Weber column: Northern harriers are flying south

During September, many of us take advantage of the closeness of Hawk Ridge to observe the fall migration of birds. We are fortunate to have a site nearby that allows us excellent views into the surrounding autumn.

Here, with a background of the colorful fall foliage, we can watch the season changing right there with us. Though most of us go to see the movement of the south bound raptors, there are plenty of other migrants coming by, too.

The flight of songbirds is easily seen now and flocks of sparrows, blackbirds and warblers come by constantly. Many of these small birds migrate at night, but we can still see lots happening in the daytime.

Flickers, vireos and thrushes are here, too, and we may even see the tiny hummingbirds and nuthatches. Much larger and hard not to notice are flocks of geese and swans going over and occasional sandhill cranes.

But it is called Hawk Ridge, and that is what most of us go there to see. We are seldom disappointed. Easiest to see and a daily appearance is that of the sharp-shinned hawks.

These small accipiters have a long flight period and are frequent visitors to the ridge. Like their cousins, Cooper's hawks and goshawks, they are not usually in flocks. The little falcons, kestrels and merlins, are often seen here as are the larger buteos: red-tailed, rough-legged and broad-winged hawks.

While the red-tailed can be seen for weeks, the rough-legged is a late migrant. It is the broad-winged hawk that migrates over in huge flocks; maybe in the thousands, flying extremely high. This phenomenon is likely in mid- to late-September.

Other large raptors seen southing by the lake are the fish-eating osprey, the carrion-eating turkey vultures and the omnivorous bald eagles. Whatever raptors that we want to observe, Hawk Ridge will likely give us the opportunity to see them.

Another raptor that I like to see and usually do so at this time, is the northern harrier. Formerly called marsh hawk (I had even heard them called "mouse hawk"), they are a regular part of the raptor migration as seen from the ridge. Not classified as accipiters, buteos or falcons (or ospreys, vultures or eagles), they are listed in their own group.

Now called northern harrier, they are mid-sized as a raptor - about 16-20 inches long with a wingspan of 38-48 inches. This wingspan is of note since we normally will see them as they drift by overhead.

Adult males are mostly white-gray, while females are largely brown. And though both have bands on the tails, this is more pronounced on the females.

When they glide over, two other features help in identifying them. Birds hold their wings in a v-shape pattern. Not quite as much as seen in the vultures, but still obvious. And at the base of the tail of both sexes is a white rump patch. We usually don't see them close up, but if we can, we would see an "owl-like" face.

Breeding in the northern United States and Canada, they are a bird of the wetlands (hence "marsh hawk"). It is out in these open sites that they hunt and nest; on or near the ground. Unlike many other raptors, they search by flying in slow-moving, often circular patterns over their hunting grounds.

We don't usually see this flight in migration as they head for winter in southern states, but northern harriers are a great addition to the fall raptor flight now at Hawk Ridge.

Retired teacher Larry Weber is the author of several books, including “Butterflies of the North Woods,” “Spiders of the North Woods,” “Webwood” and “In a Patch of Goldenrods.” Contact him c/o krohman@duluthnews.com .