Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch
Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 19, 2014
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 4170 18981 19101
Osprey 1 35 118
Bald Eagle 4 18 76
Northern Harrier 14 183 576
Sharp-shinned Hawk 281 2899 7475
Cooper's Hawk 16 111 181
Northern Goshawk 1 4 5
Red-shouldered Hawk 59 67 67
Broad-winged Hawk 6 142 70706
Red-tailed Hawk 436 689 715
Rough-legged Hawk 0 1 1
Golden Eagle 3 5 5
American Kestrel 5 650 2395
Merlin 1 28 70
Peregrine Falcon 0 115 160
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: 4997 23928 101652
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Observation start time: 07:00:00
Observation end time: 14:00:00
Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Dave Brown
Observers: Cary Graham, Chris Burris, Don Campbell, Don Taylor,
Eric Jeffery, Ernie Gribble, Jim Dunn, Mac McAlpine,
Mary Carnahan, Phoebe Campbell, Ronnie Goodhand
Visitors:
A ton of visitors today...Darlene Hardy and Glen Jacobs (Mississauga), Paul
N., Robin B., Mike M., Jesse K. and Cayleah M. (London), Judy (Waterloo),
Dan Taves (London) and many others...and thanks to all the volunteer
observers that came out to help today...Chris B., Mac, Jim, Mary, Keith,
Eric J., Ronnie, Ernie, Don T., Don and Phoebe C., Paul T., Cary G. and Ken
Wootton.
Weather:
After some initial overcast burned off the day shaped up nicely with mixed
sun and cloud with moderate NW winds. The temp was cold to start at 1C and
eventually got to a high of 10C. Unfortunately, the winds backed to
straight W and then quickly to SW by mid-afternoon which pretty much
scattered the flight and shut it down for the day.
Raptor Observations:
A much nicer day to spend at the hawkwatch and a pretty good flight with
the birds making their move with the better weather conditions. We had a
total of 4,997 birds today with many birds providing nice views before the
flight gained height as the morning progressed.
Best birds of the day included 3 Golden Eagles with 2 of them arriving
right overhead for excellent viewing and photo ops and another young
Northern Goshawk that passed us to our south heading westward. Many of the
visitors were excited to get good looks at low Red-shouldered Hawks with
several adults and juvies.
Lots of Redtails (436) migrating today and Red-shoulders (59) and we still
had a few Broadwings (6). Lots more Sharpies (281) and Cooper's Hawks (16)
but only a few falcons with Kestrels (5) and Merlins (1). We counted just
a couple Bald Eagles as migrants.
Non-raptor Observations:
A very busy early morning for the passerines with flock after flock of
various species passing overhead starting at first light. Many of these
flocks were E. Bluebirds and I tallied 20+ in one flock alone. Other flocks
included Rusty Blackbirds, Purple Finches, Am. Pipits, Horned Larks, Pine
Siskins, Am. Robins, Am. Goldfinches, Red-winged Blackbirds and still lots
of Blue Jays.
Other non-raptors...some warblers (Nashville, Yellow-rumps, Blackpoll, Am.
Redstart), both GC and RC Kinglets, Brown Creeper, Winter and Carolina
Wrens, Chipping and White-throated Sparrows, DE Junco, a late Swainson's
Thrush along with some Hermit Thrushes, White-breasted Nuthatch,
Woodpeckers (Hairy, Downy, Red-bellied and N. Flicker) and Vireos (Red-eyed
and Blue-headed), several Tree Swallows and a Great Blue Heron.
Predictions:
Sounds like more wet weather for Monday...and winds from the SW...so not
sure there will be much of a flight. However, looking toward mid-week
conditions really improve so we'll have to see if it holds.
========================================================================
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
