Holiday Beach Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 10, 2006 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Turkey Vulture 686 12253 12993 Osprey 0 10 107 Bald Eagle 5 27 78 Northern Harrier 16 181 611 Sharp-shinned Hawk 177 1766 6203 Cooper's Hawk 18 210 394 Northern Goshawk 0 0 3 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 17 17 Broad-winged Hawk 3 473 7728 Red-tailed Hawk 30 376 536 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 4 American Kestrel 3 268 2022 Merlin 0 28 105 Peregrine Falcon 2 18 83 Unknown 1 7 Swainson's Hawk 0 1 3 Total: 940 15629 30894 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 06:30:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 8.5 hours Official Counter: Claude Radley Observers: Brent Schlenk, Fred Urie, Jim McCoy, Pat Schlenk Visitors: We were visited by birders from Detroit and Windsor. We were very please to have a visit from Evelyn Fisher of Leamington and Detroit. Evelyn is an old time birder who specializes in shorebirds. She has decided to take up hawk watching and despite a recent knee replacemenat, managed the stairs of the tower admirabley. Brent and Pat Schlenk's did yoeman service observing on their last day at the beach for this season. Their help was greatly appreciated. Weather: Mostly cloudy with brisk North to Northeast winds becoming calm in the afternoon. Temps from a morning low of 10 to an afternoon high of 17. Raptor Observations: A very strange day given the conditions. A fairly good flow of birds in the morning dwindling to almost no birds by mid-afternoon. An adult peregrine entertained us hunting along the tree line to the east of the tower. It would cruise along about 20 feet above the canopy and make false dives towards the tree tops and then snag any bird that flushed upwards. We watched it take three small paserines in a couple of hours. It never did cross the line so remains uncounted. Non-raptor Observations: Migrating Blue Jays totalled 5230, mainly in the morning. 210 Goldfinches headed west. Fred did his morning passerine walk and counted 66 Hermit Thrush, 1 Veery, 4 Phoebe, American Pipit, Blue-headed Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo and two Caspian Terns. Warblers included Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Tennessee, Nashville, Common Yellowthroat and Yellow-rumped. Vespers, White-crowned, White-throated, Song, Chipping, Fox and Swamp Sparrows were also present. Predictions: Overcast with a 70% chance of showers in the morning and a 90% chance of rain the afternoon with the chance of a thuderstorm. Moderate South to Southeast winds with a morning low near 12 and a high of 17. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Claude Radley ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) Holiday Beach Migration Observatory information may be found at: http://hbmo.org/ Site Description: Holiday Beach Conservation Area was formerly a Provincial Park, but is now administered by the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA). It is strategically located at the extreme southwestern tip of southern Ontario. The park is on the eastern end of a large freshwater estuary known as Big Creek. (Specifically the site is 1.1 miles south of the junction Highway 20 (old 18) and Essex Road 50, Town of Amherstburg). The Holiday Beach Migration Observatory (HBMO) (founded in 1986) is a non-profit, volunteer organization formed to promote the study and protection of migrating birds. Activities focus primarily on fall migration of raptors and other species. This site is in Essex County, Ontario, on the north shore of Lake Erie near the Detroit River. In 1988, HBMO persuaded Detroit Edison to donate a 40 foot Hawk Tower which is now at the site. Southwestern Ontario has a funneling effect on migrating raptors due to the geography of the nearby lakes and the reluctance of most raptors to cross large bodies of water. Birds gain altitude over the flat farmland to the north and east, rising easily with the thermals that such areas provide in abundance. As the birds head south they meet Lake Erie and, reluctant to cross it , turn west. With appropriate wind and weather conditions, birds pile up along the lake shore and move west until they reach the narrow crossing at the Detroit River (or island hop within the river mouth). Directions to site: Entering Canada from Detroit at the Ambassador Bridge: After Canadian Customs, stay left 50 yards, passing over the railroad tracks. You are now on Huron Church Road leading to Highway 401 and Highway 3. Continue east 3.8 miles to the intersection with Todd and Cabana roads. Go through the intersection, staying to the right. In less than 100 yards the main road splits; 401 and 3 continue to the left as the main road and Huron Church narrows and angles to the right. Follow Huron Church right for 0.5 miles to Disputed Road. After anglign a right turn onto Disputed Road, travel south. At 4 miles Disputed Road intersects with Townline Road, and the name changes to Concession 5. Continue south 5 miles and Concession 5 "T"'s with South Townline Road. Turn left and travel east 0.2 miles, turning right (south) onto Concession 6. Continue south for 3.4 miles to the intersection with Highway 20 at Malden Centre in the town of Amherstburg. There is a restaurant/convenience/gas store on the southeast corner of the intersection. Go through the intersection south onto Route 50 for 1.3 miles. The entrance to the Holiday Beach Conservation Area is on the right. Pay entry fee and continue to the Hawk Tower at the south end of the park. Park vehicle and walk to the tower. West bound on Routes 401 and 3 Howard Avenue, Route 9, intersects Routes 401 and 3 east of Windsor. Take Howard Avenue south to Highway 20 ("T"'s) and turn left (west) traveling to Malden Centre in the town of Amherstburg. A restaurant/convenience/gas store is on the left. Turn left (south) on to Route 50 for 1.3 miles; the entrance to HBCA is on the right.
