Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 04, 2015 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 0 0 Osprey 8 14 18 Bald Eagle 2 3 3 Northern Harrier 0 5 10 Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 6 14 Cooper's Hawk 0 0 0 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 0 0 0 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 13 39 48 Merlin 0 0 0 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 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: 25 67 93 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours Official Counter: Mary Carnahan Observers: Carol Parafenko, Jim Dunn Visitors: Lance from London. Weather: Barometric pressure was steady but the amount of cloud cover was especially variable especially throughout the morning hours. The wind was also variable with periods of almost complete stillness. Humdex was high again with values in the high 20s to low 30s most of the day. Conditions varied, with skies becoming very dark around mid-morning, then clearing around 11:30 with blue sky for and some cloud for the noon hour into the afternoon. Raptor Observations: Despite the variable conditions and dark skies mid-morning, we counted 25 migrants in 4 species including Osprey (7), Bald Eagle (2), Sharp-shinned Hawk (3) and American Kestrel (13). The most memorable moment occurred in the second hour when 2 AKs circled and dove their way across the field accompanied by a bat. Throughout their passage, the AKs dove on the bat, circled, dove again, but the bats evasive manoeuvres outdid the AKs who finally crossed the willows and the road, disappearing to the west. The bat disappeared into the line of willows and wasnt seen again. Non-raptor Observations: Many thanks to todays contributors, Jim, Carol and Lance for finding 42 (avian) non-raptor species of which the following are a few highlights: 5 species of Woodpecker including Red-bellied, Downy and Pileated (2) Woodpeckers, Northern Flicker and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker; 10 species of Warbler including Yellow, Magnolia, Black-throated Blue, Chestnut-sided, Blackpoll, Am. Redstart, Tennessee, Nashville, Canada and Common Yellowthroat. In addition, good views were provided by a single Veery and 2 Swainsons Thrushes and at least 4 Red-eyed Vireos. On the insect front today, 6 Monarch butterflies were seen in the first hour; after that, the predominant insects were the dragonflies above the field (Green Darners, Black Saddlebags and a few 12-spotted Skimmers). Predictions: The temperature is expected to remain high over the next 48 hours with high humidex values and mainly southerly winds. As well, there is a possibility of thunder showers on Sunday. Not a great forecast for raptor migration, so on that front numbers will likely remain low. ======================================================================== 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 Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide
