Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch
Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 20, 2011
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 5 632 38651
Osprey 0 0 190
Bald Eagle 0 12 206
Northern Harrier 11 105 1214
Sharp-shinned Hawk 4 151 13230
Cooper's Hawk 4 39 448
Northern Goshawk 2 10 31
Red-shouldered Hawk 4 292 940
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 73020
Red-tailed Hawk 68 2442 4437
Rough-legged Hawk 0 16 25
Golden Eagle 1 59 206
American Kestrel 0 3 5090
Merlin 0 2 151
Peregrine Falcon 0 1 39
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: 99 3764 137879
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Observation start time: 09:00:00
Observation end time: 14:30:00
Total observation time: 5.5 hours
Official Counter: Dave Brown
Observers: Colin Horstead, Jim Dunn, Kathy, Keith Sealy, Mary Carnahan,
Paul Brown, Tom Stewart
Visitors:
Thanks to all of today's crew ...Dave B, Paul B, Colin, Jim, Keith, Mary,
Kathy, Tom S and BJH.
Weather:
A cloudy start to the day...with the sun eventually breaking through and
patches of blue to our north and northwest. Winds were strong from the NW
for the entire day. Temps were actually warmer in the morning starting out
at 11C and then dropping through the day to a low of 6C.
Raptor Observations:
It was a slower day than we'd hoped...especially given the good winds and
mix of sun and cloud. Total birds tallied today was 99. The bulk of
today's flight was Redtails (68)...along with Red-shoulders (4), a couple
of N. Goshawks, Sharpies (4), Cooper's Hawks (4) and N. Harriers (11)
including several males.
The only Golden Eagle of the day appeared just after 1:00 p.m. to the east
of the hawkwatch... gaining height quickly and angling directly into the NW
wind before crossing the road to our north. it was an immature looking bird
with distinct pale bars across its upperwings with small white patches
still visible in the underside of the wings and a yellow-white band across
the tail deck.
Non-raptor Observations:
Today's non-raptor highlights were found mainly at the B&B starting with an
early flock of about 20 White-winged Crossbills which flew across the field
and landed in the spruces behind the hawkwatchers where they rested for a
few minutes providing enough time for closer insepction using a spotting
scope. This is a new sighting for Hawk Cliffers for this season.
Throughout the day flocks of American Pipits, Horned Larks and Eastern
Bluebirds provided additional entertainment, while the after lunch
highlight was a very large (~ 300) flock of Snow Geese including many Blue
Morphs which flew across the field from the northeast headed southwest
towards the lake. The flock was spotted at quite a distance, giving all
observers plenty of time to watch the birds make their way across the sky.
Also of note, a Woolly Bear was found basking on the roadside at the B&B
just before noon, which was definitely the warmest part of the day, as
temperatures became noticeably chilly later on.
========================================================================
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/
