Holiday Beach Migration Observatory
Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 22, 2004
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Turkey Vulture 703 10766 12002
Osprey 1 12 81
Bald Eagle 0 13 43
Northern Harrier 3 51 238
Sharp-shinned Hawk 12 1541 5261
Cooper's Hawk 1 164 249
Northern Goshawk 0 4 4
Red-shouldered Hawk 13 94 100
Broad-winged Hawk 0 1 27843
Red-tailed Hawk 88 603 821
Rough-legged Hawk 6 16 16
Golden Eagle 0 2 2
American Kestrel 0 146 1366
Merlin 0 24 57
Peregrine Falcon 0 5 15
Unknown 7 61 99
Total: 834 13503 48197
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 14:00:00
Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Bob Pettit, Jim McCoy
Observers: Brian Barker, Carol Pitts, Claude Radley, Donna Bedard,
Ed Pitts, Jim McCoy
Weather:
no precipitation; 100% clouds; 13 C; R.H. 72-76%; 30.15 mm Hg avg.; wind
ENE to E to ESE to E to ENE @ 4-7 mph.
Observations:
Movement was slow. Birds not looking crisp with gray sky. Contrast poor.
Red-tails and vultures generally moved north along the eastern woods and
followed northern tree line. At times vultures were 'thick' at limit of 20
power scope north of site. They were even north of the highway 20 at
Malden Centre. A small kettle of 8 RT crossed over the tower as did a late
Rough-legged Hawk. Some birds were at the limit of vision overhead.
One Dark Morph Red-tail was counted. It passed north and near the tower.
Many of the distant Rough-legged Hawks would stop in forward flight and
turn to face eastward and hover for 30 seconds and then wheel to the west
and continue for 50-100 feet and again turn eastward, hover, and wheel
westward again. This behavior might consist of 3-4 hovering events by a
single bird.
Observers were greeted by the remains of a Pied-billed Grebe at the top of
the tower floor and railing. Perhaps the leftovers of a late dinning
Peregrine Falcon of yesterday. Wing feathers still attached to their bones
and one foot were the only clues to the identity of this meal.
One large flock of 40 Rusty Blackbirds seen for 10-15 minutes perched in
several small trees south and eye-level to the tower. Some were calling
their 'rusty hinge' song.
Predictions:
Wind from 090° at 10 kts (19 km/h); Visibility greater than (9.7
km); Broken ceiling at 4000 ft
>From (02:00 AM EDT): Wind from 120° at 10 kts (19 km/h); Visibility
greater than (9.7 km); Scattered clouds at 4000 ft
Becoming from (09:00 AM EDT) to (11:00 AM EDT): Wind from 120° at (19
km/h) gusting to (37 km/h)
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Report submitted by Bob Pettit ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
Holiday Beach Migration Observatory information may be found at:
http://hbmo.org/
