Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 30, 2015 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 519 24883 Osprey 0 1 124 Bald Eagle 3 28 178 Northern Harrier 2 60 1027 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 46 8390 Cooper's Hawk 0 18 227 Northern Goshawk 0 0 7 Red-shouldered Hawk 3 62 363 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 13000 Red-tailed Hawk 79 1302 3102 Rough-legged Hawk 1 11 13 Golden Eagle 2 23 81 American Kestrel 0 3 1937 Merlin 0 4 93 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: 90 2077 53501 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 14:00:00 Total observation time: 5 hours Official Counter: Mary Carnahan Observers: Jim Dunn, Keith Sealy Visitors: None. Weather: What a beautiful day for the end of November! The temperature soared to 6 C. by afternoon and we had plenty of sunshine all day long. Winds were ENE to start, then swung round to E, which is not our favourite for hawk watching at Hawk Cliff, but the sunshine and mild temps made up for that. Raptor Observations: Todays flight was a bit disappointing after yesterdays triple-digits; still, we counted 6 species of migratory raptor including both Bald (3) and Golden (2) Eagles. As well, Red-tailed Hawks (79) comprised the bulk of today's total of 90. In addition we tallied 2 Northern Harriers (one early in the first hour, the second being the last bird of the day), 3 Red-shouldered Hawks and a single light morph Rough-legged Hawk (1), also early in the first hour. The Bald Eagles that we counted were 3 out of 4 observed today. An adult was seen flying eastward from the water tower and was not counted. The other 3 were all juveniles that flew together, performing stunts all the way chasing each other, grabbing at each other with their talons, etc. Based on several factors, not the least of which was that they were headed west, we included them in todays count. The Goldens were also juvenile eagles, the first flying to the north of our morning position at the B&B At about 11:00 AM we moved south, following the flight path which had shifted closer to Sharpie Alley, (about 600 m south). The second Golden Eagle rose out of the tree line opposite our position and flew at tree-top level, exiting the field right through the laneway overhead. Wow! What a way to end the season!! Non-raptor Observations: Things were very quiet this morning along Hawk Cliff Rd despite the mild temperatures and abundant sunshine resulting in very few species observed. However, we did manage to find Am. Tree Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Black-capped Chickadee, Am. Goldfinch, Blue Jay, Am. Crow, Red-bellied and Hairy Woodpecker. Numerous Ring-billed Gulls were seen along with a few Mallards and a Great Blue Heron headed for local ponds plus a flock of Sandhill Cranes and another of Tundra Swans. Out of desperation, we also looked at some Rock Pigeons and a mob of House Sparrows at the feeders at Dexter Ln / HC Rd. Predictions: None. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Mary Carnahan ([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
