Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 24, 2013 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 419 788 788 Osprey 10 95 102 Bald Eagle 5 103 103 Northern Harrier 42 245 250 Sharp-shinned Hawk 196 4079 4084 Cooper's Hawk 0 40 40 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 3 6 6 Broad-winged Hawk 711 59351 59351 Red-tailed Hawk 8 45 45 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 102 1395 1408 Merlin 0 49 49 Peregrine Falcon 1 13 13 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 2 2 Total: 1497 66211 66241 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 12:30:00 Total observation time: 5.5 hours Official Counter: Tom Bolohan Observers: Dave Verkley, Jim Dunn, Mary Carnahan Visitors: Thanks to everyone who helped with today's count...Mary, Jim, Dave V, Keith S and Tom B. Weather: Winds were light to moderate from the NE and the unfortunately, swung round to the S and pretty much shut down the flight. Temp got to a high of 17C under clear blue skies. Raptor Observations: The total birds for today's flight was 1,497...with most being TVs (419) and more Broadwings (711) with many that likely crossed over the hawkwatch without being spotted in the clear skies. Species variety is increasing as we approach the beginning of October and today we had Osprey (10), Bald Eagle (5), another nice movement of N. Harriers (42), Sharpies (196), Kestrels (102)...just a few buteos with Red-shoulders (3) and Redtails...and lastly a lone Peregrine. Hopefully, more PGs will really start to move next week...their usual peak time frame. Non-raptor Observations: Observers on the knoll reported a number of birds of interest this morning including Black-backed Gull, spotted among some Ring-billed and Herring Gulls along the cliff, Winter Wren (new for this season) which flew from the tobacco field into the shrubs beside the knoll, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (2), Brown Thrasher and Eastern Towhee, both of which were heard and then spotted across from the knoll, and flocks of American Goldfinch that continue to head west across the field. In addition, Blue Jays were seen from the knoll crossing the field at the north end; by the end of the morning about 200 had crossed the field in small flocks. Around 20 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, some feeding in the jewelweed were seen this morning as well. In the bushes along the parking area were White-crowned Sparrows, another new species for this season. Song and White-throated Sparrows were found between the parking area and the cliff. Fewer Warbler and Vireo species were found today with only 5 warblers (Magnolia, Black-throated Green, Black & White, Redstart and Common Yellowthroat) and one Vireo species -- Blue-headed, although Red-eyed were heard in a couple of places along the road. Both Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets were seen up and down the road and we had 2 Flycatchers -- Phoebe and Least Flycatcher. Butterfly species reported today were Monarch, Mourning Cloak, Summer Azure, Eastern Tailed Blue, Red Admiral, Orange and Clouded Sulphur, and Cabbage White. Thanks to Bruce Parker for today's Monarch count of 151, with 44 tagged by the end of the day. Black Saddlebags were the most frequently seen dragonfly, especially in front of the knoll while a Red Saddlebags was found on the edge of the bean field where 1 Green Darner and 1 Fawn Darner were also seen. ======================================================================== 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 including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup
