Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 03, 2013 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 45 1500 Osprey 0 1 114 Bald Eagle 0 0 115 Northern Harrier 6 9 289 Sharp-shinned Hawk 26 43 4431 Cooper's Hawk 0 2 46 Northern Goshawk 0 0 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 1 8 Broad-winged Hawk 0 3 59365 Red-tailed Hawk 0 0 54 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 27 56 1502 Merlin 0 1 53 Peregrine Falcon 1 11 33 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 2 Total: 60 172 67513 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 13:00:00 Total observation time: 5 hours Official Counter: Jim Dunn Observers: Mary Carnahan Visitors: Thanks to Jim and Mary for sticking it out today in the blowing sand and submitting their reports. Weather: Weather was a bit much, Strong Easterly winds and scudding clouds. Sand in our eyes and bins. The weather finally closed in about noon with solid dark clouds and shutdown the count for the day. Temp got to a high 16C. Raptor Observations: Total of 60 birds seen today. Migrants were moving through HIGH and FAST on the East wind. There were 6 N. Harriers today the first of which was an adult male. There were 26 Sharpies and 27 Kestrels...and finally a Peregrine (smallish...possibly a male?) that ROCKETED through right over the mound at 11.10 EST. Non-raptor Observations: The number of bird species observed today is less extensive than during the past couple of weeks (only 26 species spotted); however, in sheer numbers of birds, the movement in and out of trees and bushes all along Hawk Cliff Rd, as well as back and forth across the field, was tremendous. Hundreds of small birds, mainly Yellow-rumped Warblers, were seen feeding in trees and shrubs throughout the morning. Blackpoll Warblers were also abundant, but observers also reported Tennessee, Palm and Bay-breasted. Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets were part of the general melee in the bushes along with Winter Wren, Song Sparrow, Black-capped Chickadee and a few Gray Catbirds. White-crowned Sparrows were seen in a weed patch near the cliff along with American Goldfinches and a Hairy Woodpecker that made a noisy flight into the willows on the east side of the parking area. Blue Jay flights this morning were light and sporadic. Spotted from the observation knoll were flocks of Canada Geese and Double-crested Cormorants, one flock of 11 Mallards and a few American Crows. Monarch butterflies continued their trek westward today, many flying high up in the wind but also in sheltered, weedy spots, Cabbage Whites and Orange & Clouded Sulphurs were easily found. In addition 2 Eastern Tailed Blue were seen at the edge of the bean field. Dragonflies seemed to be keeping a low profile today. Predictions: Friday winds are predicted light to moderate SW...and if the rain holds off there might be some movement along the Cliff. Saturday looks a bit wet with less than perfect winds...but Sunday could prove interesting with stronger winds potentially from the SW. ======================================================================== 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 _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup
