Holiday Beach Conservation Area
Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 11, 2013
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Turkey Vulture 1888 7847 11459
Osprey 1 12 69
Bald Eagle 2 34 257
Northern Harrier 11 63 282
Sharp-shinned Hawk 60 406 4917
Cooper's Hawk 35 129 381
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 9 15 33
Broad-winged Hawk 0 3 48629
Red-tailed Hawk 34 94 461
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 2 4
American Kestrel 3 185 1075
Merlin 1 11 71
Peregrine Falcon 0 9 29
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0
Unknown Buteo 0 0 6
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 0 1
Gyrfalcon 0 1 1
Mississippi Kite 0 0 1
Swainson's Hawk 0 0 7
Total: 2044 8811 67683
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Observation start time: 07:00:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 9 hours
Official Counter: Todd Pepper
Observers: Carol Pitts, Chris Craft, Cindy Isenhoff, Cramer,
Dan Greenham, Dwayne Murphy, Ed Pitts, Roland Klekner
Visitors:
Four. Special thanks to all the official observers today for helping out
with the high and distant raptors.
Weather:
A broken record of another bright, warm, sunny day. There was ground fog
and limited visability for the first couple hours, but then it was bright
sunshine the rest of the day. The temperature was 11 - 22C. The winds were
out of the North in the a.m. as forecasted, in the 8 km/hr range, but
instead of shifting to the East they shifted from out of the South for the
last 4 hours of the count, pushing the birds way out to the north.
Raptor Observations:
A nice mix of birds over our heads in the morning, but the south winds in
the p.m. made it another challenging count day. In the end we had 2044
raptors of 9 species. TV's were 92% of the total at 1,888 birds. We had
nice comparisons of side by side Red-shouldered and Red-tailed Hawks for
all to see. A Merlin snuck up on us but then kindly sat in a tree along the
beach for over an hour provide good looks to all.
Non-raptor Observations:
Another slow non-raptor migration day, although it was the 4th highest Blue
Jay count so far at 6,557 birds. Yellow-rumped Warblers continue to fly
over in good numbers with another 39 today. Had 1 getting late
Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Monarch - 48.
Predictions:
It is going to be another sunny day with temperatures ranging from 10-22C.
Winds are forecasted to be out of the E in the a.m. at 5 km/hr and then
shifting to the SE in the p.m. at 10 km/hr.
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Report submitted by Todd Pepper ([email protected])
Holiday Beach Conservation Area information may be found at:
http://hbmo.ca/
Directions to site:
1. Entering Canada from Detroit at the Ambassador Bridge:
After Canadian Customs you are on Huron Church Road leading to Highway 401
and Highway 3. Continue east through the construction to HOWARD AVENUE
ROUTE 9 SOUTH. Turn RIGHT onto HOWARD ROUTE 9 and 'carefully' follow signs
south TO ITS END at County Road 20. Turn RIGHT (west) on County Road 20.
Continue west to intersection with Route 50 with Ure's Country Kitchen &
Variety on the LEFT. Turn LEFT onto Route 50 south going 1.3 miles. Soon
after the left curve on Route 50 is the entrance to the Holiday Beach
Conservation Area on the RIGHT. Pay the daily vehicle fee of $10 at gate or
at credit card reader.
Continue to the Hawk Tower parking at the south end of the park. Park
vehicle and walk to the Hawk Tower.
2. West bound on Routes 401 and 3: Take HOWARD AVENUE ROUTE 9 SOUTH.
Continue with directions above.
Bring with you birding gear: books, binocs, scopes, camera, hat or bill
cap, insect repellent, sunscreen, folding chair, (drink and food during
non-festival time). Dress for the weather. It is cooler near the lake.
(You may purchase an annual pass and electronic fob at the Essex Region
Conservation Area building, 360 Fairview W Essex, ON N8M 1Y3, Canada,
519-776-5209, erca.org.)
PLEASE OBEY SPEED LIMITS!
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