Spring is the time for observing hawk migration over Derby Hill, but hawks are not the only specialty at Derby Hill. Late fall lake watches from the bluffs at Derby Hill can provide exciting coastal birding, with several species commonly seen only from coastal sites. All three jaegers, as well as both white-winged gulls and kittiwakes are seen every fall at Derby.

Strong northwest winds are best for lake watching, as they tend to blow birds into the southeast corner of the lake, right on Derby’s doorstep.

Fall 2006 highlights

The fall 2006 lake watch at Derby Hill gave Region 5 two new records: Manx Shearwater and the region’s first Razorbill.

Due to the prevalence of west winds rather than the preferred northwest, there were few good gull flights. Nonetheless, Little Gulls made a number of appearances, and Sabine’s Gull showed up twice. A Black-headed Gull was also sighted on one occasion.

Pomarine and Parasitic Jaegers, as well as Black-legged Kittiwakes, made their usual showings. So did all three scoter species, a Harlequin Duck, and a King Eider.

Other highlights included fly-by flocks of Whimbrel and Hudsonian Godwit, two of the area’s toughest-to-find regular shorebird migrants.