Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch
Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 13, 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 27 27
Bald Eagle 2 18 18
Northern Harrier 17 68 78
Sharp-shinned Hawk 73 541 551
Cooper's Hawk 0 17 18
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0
Broad-winged Hawk 3 381 412
Red-tailed Hawk 2 10 10
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 25 219 252
Merlin 2 10 11
Peregrine Falcon 1 9 9
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 1 1
Total: 131 1301 1387
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Jennifer Lyon
Observers: Bob Johnstone, Dave Brown, Derek Lyon, Gord Kozak,
Ian Platt, Jim Dunn, Joan Taylor, Kathy, Keith Sealy,
Mary Carnahan, Rose Braxton
Visitors:
Lots of visitors today to check out the open house at the hawkwatch despite
the rotten weather. One couple from further away who stopped in near the
end of the day were Patrick and Christine McGinn (Kingston). Thanks to
everyone who helped with today's count despite the rain. :)
Weather:
Rotten wet weather to start the morning even though winds were good NW. The
sky began to break out but far too late in the afternoon and eventually the
winds backed to more WNW and finally straight from the W. Temp was cool
starting out at 10C and getting to a high of 12C. The humidity finally
started to drop just after midday but too late to make a difference.
Raptor Observations:
Actually the flight was better than we thought it would be with a total of
131 raptors counted. One of the first birds for the day was a Peregrine
which along with a Sharpie were the only two birds in the first hour.
Counts included Osprey (6) a couple which came through right at the end of
the day, Bald Eagles (2) deemed to be migrating, N. Harriers (17) with one
adult looking male right out over the lake, the bulk of the flight Sharpies
(72), Redtails (2), Broadwings (3) struggling into the wind at treetop
level, Kestrels (25) and couple of Merlin. The totals per hour were low
double digits.
Non-raptor Observations:
Viewed from the knoll today included 1 Common Loon, a flock of Mallards,
multiple flocks of American Goldfinches, Crows, Chimney Swifts,
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Ring-billed Gulls, a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, an
Eastern Phoebe which was the only flycatcher species reported today, a
Chestnut-sided Warbler, a couple of Cape May Warblers and many Swallows
including Tree, Barn and Cliff. Other Warbler species noted along the
roadside were Magnolia, Blackburnian, American Redstart, Tennessee and
Nashville. As well, observers beating the bushes found Black-capped
Chickadees, a White-breasted Nuthatch, a couple of Red-bellied and a Downy
Woodpecker, several Red-eyed Vireos, Gray Catbirds, a Brown Thrasher,
Robins, Cardinals and a Rose-breasted Grosbeak. One observer looking for
unusual gulls spied a Cormorant.
Many thanks to Jenn and Derek for counting those intrepid Monarch
Butterflies that kept flying westward this morning despite gusty winds,
rain and generally inclement migration conditions. By 11:00 AM they
counted 23 Monarchs crossing the field. As the sun began to emerge about
mid-day, many Monarchs were seen rising from the tobacco field and heading
westward across the road and at the end of the day we'd hit at least 130.
Ann Vance and Neva Carmichael provided a few specimens for today's Monarch
presentation including a demonstration of how to tag a Monarch. Hanging
out in the cornfield were several Clouded Sulphurs, an Orange Sulphur and
singles of Silver-spotted Skipper and Summer Azure. All were flying pretty
low, evidently just trying to stay out of the wind.
Predictions:
Sunday is forecast to be better weatherwise...but with light winds there's
no way to predict the flight. If we're lucky we'll get any birds that were
pushed down to the lake with the moderate to strong winds from today.
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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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