Holiday Beach Conservation Area
Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 18, 2015
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Turkey Vulture 0 54 54
Osprey 1 54 54
Bald Eagle 3 65 65
Northern Harrier 4 183 183
Sharp-shinned Hawk 154 1970 1970
Cooper's Hawk 0 30 30
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0
Broad-winged Hawk 0 10806 10806
Red-tailed Hawk 0 27 27
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 3 651 651
Merlin 0 23 23
Peregrine Falcon 0 4 4
Unknown Accipiter 0 2 2
Unknown Buteo 0 2 2
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 6 6
Swainson's Hawk 0 1 1
Total: 165 13878 13878
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Observation start time: 06:15:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 9.75 hours
Official Counter: Jenna McDermott
Observers: Andy Parsons, Bob Hall-Brooks, Bob Pettit, Carol Pitts,
Chris Craft, Claude Radley, Ed Pitts, Jim McCoy,
Larry Ludwicki
Visitors:
We had four great visitors today, from Leamington and Windsor, who were so
enamoured with the marsh and migration that they promise to return as much
as possible! Hopefully we will see them and all of you this weekend for our
second weekend of Hawk Festival! See our website for a schedule of events
http://hbmo.ca/blog/hawkfest-2015-schedule-of-events/
Weather:
The wind was blowing strongly this morning off the lake (S), though
slightly blocked from the tower by trees along the shoreline. Bands of
heavy cloud, drizzle and rain arrived a few hours in to the count and the
wind started to die down. By the late afternoon, it was quite calm and most
of the clouds had cleared, leaving a bright blue sky.
Raptor Observations:
Today was another day dominated by Sharp-shinned Hawks with a smattering of
Ospreys, Bald Eagles, Northern Harriers and American Kestrels mixed in.
Raptors in the morning started out flying very low and close to the
shoreline, and a harrier even came close to investigate the plastic owl on
the tower. There were a few hours at midday when birds were very scarce,
and then suddenly Sharpies started appearing in groups of 3 and 4 during
the last two hours of the count! The resident Bald Eagles were also the
most active that they've been since the beginning of the month, floating
above their nesting area for hours at a time. A Merlin was seen in the
morning, flying back to the east. It arrived in sight again and perched by
the lake shortly after with a prize in its talons.
Non-raptor Observations:
Tree and Northern Rough-winged Swallows were feeding over the marsh again
for much of the day. The skies were very quite yet again, especially in the
middle of the day. Cedar Waxwings numbered at 122, 33 American Goldfinches,
7 Red-winged Blackbirds, 1 Common Grackle, 2 Gray Catbirds, and 2 Blue Jays
migrated. Chimney Swifts seemed to appear in small groups around Sharpies
that came over the tower, and came in at 45. A banded Downy Woodpecker hung
around the tower much of the day. Dragonflies: 14 Black Saddlebags, 3
Common Green Darners. 14 Monarchs. See today's eBird list
http://ebird.org/ebird/canada/view/checklist?subID=S25085211
Predictions:
A chance of rain in the early morning with SW winds, but the weather should
clear before 11am and wind direction should switch to the NW at mid-day and
bring some birds down our way.
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Report submitted by Jenna McDermott (jmcde...@alumni.uoguelph.ca)
Holiday Beach Conservation Area information may be found at:
http://hbmo.ca/
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