Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 05, 2011 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 0 2 Osprey 2 2 17 Bald Eagle 0 0 0 Northern Harrier 15 15 48 Sharp-shinned Hawk 162 170 203 Cooper's Hawk 1 1 1 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 2 2 35 Red-tailed Hawk 0 0 3 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 103 115 213 Merlin 3 3 13 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 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: 288 308 535 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours Official Counter: Jim Dunn Observers: Ernie Gribble, Keith Sealy, Mary Carnahan Visitors: Only visitor recorded today was Mike Rowe...and thanks to Mary C., Jim D., Keith S. and Ernie G. for completing today's count. Weather: Winds were light from the N to start the day then picked up to moderate and backed slightly to the NNW by the end of the count period. The temp today was much cooler after the passage of a strong cold front with a high of just16C. Lots of cloud cover hanging back from the big low pressure system to the NE...made spotting the birds easier. Raptor Observations: A really good flight for so early in the season with a total of 288 raptors tallied. It would appear that many of the Sharpies (162) and Kestrels (103) decided to get on the move to take advantage of favourable migration conditions for these species. On the other hand, there were just 2 Broadwings counted today...which would seem to indicate that there wasn't as much thermal lift available for the buteos to take advantage of. Other species on the move included Merlin (3), Osprey (2) and a lone Coopers Hawk. Non-raptor Observations: Hawk Cliff observers spotted a total of 12 warbler species today, including our 21st warbler species for the fall season...a Blackpoll. Other warblers reported today were Magnolia, Black-throated Blue, Chestnut-sided, Cape May, Bay-breasted, Black & white, Redstart, Tennessee, Nashville, Wilson's and a Common y Yellowthroat. Other species of note included singles of Common Loon, Green Heron, Wood Duck, plus 2 Nighthawks. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds began zipping across the tobacco field in the late morning when the temperature began to warm, as did Monarch butterflies, but few other butterflies were seen, although a walk along the weed path at the cliff did yield a fresh-looking common buckeye and a couple of eastern tailed blues. Predictions: The weather for the coming week looks very promising for good flights with forecasts of strong NE winds right through to Friday...likely a result of the remnants of TS Lee slowly pulling away to the NE allowing a northerly flow on the backside of the system. This wind direction can result in excellent flights through the Hawk Cliff hawkwatch area. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Dave Brown ([email protected]) 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 [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
