Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 30, 2013 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 1455 1455 Osprey 0 106 113 Bald Eagle 0 115 115 Northern Harrier 0 275 280 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 4383 4388 Cooper's Hawk 1 44 44 Northern Goshawk 0 1 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 7 7 Broad-winged Hawk 0 59362 59362 Red-tailed Hawk 0 54 54 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 0 1433 1446 Merlin 0 52 52 Peregrine Falcon 2 22 22 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: 3 67311 67341 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:45:00 Observation end time: 12:45:00 Total observation time: 4 hours Official Counter: Mary Carnahan Observers: Jim Dunn Visitors: A few visitors again today. Thanks to Mary and Jim for today's reports. Weather: Winds were light and variable to start under cloudy skies...then winds picked up a bit from the SW but still too light. Temp to a high of 19C as the cloud cover began to break up and the sun came out. Raptor Observations: No surprise with today's light winds and too high of humidity that there was basically nothing on the move. Only 3 birds spotted heading westward today...2 Peregrines and a single Cooper's Hawk. The Cooper's Hawk was spotted at 11:35 low down a juvie) as it flew across the field from the elm and right over my head at the yellow gate where I was looking for sparrows. Long, rounded tail, flying cross, dark brown streaks, beautiful bird. I abandoned the sparrow search and headed back to the mound where Jim was maintaining the peregrine watch. Our second break came 22 minutes later -- when you have that few birds, you have time to check the time -- and it was a smallish Peregrine that zipped across at the cliff. We got no colour on it at all, just a silhouette. 3 minutes later at 11:55 came the second Peregrine, this one large and we got very little colour on the breast and belly, just a second or so as it approached the willows, not enough for tell if it was a juvie or adult, but it was big so I think female. Non-raptor Observations: Conditions were gloomy in the early part of the morning, with no breeze at all. A single Eastern Bluebird was seen on the wires just north of Roberts Line on Fairview Rd. Around Sharpie Alley, however, there was lots of songbird activity. Bluejays had already begun their flight to the west, with small flocks crossing near the alley in the early part of the day, shifting southward as the morning progress, many flocks crossing right at the observation knoll. Flocks increased in size as the sky cleared and movement was steady until just before noon, then decreased consideraby; at ;east 3500 in total. Songbirds found near the Alley were many White-throated Sparrow (many) and Song Sparrow, Red-eyed and Blue-headed Vireo, Black-capped Chickadee, American Goldfinch, Swainson's Thrush, American Robin, White-breasted Nuthatch, Downy Woodpecker (3), Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (1 juv.), Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Cedar Waxwing, Gray Catbird, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Blue & Blackpoll Warbler and American Redstart. Monarchs were on the move again today, flying westward right at cliff side. Cabbage Whites and Orange Sulphurs were also present and a single Mourning Cloak was seen as well. In the tobacco field were many dragonflies including Black Saddlebags, Green Darners, and a 12-spotted Skimmer. Predictions: Tuesday has the possibility of a better flight...at least for birds along the cliff on predicted SW winds. ======================================================================== 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
