Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 07, 2015 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 0 0 Osprey 4 34 38 Bald Eagle 0 3 3 Northern Harrier 11 37 42 Sharp-shinned Hawk 6 43 51 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 106 327 336 Merlin 3 8 8 Peregrine Falcon 13 13 13 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: 143 465 491 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 14:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours Official Counter: Jennifer Lyon, Jim Dunn Observers: Derek Lyon, Jim Dunn, Keith Sealy, Mary Carnahan Visitors: We had lots of visitors today including Mike V., Winston C., David & Ann Lindsay, Elizabeth & Bob from London, Mike & Carol from Sarnia and Ron & Nancy from Wellesley. Also on hand were Jennifer and Derek Lyon, Jim Dunn, Keith Sealy and Mary Carnahan. Weather: Wind was from the SW all day, temperatures rose from 20 to 30 by the end of the watch; however, it felt hotter than that on the knoll, with no shade in the morning so observers moved their chairs onto the road below the knoll, gaining some shade and a good breeze. Wind speed started at 10 km / hr and reached 20 by the end of the watch, with gusts slightly higher than that. Haze in the morning persisted until the last 2 hours of the watch. Barometric pressure and very high humidity dropped slightly throughout the day, but still, it was a hot, hazy, humid day for the 7th of September. Raptor Observations: Despite todays temperatures, humidity, haze and lack of shade our total, at 143 raptors, was our best so far this season. The total consisted of 6 species, the highest number of species on a single day so far. Todays extra species was Peregrine Falcon, beginning in the second hour, peaking in the third and fourth hours for a total of 13 Peregrines! The other 5 species tallied were Osprey (4), Northern Harrier (11), Sharp-shinned Hawk (6), American Kestrel which were the majority of todays migrants at 106 and Merlin (3). Kestrels peaked in the last two hours of the morning with 26 in the ten oclock hour and 38 between eleven and twelve oclock. Throughout the morning and into the early afternoon, the usual local Bald Eagles cruised low along the cliff, back and forth. TVs were scarce today, but a few were seen to the north above the field. Non-raptor Observations: With all eyes focused at the cliff watching for those Peregrines observers tallied an abbreviated non-raptor list today, with no new species reported. Regulars included Gray Catbird, Northern Cardinal, Red-breasted Grosbeak, White-breasted Nuthatch, Downy and Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Black-capped Chickadee, American Goldfinch, American Robin, House Wren, Cedar Waxwing, Eastern Towhee, Am. Crow and Blue Jay. In addition, a Hairy Woodpecker was spotted early in the watch. Both Red-eyed and Warbling Vireos were seen as well as the following Warblers: Am. Redstart, Nashville and Common Yellowthroat. Flycatchers included Least and Alder Flycatchers and Eastern Kingbird. Along the cliff observers noted Ring-billed Gull (many), Herring Gull and Double-crested Cormorant. Predictions: Tuesday is looking sultry again with possible thunder storms and a high of 31. T-storms are an increasing possibility Tuesday night into Wednesday. Wind direction will shift to W and the possibility of rain on Wednesday is predicted to be 90%. Wednesday will probably not be the best day for raptor watching this week, but Thursday is expected to bring winds from the North and a much more comfortable temperature of 26 C. as the high. Friday, winds swing back to the SW. ======================================================================== 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
