Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch
Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 21, 2015
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 3 18 18
Osprey 2 104 108
Bald Eagle 3 42 42
Northern Harrier 29 315 320
Sharp-shinned Hawk 215 3070 3078
Cooper's Hawk 0 35 35
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 1 1
Broad-winged Hawk 6 12885 12885
Red-tailed Hawk 2 31 31
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 24 1394 1403
Merlin 2 41 41
Peregrine Falcon 1 24 24
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: 287 17960 17986
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Observation start time: 07:00:00
Observation end time: 13:00:00
Total observation time: 6 hours
Official Counter: Ches Caister
Observers: Eric Single, Jim Dunn, Keith Sealy, Mary Carnahan,
Steve Birch, Tom Stewart
Visitors:
We had lots of visitors including Eleanor Kee Wellman, Bruce & Monica Gates
from Sudbury, Bonnie from London, Fred & Emmy MacLachlan, Judy & dale Green
from London and Charles Christy from Peterborough.
Weather:
Bright sunshine dominated the day and although the temperature warmed from
10 degrees Celsius early this morning to 19 by early afternoon, the wind
was relentless and chilly throughout the day, especially for folks sitting
on the observation knoll. Wind was strong out of the NE to start and
sustained a good flight and fairly steady traffic for almost the first
three hours, but then swung round to the SSE, then SE, then back to ESE
eventually SE again. At times gusting almost to 30 km / hr, the wind was
blowing sand across the knoll.
Raptor Observations:
The total number of migrating raptors counted was 287, the bulk of which
was Sharp-shins with 215. Northern Harriers were a distant second (29),
next being Am. Kestrel at 24. We had a single Peregrine Falcon (1) along
with 2 Opreys, 3 Bald Eagles, 6 Broad-winged Hawks, 2 Red-tailed Hawks and
2 Merlins, for a total of 9 raptor species, plus 3 Turkey Vultures.
All the birds were very high, most so high that it was difficult to
impossible to see them without binoculars. The flight was great for the
first three hours, trailing off significantly in the fourth hour and after,
resulting in an early shut-down at 1:00 PM.
Non-raptor Observations:
Blue Jays were on the move early this morning. Many thanks to Ches and Jim
for keeping track of them along with the raptors. By 11:00 AM 5500 Blue
Jays had flown across the north end of the field and one observer noted
that similar sized flocks were heading west along Roberts Line, about 2 km
north of the cliff. Early on, a few small flocks of Red-winged Blackbirds
also made their way across the north end of the field. Birds along the
lake were Canada Goose, Double-crested Cormorant, Ring-billed and Herring
Gull. Observers reported 4 Woodpecker species today which were Red-bellied
and Downy Woodpeckers, Northern Flicker and a nice view was provided for
observers on the knoll by a single Pileated Woodpecker in the last hour of
the count.
Other highlights from the 26 non-raptor species reported today were 6
Warblers (Yellow, Blackpoll and Black-throated Blue Warbler, American
Redstart, Common Yellowthroat and Northern Waterthrush), Blue-headed Vireo,
Swainsons Thrush, Song and White-throated Sparrows and a single Eastern
Bluebird on the wire along Dexter Line.
Despite todays forceful winds, Monarch butterflies continued their flight
west, flying along the shoreline and across the field. Other butterfly
species noted today were Cabbage White, Orange & Clouded Sulphur, 1 Summer
Azure and 1 Red Admiral.
Predictions:
The forecast is for partly cloudy skies on Tuesday, with comfortable
temperatures (high of 23C.), with light, variable winds starting in the ESE
and shifting to SW by afternoon. It sounds like a lovely day for a nature
walk at Hawk Cliff, but for raptor migration -- not so much.
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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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