Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 20, 2015 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 405 20166 20677 Osprey 0 5 122 Bald Eagle 0 61 119 Northern Harrier 4 398 842 Sharp-shinned Hawk 6 3380 7815 Cooper's Hawk 0 91 155 Northern Goshawk 0 4 4 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 150 152 Broad-winged Hawk 0 59 12999 Red-tailed Hawk 0 827 888 Rough-legged Hawk 0 1 1 Golden Eagle 0 6 6 American Kestrel 2 309 1914 Merlin 1 25 80 Peregrine Falcon 1 32 76 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: 419 25514 45850 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:30:00 Observation end time: 12:30:00 Total observation time: 4 hours Official Counter: Mary Carnahan Observers: Cary Graham, Don Campbell, Don Taylor, Keith Sealy Visitors: None. Weather: A beautiful morning for bird watching at Hawk Cliff we had balmy temps, moderate to strong winds from the WSW pumping in all that warm air, but at 25 km / hr, the wind was brisk along the cliff. However, on the roadside, in the fields and woods, observers enjoyed a really nice fall day. The temperature to start was 13 C. rising to 18 C by 12:30. We had lots of sunshine throughout the morning, but thick cloud began to build around 11:30 and by 12:30 we were pretty much socked in, just as we were yesterday. With rain in the forecast and the migrants slowing to a trickle, we closed up shop at 12:30 PM, having spent the last half hour at the B&B. Raptor Observations: We tallied a total of 419 birds this morning consisting mainly of Turkey Vultures, which got up and moving late in the first hour, picking up between 9 and 10 AM, but nothing like the hundreds per hour recorded yesterday. Observers stayed at the observation knoll, though, and its likely that TVs were heading west farther up Fairview Rd and that we were unable to see them, as werent getting much altitude staying low out of the wind, tacking across the treeline as necessary to battle the wind. In the end, we tallied a total of 5 Raptor Species, including 4 Northern Harriers, 6 Sharp-shinned Hawks, 2 Am. Kestrels, 1 Merlin and 1 Peregrine dor a total of only 14 migratory raptors. The Peregrine was especially exciting. It appeared in the bite, then kited for at least 2 minutes above the field, slowly inching towards the treeline where the knoll is situated. The bird was smallish for a Peregrine, so probably male, but so far, only a dark silhouette. Without a wing beat, the Peregrine suddenly veered northward, and zoomed up the field, disappearing over the treeline to the north --- awwwww! This occurred at about 9:55 AM. About 2 minutes later the bird shot out of the treeline to the north and blasted down the field -- still not a wing beat -- then it resumed kiting right in front of the knoll. It actually cocked its head and checked us out, then zoomed across the knoll and headed west -- just one more tally mark on the sheet. And it was a juvenile. Many thanks to Don C. for hauling out the scope and counting all those distant TVs for 4 hours. Thanks also to Don T., Keith and Cary G. for their assistance on the knoll their non-raptor sightings as well. Non-raptor Observations: Even though it is late October, we managed to find 32 non-raptor birds today, including many of the usual species Northern Cardinal, Black-capped Chickadee, Ring-billed & Herring Gull, Mourning Dove, Rock Pigeon, House Sparrow, European Starling, Canada Goose, Blue Jay, Am. Crow, Am. Robin, Am. Goldfinch. Also usual but also interesting were 4 Woodpecker species spotted today; these were Pileated, Downy & Red-bellied Woodpecker plus several Northern Flickers, Eastern Phoebe, Cedar Waxwing (many including young), Eastern Bluebirds in flocks headed west, and mobs of Ruby-crowned Kinglets. In addition, we had 4 Sparrow species (White-throated mobs, White-crowned mainly juveniles, Song Sparrow and 1 Lincolns Sparrow plus Dark-eyed Junco and Eastern Towhee. Throughout the 3.5 hours we spent on the knoll, there was constant traffic in the trees and shrubs around us, mainly Yellow-rumped Warblers, but a closer look also revealed at least 2 Blackpoll and 1 Orange-crowned (Warblers) and in the woods a single Nashville was seen. As well, Hermit Thrush were found in the willows near Sharpie Alley and observers reported 4 Common Loons as well as a flock of 8 Mallards, plus 2 flocks of Killdeer during the last half hour at the B&B, totaling 25 birds. Topping of the passerine sightings were the butterflies 4 Monarchs, at least half a dozen each of Cabbage White and Orange Sulphur, and a few Clouded Sulphurs as well. At the knoll, observers also spotted a small variety of Bees, 1 Green Darner, plus Woolly Bear and Tussock Caterpillars. And of course multitudes of midges in all the shrubs, in the woods, on the knoll, etc., etc., etc. Predictions: At present the forecast is for southerly winds tomorrow, ranging from 15 km / hr in the morning to 25 km / hr in the afternoon and at least a 40% chance of rain throughout the day. This is not a great forecast for migratory raptors or even TVs! Things are looking way better for Thursday with NW winds to 25 km / hr and some sunshine although maybe a few showers. Friday could be interesting as well, with NE winds and lots of sunshine. ======================================================================== 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
