Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch
Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 07, 2014
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 0 0 0
Osprey 6 12 12
Bald Eagle 1 1 1
Northern Harrier 30 43 53
Sharp-shinned Hawk 173 228 238
Cooper's Hawk 5 9 10
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0
Broad-winged Hawk 39 41 72
Red-tailed Hawk 1 1 1
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 80 139 172
Merlin 3 4 5
Peregrine Falcon 0 1 1
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: 338 479 565
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Observation start time: 06:00:00
Observation end time: 14:00:00
Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Dave Brown
Observers: Chris Burris, Don Taylor, Jim Dunn, Keith Sealy,
Mary Carnahan, Michael Sandell, Paul Thomas
Visitors:
A pile of visitors today...Paul N., Gord K., Bob H., Heidi, Kelly and Larry
(Guelph), Ray T., Jacque, BJ, Tammy, Cam and Diane (London), Cary G.,
Maureen T. (London), Joyce L (Leeds, England), Cindy S. and Eric K., Liz
and Bob S. and finally the Kaminski family (Dave, Michelle, Meghan and
Lauren). Also thanks to the gang of regular spotters and counters
today...Jim, Mary, Don T., Mary, Chris, Keith, Michael S., Paul and Karin.
Weather:
A beautiful day with clear blue skies (making spotting the birds difficult)
and a temp that hit 22C in the shade... it was hotter in the direct sun and
the UV was high. Winds cooperated by hanging in from the NW for most pf the
day...though they died down a bit near midday.
Raptor Observations:
A pretty good flight today for early September...likely helped along by the
passage of the cold front on Friday night and into Saturday morning. Total
raptors for the day was 338...with the bulk of the flight Sharpies (173),
Kestrels (80), Broadwings (39) and N. Harriers (30). Other species included
Osprey (6), Cooper's Hawks (5), Merlins (3), a single Bald Eagle that had
what appeared to be an immature plumage and a single juvenile Redtail that
appeared to be on the move (though we also had several local Redtails that
were not counted).
A fun sight to watch was a pair of adult looking Bald Eagles that were
locking talons and one of them flipped completely upside down at one
point...and right over the field in front of the knoll.
Non-raptor Observations:
A good push of passerines first thing in the morning with numerous flocks
of gold finches, cedar waxwings and various blackbirds and many warblers
though they were tough to id with being back lit by the rising sun. A big
thanks to Chris Burris who arrived at the hawkwatch and took several of us
back to just east of the hawkwatch to get the WESTERN KINGBIRD sitting on
the hydro lines just off Dexter Line (photographed by several
individuals).
Others species noted at the hawkwatch included...N. Flicker, Downy
Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker Baltimore Oriole, E. Towhee, Common
Nighthawk, B. Kingfisher, Carolina and House Wren, lots of RT Hummingbirds
(fighting over the jewelweed patches), W.B. Nuthatch, Cape May, BT Green,
Black and White and Magnolia Warblers, a small flight of 9 Black-bellied
Plover that did a flyby, Swainson's Thrush, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (sev.),
Gray Catbird.
Not nearly as many Monarchs today...and also noted were Silver Spotted
Skipper and others I didn't get jotted down.
Predictions:
Winds will NOT be very favourable Monday coming in from the SE...our worst
wind direction for decent flights.
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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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