Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch
Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 26, 2010
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 347 626 626
Osprey 8 216 245
Bald Eagle 12 136 136
Northern Harrier 67 653 683
Sharp-shinned Hawk 318 6467 6484
Cooper's Hawk 12 84 85
Northern Goshawk 1 1 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 6 11 11
Broad-winged Hawk 795 98462 98475
Red-tailed Hawk 1 35 49
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 128 3308 3362
Merlin 3 127 129
Peregrine Falcon 9 44 44
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0
Unknown Buteo 0 0 0
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 0 0
Total: 1707 110170 110330
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Observation start time: 07:00:00
Observation end time: 15:30:00
Total observation time: 8.5 hours
Official Counter: Colin Horstead
Observers: Beth Wigle, Dave Brown, Dave Verkley, Derek Lyon, Don Wigle,
Jason McGuire, Jennifer Lyon, Jim Dunn, Keith Sealy,
Mark Cunningham, Mary Carnahan, Paul Thomas, Peter Booker,
Phil Waggett, Ronnie Goodhand
Visitors:
Lots of visitors again today...including another group from the OFO
conference.
Weather:
A strange day for weather...heavy fog to start...eventually breaking out to
a mix of low and high cloud. Winds were light from the N....then became
variable. Temp was cool to start at 10C then reached a high of 16C where it
remainded for most of the count period. There were obviously good thermals
as indicated by the building of cumulous clouds by late morning.
Raptor Observations:
With such an ugly start to the day...the count turned out not too bad with
a total of 1707 birds tallied. We hit our highest species variety this
season with 13 of 15 observed including the first Goshawk of the fall. The
bulk of todays flight was Broadwings (795), TV's (347) and Sharpies (318).
A good count of Peregrines (9) is hopefully a lead up to the coming week
when the bulk of these speedsters pass Hawk Cliff.
Non-raptor Observations:
Today's non-raptor highlights included some species that we know are still
around but don't see every day including WARBLING VIREO, BROWN THRASHER,
and EASTERN TOWHEE. As well, a couple of very early birders found a male
SCARLET TANAGER in the woods while both regulars and visitors enjoyed a
healthy warbler count with 13 species in total, including CAPE MAY, many
YELLOW-RUMPED, BLACKBURNIAN, TENNESSEE, NASHVILLE, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT and
a couple of MAGNOLIAs. Friday's rain left some large puddles on the cabin
path, which provided a few birders with lovely sightings of 3 - 4 species
of warbler simultaneously enjoying a puddle bath. One observer noted 2
BLACK-THROATED GREEN, 1 BLACK-THROATED BLUE and a WILSON'S splashing around
together in the early afternoon.
Hawk watchers on the mound also get to see some interesting non-raptors
fly by including today's 1 GREAT BLUE HERON, numerous CANADA GEESE, 2
GOLDEN PLOVERS, 1 SANDHILL CRANE and 8 SCAUP (too distant to decide whether
greater or lesser!).
Not to be outdone, the insect world made a good showing today with many
cabages and sulphurs (both species) plus question mark, several red
admirals and still many monarchs. As well, we are still seeing lots of
common green darners and black saddlebags.
Predictions:
Monday morning may prove fruitful if the winds hold to the predicted NE
20kph with sun and cloud mix. However, the rain is coming sometime Monday
afternoon and Tuesday looking like a washout at this point.
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Report submitted by Dave Brown ([email protected])
Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch information may be found at:
http://www.ezlink.on.ca/~thebrowns/HawkCliff/index.htm
_______________________________________________
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial
birding organization.
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