Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 02, 2015 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 1180 3310 3821 Osprey 0 1 118 Bald Eagle 3 12 70 Northern Harrier 54 142 586 Sharp-shinned Hawk 116 663 5098 Cooper's Hawk 2 7 71 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 2 8 10 Broad-winged Hawk 7 49 12989 Red-tailed Hawk 15 44 105 Rough-legged Hawk 1 1 1 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 8 102 1707 Merlin 4 9 64 Peregrine Falcon 1 4 48 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: 1393 4352 24688 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:30:00 Observation end time: 14:00:00 Total observation time: 6.5 hours Official Counter: Jim Dunn Observers: Carol Parafenko, Keith Sealy, Mac McAlpine, Mary Carnahan Visitors: Thanks to Bryce Bond and Geoff Parkin for their assistance on the knoll this morning. Weather: The temperature was 6 degrees Celsius when we started, with a windchill of only 3 and NE wind at30 km / hr, gusting to 40. As the day progressed, the wind rose to 35 km / hr by afternoon with gusts to 50 km / hr. Coud cover to start was 100%, although the cloud began to thin as the morning changed over into afternoon, bringing us a little sunshine by the end of the watch. It certainly has been feeling like fall for the past 3 days! As well, the high winds have been stipping the leaves from the trees as well as knocking down branches. Raptor Observations: Many thanks to Mac, Keith, Mary and Carol for spotting all those high, high birds. The raptor flight today was not as strong as yesterday's but although the flight dwindled as the afternoon began, we still ended up with a total of 1,393 birds. Most of this flight consisted of TVs (1,180) along with a few Bald Eagles (3), a good movement of N. Harriers (54), Sharpies (116), a couple each of Cooper's Hawks and Red-shoulders, some Broadwings (7) and Redtails (15), our first Roughleg of the season (it must be getting cold up north!) and a few falcons with Am. Kestrels (8), Merlins (4) and a lone Peregrine. Non-raptor Observations: It really feels and looks like fall at Hawk Cliff and not just because the leaves are being ripped by high winds and hawk watchers are all wrapped up in hats, gloves and warm jackets and coats, but also because of the birds! Many thanks to Carol, Keith, Mac, Mary and Jim for their sightings today which added up to 7 insect species and 43 avian species. First, the insects Jim spotted a single Monarch Butterfly crossing the field way up high with the raptors, while observers reported a couple of Sulphurs and Cabbage Whites in addition to many Woolly Bear Caterpillars (now theres a sign of fall!). Dragonflies weighed in at 3 species including several Green Darners flying right past the knoll plus a Meadowhawk and a few Black Saddlebags spotted by Carol in more sheltered areas than the field. On the avian front, 4 New Species for this season were reported including Red-breasted Nuthatch, Purple Finch, Brown Creeper and Golden-crowned Kinglet. Ruby-crowned Kinglets, White-breasted Nuthatch and American Goldfinch were also seen. As well, observers reported 4 species of Woodpecker including Northern Flickers, still being seen flying Back and forth across the field, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Downy and Red-bellied Woodpeckers; 7 species of Warbler which were Black-throated Blue, Yellow-rumped (many!), Palm (numerous), Blackpoll, Am. Redstart and Nashville Warblers; Eastern Bluebird (4), Am. Robin, Swainsons Thrush and Hermit Thrush. In addition, Dark-eyed Junco, Eastern Towhee, Song and White-throated Sparrows were found in brushy, weedy spots along the cliff and the usual Northern Cardinals and Gray Catbirds were found with a little effort. Most of todays species were hunkered down in weeds and brush so spotters had to work at finding them. Predictions: The forecast for this evening and overnight show the wind swinging from NE to E in the early hours of the morning, with heavy cloud cover to start out for tomorrow. Wind velocity will continue to be fairly high with the likelihood of rain moving in as early as Saturday noon. The rest of Saturday looks like a washout, but partial clearing is expected for Sunday, with E winds prevailing. Monday were back to NE winds, at 20 to 25 km / hr. There are no low raptor flights expected with that forecast all will be high up and challenging to spot and to ID. NE winds on Monday will bring slightly warmer temps and from the present forecast, it looks like we could be enjoying 20 C. by Wednesday or Thursday of next week. ======================================================================== 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
