Holiday Beach Conservation Area
Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 25, 2015
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Turkey Vulture 1587 46549 48004
Osprey 1 13 80
Bald Eagle 5 60 164
Northern Harrier 18 311 633
Sharp-shinned Hawk 37 3177 8021
Cooper's Hawk 4 120 174
Northern Goshawk 0 1 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 21 197 200
Broad-winged Hawk 0 152 16636
Red-tailed Hawk 59 468 571
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 1 7 7
American Kestrel 1 422 1516
Merlin 0 20 57
Peregrine Falcon 0 24 42
Unknown Accipiter 0 6 13
Unknown Buteo 4 52 78
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Falcon 0 0 2
Unknown Raptor 0 10 22
Swainson's Hawk 0 0 1
Total: 1738 51589 76222
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Observation start time: 07:30:00
Observation end time: 14:15:00
Total observation time: 6.75 hours
Official Counter: Cindy Isenhoff
Observers: Cramer, Dan Lumm, Dorothy McLeer, Jim McCoy,
Michael Williamson
Visitors:
The promise of North winds brought some devoted regulars out ready for the
Golden Eagles we hoped for. Visiting today were: Dan Lumm and sister
Paula, Mike Williamson, Steve G who brought a friend, Dorothy McLeer, Jim
McCoy, and Ralph. Several other visitor came out to enjoy the nice day,
but didn't stay long.
Weather:
A beautiful October morning dawned with Northwest winds and clear skies
after yesterday's less than perfect hawk watching weather. Temps started
at 9.4C and rose steadily all day to 14.5C making the tower quite
comfortable. Winds during the first 4 hours of the count were NW, but
changed to W, and then South quickly in the 11 o'clock hour. The birds
responded by moving inland. An almost cloudless sky meant searching for
the hawks in the "great blue sea" of sky.
Raptor Observations:
9 species were represented today, including an Osprey that flew in and
spent the day in the marsh fishing and eating, and one distant Golden Eagle
who almost snuck past us. Thanks to Mike scanning the western sky for
pioking up this bird. Red-shouldered and Red-tailed Hawks continue to move
with the Turkey Vulture kettles. Notably absent today were the Falcons.
Only one loan American Kestrel was counted late in the day.
Non-raptor Observations:
Many ducks were present in the marsh this morning, and they continued to
build in numbers throughout the day. Two Tundra Swans flew in this morning
to join the ducks and Mute Swans. One Belted Kingfisher is still active
over the small pond east of the tower. American Crows are continuing in
large numbers with 3500 counted today. Some Blue Jays still moving through
but less than 500 today. Red-winged Blackbirds counted were 585. 4
Sparrow species were noted around the tower today: Swamp, American Tree,
Song and White Throated. Grackles, Cedar Waxwings, American Goldfinch, and
Pine Siskins were moving thru in small groups of 5-25.
Predictions:
Mostly sunny with winds from the SSW, temps will raise to about 15C. Get
out and enjoy the beautiful weather while we have it!
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Report submitted by Cindy Isenhoff ([email protected])
Holiday Beach Conservation Area information may be found at:
http://hbmo.ca/
_______________________________________________
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