Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 10, 2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 1 1722 21455 Osprey 0 1 339 Bald Eagle 3 27 250 Northern Harrier 0 73 1668 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 146 14043 Cooper's Hawk 9 68 376 Northern Goshawk 0 16 24 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 963 1287 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 99105 Red-tailed Hawk 100 5572 7278 Rough-legged Hawk 1 22 41 Golden Eagle 6 89 136 American Kestrel 0 1 4397 Merlin 0 1 187 Peregrine Falcon 0 1 82 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: 121 8702 150668 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours Official Counter: Jim Dunn Observers: Alf Rider, Chris Street, John Potticary, Keith Sealy, Mary Carnahan Visitors: Thanks to those who counted / observed today including Jim Dunn, Mary Carnahan, Keith Sealy, Alf Rider, John Potticary, Chris Street and Stacy Carnochan. Weather: Today got off to a slow start with dense fog and a ceiling that you could touch for the first two hours. Sky cleared about 11.30 and immediately birds were in the air. The sky soon turned clear blue, birds went higher and spotting them became a challenge. Winds were moderate initially from the E, backing slightly to SE and then swinging round to NE for the last four hours. Raptor Observations: A similar flight to yesterday...though the total was smaller at 121 birds. There was just a single TV, Bald Eagles (3), a lone Shin with 9 Coops....a decent flight of Redtails (100) with the only other buteo a Roughleg (1). Best birds of the day were once again the Golden Eagles (6)...very similar numbers to what we've had the past few days. It's nice to see our current 2010 tally (136 with today's included) for Goldens steadily climbing towards similar totals we've seen in recent years. Of course, we've got a ways to go to surpass the existing record 1-year high of 220 from 2008. Non-raptor Observations: Early this morning, 2 WILD TURKEYS were seen crossing the road on the south side of the ravine. Historically this has been a favourite crossing point for turkeys as well as deer and somewhat earlier in the fall, salamanders. Other than that, things were pretty quiet at the Cliff. Nevertheless, a small flock of at least 4 late FIELD SPARROWS was spotted foraging among the willows along the footpath right at the Cliff. Mid-morning to around noon, was spent at the B&B where observers noted 10+ EASTERN BLUEBIRDS frolicking near the "Hallowe'en tree", and a BELTED KINGFISHER flew towards the pond at the back of the field. As well, our keen-eyed visitors spotted a couple of flocks of HORNED LARKS flying overhead. Observers spied some good butterflies, particularly a very fresh looking sulphur and a red admiral. ======================================================================== 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 ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/