Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch
Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 09, 2014
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 2823 3816 3936
Osprey 2 28 111
Bald Eagle 5 5 63
Northern Harrier 23 44 437
Sharp-shinned Hawk 608 942 5518
Cooper's Hawk 10 15 85
Northern Goshawk 0 0 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0
Broad-winged Hawk 0 2 70566
Red-tailed Hawk 6 13 39
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 144 324 2069
Merlin 4 7 49
Peregrine Falcon 12 101 146
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: 3637 5297 83021
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 15:00:00
Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Jim Dunn
Observers: Bob Johnstone, Cary Graham, Dave Verkley, Keith Sealy,
Mary Carnahan
Visitors:
We had many visitors this morning including Cynthia and Lee from
Cheltenham, David from Aylmer along with Phyllis, Monica, Judy and
Merrie-Lee from Elmira and also Paul (from Henrys camera shop). This
afternoon, visitors were Jennifer and friends from Horizon Place Retirement
Residence in London and at that point the raptor flight had dwindled to a
trickle. Mary did a commendable job of entertaining them, explaining about
the hawkwatch,showing them pictures of the various raptors, explaining the
migration of Blue Jays; Monarch Butterflies; Dragonflies; Passerines. They
got to see a few shins, AKâs, Harriers and TVâs and a tree full of
Yellowrumps. Fortunately a large kettle of TVâs formed over the gap and
the visitors watched in awe as a couple hundred TVâv kettled and then
streamed right overhead. I,m sure they enjoyed the day and enjoyed
Maryâs presentation. A big thanks to Jim and Mary for helping with
today's visitors and the count and our other volunteers Keith, Dave V., Bob
J. and Cary G. as well for helping with spotting the birds.
Weather:
A perfect day for hawkwatching today...a good breeze (although winds were
out of the W for the first 3 hours before going to the WNW) and lots of
cumulus clouds to help as a backdrop for the flight. Temp started at 6C and
got to a high of 12C where it remained for most of the afternoon.
Raptor Observations:
An excellent flight with a total of 3,637 birds...the bulk of which were
TVs (2,823) that were seen kettling and powering off to the west in good
numbers for the first time this season.
There were 9 species of raptors today...with a great flight of Sharpies
(608) passing in a steady stream to the north of the counters...ergo the
name "Sharpie Alley" for that end of the field. :) Others included Osprey
(2), a few Bald Eagles (5) that appeared to be on the move, some good N.
Harriers (23), some Cooper's Hawks (10) with plenty more to come as we
progress into October, a small number of Redtails (6) that also appeared to
be migrants...and from the falcon front....Kestrels (144) which is a pretty
good number for this point in October, Merlins (4) and a steady flight of
Peregrines (12) at the lake. This gives us 146 for the season and puts us
just 2 away from our record high count of 148 back in 2007.
Non-raptor Observations:
Observers didn't have to venture very far today to find non-raptor species,
as we had waves of Warblers (mainly Yellow-rumped Warblers) throughout the
day in the surrounding trees and bushes. In addition to the "rumpies",
observers reported Nashville, Palm, and Blackpoll Warblers plus American
Redstart. Both Ruby- and Golden-crowned Kinglets were also seen right near
the knoll while a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker drummed softly above our heads
most of the day. Some of our visitors found 2 more Sapsuckers in the
willows just south of the knoll. Our self-appointed mascot, the
Red-bellied Woodpecker began his chatter early in the afternoon and kept it
up for at least an hour, a Downy Woodpecker was spotted across from the
knoll, and early in the afternoon, Jim saw a Red-headed Woodpecker in the
treeline across from the knoll, only the second this year. By
mid-afternoon, a couple of Flickers had taken up the challenge and flew
back and forth in front of us, making several passes, so altogether we
tallied 5 species of woodpecker for the day.
Also seen today were Gray Catbird, many White-throated Sparrows,
White-breasted Nuthatch, Black-capped Chickadee, Double-crested Cormorants,
Northern Cardinal as well as flocks of Goldfinches, Cedar Waxwings and
American Pipits. Towards the end of the day, a flock of at least 50
American Crows flew west along the treeline to the north. We did not have
a Blue Jay flight right at the cliff today, although numerous individuals
were seen and heard up and down the road.
With today's diminished winds, observers reported many Monarch Butterflies
seen heading west, actually making it across the field and up over the
treeline. Other Butterflies noted today were Painted Lady, Orange and
Clouded Sulphur, Eastern Comma and Common Buckeye, the last having been
very uncommon at Hawk Cliff this season. In Dragonfly news, half a dozen
Black Saddlebags trekked westward along with a single Common Green Darner.
Predictions:
If I could get off work (sigh) I'd be headed down to Hawk Cliff
tomorrow...winds are predicted to be N to NW and light with nice skies.
The only question will be how much cloud will be around to help with
spotting the birds because there will be a decent flight...and we may even
see our first few Shoulders and a few more Redtails on the move.
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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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