Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch
Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 10, 2012
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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 0
Osprey 14 59 78
Bald Eagle 18 50 63
Northern Harrier 19 92 141
Sharp-shinned Hawk 168 628 635
Cooper's Hawk 1 14 15
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0
Broad-winged Hawk 5575 7039 7213
Red-tailed Hawk 0 0 2
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 124 346 508
Merlin 7 16 17
Peregrine Falcon 1 3 4
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
Total: 5927 8247 8676
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Observation start time: 06:30:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 9.5 hours
Official Counter: Matt Oswald
Observers: Carol Parafenko, Ches Caister, Dave Verkley, Hal Cohen,
Ian Cannell, Keith Sealy, Norm Murr
Visitors:
A number of visitors at the hawkwatch today...Mike Allen (London), Jordan
Roovers (London), Hal and Joanne Cohen (Borrego Springs, California), Ted
Mullens and Peter Middleton (Owen Sound). A big thanks to all visitors who
helped today with spotting the birds...especially Hal Cohen, Ian Cannell
and Norm Murr. Thanks as well to Ches C. and Matt O. for getting all the
counts recorded...and to Carol P. for her "Other" report...and to anyone
else who helped out with observations.
Weather:
A really nice day to be outside...and near perfect for a good push of
migrants. Winds were light from the NW then swinging round slightly to the
N then quickly swinging all the way round to SW for the rest of the
afternoon. Temp got to a high of 22C with a mix of sun and cloud that
eventually clearing completely to totally blue skies making sighting the
birds difficult. The clouds then built back and to almost completely cover
the sky.
Raptor Observations:
Wow! What a great flight with total birds for today...5927. The bulk of
today's flight was (as expected) Broadings (5575) at various flight
levels...many were very high as they passed overhead. Other species put in
a good showing with Osprey (14), Bald Eagle (18), N. Harrier (19), Sharpies
(168), just a single Cooper's Hawk, Kestrels (124), Merlins (7) including
one that sped across the field in front of the observation knoll just
inches above the bean crop...and lastly a single adult Peregrine taking
advantage no doubt of the SW winds.
Non-raptor Observations:
Non-raptor Observations:
Highlights were: Common Loon, Greater Black Backed Gull, Eastern Wood
Pewee, Great Crested Flycatcher, Blue Headed and Red Eyed Vireo, Chimney
Swifts, Barn and Tree Swallows, House Wrens, Ruby Crowned Kinglet,
Swainson's Thrush, Ovenbird, and Brown Thrasher. Warblers seen were:
Magnolia, Black-throated Green, Bay Breasted, American Redstart, Tennessee,
and Nashville.
All the regular residents were present including Red Breasted Nuthatch,
Blue Jay, Cardinal, Chickadee, Red Bellied, Pileated, Hairy and Downy
Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Mourning Dove, Ruby Throated Hummingbird,
Goldfinch, Double Crested Cormorant, Song Sparrow, Ring-billed and Herring
Gull, and of course lots of really annoying Grey Catbirds. An adult Bald
Eagle showboated back and forth along the cliff's edge throughout the day.
Turkey Vultures littered the sky but couldn't be blamed. An orange tabby
cat caused some avian hysteria in the woods mid-morning but disappeared
soon after.
Butterfly sightings started off slowly but increased rapidly when it
warmed up. Viceroy, Monarch, Mourning Cloak, Painted Lady, Fiery Skipper,
and Silver Spotted Skipper were all present and Buckeyes were prolific. At
dawn, Monarch expert Bruce Parker noted three roosts of 35 Monarchs and two
roosts of 15, all in maple trees.
A highlight in the meadow was seeing one of the first Fringed Gentians.
Predictions:
A few days of warmer temps and SW winds ...may bring along Kestrels and
Osprey at the cliff ...but would likely push any Broadwing flight more
inland...perhaps even well inland.
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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/
