Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 08, 2014 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 325 993 1113 Osprey 2 26 109 Bald Eagle 0 0 58 Northern Harrier 11 21 414 Sharp-shinned Hawk 252 334 4910 Cooper's Hawk 2 5 75 Northern Goshawk 0 0 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 1 2 70566 Red-tailed Hawk 4 7 33 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 127 180 1925 Merlin 2 3 45 Peregrine Falcon 2 89 134 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: 728 1660 79384 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 13:00:00 Total observation time: 6 hours Official Counter: Jim Dunn Observers: Bob Johnstone, Don Taylor, Keith Sealy, Mary Carnahan Visitors: Thanks to everyone who was out to the hawkwatch today...Jim, Mary, Keith, Don T., Bob J., Tom T., Eric S., Sandy D., Darlene H. and Len J. and many others whose names weren't recorded. Weather: Winds were as predicted from the W...starting moderate and building through the day. The temp was cooler with a high of just 12C and cloud cover was minimal to start but eventually built in by noon. The humidity dropped quickly which likely helped with the getting the flight going today despite the wind direction. Raptor Observations: Well...after predicting a slow flight because of strong W winds...the birds had other ideas!! There was a good push of birds with 10 species tallied for a total of 728. A large part of the flight was TVs (325)...but there were also good numbers of Sharpies (252) and Kestrels (127). Just a couple of Ospreys today and 2 Cooper's Hawks and a few nice N. Harriers (11) along with a small number of buteos with Redtails (4) and a late single Broadwing spotted by Eric S. We also had 2 Merlins and 2 more Peregrines. Non-raptor Observations: We had a somewhat abbreviated list today, as all eyes were focused on the great raptor flight; nevertheless there was a nice variety of passerines in the trees and bushes around the knoll. Across the road the Carolina Wren was putting on a performance again today, providing good looks and just a couple of shrubs away, a veyr quiet house wren was seen snatching bugs off the leaves and branches. Around the knoll were several warber species including mainly Yellow-rumped, although observers also reported Wilson's, Palm, Nashville, Parula and Black-throated Green. Northern Cardinal, Ruby-crowned Kinglet and a Gray Catbird were also found in the surrounding area, while flying over the field were Horned Larks, American Goldfinches, a few Blue Jays a Wood Duck, plus the usual Geese and Gulls. A few Monarch Butterflies were seen today, but trying to count them in the continuing high winds is futile and we are probably double-counting. In any case, there were still a few Monarchs around today, in addition to a few Orange Sulphurs, a Painted Lady and a Red Admiral. Observers also reported a couple of Black Saddlebags (dragonflies). Predictions: Hmmm...well, more of the same for Thursday but winds will be lighter still from the W...so perhaps there'll be more birds on the move. They certainly proved me wrong today! ======================================================================== 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 Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide
