Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch
Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 17, 2011
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 771 10556 10714
Osprey 0 38 181
Bald Eagle 0 43 142
Northern Harrier 16 443 929
Sharp-shinned Hawk 37 5923 11172
Cooper's Hawk 3 236 285
Northern Goshawk 0 5 5
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 30 30
Broad-winged Hawk 0 762 73018
Red-tailed Hawk 5 242 266
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 17 17
American Kestrel 17 2296 5018
Merlin 15 64 122
Peregrine Falcon 0 14 37
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 0 0 1
Total: 864 20669 101937
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 15:30:00
Total observation time: 7.5 hours
Official Counter: Colin Horstead
Observers: Eric Single, Ernie Gribble, Jim Dunn, Keith Sealy,
Mark Cunningham, Mary Carnahan, Matt Oswald, Wayne Parnall
Visitors:
A couple of visitors today...Monica and Bruce Gates (Sudbury). Thanks to
all the counters and observers today...Colin, Matt, Ernie, Eric S., Wayne,
Jim, Keith, Mark, Mary, Remi and Tim...and to the Gate's for helping as
well.
Weather:
Much brighter day today...with some cloud and lots of sun. Winds were
still very strong from the W and WSW by the end of the count. Temp ranged
from 9C to 14C.
Raptor Observations:
With the clearing weather there were birds that made a go of it today...and
the total counted was 864...with the bulk being TV's (771)...and the rest
were Harriers (16), Sharpies (37), Cooper's (3), Redtails (5), Kestrels
(17) and a nice surprise with Merlins (15).
The birds were pretty much at eye level as they fought their way westward
against the strong W winds.
It's interesting to note that the Gate's from Sudbury who arrived today
were still seeing TV's in the Sudbury area. Obviously, there's many TV's
still to come through. As well, we've hardly seen any push yet from
Redtails and Red-shoulders so there should be good flights of these species
if we get any stretch of good weather.
Unfortunately, the prime timeframe for Peregrines has come and gone...and
we've tallied just 37. It would be interesting to know what route these
birds have taken, but it's likely we won't be seeing too many more this
season.
Non-raptor Observations:
A variety of non-raptors were observed in flocks, many struggling against
the westerly winds...small flocks of Red-winged Blackbirds, Goldfinches,
and slightly larger flocks of Starlings. In the late morning, a flock of
60 or more American Crows flew across the cornfield at Sharpie Alley
although they didn't seem to be going anywhere in particular. Several
landed in the woodlot on the west side of the road, adding their voices to
the already large throng of Blue Jays taking refuge from the wind. Hermit
Thrush, White-throated Sparrows, Song Sparrows and Ruby-crowned Kinglets
were found in the bushes on either side of the gate at Sharpie Alley. More
sparrows were found in the woods as were Golden-crowned Kinglets, an
Eastern Towhee, Black-capped Chickadees, a couple of Eastern Phoebes and a
single Darke-eyed Junco. Found in several locations were Palm and
Yellow-rumped Warblers and thanks to Ernie for finding an Orange-crowned
Warbler.
Hawkwatchers also spotted a small flock of Wood Ducks, a small flock of
Killdeer (20), singles of Common Loon and also a group of 7 Loon sp. flying
past at the same time and Double-crested Cormorant, and Eastern Bluebirds
(seen summing on the wires near the B&B).
A few Monarch Butterflies were seen roosting in the low bushes on the east
side of the treeline at the Cliff, while others were spotted as they
struggled to make their way westward. Also seen today were Orange and
Clouded Sulphurs and a Red Admiral. Several Meadowhawk dragonflies were
seen flying among the weeds at the B&B as well as at the Alley where a few
Darners and a single Black Saddlebags were seen.
Predictions:
Tomorrow's weather looks promising with predicted sun and cloud and
moderate W winds. We cna get very good flights on W winds, especially after
a few days of rotten weather like we've had.
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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
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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/
