Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch
Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 29, 2013
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 0 1455 1455
Osprey 2 106 113
Bald Eagle 0 115 115
Northern Harrier 0 275 280
Sharp-shinned Hawk 3 4383 4388
Cooper's Hawk 1 43 43
Northern Goshawk 0 1 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 7 7
Broad-winged Hawk 0 59362 59362
Red-tailed Hawk 0 54 54
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 2 1433 1446
Merlin 0 52 52
Peregrine Falcon 3 20 20
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 2 2
Total: 11 67308 67338
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 14:00:00
Total observation time: 6 hours
Official Counter: Jim Dunn
Observers: Chris Burris, Dave Brown, Jason McGuire, Mac McAlpine,
Mary Carnahan, Ronnie Goodhand, Rose Braxton
Visitors:
Actually had quite a few visitors today...just too bad there weren't many
birds on the move. Thanks to everyone who hung in there today to get a
count done. :)
Weather:
We had hoped the winds would swing to the SW a little earlier today (which
tends to be better for flights right along the cliff edge)...but
unfortunately, they remained somewhat moderate strength from the S for the
time we were there. A mix of sun and cloud to start today then increasing
as a new front pushed in from the west. Temp was quite comfortable hitting
a high of 19C.
Raptor Observations:
It was a VERY slow day today with a total of just 11 birds spread across 5
hours of counting!
With the winds blowing straight up the cliff and the fact we're almost up
to prime time for Peregrines we had hoped to see several today. However, we
only had 3 pass the hawkwatch today. The first was a young bird that
popped up just over the bushlot in front of us and with a couple of quick
rowing strokes it was across the field and passing directly overhead just
above treetop height. An hour later a second young Peregrine was spotted
approaching quickly from the east and it passed observers just to the south
of the knoll. The last Peregrine screamed by right above the cliff edge
wasting no time passing westward towards Port Stanley. This bird appeared
to be an adult.
The only other birds seen today included a couple of Osprey, 3 Sharpies, a
single juvie Cooper's Hawk and a duo of Kestrels.
Non-raptor Observations:
Many thanks to the regulars and visitors who contributed to today's
non-raptor sightings.
Not long after he arrived on one of our counters had what appeared to be a
Jaeger sp. that came in from the east and headed on westbound towards Port
Stanley.
Lots of Blue Jays on the move today with at least a 1000 tallied by noon
along with Ruby-throated Hummingbirds with a total pf 15 by noon.
Observers reported 35 songbird species today with some interesting
highlights. 3 species of Vireo were seen with Blue-headed found in
locations near Sharpie Alley as well as at the south end of Hawk Cliff Rd.
The other 2 species were Red-eyed found north of the knoll and
Philadelphia, near Sharpie Alley. Chickadees are still being seen and
heard up and down the road as are Ruby-crowned Kinglets while
Golden-crowned Kinglets were seen in the area across from Sharpie Alley.
Both House and Winter Wren were reported near the observation knoll while a
Swainson's Thrush was heard, then seen in the dogwood bushes at south end
of the ravine. Gray Catbirds are still around but seem to be dwindling in
number; Northern Cardinal, Eastern Towhee, White-throated and Song Sparrow,
Dark-eyed Junco, and American Goldfinch were all seen near the observation
knoll and a Black-billed Cuckoo (New Species for this season) was observed
sneaking through some willow bushes along the cliff.
Noteworthy for today was a nice wave of Warblers, including Yellow-rumped,
Black-throated Green, Blackpoll, American Redstart, Tennessee and
Nashville, observed in the early afternoon right around the parking area at
the south end of Hawk Cliff Rd. Just around noon a single Chimney Swift
passed overhead and at the end of the count period we had a Green Heron
that crossed the north end of the field just above the treetops.
Our Monarch butterfly counters spotted a total of 20 during the count
period. Black Saddlebags (dragonfly) continued to dominate the tobacco and
bean fields at the south end of Hawk Cliff Rd today; some Green Darners are
also still around. As well, numerous Orange Sulphurs and a couple of
Clouded Sulphurs plus Cabbage Whites and a few Eastern Tailed Blues can
still be found in the roadside and cliff side weed patches.
========================================================================
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 including how to unsubscribe visit
http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup
