Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch
Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 05, 2012
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 50 1590 24479
Osprey 0 0 193
Bald Eagle 6 26 208
Northern Harrier 3 27 723
Sharp-shinned Hawk 15 212 8025
Cooper's Hawk 7 73 254
Northern Goshawk 1 12 16
Red-shouldered Hawk 38 505 649
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 37168
Red-tailed Hawk 477 3540 4877
Rough-legged Hawk 4 8 15
Golden Eagle 29 132 138
American Kestrel 0 7 2928
Merlin 0 1 81
Peregrine Falcon 0 0 117
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: 630 6133 79871
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Observation start time: 09:00:00
Observation end time: 15:00:00
Total observation time: 6 hours
Official Counter: Dave Brown, Mac McAlpine
Observers: Ches Caister, Jim Dunn, Kathy, Keith Sealy, Mac McAlpine,
Mary Carnahan, Paul Brown, Remy Pokraka, Tom Stewart
Visitors:
A few visitors today...with Kathie Romano (PA) and Darcy Rogers (NY), Randy
Fowler and Mike Holden (Kitchener), Vianne and John Ninnis (London)...and
John Lamey (Mississauga). Thanks to the counters and spotters today...Mac
M., Ches C., Tom S., Keith S., Mary C., Jim D., Kathy K., Paul B. and Remy
P.
Weather:
Brrrr....it would've been nice to get a little sun breaking through
today...you know...that big bright WARM disc that used to shine in the sky
but seems to have disappeared!!
Another overcast day with heavy cloud in the hawkwatch area. The temp
never got above 3C..and certainly felt colder as we got later into the
afternoon. Winds were moderate from the NNW to NE throughout the count
period...though I suspect the wind may have been stronger at higher levels
given how many of the birds were being pushed right out over the lake.
Raptor Observations:
Another good flight today with a total of 630 birds of 10 different
species. The Redtails (477) continued to move in good numbers while the
Red-shoulders (38) had a much smaller count than over the weekend. Both TVs
(50) and Sharpies (15) have mostly pushed through at this point...as have
Bald Eagles (6) and N. Harriers (3) one of which was a male bird (though we
often see another push of Harriers as more males migrate through the area).
Other accipiters noted today included Coops (7) and a lone N. Goshawk
spotted zipping past down by the lakeshore. A few Roughlegs (4) were
tallied today with 3 light and 1 dark bird.
Of course the highlight again today was another great movement of Golden
Eagles (29)...much to the delight of several visitors that were at the
hawkwatch including a couple of women from stateside (PA and NY). The
eagles passed at various flight heights from treetop level to "in the
stratosphere".
Non-raptor Observations:
Some great non-raptors today...most of which were observed around, or
flying over, Sharpie Alley. Among today's sightings were many of the
expected, a few "hoped-fors" and a couple of very usual sightings...
including a Red-eyed Vireo (seen feeding with a large mixed flock of BC
Chickadees and Golden and Ruby crowned Kinglets)... a single Bohemian
Waxwing that was spotted amongst a flock of Cedar Waxwings that lit in the
trees behind the counters and at least 3 flocks of Evening Grosbeaks with
one flock dropping into the trees again right behind the counters.
Other highlights today included a Great Blue Heron circling above with
some raptors, a Great-Horned Owl, a Hermit Thrush and a Fox Sparrow. We
also had 2 Woodpecker species, both found in the ravine -- Pileated and
Red-bellied. And although the butterflies and dragonflies seem to be long
gone, there is always something to see other than birds. Today's "Others"
included 2 White-tailed deer.
Predictions:
The winds are predicted to be out of the SE which is typically the worst
wind for good flights at Hawk Cliff.
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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
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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/
