Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch
Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 28, 2012
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 612 19498 22889
Osprey 0 13 193
Bald Eagle 2 43 182
Northern Harrier 34 144 696
Sharp-shinned Hawk 102 2160 7813
Cooper's Hawk 16 95 181
Northern Goshawk 1 4 4
Red-shouldered Hawk 56 141 144
Broad-winged Hawk 0 4 37168
Red-tailed Hawk 264 966 1337
Rough-legged Hawk 5 7 7
Golden Eagle 1 5 6
American Kestrel 5 177 2921
Merlin 2 16 80
Peregrine Falcon 0 37 117
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: 1100 23310 73738
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 13:00:00
Total observation time: 5 hours
Official Counter: Dave Brown
Observers: Carol Parafenko, Chris Burris, Jim Dunn, Kathy,
Mary Carnahan
Visitors:
Thanks to Jim, Mary, Chris (and his friend visiting from BC), Kathy, Carol
and John F. for their help getting today's count done.
Weather:
The day started out with very promising weather morth of the
hawkwatch...but unfortunately, hurricane Sandy had other ideas as it pushed
the rain back across Lake Erie and eventually over the entire region. The
winds were strong from the N and NW which certainly helped bring the birds
in our direction. The temp only reached a high of 6C...but it felt a lot
colder in the wind!
Raptor Observations:
A mix of species were on the move today,,,it would appear that they were
taking advantage of what small window of slightly better weather was there
for the morning....with a total of 1,100 birds. Though the TVs (612) made
up just over half of today's flight...Redtails (264), Red-shoulders (56)
and Sharpies (102) all put up some good numbers today. Other species
observered includedBald Eagle (2), N. Harrier (34), Cooper's Hawks (16)...a
lone adult N. Goshawk, Roughlegs (5 - all light morph), Kestrels (5) and
Merlin (2).
There was just one Golden Eagle spotted passing through just south of
Sharpie Alley today (thanks Chris for espying this bird!)...which leaves a
significant number yet to come if we are to even come close to our previous
season average (10-year season avg is 138) for this species
Non-raptor Observations:
Other non-raptors were on the move today as well...with one of the more
interesting sightings... 2 Brewer's Blackbirds right above the observers
(they were also photographed)....and right before we wrapped up the count
we had 19 Sandhill Cranes angling against the wind to the NW as the moved
westward along the lake. There were lots of Am. Crows moving in large
flocks...several sightings of Common Loons heading south to the
lake...several E. Bluebirds...a couple of flocks of Killdeer, at least one
Rusty Blackbird along with large flocks of Red-winged Blackbirds with a few
Grackles.
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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/
