Hi All, A quick update from the Cliff today since the flight was again very good for early September. Total birds tallied for the day ....837 Today the bulk were Sharpies (362) with a good count of Kestrels (178) and our first hint of the Broadwing flight (191), An excellent flight of Osprey (39), and N. Harrier (47) with quite a few coming at the end of the day as the winds swung round to the SW, Other species observed included Cooper's (7), Merlin (6) and a couple of early Peregrines. The local Bald Eagles were putting on a great show today and we had 7 circling and interacting together at the same time right out in front of the count site.
The past couple of days have proved very good for non-raptor species as well...and I thank Mary Carnahan for the following report...sighitings included a juvenile RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, which brought yesterday's woodpecker species to 4. Also seen were RED-BELLIED & DOWNY WOODPECKERS and a NORTHERN FLICKER. As well, a visitor flushed a RUFFED GROUSE in the bean field on the east side of HC Rd. The warbler total so far this season is now 22 with sightings of PALM WARBLER, MAGNOLIA, CHESTNUT-SIDED, BLACK & WHITE, AM. REDSTART, NASHVILLE, WILSON'S and COMMON YELLOWTHROAT...and a couiple of highlights with a male HOODED WARBLER and BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER. SWAINSON'S TRUSH are still evident in the woods as well, and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET & BLUE-GREY GNATCATCHER were also seen today along the roadside. The amazing monarch migration continued today along with a total of 11 other butterfly species. Other than monarchs, some highlights were summer azure, eastern tailed blue, grey hairstreak, many sulphurs & cabbages, and black swallotails. The winds and weather may be less than perfect for Saturday. (though with lots of sun)....but Sunday is looking interesting with predicted NW winds with a slight chance of rain. For directions and events check out the HCF website at the following link: http://www.ezlink.ca/~thebrowns/HawkCliff/hcf_directions.htm Good birding! Dave _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
