Holiday Beach Conservation Area
Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 18, 2014
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Turkey Vulture 1508 24799 27004
Osprey 0 19 53
Bald Eagle 4 56 193
Northern Harrier 17 89 317
Sharp-shinned Hawk 284 1847 6381
Cooper's Hawk 10 68 219
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 18 40 79
Broad-winged Hawk 2 27 36333
Red-tailed Hawk 14 370 625
Rough-legged Hawk 0 1 1
Golden Eagle 0 1 6
American Kestrel 41 267 973
Merlin 1 11 58
Peregrine Falcon 2 23 41
Unknown Accipiter 0 2 17
Unknown Buteo 2 26 53
Unknown Eagle 0 1 1
Unknown Falcon 0 4 5
Unknown Raptor 0 12 35
Swainson's Hawk 0 0 1
Total: 1903 27663 72395
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Observation start time: 06:45:00
Observation end time: 15:30:00
Total observation time: 8.75 hours
Official Counter: Jeremy Hatt
Observers: Carol Pitts, Dan Lumm, Ed Pitts, Jenna McDermott, Jim McCoy,
Larry Ludwicki
Visitors:
We had a handful of visitors to the tower today including a few local
groups who have visited in the past. Once again, I am grateful for the help
provided by the following passionate observers who were w/ me for many
hours of the day: Jenna McDermott, Dan Lumm, Jim McCoy, Ed and Carol Pitts,
and Larry Ludwicki, who stayed w/ me right up until the count closed!
Weather:
A cool, cloudy day w/ temperatures around 8C throughout counting hours.
Winds started from the WNW and shifted to the NW for the remainder of the
day reaching gusts of up to 25km/h at times. We were hit w/ rain or drizzle
a few times during the day and did not see the sun once.
Raptor Observations:
Turkey Vultures streamed slowly by the tower all afternoon w/ a total of
1,508 being counted. The most abundant hawk today was Sharp-shinned w/ a
total of 284. At times up to 6 birds were visible in the air. There was
also a decent show of Red-shouldered Hawks (18 total) and 2 late
Broad-winged Hawks. American Kestrels were flying low along the shoreline
throughout the day and in the end, we counted 41 birds.
Non-raptor Observations:
Not as many passerines were on the move today, but we still ended up w/
1,060 Blue Jays, 804 American Crows, 72 American Robins, 300 Red-winged
Blackbirds, 197 American Goldfinch, and 26 Pine Siskin. There are still
lots of White-throated and White-crowned Sparrows around the tower
throughout the day w/ kinglets and Yellow-rumped Warblers mixed in. A
highlight was a steady stream of migrating Tree Swallows starting in the
afternoon and continuing to the end of the count (280 counted).
To see today's full list, see eBird:
http://ebird.org/ebird/canada/view/checklist?subID=S20269527
Predictions:
Expect a day quite similar to today without the rain and drizzle. Northwest
winds are predicted and temperatures reaching 11C by the afternoon so there
should be a good variety and number of birds passing the tower.
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Report submitted by Jeremy Hatt ([email protected])
Holiday Beach Conservation Area information may be found at:
http://hbmo.ca/
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