Holiday Beach Conservation Area Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 22, 2015 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Turkey Vulture 24 199 199 Osprey 1 59 59 Bald Eagle 6 78 78 Northern Harrier 12 235 235 Sharp-shinned Hawk 333 3242 3242 Cooper's Hawk 2 38 38 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 1847 15730 15730 Red-tailed Hawk 6 65 65 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 13 750 750 Merlin 0 24 24 Peregrine Falcon 1 7 7 Unknown Accipiter 1 4 4 Unknown Buteo 2 5 5 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 1 1 Unknown Raptor 0 6 6 Swainson's Hawk 0 1 1 Total: 2248 20444 20444 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 06:15:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 9.75 hours Official Counter: Jenna McDermott Observers: Bob Hall-Brooks, Bob Pettit, Jim McCoy, Kory Renaud, Patrick Tomlinson, Steve Wagner Visitors: Tim and Kevin, a couple of our usual helpers, came to the tower, as well as Paul and Natalie, a couple of knowledgeable folks from the States. We also had a few new visitors, eager to learn about raptors. Thanks to our visitors and observers for the extra spotting eyes! Weather: The day started out cool (13.9C) with quite a layer of fog, only allowing visibility of halfway across the marsh. The fog burned off after around an hour when the sun peeked through and temperatures started to rise until it was quite warm. Cloud cover was slim, so we gladly welcomed the few that came and went during the day, and happily spent slower hours figuring out what shapes they were. Wind direction changed from N to SW and S in the afternoon. Raptor Observations: We had another great morning of Sharpies flying low around the tower, in near-constant flurries. Broadwings started appearing mid-morning in kettles of up to 300. As the day progressed and they got higher in the sky, they would appear out of nowhere in one of our clouds and we would have to count them quickly before they vanished out of the cloud again. At times, Turkey Vultures, Northern Harriers and Bald Eagles showed us the way to a group of Broadwings. Cooper's Hawks, Red-tailed Hawks and American Kestrels also mixed themselves amongst the cloud and blue sky, creating a great treasure hunt for everyone scanning the skies. One Peregrine was seen briefly as it dove straight for an accipiter, which promptly also dove for the cover of the trees. To top off the day, we had a Merlin fly slowly by towards the east, never to be seen again. Non-raptor Observations: There were plenty of "gull-darned gulls" flying high and low and within the broadwings, causing much distraction. There was a slight increase in the Blue Jay migration again, with 7540 crossing the marsh. Cedar Waxwings are still going through in small groups, and Red-winged Blackbirds and American Goldfinches are beginning to flock a little as well. 7 Chimney Swifts and 2 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds came past the tower, and 7 species of warbler were seen by various visitors and observers in the bushes at the base of the tower. Dragonflies were 22 Black Saddlebags and 1 Common Green Darner. It's nice to see Monarchs still flying through in good numbers (82). See today's eBird list http://ebird.org/ebird/canada/view/checklist?subID=S25136887 Predictions: Winds from the NE in the morning, changing to E in the afternoon with temperatures up to 23C and very little cloud cover. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Jenna McDermott (jmcde...@alumni.uoguelph.ca) Holiday Beach Conservation Area information may be found at: http://hbmo.ca/ _______________________________________________ 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