Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 11, 2015 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 47 383 24747 Osprey 0 1 124 Bald Eagle 0 14 164 Northern Harrier 1 23 990 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 35 8379 Cooper's Hawk 0 10 219 Northern Goshawk 0 0 7 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 27 328 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 13000 Red-tailed Hawk 63 533 2333 Rough-legged Hawk 0 2 4 Golden Eagle 0 13 71 American Kestrel 0 1 1935 Merlin 0 3 92 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 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: 113 1045 52469 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 14:00:00 Total observation time: 5 hours Official Counter: Mary Carnahan Observers: Ernie Gribble, Keith Sealy Visitors: No visitors. Weather: After yesterdays all-day rain, today was a welcome relief with very comfortable temperatures (for late fall) ranging from 8 C. to 13 C by the end of the watch and although a thick layer of haze obscured the sky, there was actually plenty of sunshine. We couldnt always see it, but we could feel it. Winds were mainly SW and light (8 11 km / hr). Raptor Observations: Unfortunately, todays weather conditions were not conducive to raptor migration, with almost no count from 9:00 - 11:30 AM, by which time we had abandoned the Cliff and moved to our auxillary site at Yarmouth Ridge where there was a steady flow for close to 2 hours, then . . . nothing! Our total count was a meager 113 birds of which the majority were Red-tailed Hawks (63), followed by Turkey Vultures (47). Most of those were spotted at the Ridge and when that flight path dried up, we moved back southward, ending up back down at the B&B where we had a few last TVs, 1 Northern Harrier, and a few more Red-tails. Other species seen today were 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk and 1 Red-shouldered Hawk, plus a Coopers Hawk found hunting in Hawk Cliff Woods this morning. Non-raptor Observations: Fortunately, the weather conditions were very conducive to passerine activity at the Cliff in the 2.5 hours we put in with almost no raptor sightings. Just north of the knoll were many Cedar Waxwings as well as a large flock of Eastern Bluebirds. In the same area were 4 of todays 5 Woodpecker species including Pileated, Downy (several), Hairy and Red-bellied Woodpeckers; a Northern Flicker was seen flying across the field. Near Sharpie Alley, one observer found 2 Yellow-rumped Warblers and 1 Blackpoll Warbler foraging along the roadside with more Waxwings, Am. Goldfinches, Northern Cardinals, B. C. Chickadees, assorted sparrows, Am. Robins and a couple of Blue Jays. Up and down Hawk Cliff Rd, observers reported 4 Sparrow species (Song, White-throated which are still in abundance, Am. Tree and a late Chipping Sparrow) plus numerous Dark-eyed Juncos and a single Eastern Towhee. Along the Cliff observers spotted a small flock of Sandhill Cranes; Canada Geese and Mallards were also spotted flying near the Cliff. In other locations today (B&B, Ridge) we found both White-breasted and Red-breasted Nuthatch, a flock of Red-winged Blackbirds, Am. Robin, Am. Crow and the usual Starlings. Including a few other usuals observers tallied 31 dickiebird species. To top that off, observers at the Ridge saw 2 Clouded Sulphurs (butterflies) and a Meadowhawk Dragonfly! Predictions: Overnight we are expecting some rain showers and a balmy low of 6 C., followed by rain showers on Thursday with very high SW winds, possibly reaching 55 km / hr. This is not a great forecast for raptor migration at Hawk Cliff which unfortunately has been our most consistent forecast this season. More bad news for Friday very high winds from the WSW with rain showers. But keep an eye on Saturday ======================================================================== 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
