Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch
Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 11, 2012
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 2033 11526 14917
Osprey 1 13 193
Bald Eagle 1 36 175
Northern Harrier 3 70 622
Sharp-shinned Hawk 162 1023 6676
Cooper's Hawk 3 31 117
Northern Goshawk 1 2 2
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 2 5
Broad-winged Hawk 1 3 37167
Red-tailed Hawk 5 59 430
Rough-legged Hawk 0 1 1
Golden Eagle 0 1 2
American Kestrel 17 142 2886
Merlin 2 9 73
Peregrine Falcon 5 32 112
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: 2234 12950 63378
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Observation start time: 07:00:00
Observation end time: 14:00:00
Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Colin Horstead
Observers: Bill Reid, Brett Fried, Dave Weare, Ernie Gribble, Jim Dunn,
Keith Sealy, Mac McAlpine, Mary Carnahan
Visitors:
A few folks out to help today...thanks to Bill Reid, Brett Fried, Dave
Weare and Tony, Mac, Jim, Mary, Keith, Ernie and counter today Colin.
Weather:
WINDY! Very strong SW winds today were sending blasts of sand up over the
cliff edge (it gets into everything including your ears!). The skies were
mostly sunny to start then cloud filled in by midday. Temp started at 2C
and only got to a high of 8C. The humidity dropped nicely early morning
which always helps the flight.
Raptor Observations:
A wild day of wind and blowing sand...nevertheless, birds were on the move
with a total of 2,234 tallied ofr the day.
The bulk of the fligth (surprise) was TVs (2,033) streaming a bit inland
away from the lakeshore. Other species observed today included a few more
Peregrines (5), singles of Osprey, Bald Eagle and N. Goshawk, N. Harriers
(3), A decent flight of Sharpies (162), Cooper's Hawks (3), Redtails (5)
and a few more falcons with Kestrels (17) and Merlin (2).
Surprise of the day was a young Broadwing which passed low over the
hawkwatch.
Non-raptor Observations:
As usual, several Eastern Bluebirds were seen on the wires at Roberts Ln
this morning on the way down Fairview Rd to the Cliff. A total of 7 Common
Loons were spotted from the mound this morning, all headed toward the lake
as well as a few flocks of Canada Geese and numerous Ring-billed Gulls
enjoying the ride back and forth along the Cliff in this morning's
southwest winds.
In the early part of the morning, the pond path was a goldmine of
passerines and roadside shrubs and trees were alive with small songbirds.
Observers reported 3 species of Woodpecker (Downy, Red-bellied and Northern
Flicker), a Blue-headed Vireo and 2 Eastern Phoebes, lots of Chickadees & a
Tufted Titmouse, Red- & White-breasted Nuthatches & a Brown Creeper in
addition to a Carolina Wren. Also seen were many Ruby-Crowned and a few
Golden-Crowned Kinglets, Robins and a Hermit Thrush, Northern Cardinal,
lots of Sparrows (especially White-throated plus White=crowned, Song and a
single Swamp), Dark-eyed Junco, and Eastern Towhee.
Flocks of Red-winged Blackbirds, American Goldfinch and American Pipits
were seen flying along the Cliff and Blue Jays continue to make their way
through the ravine, while American Crows are definitely hanging about,
although so far, keeping a low profile. The big news was our Warbler count
of 8 species including Yellow-rumped (many, all over the place), Palm,
Blackpoll, Black and White, American Redstart (singles), and multiples of
Nashville, Orange-crowned and Common Yellowthroat.
Common Buckeye (butterfly) are still hanging in and one observer got
pictures of a Painted Lady while in the Dragonfly department, Black
Saddlebags are still being seen in especially in the cornfield to the west
of the parking area.
Predictions:
Friday is looking promising with winds predicted to be moderate from the NW
and NNW with a mix of sun and cloud.
========================================================================
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 visit http://www.ofo.ca/
