Holiday Beach Conservation Area
Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 23, 2010
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Turkey Vulture 0 225 225
Osprey 2 81 81
Bald Eagle 2 74 74
Northern Harrier 6 240 240
Sharp-shinned Hawk 82 4076 4076
Cooper's Hawk 0 47 47
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0
Broad-winged Hawk 2 14176 14176
Red-tailed Hawk 0 114 114
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 13 654 654
Merlin 1 58 58
Peregrine Falcon 3 15 15
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0
Unknown Buteo 0 1 1
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 0 0
Mississippi Kite 0 1 1
Total: 111 19762 19762
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Observation start time: 06:15:00
Observation end time: 15:00:00
Total observation time: 8.75 hours
Official Counter: Jim Pawlicki
Observers:
Visitors:
A few today including John Craft, Gerry Peltier, and Neal Monagan.
Canadian Peregrine member Dennis Patrick and friend Dave Harrup from
Georgia rode in on their bikes (Suzuki Hayabusa and a Harley), so it was
only fitting that when they came up the tower the first juv. Peregrine of
the day flew by at close range for some great looks ("Hayabusa" is Japanese
for "Peregrine Falcon").
Weather:
Hot and hazy with heavy fog in the morning that eventually cleared in the
afternoon. Winds were light SE 5-8 km/hr.
Raptor Observations:
Sharp-shins were moving with a slight increase in adults as compared to the
last few weeks. The highlight was 3 Peregrine Falcons (1 ad., 2 juv.) with
the juvs. putting on a good show chasing ducks and herons around the marsh.
It was also interesting to watch as one large female Sharp-shin decided to
(unsuccessfully) take on a few Blue Jays with one Jay barely avoiding
capture.
Non-raptor Observations:
Blue Jays were moving in the fog with 1190 tallied. Also Indigo Bunting,
E. Wood-Pewee, Lincoln's Sparrow, and the season's first Brown Creeper.
Predictions:
Another hot day with a 30% chance of showers in the afternoon and risk of a
thunderstorm. Wind SW 20 km/hr becoming W 50 gusting to 80 near noon. High
of 27C. Not many birds expected tomorrow although after the cold front
passes it should be a good set-up for heavy migration on Saturday.
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Report submitted by Jim Pawlicki ([email protected])
Holiday Beach Migration Observatory information may be found at:
http://hbmo.org/
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 angling a right turn onto Disputed Road,
travel south. PLEASE OBEY SPEED LIMITS, they aer usually monitored. 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 right (west) traveling
(about 2 miles) 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.
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ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial
birding organization.
Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected]
For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
