Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch
Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 22, 2016
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 5845 14840 15032
Osprey 1 14 94
Bald Eagle 27 74 165
Northern Harrier 18 170 471
Sharp-shinned Hawk 274 1326 3258
Cooper's Hawk 20 65 96
Northern Goshawk 1 1 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 20 117 117
Broad-winged Hawk 0 11 6804
Red-tailed Hawk 90 323 379
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 2 14 14
American Kestrel 15 219 1122
Merlin 3 23 68
Peregrine Falcon 2 36 56
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: 6318 17233 27677
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Observation start time: 07:00:00
Observation end time: 14:00:00
Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Bob Johnstone
Observers: Chris Burris, Dave Brown, Ernie Gribble, Jason McGuire,
Jim Dunn, Joe Abela, Keith Sealy, Mac McAlpine,
Mike Street, Paul Thomas, Phil Waggett, Richard Skevington,
Ronnie Goodhand, Winston Celik
Visitors:
Lots of folks out to visit the hawkwatch today... including Ed Juurlink and
Bruce Campbell so a big thanks to them along with the many others... Jim,
Joe, Mac, Keith, Ronnie, Phil, Chris, Ernie, Richard, Mike, Paul, Jason,
Don and our official counter for the day Bob.
Weather:
An interesting day weather wise today with a typical lake effect of
moisture blowing down on the strong NW winds today from Lake Huron. If it'd
been a bit colder it may well have been snow! What started out as a
beautiful sunny day with a few clouds eventually socked in solid with
overcast and eventually light rain effectively shutting down the count for
the day. Temp started quite cool at just 5C and never got above 9C. Winds
were strong from the NW at over 35 kph and gusting higher.
Raptor Observations:
Well it could've been even better if the overcast and rain hadn't moved in.
Even so, the strong NW winds ensured that whatever birds were in the air
were pushed down to the lakeshore and past the hawkwatch area.
A great flight today with a total of 6318 birds tallied...and of 13
species...missing out only on a Broadwing and Roughie....which is why
October is such a great month to visit the hawkwatch!
The bulk of today's flight was as expected TVs (5845) in a near continuous
stream just to our north above the ravine and Dexter Line direction. Other
nice highlights included a few adult male N. Harriers...a quick flyby at
treetop level of a Peregrine followed by a Merlin and then shortly after
another Peregrine! And right along that same flight path was a VERY LOW N.
Goshawk ... our first of the season.
We did get a couple of Golden Eagles... one up high and north in cruise
mode westbound. The other literally snuck in with a TV as a sidekick and
wasn't noticed till it was almost on top of us not 100 ft up! It had no
white patches in the wings at all but did display white across the tail
deck as it turned above us. This is why we refer to them as "stealth
eagles" and why we have to always check every TV that passes by. :)
All in all a good day despite the deteriorating weather.
Non-raptor Observations:
Some good birds on the passerine front as well today with several small
flocks of Purple Finch (some which landed in the trees above the
observation knoll), lots of Am. Crows on the move along with several flocks
of blackbirds...Red-wings, Starlings and a few Rusty's, E. Bluebirds, WT
Sparrow (lots singing), GC kinglets, E. Phoebe, WC Sparrow, Tennessee
Warbler, Common Loons (sev.), Brown Creeper, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Am.
Pipit, a late Tree Swallow, Hermit Thrush, several flocks of Horned Larks
and several N. flickers.
Predictions:
The start of the new week is looking more promising with predicted moderate
NW winds and a mix of sun and cloud. Almost certainly, there'll be birds on
the move and it'll be a good chance for more Golden Eagles. Keep in mind
that the peak dates for Golden Eagles at Hawk Cliff is at the end of
October and into the first week of November.
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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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