Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch
Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 20, 2011
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 0 12 14
Osprey 2 87 102
Bald Eagle 0 83 83
Northern Harrier 12 330 363
Sharp-shinned Hawk 161 3617 3650
Cooper's Hawk 0 37 37
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0
Broad-winged Hawk 8 71863 71896
Red-tailed Hawk 0 14 17
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 67 1983 2081
Merlin 1 27 37
Peregrine Falcon 2 10 10
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
Swainson's Hawk 0 1 1
Total: 253 78064 78291
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Observation start time: 06:00:00
Observation end time: 14:00:00
Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Colin Horstead
Observers: Eric Single, Jim Dunn, Kathy, Keith Sealy, Mary Carnahan,
Matt Oswald, Ronnie Goodhand, Steve Birch
Visitors:
No one noted today. Thanks to Colin, Matt, Mary, Eric S., Jim, Kathy,
Keith, Ronnie and Steve B.
Weather:
Light winds for most of the day from NW then S then SE and back S. Cloud
cover was non-exisitent ot start then building at most to 20% with high
cirrus and vapour trails...and temp ranged from 12C to 21C.
Raptor Observations:
Todays flight was smaller mostly due to the poor winds with a total of 253.
The bulk of today's birds were Sharpies (161) and Kestrels
(67)...highlight was the late low Harriers (12 - with 8 in the last hour)
and a couple more Peregrines. Also Osprey (2), Broadwings (8) and Merlin
(1).
Today's flight height was quite variable with the BW's, sharpies and
Peregrines all passing over the hawkwatch very high...the Ospreys somewhere
in the middle and the Harriers and Kestrels low over the field.
Non-raptor Observations:
Today marked the first big movement of Blue Jays with 7000 being counted by
9:00 AM (EST). The flow gradually subsided as the morning progressed.
Nevertheless, by 11:00 AM (EST) at LEAST 11000 Blue Jays had been counted.
We still have lots of warblers and vireos as a new wave moved in overnight
with 13 Warbler species reported, very similar to the past few days. A few
differences were apparent with sightings of Black-throated Blue males in
several locations as well as Yellow-rumped and Palm all over the place.
Vireos were Blue-headed, Red-eyed and Philadelphia. The pace became
frenetic near the cliff as mumerous Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Black-capped
Chickadees joined the action.
Some welcome surprises today included 2 Barn Swallows zooming along the
cliff and a Black-billed Cuckoo adult feeding a very young fledgling in a
poplar tree close to the mound, thus providing everyone with great
views...and a Great Blue Heron flew directly past the observers late in the
day.
In the insect department, there were still lots of butterfly species
around and although the Monarch tally was light observers reported a couple
of Red Admiral and Mourning Cloak sightings among others. As the morning
progressed, hawkwatchers on the mound were entertained by a Katydid, a
Praying Mantis and a Walking Stick out for a stroll.
Predictions:
Unsettled weather is on tap for the next few days with possible
thunderstorms on Wed. However, it improves somewaht towards the end of the
week...as long as we can stay out of the rain from the Hawk Cliff area and
east.
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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/
