Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch
Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 13, 2015
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 0 0 0
Osprey 5 73 77
Bald Eagle 1 18 18
Northern Harrier 64 213 218
Sharp-shinned Hawk 308 1491 1499
Cooper's Hawk 12 24 24
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0
Broad-winged Hawk 6912 9938 9938
Red-tailed Hawk 1 10 10
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 74 941 950
Merlin 5 22 22
Peregrine Falcon 0 15 15
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: 7382 12745 12771
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Observation start time: 06:00:00
Observation end time: 15:00:00
Total observation time: 9 hours
Official Counter: Jennifer Lyon
Observers: Cary Graham, Chris Burris, Dave Brown, Dave Verkley,
Derek Lyon, Ernie Gribble, Jason McGuire, Keith Sealy,
Mark Cunningham, Tom Bolohan
Visitors:
Lots of visitors today and a good number of volunteers to help with our 2nd
day of the open house. Thanks to everyone who assisted with spotting and
tallying the birds.
Weather:
Well...the weather decided NOT to cooperate today as the clearing to our
west never came across the hawkwatch area. The clouds continued to build in
and the winds that had started NW backed too much westward and brought the
flight to a halt. Temps were cool with a high of 16C.
Raptor Observations:
There were birds on the move and the total for the day wasn't bad despite
the weather...with 7,382. Birds started very early with a great showing of
N. Harriers (64) in multiple numbers very low in the field in front of the
counters (up to 6 at once) . Though weather forecasters were calling for
strong northwest winds, they never really materialized at the cliff so the
Broadwing flight (6,912) stayed to the north. It was difficult for the
counters to see, even through binoculars so much of the counting was done
using scopes. Later in the day, spectators were witness to some excellent
views of Kestrels (74) hunting in the field in front of the mound.
Other species observed today included Osprey (5), a single immature Bald
Eagle that went through at a significant altitude, a lone Redtail that also
appeared to be migrating, a good flight of Sharpies (308), Cooper's Hawks
(12) and Kestrels (74) ...and a few Merlin (5).
Non-raptor Observations:
Today's non-raptor report included RB Woodpecker, Common Loon, Cedar
Waxwings, Belted Kingfisher, Great Blue Heron, House wren, RT Hummingbird,
Common Nighthawk, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pine Warbler,
Wilson's Warbler, Eastern Kingbird, Black-Throated Blue Warbler, Golden
Crowned Kinglet, Cliff Swallow, Barn Swallow (lots).
Also had 43 Monarchs counted from the mound and a few of the following...
Saddlebags
Green darners
Red AdmiralEastern Tail Blue
Silver Spotted Skipper
Predictions:
With the winds switching around to W and then SW early and lots of sunshine
there will be a possibility of a movement of birds right along the
cliff...and almost certainly there will be BWs on the move just not
necessarily down at the hawkwatch but most likely farther inland.
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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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