Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 06, 2012 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 61 742 4133 Osprey 0 6 186 Bald Eagle 3 9 148 Northern Harrier 7 27 579 Sharp-shinned Hawk 120 283 5936 Cooper's Hawk 1 15 101 Northern Goshawk 0 1 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 3 Broad-winged Hawk 0 1 37165 Red-tailed Hawk 1 40 411 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 1 American Kestrel 43 66 2810 Merlin 2 4 68 Peregrine Falcon 3 20 100 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: 241 1214 51642 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 06:00:00 Observation end time: 14:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: Jennifer Lyon Observers: Chris Burris, Derek Lyon, Jim Dunn, Mary Carnahan Visitors: Counter today was Jen,...with help from Derek, Chris, Tom Lane (Toronto), Mary, Jim D., Keith, Alice & Mas from Burlington and a few other visitors. Weather: Much colder today with the passage of a stronger cold front that pulled down chilly air from the north. Temp started at 5C and got to a high of just 9C (though it felt colder with the windchill). Less cloud to start then building in under a mix of some sun and mostly cloud for the rest of the day. Raptor Observations: A total of 241 birds today...with a few more Peregrines (3) giving us 100 for the season so far. Observers had good low views of Shins & AK's and a great view of 3 Harriers at once over the Elm, first 2 being males. In the middle of the day, it got quite cold and windy and we almost shut down. Then in the last hour, we were rewarded with a peregrine coming up fast from the lake, through the gap and up over the Elm. Excellent views for the counters. The adult male Merlin in the last hour came from behind the counters to sit in the "Merlin tree" across the field for a good 15 minutes, then went down to the ground and eventually zoomed past the counters. The wait through the cold definitely paid off in the last hour! Non-raptor Observations: Many thanks to today's observers who, in addtion to counting raptors in chilly conditions, also managed to accumulate a pretty respectable list of non-raptor sightings. A couple of Common Loons were spotted early in the watch while a walk to the pond yielded a nice look at a pair of Wood Ducks. About 30 Canada Geese were spotted on the beach below Hawk Cliff along with a handful of Ring-billed and Herring Gulls and a single Turkey Vulture. Mourning Doves were seen and heard along the roadside and a couple of flocks of Pigeons flew across the field as did a flock of about 20 American Pipts. A single Ruby-throated Hummingbird was seen zooming across the field. 4 Woodpecker species were noted in the early part of the morning, including Hairy, Downy, Red-bellied and Northern Flicker while Blue Jays and Crows were both visible and audible throughout the day. Other sightings included a Blue-headed Vireo, many Black-capped Chickadees, both White-breasted and Red-breasted Nuthatches, 2 Brown Creepers and numerous Ruby- & Golden-Crowned Kinglets. Found near the pond was a Tufted Titmouse (with vocalizations from at least one other). Titmice are a species we don't see every day even though we know they are present throughout three seasons, if not year-round. Further, 2 Gray Catbirds were found about halfway down the pond path as were Northern Cardinals, some White-throated & Song Sparrows and a couple of Warblers including Magnolia and Yellow-Rumped. Other Warblers seen throughout the morning in various locations included Palm, Blackpoll, Nashville and Wilson's for a total of 6 warblers --not bad for early October! A single Indigo Bunting was reported and Eastern Towhees were reported in three different locations up and down the road. On the way to Hawk Cliff Rd between Sparta Ln and the Cliff many flocks of European Starlings were seen as well as a small flock of Red-winged Blackbirds and 3 Common Grackles. Eastern Bluebirds were found in the usual spot near Roberts Line. At least 10 Monarch Butterflies were seen mostly in the morning before the heavy cloud covers set in, Buckeyes are still Common in the corn field although in declining numbers as are both Orange and Clouded Sulphurs with the odd Cabbage White in that area as well. A few Green Darners and Black Saddlebags were noted as well. Predictions: Winds are predicted to be NW moderate to start and eventually backing to W...but hopefully by then the birds are on the move. ======================================================================== 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/
