Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch
Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 23, 2014
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 2271 25534 25654
Osprey 0 35 118
Bald Eagle 14 41 99
Northern Harrier 30 252 645
Sharp-shinned Hawk 398 4228 8804
Cooper's Hawk 18 184 254
Northern Goshawk 3 9 10
Red-shouldered Hawk 192 347 347
Broad-winged Hawk 0 155 70719
Red-tailed Hawk 611 1743 1769
Rough-legged Hawk 2 4 4
Golden Eagle 10 23 23
American Kestrel 13 703 2448
Merlin 2 34 76
Peregrine Falcon 0 117 162
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 1
Total: 3564 33409 111133
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Jim Dunn
Observers: Bill Smith, Chris Burris, Dave Verkley, Don Taylor,
Mary Carnahan, Mike Street, Tom Thomas
Visitors:
Many visitors today who helped with the count...Mike Nelson; Mike Vermul;
Robin Brown; John Froome; Bill & Heather Wilson; Dave Weir plus many other
that we did not get names...along with a number of our usual crew Jim Dunn,
Tom Thomas; William Smith; Mary Carnahan; Dave Verkley; Chris Burris; Mike
Street; Don Taylor;Cary Graham and Bob Johnstone
Weather:
A gorgeous fall day started out chilly at 3C, warming to 15C by mid day.
Wind was gentle from N & NW throughout the day and the sky was a deep AZURE
BLUE making spotting and ID'ing birds a challenge. We continue to enjoy a
high pressure system sitting over the Great Lakes region.
Raptor Observations:
Highlights were certainly the 10 Golden Eagles, several of which were adult
looking birds; the 3 Northern Goshawks, 2 of which were circling with 2
Coops, providing a great comparison and the 3 Ravens "croaking" their way
across the field.
Many thanks to the spotters and visitors with excellent vision; good bins
and powerful scopes who made it possible to get a pretty good count with a
total of 3,584. The bulk of today's flight was once again TVs (2,271)...but
other species put in a good showing with Sharpies (398), Redtails (611) and
Red-shoulders (192). A few falcons today with Kestrels (13) and Merlins
(2)....another couple of Roughlegs, N. Harriers (30), Cooper's Hawks (18),
and a nice count of Bald Eagles (14).
Non-raptor Observations:
Lots of flocks passed by the Alley today including 7 Tundra Swans, Am.
Pipits, Pine Siskins, Eastern Bluebirds, Purple Finches, Am. Crows, Am.
Robins, European Starlings, Rusty and Red-winged Blackbirds and
brown-headed Cowbirds; later at the B&B, a flock of at least 15 Killdeer
flitted back and forth in the cornfield. As well, hawkwatchers spotted 3
Common Ravens, an Eastern Meadowlark, a Cormorant, both Pileated and
Red-headed Woodpeckers flying across the fields, while Hairy and
Red-bellied Woodpeckers were seen in nearby trees. Also found in the
surrounding treeline and woods were a Winter Wren, 1 Chipping and several
White-throated Sparrows, Ruby- and Golden-crowned Kinglets, Am.
Goldfinches, BC Chickadees, White-breasted Nuthatch, and a few Hermit
Thrush. In addition, we had 2 Warbler species today which were
Yellow-rumped and Orange-crowned.
On the insect front, several species of Butterfly were seen today including
several Eastern Commas, Orange and Clouded Sulphurs and a couple of Cabbage
Whites. Many observers today reported sightings of Meadowhawks
(dragonflies), in the field and along the roadside, plus a couple of
sightings of Common Green Darner.
Predictions:
Friday will see lots of sun once again but with some cloud it seems...BUT
the winds are going to back around to the W and then WSW which will scatter
the birds inland.
Saturday will likely be similar but with stronger SW winds again scattering
the flight inland. Finally, on Sunday the forecast is for strong NW winds
which would make for a better push of the flight down to the hawkwatch
area.
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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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