Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 28, 2014 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 12 87 87 Osprey 2 80 80 Bald Eagle 2 58 58 Northern Harrier 13 368 378 Sharp-shinned Hawk 154 4519 4529 Cooper's Hawk 6 66 67 Northern Goshawk 0 1 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 34 70533 70564 Red-tailed Hawk 1 25 25 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 30 1644 1677 Merlin 3 41 42 Peregrine Falcon 2 45 45 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 1 1 Total: 259 77468 77554 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:30:00 Observation end time: 14:00:00 Total observation time: 6.5 hours Official Counter: Jim Dunn Observers: Carey S., Chris Burris, Keith Sealy, Mary Carnahan Visitors: Lots of visitors again today ...Bruce and Monica, Rene S., Mike H. with many names not noted. Thanks to all who helped with today's count. Weather: The sky today was much more counter friendly with about 50% light cloud and with the fickle wind at zero velocity, the clouds remained motionless. Temp got to a high of 24C. Raptor Observations: An almost identical flight to those over the past few days with 259 birds tallied. We've hit that point in the season where the bulk of the Broadwings (34 seen today) have already passed through and prior to the typical push of Peregrines as we head towards their prime migration period of the first week of October. Counting the 2 Peregrines today...we've had 45 of these birds already counted for the season and we often see more than a hundred if conditions are right. Visibility was exceptional today and several adult Bald Eagles made numerous passes, providing spectacular views though only 2 were counted as migrants. There were Ospreys (2), N. Harriers (13), Sharpies (154), Cooper's Hawk (6), A single Redtail, Kestrels (30) and Merlins (3). Non-raptor Observations: Thanks to Jim for keeping track of the Blue Jay flight for the first few hours today; results were just as spectacular as they have been --maybe more so, with a total of 6600 tallied between 7:30 and 10:00 AM. After that, flights became somewhat sporadic. Even so, another 2000 Blue Jays passed by in the next couple of hours for a day's total of 8000. (btw...I neglected to mention on yesterday's report a similar very good flight of Blue Jays especially in the early part of the watch and totaling 5000 for the day). We had several nice waves of small passerines across from and right beside the knoll. Today'w Warbler list included numerous Yellow--rumpsl also noted were Black and White, Blackpoll, Blackburnian, Chestnut-sidedBay-breasted and Cape May. Flycatchers were busy in the same area with Eastern Phoebe and 2 Least Flycatchers plus Red-eyed and Blue-headed Vireos. As well, observers found 6 species of Woodpecker today in the trees and flying over the field; Pileated, Red-bellied, Downy, Hairy, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and Northern Flicker. To top it all off, several people on the knoll and nearby heard a Tufted Titmouse, but the wily little devil kept evading us in a search. Persistence paid off, however and the bird was eventually spotted. Thanks to Chris Burris for the sighting. A few Monarch butterflies continued the trek westward today, but they are fewer and farther between every day. Other butterflies seen today were Orange and Clouded Sulphur, Cabbage White and a single Summer Azure. The predominant insect species today were (and have been for at least 3 days!) Mosquitoes and Stable Flies. Predictions: More light winds are forecast for tomorrow starting possibly a bit from the NW but backing to WSW midday. Likely a similar flight to today to be expected. ======================================================================== 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 Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide
