Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch
Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 16, 2011
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 0 0 2
Osprey 10 74 89
Bald Eagle 34 64 64
Northern Harrier 55 267 300
Sharp-shinned Hawk 333 3068 3101
Cooper's Hawk 7 28 28
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0
Broad-winged Hawk 49830 57242 57275
Red-tailed Hawk 6 7 10
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 256 1692 1790
Merlin 2 19 29
Peregrine Falcon 3 6 6
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0
Unknown Buteo 0 0 0
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 0 0
Swainson's Hawk 1 1 1
Total: 50537 62468 62695
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Observation start time: 06:00:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 10 hours
Official Counter: Colin Horstead, Jennifer Lyon, Keith Sealy
Observers: Clive Hodder, Colin Horstead, Dave Weare, Derek Lyon,
Don Taylor, Jennifer Lyon, Jim Dunn, Jim Landau, Kathy,
Keith Sealy, Lucas Forrester, Mac McAlpine,
Mark Cunningham, Mary Carnahan, Matt Oswald,
Ronnie Goodhand, Tom Bolohan, Tom Thomas
Visitors:
Lots of visitors today...got a few names ...Joe Ventura (Mississauga),
Lucas Forrester (London), Sandra and Frank Horvath and Roger and Jane
Harvey. Thanks to Colin H., Keith S. and Jennifer L. the official counters
today (a tough job on such a busy day)...and to the many observers...Clive
H. Dave W., Derek L., Don Taylor, Jim D., Jim L., Kathy, Lucas F., Mac
McA., Mark C., Mary C., Matt O., Ronnie G., Tom B. and Tom T. (and
apologies if I missed anyone guys).
Weather:
A beautiful sky to start the count at the hawkwatch today with lots of
sunshine. Clouds built up throughout the day and by midafternoon half the
sky was covered making viewing much easier. Winds were primarily moderate
from the NW till around noon then switched W, then S and finally to SE
(which likely pushed the flight inland away from the cliff site) Temps
ranged from 8C to 15C by 9:00 am.
Raptor Observations:
After my prediction last night I thought I may have jinxed today's
flight...but I needn't have worried. The Broadwings came through big time
with an excellent flight and brought along some other interesting migrants
with them.
The counters / observers I talked to tonight said it was one of the best
observing days they've ever had of a large BW flight with the majority of
the birds moving through in just a few hours. There was an absolute river
of raptors from the east to the west with kettles easily visible even to
the naked eye. In one hour alone they tallied 21,433 raptors...which works
out to just over 350 birds per minute crossing the hawkwatch area!
The total for today was 50,537...the bulk of which was obviously BW's
(49,830). Of these, a lone DARK Broadwing was observed...a rare sighting
and seldom if ever observed in the Hawk Cliff area (though I know there's
been some observed and even photographed at the Beamer Hawkwatch in the
spring).
Another highlight was a single LIGHT juvenile Swainson's Hawk...a bird
that stands out from the crowd with much longer and tapered wings than the
Broadwings. This was the first Swainson's Hawk for this season at Hawk
Cliff.
Other species made a decent showing as well with Osprey (10), Bald Eagle
(34), Northern Harrier (55), Sharpies (333), Redtails (6), Kestrels (256),
Merlin (2) and even Peregrine (3) (one which was spotted dive bombing
several other birds and sending feathers flying).
Non-raptor Observations:
Visitors and regulars reported many fall migrants today including four new
species for this fall. These were Northern Mockingbird, Wood Thrush,
Ruby-crowned Kinglet and and Eastern Meadowlark flying westward along the
cliff in the early hours this morning. A Great Horned Owl (not new, but
very rarely spotted) and Eastern Bluebirds were the early birds today,
followed by lots of Warblers, Vireos and Flycatchers.
Warblers were much the same as yesterday with the only addition being a
male adult Wilson's spotted near the ravine around mid-afternoon during a
brief period of full sunshine . Blackpolls continue to be spotted in many
locations up and down the road.
Vireo sightings today included Blue-headed, Red-eyed, Philadelphia,
Yellow-throated and Warbling. Flycatchers were easily found today in
several locations and included Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Wood-peewee, Great
Crested, Olive-sided and Yellow-bellied.
Woodpecker action was noticeable in various locations up and down the road
again today with sightings of Pileated (a pair), Hairy (2), Downy
(numerous), Red-bellied (also numerous) and an obvious influx of Northern
Flickers which were in abundance near the cliff, along Hawk Cliff Rd and
Barnum's Gully Rd just east of Hawk Cliff.
Another Fiery Skipper (butterfly) was spotted this afternoon in the
goldenrod along the cliff.
Predictions:
There is currently a high pressure system pushing its way into Ontario and
it will be pretty much centred over the region tonight and through
tomorrow. Unfortunately, this will mean lighter winds and (if predictions
hold) from the E. This isn't the worst wind direction...as long as the
birds have already been pushed down to the lakeshore over the previous 3
days of northerly winds. The only other problem with this wind direction is
that they tend to get VERY high on easterly winds making observing
difficult!
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Report submitted by Dave Brown ([email protected])
Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch information may be found at:
http://www.ezlink.on.ca/~thebrowns/HawkCliff/index.htm
_______________________________________________
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial
birding organization.
Send bird reports to [email protected]
For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
