Holiday Beach Conservation Area
Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 09, 2010
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Turkey Vulture 2221 15879 16959
Osprey 2 15 123
Bald Eagle 5 24 121
Northern Harrier 34 127 464
Sharp-shinned Hawk 224 2216 7831
Cooper's Hawk 17 101 201
Northern Goshawk 0 2 2
Red-shouldered Hawk 11 51 52
Broad-winged Hawk 1 645 16127
Red-tailed Hawk 50 265 453
Rough-legged Hawk 1 2 2
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 25 278 1379
Merlin 0 14 87
Peregrine Falcon 3 15 40
Unknown Accipiter 0 1 2
Unknown Buteo 0 2 5
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 1 2 2
Mississippi Kite 0 0 1
Total: 2595 19639 43851
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Observation start time: 07:00:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 9 hours
Official Counter: Bob Pettit
Observers: Claude Radley, Donald Pye, Jim Law, Randy Holland,
Rayfield Pye
Visitors:
Many local camping folks enjoying the Thanksgiving weekend. Tara Maxim and
Kyle Brown, students in Dr. Dan Mennill's ornithology class, enjoyed their
outing. Two once a year Lansing birders, Jane Gamble and Diane Newman.
Thanks to Jim Law, Donald and Rayfield Pye (both from Cranberry Marsh Hawk
Watch on annual pilgrimage to HBCA) for their help in spotting and
counting. Without their eyes the count would be one forth the total noted.
Weather:
Variable winds moving west clockwise (veering wind) to south and then
settling on southeast. Southeast wind began at 1 PM local time and remained
to the end at 5 PM local time. THE SKY WAS BLUE! Not a cloud until 4:30
local time when a small mass was generated north of the tower in the path
where most migrants passed in the afternoon. SEE BELOW for comment on sky
and counting birds. Temperature 15-19C early and 21-22 in afternoon.
Pressure steady. Excellent visibility on the level plane.
Raptor Observations:
The sky was blue all day. Not a dark blue but a lighter shade that had the
effect of "hiding" various sized birds and flocks at different altitudes.
Only the skilled and younger eyes were able to discover many of the birds
today. I must admit that one of the four observers in the afternoon and the
official counter (me) had trouble finding and seeing these hidden birds. I
am most grateful for the assistance in finding and identifying hawks today.
I have a genuine appreciation for good eyesight and the helpfulness of the
observers today. THANK YOU ALL!
Non-raptor Observations:
Many species were moving.C. Swifts-75 (early AM only); P-b Grebe-4; B-c
Night-heron-4; Killdeer; both yellowlegs; Solitary Sandpiper; variety of
ducks; C. Nighthawk-5;R-bellied Woodpecker-1; A. Crow-171; R-b Nuthatch-3;
Kinglet species-12; A.Robin-2; C. Waxwing-15; Tennessee Warbler-1; N.
Cardinal-5; W-t & W-c Sparrow-12 each; D-e Junco-2; R-w Blackbird-3,000; C.
grackle-100; blackbird species-2,000 Pine Siskin-25; A Goldfinch-209; House
Sparrow-2; E. Starling-12,000; Blue Jay-41,000; Monarch Butterfly-1;
Buckeye Butterfly-6.
Predictions:
Clear overnight with light and variable winds. Sunday mostly sunny through
mid morning, then becoming partly sunny. A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms during the afternoon (20%). High in mid-70s. Light and
variable winds becoming west 5 to 15 mph then turning to northwest. With a
few clouds the birds will be easier to see!
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Report submitted by Bob Pettit ([email protected])
Holiday Beach Migration Observatory information may be found at:
http://hbmo.org/
_______________________________________________
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial
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