On Oct.20 a light morph Rough-legged Hawk was spotted at 0945 (after the
counters had left the platform)
Now then today-Oct.21-- I thank all who did the watch--other than a rather
spectacular WHITE-BACKED, PARTIAL ALBINO SONG SPARROW (which was still around
at 1430) no other passerines were listed.
-- 444 migrating raptors were counted, including our second Rough-legged, a
juv.Bald Eagle and an adult GOLDEN EAGLE; also a distant unidentified Eagle was
noted in the last hour.
Observations made by 5 observers over 6 hours-Sep.21
Observation time--8am to 2pm HAWKTIME
Counter--Rayfield Pye
Observers-- Ross Lamb, Dan Kaczynski, John Stirrat, Jim Munroe
Day's Count TOTAL
Turkey Vulture 279 1979
Osprey 0 156
Bald Eagle 1 50
N. Harrier 9 169
Sharp-shinned 131 1509
Cooper's 17 106
Northern Goshawk 1 15
Red-shouldered 0 5
Broad-winged 0 974
Red-tailed 1 342
Rough-legged 1 2
Golden Eagle 1 2
American Kestrel 0 652
Merlin 0 25
Peregrine 0 14
Unidentified 3 89
TOTAL 444 6086
>From the west--Exit 401 at Salem Rd. in Ajax, south to Bayly, east through
>Lakeridge Rd., one block to Hall's Rd., south towards the lake, parking at the
>entrance to the south pathway.
>From the east--Exit 401 at Brock St. in Whitby, south to Victoria, west past
>the Lynde C.A. parking lot to Hall's Rd.--
Doug Lockrey, Whitby, ON
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Subject: [Ontbirds]Port Weller E., Niagara River - 10/21
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I decided to head out to Port Weller and the Niagara River today given the
weather, and it turned out to be a good day overall for waterbird migration
along the Lake and also on the River.
The walk out to the end of the pier at PWE took longer than expected,
given the large numbers of Kinglets and the expected (WC, WT, Song, Swamp,
Chipping) Sparrows that slowed me down. Perhaps the highlight of the day
occurred
on the walk out when I came across a rather late WOOD-PEWEE sp. foraging in
the tall cottonwoods near the boat harbor. Obviously Eastern would be
expected, but this late and at a location that has been famous for producing
western
vagrants, you never know. Also present were numerous Hermit Thrushes,
Myrtle Warblers, Winter Wrens, 1 House Wren, Rusty Blackbirds, and fly-over
Horned
Larks. 100 + Bonaparte's Gulls were milling about on the canal and also on
the Lake.
Some of the Lake-watching highlights:
25+ RED-THROATED LOONS
15+ Common Loons
7 BLACK SCOTERS
2 SURF SCOTERS
30+ White-winged Scoters
500+ Red-breasted Mergansers
2 Long-tailed Ducks
2 Mute Swans
I then headed east to Niagara-on-the-Lake, which had numerous (200+)
Bonaparte's Gulls, at least 5 juv. Common Terns, as well as 3 Richardson's
CACKLING
GEESE complete with stubby bills and frosted feathers, heading west with 3
Canadas.
The Queenston Narrows were my next stop, and as expected, they were filled
with Bonaparte's Gulls, from the sand docks to the power plants, numbering
easily into 2000+. Unfortunately, no other small Gull species were noted
amongst them.
Above the Falls, highlights were 30+ Northern Rough-wing Swallows, a couple
Tree Swallows, 1 second-winter Lesser Black-backed Gull on the breakwall; 1
Sanderling and a large mixed Aythya flock consisting mostly of Greater Scaup
with smaller numbers of Lesser Scaup, Canvasback, 1 Bufflehead, and 1
Long-tailed Duck upstream from the control gates. Also present were a number of
American Wigeon and Gadwall.
Jim Pawlicki
Amherst, NY
Port Weller east can be accessed from Seaway Haulage Rd. just east of the
bridge over the Welland Canal from Lakeshore Rd. in St. Catharines.
Niagara-on-the Lake is well signed at the mouth of the Niagara River at Lake
Ontario,
and Niagara Falls from Niagara-on-the-Lake south along the Niagara Parkway.
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Subject: [Ontbirds]OFO TRIP HAWK CLIFF oct 21
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Hi there,
Ian and I were pleased to host about 20 migration watchers from here and
far. And things were hopping, er flapping, at Hawk Cliff.
There were tonnes of migrants flying past, besides our raptor hopefuls.
There were many thousands of blackbirds(I stopped counting after 10 000),
and also hundreds of robins, cedar waxwings, pipits, blue jays, crows, tree
swallows, and multitudes of other passerines, mainly yellow-rumps,
bluebirds, hermit thrushes, kinglets, white-throated, white-crowned sparrows
but also winter wren, sapsucker, and so on. Five Common Loons flew in from
the north and a half dozen Northern Flickers came by. We noted a Barn
Swallow in with the Tree Swallows and a Greater Yellowlegs flew past. And we
had singles of Nashville and Palm Warbler, and Blue-headed Vireo.
Of other interest, there were a number of hawks. Totals for our
approximately 3 hours at the cliff included 12 Northern Harrier, 4 Coopers
Hawks, 3 Kestrel, 2 Merlin, 5 Bald Eagles, and about 175 Sharp-shinned
Hawks. One N. Goshawk was reported by the official Hawk Cliff counting team
that was there, but we missed it. One of the group saw a Red-tailed Hawk and
another saw a young Peregrine Falcon as they approached Hawk Cliff. No sign
of our mowraps (most wanted raptors), Red-shouldered Hawk and Golden Eagle.
We had a couple of Turkey Vultures, but did see more as we drove on nearby
roads to other locations inland.
Our tummies and bladders got the better of us, so we headed off to Port
Stanley and Mackies Restaurant. Besides, the report of a Sabine's Gull this
week had us hoping.
Interestingly we found some good stuff right on the beach. Besides the
begging Ring-billed Gulls, and a few Herring Gulls, there was an adult
Lesser Black-backed Gull on the breakwall. There were two Red-necked
Phalaropes bobbing in the surf near the rocky point, but also coming onshore
to the flotsam puddles on the beach, to stir up stuff with several
Sanderlings, a Dunlin and a Semi-palmated Plover.
After our foraging at Mackies and our well-emptied bladders, we moved on up
to the Port Stanley sewage lagoons. There we saw hundreds of Ruddy Duck and
Bonaparte's Gulls. Also in the mix were a good number of Coot and
Shovellers. We also noted a few of each of Blue-winged Teal, Gadwall, A.
Widgeon, Wood Duck, Hooded Merganser, Mallards, and Pied-billed Grebe. Some
sparrows were mucking about, such as Song, Swamp and White-crowned. We saw a
Savannah Sparrow as well. Up popped a Sora Rail, not once but several times,
ensuring that we all got a look.
A Marsh Wren also made a quick appearance, though just a few saw it.
Most of us headed home at this point. Only a few went home via the
out-of-the way Fingal Wildlife area. The others didn't miss much, the only
species extra was a Mute Swan.
So that was it, with 78 species reported, seen by one or more of the
participants.
We were glad the rain was only in widely scattered light mistings.
Interesting to note that a lot of the hawks and migrants were flying on this
fairly strong southern wind. And they were fairly close to the lake.
Pete Read and for Ian Platt
Locations.
Hawk Cliff is off Dexter Line (Elgin rd 24) east of Port Stanley, and then
south onto Hawk Cliff Rd.
Port Stanley is at the end of Elgin road 4. Mackies is on the beach, which
is best approached by crossing the lift bridge and turning left at the left
turn lane just past the Macs Milk.
Port Stanley Lagoons are north-west of Port Stanley on Scotch Line. Take rd
20 north from just west of the lift-bridge in town and go to the 4 way stop,
then turn left and head west up Lake Line, turning right onto Scotch line at
the top of the hill. The lagoons are on your left around the corner, as the
road turns west.
Fingal Management area is a few kms west on Scotch Line. Watch out, it is
hunting season.
For a complete list of species encountered, reply to the email above.
