Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 22, 2013 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 1810 9930 11385 Osprey 0 13 126 Bald Eagle 0 34 149 Northern Harrier 3 79 359 Sharp-shinned Hawk 45 531 4919 Cooper's Hawk 2 38 82 Northern Goshawk 0 0 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 11 54 61 Broad-winged Hawk 0 4 59366 Red-tailed Hawk 32 209 263 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 3 3 American Kestrel 2 109 1555 Merlin 1 6 58 Peregrine Falcon 0 74 96 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: 1906 11084 78425 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 14:00:00 Total observation time: 5 hours Official Counter: Mary Carnahan Observers: Ernie Gribble, Jim Dunn, Steve Birch Visitors: A big thanks to Mary, Jim, Ernie and Steve for today's count. Weather: Another COLD WINDY day today...strong WSW or SW at 35k gusting to 45k and temp hung in at 6C all day. If forecast holds true, Thursday could be a GOLDEN day...perhaps Friday too. Raptor Observations: A bit meatier count today compared to the last several days with a total of 1906 birds tallied. We counted at the B&B site and TV numbers were up (1810) as were Tails (32) and Shoulders (11). Several Sharpies (45) crossed through fairly consistently each hour 1 Merlin ripped across the field late in the count along with a couple of Kestrels. A few of N. Harriers (3) struggled with the strong west wind but made enough progress to be counted. Non-raptor Observations: Thanks to Ernie G. and Steve (from London) for most of today's non-raptor sightings including another late sighting -- a Black-throated Green Warbler in addition to a Wilson's and many Yellow-rumped, the latter persisting into the mid-afternoon when several were seen and heard in the bushes around the observation knoll. Ruby-crowned Kinglets were also abundant as were White-throated Sparrows, both easily found around the observation knoll throughout the day. Other sightings up and down Hawk Cliff Rd included Hairy, Downy and Red-belied Woodpeckers, Black-capped Chickadee, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Am. Robin, Northern Cardinal, Song Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird and Am. Goldfinch. 4 Common Loons were seen this morning plus a flock of Canada Geese, Ring-billed and Herring Gulls and Mourning Doves. Moving to the B&B, observers were entertained for most of the day by a large flock of Eastern Bluebirds cavorting in the field, as well as a flock of 30 Killdeer and several Am. Pipits were both heard and seen in the field at the B&B. Blue Jays seem to have abandoned migration, at least those found at the Cliff, as very few flocks were seen heading west this morning, but lots of Blue Jays are seen and heard throughout the day at both Cliff and B&B, and the same for the Crows, which have accumulated to the point of distracting whoever is counting TVs. By 2:00 PM the hawkwatch had shifted back to the observation knoll, where observers enjoyed seeing 2 Cave Swallows, a new species for us this season. As well, around 2:30 PM a single Monarch Butterfly was seen flying westward along the cliff. ======================================================================== 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
