Holiday Beach Conservation Area Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 23, 2011 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Turkey Vulture 826 20380 20947 Osprey 0 44 199 Bald Eagle 0 21 166 Northern Harrier 23 316 698 Sharp-shinned Hawk 46 5517 12331 Cooper's Hawk 15 388 743 Northern Goshawk 0 1 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 6 53 53 Broad-winged Hawk 0 937 43431 Red-tailed Hawk 27 283 357 Rough-legged Hawk 0 4 4 Golden Eagle 2 16 17 American Kestrel 3 3334 4800 Merlin 0 37 124 Peregrine Falcon 0 32 70 Unknown Accipiter 0 32 44 Unknown Buteo 3 23 28 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 1 6 Unknown Raptor 0 6 14 Swainson's Hawk 0 1 2 Total: 951 31426 84035 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:30:00 Observation end time: 14:30:00 Total observation time: 7 hours Official Counter: Cindy Isenhoff Observers: Cramer, Dan Lumm, Jim McCoy, Stephen Kolbe Visitors: With the gate locked today visitors were few. I brought with me Robert Cameron, Ken (from Okemos) and Cramer. Thanks guys for all the help spotting the birds. Robert a seasoned birder added to his life list today with the 2 Golden Eagles, and Ken to his with the Northern Shovelers. Weather: Overall a beautiful fall day with mostly sunny skies throughout the day. Temps ranged from 10.7C in the morning up to 15.4C. The morning was a bit hazey clearing by the 9 o'clock hour. Winds were very light most of the day, but began and ended with southerly and westerly components pushing the birds far north of the tower and difficult to count. Raptor Observations: Only 8 species of Raptors today with Turkey Vultures outnumbering everything else 20 fold. Our hightlight of the day came in the noon hour when we had 2 immature Golden Eagles move thru with some of the Turkey Vultures. Today was also a day of Male Northern Harriers with 9 making their way across the marsh! Love to see those Gray Ghosts. Most birds were far north of the tower and high making observation difficult. Non-raptor Observations: The marsh was filled with ducks this morning. American Coots outnumbered everything else put together--approx 700 birds. Other ducks/water/shore birds noted were: Mallard-12, Wood Duck-8, Blue-winged Teal-9, Northern Pintail-10, Gadwall-22, American Wigeon-8, Northern Shoveler-2, Double-crested Cormorant-95, Belted King Fisher-3,Pied-billed Grebe-6, Great Blue Heron-7, Great Egret-4, Mute Swan, Canada Goose-40, Caspian Tern-4, Bonaparte's Gull-4, Greater Yellow legs-1, Killdeer-8. In addition there were American Crows moving in numbers--3890; and some Blue Jays--360. Black birds, mostly Red-winged were also moving in force with approx 550 counted. The Monarchs seemed to be "everywhere" today....at least 50 counted. Other birds observed today: White Throated Sparrow, White Crowned Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Dark Eyed Junco, Tree Swallow, American Gold Finch (over 125), Cedar Waxwing, Ruby- crowned Kinglet, American Robin, Northern Cardinal, & Downy Woodpecker. Predictions: Rain overnight with some lingering showers in the morning for tomorrow. Bright sun in the afternoon with west winds. Looks like the day has possiblilities. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Cindy Isenhoff ([email protected]) Holiday Beach Migration Observatory information may be found at: http://hbmo.org/ _______________________________________________ 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/
