Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 02, 2013 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 39 45 1500 Osprey 0 1 114 Bald Eagle 0 0 115 Northern Harrier 2 3 283 Sharp-shinned Hawk 10 17 4405 Cooper's Hawk 2 2 46 Northern Goshawk 0 0 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 1 8 Broad-winged Hawk 3 3 59365 Red-tailed Hawk 0 0 54 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 20 29 1475 Merlin 0 1 53 Peregrine Falcon 0 10 32 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 0 2 Total: 77 112 67453 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:45:00 Observation end time: 14:30:00 Total observation time: 5.75 hours Official Counter: Mary Carnahan Observers: Ernie Gribble, Mark Cunningham Visitors: We had a few visitors who helped spot birds. Thanks to everyone who helped with today's counts...including Mary C., Ernie G., Mark C. and Bob J. The "Simcoe Brothers" (Harve, John and Tom?) joined us and helped out by spotting from the road behind the mound where there was shade for most of the morning (it really was burning hot in the sun today). They actually spotted a couple of birds from there that we didn't see from the mound -- the benefits of staying out of the sun I guess. Weather: Our first observer Ernie G. arrived at 7:15 followed not long after by Mary C.(bird time EST). It was REALLY HOT on the mound today with not much breeze to help us out. As the sun went round, some shade crept over the edge of the mound, but it was past lunch time (people time) before we got much relief. There was lots of haze and heat distortion and the wind seemed W and then somewhat variable then finally SW but light. Raptor Observations: The overall migration pattern for today was intermittent as the figures show. There were a total of 77 birds tallied for the day of 7 different species. Early on we had Kestrels (20) passing along the cliff...and then a few buteos including a single Red-shouldered Hawk and some lagging Broadwings (3). Other species seen included a couple of N. Harriers, Sharpies (10) and Cooper's Hawks (2). At the end of the count period TVs and what appeared to be an Osprey was spotted to the north floating in and out of haze. The Osprey was circling and circling over a large pond located up across Dexter Line at a farm in that direction...but was not counted as it never crossed to the west. TVs spotted in that same direction were counted giving a total of 39 for the day. Non-raptor Observations: Ernie G. supplied almost the whole passerine list today (thanks Ernie!) Blue Jay flights were intermittent this morning and eventually dropped to nothing around 11:30 AM. Today's total was considerably less than over the past two days, with fewer than 1000 counted. 2 Common Loons flew south towards the lake in the late morning; the Pileated Woodpecker, chattering from the treeline along the east side of the tobacco field, flew across the field and back a couple of times, providing everyone with good views. Other sightings from the observation knoll were Song Sparrow, Yellow-rumped & Bay-breasted Warbler plus Common Yellowthroat, House Wren, Eastern Towhee, Gray Catbird, Downy Woodpecker and Ring-billed & Herring Gulls. Farther up the road, one observer found Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Least Flycatcher, Chickadee, Ruby- and Gold-crowned Kinglets, Magnolia and Black-throated Blue Warbler, White-throated Sparrow, Northern Cardinal and American Goldfinch. Monarch butterflies were on the move today; a count was taken during the last half hour of the hawk watch with 54 seen migrating close to the cliff. Many were flying fairly high, although a few were seen passing just below the edge of the cliff above the beach with a few flying out over the water. Cabbage White, Orange & Clouded Sulphur and a single Comma were seen from the observation knoll. Many Green Darners and Black Saddlebags were seen in the tobacco field and a single Red Saddlebags flew right across the observation knoll. Predictions: Looking a bit wet for Thursday so may not be much of a flight. Friday may be better with predicted SW winds...as long as it dries out. ======================================================================== 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
