Holiday Beach Migration Observatory
Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 17, 2004
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Turkey Vulture 2 7 7
Osprey 3 43 43
Bald Eagle 0 9 9
Northern Harrier 17 109 109
Sharp-shinned Hawk 354 1444 1444
Cooper's Hawk 21 31 31
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0
Broad-winged Hawk 2977 3092 3092
Red-tailed Hawk 12 30 30
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 297 570 570
Merlin 2 23 23
Peregrine Falcon 0 3 3
Unknown 1 7 7
Total: 3686 5368 5368
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Observation start time: 06:30:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 9.5 hours
Official Counter: Bob Pettit, Tom Hince
Observers: Chuck Sharbaugh, Cindy Isenhoff, Jim McCoy,
Mike Fitzpatrick, Olga Klekner, Tom Hince, none
Visitors:
Those who forgot to come to the tower on a north wind lost out on a great
day.
Those that helped count are listed in the 'observer' section for each
hour.
Weather:
In a word: "Cold"! Temperature 17 C; North northeast wind 8-12 mph gust to
15 mph. 100% cloud cover. Two layers at first then only high stratus and
cirrocumulus. 28 km visibility.
Observations:
Sharpies and Kestrels generally moved east to west in straight-like lines
of flight.
Broad-wings didn't. Low ones moved from the eastern shore before the tree
line and veered northward following the trees to the tree line south of
the east-west highway on the northern horizon. Some of these might cut
over the 'trout pond' and over Big Creek Marsh to the northwest.
High BWs from the east shore would mostly cross overhead or just north of
the tower on a NW direction. 50% of the arriving groups (5-100 birds) came
from the Southeast or South OFF OF THE WATER. One large group (180 birds)
were sighted directly south of the tower moving parallel to the shore.
They were only seen with binocs and were at an angle of 50 degrees. These
birds continued westward at the same altitude until not visible in 8.5A
binocs.
The flight paths of the majority of BWs northward in such strong winds had
not been seen by me before. The off-the-lake flight paths have been
recorded before.
What a day!
The banding station netted and banded many warbler species. A great find
was a hatch year female Whip-poor-will!
Warblers were in the trees about the park.
Predictions:
North winds. Hopefully not as speedy. Bring some warm outer clothing. :-)
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Report submitted by Bob Pettit ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
Holiday Beach Migration Observatory information may be found at:
http://hbmo.org/
