Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch
Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 30, 2015
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 231 23853 24364
Osprey 0 6 123
Bald Eagle 6 92 150
Northern Harrier 23 523 967
Sharp-shinned Hawk 26 3909 8344
Cooper's Hawk 4 145 209
Northern Goshawk 0 7 7
Red-shouldered Hawk 9 299 301
Broad-winged Hawk 0 60 13000
Red-tailed Hawk 127 1739 1800
Rough-legged Hawk 0 2 2
Golden Eagle 8 58 58
American Kestrel 0 329 1934
Merlin 0 34 89
Peregrine Falcon 0 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: 434 31088 51424
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 15:30:00
Total observation time: 7.5 hours
Official Counter: Matt Oswald
Observers: Don Campbell, Don Taylor, Eric Jeffery, Jim Dunn,
Mary Carnahan, Ronnie Goodhand
Visitors:
Richard Skevington, Adrian Juurlink, Sonia Marcoccia and a few others whose
names we didnt get.
Weather:
We had a typical fall day with light to moderate WNW shifting to NW wind
and plenty of cloud throughout the day, although the sun did peek through a
few times in the afternoon. Temperature was a cool 5 C. to start, but
reached 9 in the last couple of hours and the wind wasnt bad, so all in
all, a very pleasant and reasonably productive day for hawk watchers at
Hawk Cliff.
Raptor Observations:
The flight wasn't as big as it might have been had the skies opened up more
as the total was 434 for the day. TVs made up about half the count with 231
with Redtails (127) making up pretty much the other half...with Bald Eagle
(6), N. Harrier (23), Sharpies (26), Cooper's (4), Red-shoulders (9) and
the highlights Golden Eagles (8).
Non-raptor Observations:
Thanks to visitors and regular participants for their contributions to
todays non-raptor observations. Flocks were headed west from early
morning, including lots of Am. Robins and Blackbirds, the majority of which
were Red-winged Blackbirds, but there were also flocks of Brown-headed
Cowbirds and Common Grackles. As well, observers noted large flocks of
American Crows throughout the day. In addition there were flocks of
Eastern Bluebirds, American Pipits and American Goldfinches, as well as a
few smaller flocks of Blue Jays. Many individuals from these species were
also hanging around in the tree lot on the west side of Hawk Cliff Rd.
Other flocks were seen flying to and from the lake, including Tundra Swans,
Canada Geese, Mallards, Killdeer, Bonapartes Gulls and Cedar Waxwings.
Along the roadside, in the woods and species spotted in flight included 2
Common Loons, 2 Caspian Terns, 1 Tree Swallow and 1 Pileated Woodpecker.
In the bushes and trees up and down the road were Downy and Red-bellied
Woodpecker, Black-capped Chickadee, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Yellow-rumped
Warbler (few), Hermit Thrush, Northern Cardinal, Gray Catbird, plus Song,
White-throated and Fox Sparrows and many Dark-eyed Juncos.
On the insect front, several Meadowhawk butterflies were seen in the
afternoon during sunny spells as well as a few Woolly Bear caterpillars.
Predictions:
The forecast calls for cloudy skies and a low of 2 C. overnight Friday into
Saturday. There will be a 40% chance of rain on Saturday morning with
Southerly winds and that probability of rain will increase in the
afternoon. Wind will shift to Westerly overnight and into Sunday with some
sunshine. Monday, and most of the week, we will once again be under the
influence of a more Southerly flow, with the possibility of NW wind and
rain on Friday.
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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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