Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch
Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 08, 2012
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 3749 5028 8419
Osprey 0 10 190
Bald Eagle 7 27 166
Northern Harrier 14 53 605
Sharp-shinned Hawk 201 641 6294
Cooper's Hawk 4 26 112
Northern Goshawk 0 1 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 1 4
Broad-winged Hawk 0 2 37166
Red-tailed Hawk 12 53 424
Rough-legged Hawk 0 1 1
Golden Eagle 1 1 2
American Kestrel 12 104 2848
Merlin 1 7 71
Peregrine Falcon 0 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: 4001 5975 56403
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 15:00:00
Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Colin Horstead
Observers: Chris Burris, Don Taylor, Ernie Gribble, Kathy, Keith Sealy,
Mary Carnahan, Ronnie Goodhand
Visitors:
Thanks to the crew who manned the hawkwatch today...Colin, Chris, Ronnie,
Ernie, Mary, Kathy, Don T. and Keith.
Weather:
A great fall day with a mix of sun and cloud...cold to start with a temp of
just 2C and then reaching a high of 15C. Winds were favourable but light
from the WNW.
Raptor Observations:
A good movement of birds today with a total of 4,001...mostly TVs
(3,749)...along with a decent count for Sharpies (201). Definite highlight
today was the season's second Golden Eagle...scoped by Chris. More Bald
Eagles (7) passed through along with several N. Harriers (14), Cooper's
Hawks (4), Redtails (12), Kestrels (12) and a lone Merlin.
Non-raptor Observations:
Observers spied many non-raptor species especially during the early part of
the day, starting with 8 Eastern Bluebirds on the wire just south of
Roberts Ln on Fairview Rd. At the corner of Dexter and Hawk Cliff Rd were
the usual mob of House Sparrows and the growing mob of European Starlings,
a few Blue Jays, Robins and 3 Northern Flickers that had been foraging on
the roadside. Observers also had 4 other Woodpeckers this morning
including at least 2 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, plus Red-bellied, Hairy and
Downy Woodpeckers.
>From the ravine right down to the Cliff, the roadside trees and shrubs
were filled with passerines including many Ruby-crowned and a few
Golden-crowned Kinglets, Red-breasted and White-breasted Nuthatches,
Black-capped Chickadees, Blue-headed Vireos (found in multiple locations),
a Gray-cheeked Thrush,and Warblers, of which observers managed to spot 9
species (Magnolia, Blackburnian, many Yellow-rumped, Palm, Black-throated
Green, Blackpoll, Nashville, Orange-crowned, and 2 Northern Parulas)!
Sparrows were also well-represented with numerous sightings of
White-throated, White-crowned and Song in addition to 2 Lincoln's. Across
from the mound, both a Carolina Wren and a Winter Wren were heard. Other
sightings included 70 Canada Geese on the beach below Hawk Cliff, Gray
Catbird, Northern Cardinal, Crows, flocks of American Goldfinch, a flock of
about 20 Red-winged Blackbirds, a single Great Blue Heron, Robins and a
couple of Eastern Towhees.
As the day warmed up, butterflies began to pop up in various locations,
including a few monarchs (perhaps a dozen were seen throughout the day),
Orange and Clouded Sulphurs, a Red Admiral, still a predominance of Common
Buckeyes, 2 Painted Ladies, a Variegated Fritillary, and a Fiery Skipper.
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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/
