Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch
Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 04, 2011
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 313 529 38548
Osprey 0 0 190
Bald Eagle 7 7 201
Northern Harrier 30 73 1182
Sharp-shinned Hawk 58 121 13200
Cooper's Hawk 7 23 432
Northern Goshawk 3 5 26
Red-shouldered Hawk 158 244 892
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 73020
Red-tailed Hawk 1336 1641 3636
Rough-legged Hawk 9 12 21
Golden Eagle 14 30 177
American Kestrel 2 3 5090
Merlin 2 2 151
Peregrine Falcon 1 1 39
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
Swainson's Hawk 0 0 1
Total: 1940 2691 136806
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Observation start time: 07:00:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 9 hours
Official Counter: Colin Horstead
Observers: Brian Mishell, Don Campbell, Don Taylor, Jim Dunn,
Jim Landau, Kathy, Mac McAlpine, Mary Carnahan,
Mike Nelson, Phil Waggett, Ronnie Goodhand, Tom Thomas
Visitors:
A few visitors today....Jim Landau and his sister (Buffalo, NY), Brian
Mishell and Kirk Mitchell...thanks for your help today...and a BIG thanks
to the crew of counters today with such tough viewing!...Colin, Jim, Mac,
Mary, Ronnie, Kathy, Phil W., Tom T., Don T., Don C., mike N. and Tim.
(apologies if I missed anyone).
Weather:
Clear blue skies made it tough to spot the birds...but it was nice to see
the sunshine. Temp was much colder to start the day with 1C and reaching a
high of 10C. Winds were light to moderate from the NE as the big high
pressure system was moving into the lower Great Lakes region.
Raptor Observations:
A good count today with very tough viewing...total birds 1,940 (though
counters felt they likely missed many more because of the lack of
background cloud cover!)...and with 13 different species...not bad for a
day in November.
A definite highlight for the day...3 juvie Goshawks...2 of which were nice
and low right showing off the patterning under the wings and heavy
streaking on the undersides as they passed.
The Golden Eagles (14) mostly Juvie looking (with a few that were probable
immatures or sub-adults... but definitely no adult birds). Many of these
eagles were right on top of the observers beore they were picked up as they
passed westward. Still....observers got some nice looks once again today.
The buteo flight was very good today with Redtails (1,336) and a decent
count of Red-shoulders (158) and Roughlegs (9) including a couple of dark
birds.
A good flight of Harriers (30) as well including several males....and a
small push of adult Sharpies (58) along with just 7 Coopers and 7 more Bald
Eagles.
And finally...a few falcons on the day with a couple each of Kestrels and
Merlins...and a single Peregrine that passed just to the north of the
observers...the first in several weeks at Hawk Cliff!
Non-raptor Observations:
Although most observers spent the day focusing on the raptors above, a few
noteworthy non-raptors were spotted. Early this morning, a Pileated
Woodpecker put in an appearance and an American Woodcock was seen near the
Cliff. Once things began to warm up, Yellow-rumped Warblers appeared in
several locations up and down the road. Sparrows were also reported up and
down the road including White-throated, American Tree and Song Sparrow.
Other noteworthy songbird sightings were a few very young Cedar Waxwings
and the first Purple Finches reported at Hawk Cliff this fall.
The temperatures really began to rise by late morning, bringing out a few
Butterflies including Cabbage White, Clouded Sulphur, and an Eastern Comma.
As well, numerous Meadowhawk Dragonflies were spotted in the beanfield and
elsewhere.
Predictions:
The birds will be flying tomorrow...the question is where? Unfortunately,
if the winds get southerly too early the birds will get spread out inladn
from the lake as they pass westward ...which will make it tougher to get a
good flight at the hawkwatch.
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Report submitted by Dave Brown (thebro...@ezlink.on.ca)
Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch information may be found at:
http://www.ezlink.on.ca/~thebrowns/HawkCliff/index.htm
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ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial
birding organization.
Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca
For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
