After the great hawk flights reported yesterday at most Ontario Hawk
watches and with west winds we thought today's flight would be
disappointing. Instead a steady flight of Sharp-shinned Hawks [218] and
American Kestrels [86] put on a great show for the 29 visitors. The 13
Merlins almost doubled our previous high count. Twelve Osprey, 6 Bald
Eagles and 1 Peregrine rounded out the 910 individuals of 10 species. The
eagles and a couple of kettles of Broad-winged Hawks [500+] sailed by to
far to the north of us to be seen without the aid of binoculars.
Besides the hawks, there were small flights of American Goldfinch [183],
Blue Jay [299] and Ruby-throated Hummingbird [16]. Others flyby migrants
included Purple Finch, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and several flights of Tree
Swallows.
There was a huge flight of 100s of Monarchs that increased throughout the
morning.
Hundreds of Common Terns and Bonaparte's Gulls were loafing on the beach
with perhaps a dozen Caspian Terns. We couldn't pick out any Little Gulls
today.
Migration watches will be held on the next 3 Sundays. On Thanksgiving
weekend there will also be a watch on the Saturday. All watches are from
0900 - 1200. There is a park entry fee.
To reach Port Burwell exit Hwy 401 at Hwy 19 [Plank Road], the easternmost
Ingersoll exit and drive south through Tillsonburg to Port Burwell. The
park is on the west side of Big Otter Creek where it empties into Lake
Erie. The migration watch takes place at Parking Lot # 5 in the beach
parking lots.
Dave Martin, Linda Wladarski, Ross Snider
Harrietsville, ON
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
