Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 16, 2015 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 3352 9833 10344 Osprey 1 5 122 Bald Eagle 4 28 86 Northern Harrier 40 293 737 Sharp-shinned Hawk 572 1829 6264 Cooper's Hawk 7 53 117 Northern Goshawk 0 2 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 5 15 17 Broad-winged Hawk 0 58 12998 Red-tailed Hawk 24 96 157 Rough-legged Hawk 0 1 1 Golden Eagle 0 1 1 American Kestrel 18 274 1879 Merlin 1 20 75 Peregrine Falcon 1 30 74 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: 4025 12538 32874 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 14:30:00 Total observation time: 6.5 hours Official Counter: Jim Dunn, Mary Carnahan Observers: Chris Burris, Clive Hodder, Keith Sealy, Mary Carnahan Visitors: Thanks to those that braved a tough weather day to get a count done....and a couple of visitors came with Chris B...Armand Munteanu (Vancouver), Romulus Munteanu (Kitchener). Weather: Weather this morning was chilly to start, but sunny, so things warmed up quickly. The wind was WNW for most of the day, shifting to NNW for a couple of hours about mid-way through the watch and then back to WNW, gaining in velocity and ferocity in the afternoon. Clouds began to bank in around noon, then during the 1 o'clock hour we experienced rain, then hail. We hung out in our cars for a few minutes and the precipitation ceased, but only temporarily. By the end of it we were not only socked in, but getting very soggy, so we closed shop for the day. Raptor Observations: For most of the day, the flight path and flight height were variable, with birds flying near the cliff, at the B&B and as far north as we could see from there. Best bird of the day was a DARK PHASE ADULT REDTAIL (calurus / alascensis) low over Sharpie Alley at about 11:15 a.m. EST. Our total was 4,025 consisting of 10 raptor species plus TVs, which made up the majority at 3,352. Of the raptor species the overwhelming majority was composed of Sharp-shinned Hawks (572). As well we counted 1 late Osprey which flew right over the knoll, Bald Eagles (4 - at least 1 an immature), Northern Harriers (40), Cooper's Hawks (7), Red-shouldered Hawks (5), Red-tailed Hawks (24), Am. Kestrels (18), 1 Merlin very low at the B&B and a single Peregrine also at the B&B. Non-raptor Observations: A big highlight of the afternoon was a Great Blue Heron, apparently flying with the TVs, but actually, lower down and headed for the pond opposite our position at the B&B. Flocks of Eastern Bluebirds were flying at the B&B as well as Am. Crow, Am. Robin, and Am. Goldfinch plus Red-winged Blackbirds. A few Am. Pipits were heard and seen flying over at the B&B as well. Other observers reported a variety of passerines along the road including Downy and Red-bellied Woodpecker, N. Flicker, Tufted Titmouse, Black-capped Chickadee, White- and red-breasted Nuthatches, Ruby- and Golden-crowned Kinglets, Hermit Thrush, White-throated and Song Sparrows, YR Warbler and Brown-headed Cowbirds. Along the cliff were the usual Ring-billed and Herring Gulls. On the insect front, there were still many midges closer to the bushes and shrubs (and therefore, on the knoll as well!!), plus 1 Monarch sighting and several Clouded Sulphurs. Predictions: The forecast is cold and wet with an overnight low of 1 C., feeling like -4C, and possible rain / snow. That's SNOW!! There is a probability of rain / snow showers throughout tomorrow and highs reaching only 5 C., but with strong NW winds, feeling more like 0 to 2 C. Sounds like great Golden Eagle weather ! And Sunday may be interesting as well IF the winds stay mostly NW then it could bring even more birds down to the hawkwatch area. ======================================================================== 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
