Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 05, 2015 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 0 0 Osprey 13 27 31 Bald Eagle 0 3 3 Northern Harrier 8 13 18 Sharp-shinned Hawk 9 15 23 Cooper's Hawk 0 0 0 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 0 0 0 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 87 126 135 Merlin 4 4 4 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 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 Total: 121 188 214 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours Official Counter: Jennifer Lyon Observers: Derek Lyon, Jim Dunn, Keith Sealy, Mary Carnahan Visitors: Sean and John Beilhartz Weather: At 8:00 this morning, we had 100% cloud cover which lingered most of the morning but by noon had cleared to about 40% and improved steadily over the afternoon providing us with the best views weve had so far this September. Temperature was in the high 20s and the sun became pretty intense in the afternoon, but there was a good breeze blowing from the SW throughout the watch. Despite that most raptors prefer northerly rather than southerly winds, the birds were ready to go and we had a great result by the end of the day. Raptor Observations: Todays total was 121 raptors of 5 species including Osprey (13), Northern Harrier (8), Sharp-shinned Hawk (9), American Kestrel (87) and this seasons first Merlins (4). Non-raptor Observations: Everybody contributed to todays list of passerines. Thanks to Jim Dunn, Keith Sealy, Derek & Jennifer Lyon, Winston C., Mike Vermue, Carol Parafenko and Mary Carnahan. Warblers today were Magnolia, Cape May, Blackburnian, Am. Redstart, Nashville Ovenbird, and Common Yellowthroat. As well, observers saw Cedar Waxwing, Least Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Gray Catbird (still lots!), White-breasted Nuthatch, Black-capped Chickadee, American Crow, Red-bellied, Downy and Pileated Woodpeckers, Eastern Towhee, and lots of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds engaging in skirmishes in the weed patches along the roadside. Thanks to Jennifer for tallying the Monarch Butterflies that were seen from the observation knoll today. By 3:00 the total was 58. Predictions: Fog patches are predicted for overnight Saturday into Sunday morning with very high humidex values to start the day on Sunday. Conditions will be sunny with S shifting to SW winds around 15 km / hr. Heat and humidity to continue for the next few days but look for a change by Tuesday night into Wednesday as a front goes through; wind will shift to NW on Wednesday with a 70% chance of rain. Birds are on the move now, although if we get a prolonged period of rain mid-week, that will interrupt the flow of migrants across the field for a day or so. Winds to shift to an Easterly flow by Thursday, which will provide a tailwind for migratory raptors birds will be high up and viewing them will be more difficult than it was today (eye level to 30 m. today great views!). ======================================================================== 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
