_summary.php?rsite=358&ryear=2026&rmonth=05&rday=23

Weather: Overcast with slow moving rain to the south and west. Moderate southeast winds. Rain ended the count at 11am (10am EST).

Raptors: The only migrants were 6 Turkey Vultures, an Osprey, 3 Bald Eagles, and a Sharp-shinned Hawk.

Non-raptors: Common Tern, Least Bittern, Great Egret, 2 Great Blue Herons, Red-headed Woodpecker, Eastern Meadowlark, 2 Orchard Orioles.
https://ebird.org/checklist/S344666587

New species for season: Least Bittern

Forecast:
TOMORROW: Cloudy. Periods of rain early. High 61F. Winds SE at 15-25mph. Good winds but the flight will depend on how much it clears up after the rain.

MONDAY: Cloudy early with partial sunshine late. High 64F. Winds SW shifting NW at 5-10mph. Expect light to moderate migration.

TUESDAY: Intervals of clouds and sun. High 78F. Winds WSW at 5-10mph. Has some potential for a decent flight. Keep an eye on.

Derby Hill Hawk Watch, 5/22/26Photo is a Veery.Today's total: 74May total: 9,840Season total: 94,578https://hawkcount.or...
05/22/2026

Derby Hill Hawk Watch, 5/22/26

Photo is a Veery.

Today's total: 74
May total: 9,840
Season total: 94,578
https://hawkcount.org/day_summary.php?rsite=358&ryear=2026&rmonth=05&rday=22

Weather: Mostly sunny to mostly cloudy. Moderate southerly winds shifted NNW just after the start of the count. Moved to the South Lookout which still had a southerly wind for about an hour before the northerly wind finally overpowered.

Raptors: A slow migration that was mostly inland. A few closer looks including a group of around 20 vultures in the afternoon. Turkey Vultures were most numerous with 52. Eight Broad-winged Hawks. Small numbers of other expected species.

Non-raptors:
North Lookout: Eastern Whip-poor-will (singing before dawn), Common Gallinule, Alder Flycatcher, 2 Lincoln's Sparrows, Orchard Oriole, Bay-breasted Warbler, 2 Canada Warblers, Wilson's Warbler.
https://ebird.org/checklist/S343871020

South Lookout: 150 Brant, Purple Finch
https://ebird.org/checklist/S344153758

No new species for the season

Forecast:
TOMORROW: Cloudy with rain developing later. High 59F. Winds SE at 10-20mph. Great wind direction and speed. The flight will depend on how gloomy it is, especially as the rain gets closer. Looks like there may be extensive rain south and west of us that could cut off the flight. Hard to predict. Could be an interesting non-raptor day regardless.

SUNDAY: Rain showers early then overcast. High near 60F. Winds SE at 15-25mph. Great winds. Could be a decent flight as long as it doesn't stay too gloomy after the rain.

MONDAY: Cloudy early then partly cloudy. High 66F. Winds SW shifting WNW at 5-10mph. Could be a moderate flight. Keep an eye on.

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36 Grand View Avenue
Mexico, NY
13114

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