Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 13, 2015 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 14 399 24763 Osprey 0 1 124 Bald Eagle 0 15 165 Northern Harrier 0 23 990 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 35 8379 Cooper's Hawk 0 10 219 Northern Goshawk 0 0 7 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 27 328 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 13000 Red-tailed Hawk 3 537 2337 Rough-legged Hawk 0 2 4 Golden Eagle 0 13 71 American Kestrel 0 1 1935 Merlin 0 3 92 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 76 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: 17 1066 52490 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 12:30:00 Total observation time: 3.5 hours Official Counter: Mary Carnahan Observers: Keith Sealy Visitors: No Visitors. Weather: Today was a cold, blustery and gloomy Friday the 13th, not the greatest weather for a hawk watch, but better than yesterday. We reached a high of 7 C. but it felt much colder in the open areas, such as the B&B. Raptor Observations: Turkey Vultures were tacking their way across fields and through tree lines this morning, but stopped when the rain began in earnest around 11:30 AM. Prior to that it was off-and-on drizzle from the start. TVs totalled 14 and were the majority of todays meagre count of 17 birds, the remainder being 3 Red-tailed Hawks, obviously struggling against todays strong headwinds. A local Coopers Hawk (at least, temporarily local) was seen possibly heading for bird feeders across from the Church parking lot at the Sparta Ln / Fairview Rd intersection, as it dashed across Sparta Ln and disappeared between houses. It didnt reappear and continue its flight, so was not included in todays count. Non-raptor Observations: In the sheltered spots, a few passerines were found including a large number of Am. Tree Sparrows foraging in the newly ploughed corn field at Sharpie Alley. Along with the Tree Sparrows were several white-throated Sparrows, Song Sparrows, a couple of Dark-eyed Juncos, 4 Blue Jays, 2 Robins and a pair of Northern Cardinals. Other sightings were Downy Woodpecker and Northern Flicker, todays only two woodpecker species. The usual mob of Starlings were at the top of Hawk Cliff Rd first thing this morning and some Gulls were seen heading north for their favourite fields. Flocks of Canada Geese and Mallards were seen flying about and a huge flock of American Crows is still hanging around the general area around Fairview Rd / Roberts and Dexter Ln. Predictions: With a break in the weather predicted for the start of Saturday and winds coming from the WNW for at least the morning the birds may actually have the chance to make a bit of a move before the winds get W and slow the flight later in the day. Unfortunately, Sunday will likely see winds return to the SW pushing the birds inland once again. ======================================================================== 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
