Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 13, 2011 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 0 2 Osprey 4 61 76 Bald Eagle 6 18 18 Northern Harrier 5 160 193 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 1982 2015 Cooper's Hawk 0 19 19 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 0 272 305 Red-tailed Hawk 0 1 4 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 58 1081 1179 Merlin 0 14 24 Peregrine Falcon 1 2 2 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: 74 3610 3837 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 06:00:00 Observation end time: 13:45:00 Total observation time: 7.75 hours Official Counter: Colin Horstead Observers: Jim Dunn, Keith Sealy Visitors: A few visitors today....Pete Chapman, Judy and Len Brown (London), Brian Eaton (Brantford), Mel and Barb Logan (London) and Johnny Goldsmith (London England). Thanks to the visitors and the THREE AMIGOS (Colin, Jim and Keith) for sticking it out today to get the count done. Weather: The weather pattern continued to be unsettled...little cloud to begin then eventually filling in to 100%. Visibility was better today and the flight was low throughout the count period thanks to strong SW winds. Temp ranged 21C to 24C. Raptor Observations: A smaller flight today with a total of only 74 birds. As expected, migrants included those species that like to ride the updraft along the cliff edge created by strong winds from the SW... Osprey (4), Bald Eagle (6), Harriers (5), Kestrels (58) and a lone Peregrine rocketing along at warp speed! Not a single Sharpie was seen today...not a surprise given the very strong SW winds. One Bald Eagle was observed with a radio transmitter attached to its back (Based on the Eagle Tracker online map it looks like this could have been either "Thor" or "Canuck")...and a second eagle that was driven down below the level of the cliff by a mob of gulls. Non-raptor Observations: Some non-raptor sightings included a flock of 40 Whimbrels, Pileated Woodpecker, flock of Mallards, Cormorants on the move, some thrush sp. and just a few RT Hummingbirds. No warblers reported at all today...very quiet. Also very few butterflies up and around....likely due to the strong winds. Predictions: The next few days look really interesting especially since it's prime time for the Broadwing flight. Winds are predicted to start W tomorrow then swing to the NW on Thursday and Friday...along with some sunnier skies. If you're interested in the weather maps showing the next few days check out the following link: http://www.intellicast.com/Travel/Outlook.aspx ======================================================================== 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/
