Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 04, 2015 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 216 3620 4131 Osprey 0 3 120 Bald Eagle 1 14 72 Northern Harrier 2 144 588 Sharp-shinned Hawk 4 667 5102 Cooper's Hawk 0 8 72 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 8 10 Broad-winged Hawk 0 49 12989 Red-tailed Hawk 1 45 106 Rough-legged Hawk 0 1 1 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 0 102 1707 Merlin 0 9 64 Peregrine Falcon 0 4 48 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: 224 4674 25010 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 12:00:00 Total observation time: 4 hours Official Counter: Mary Carnahan Observers: Cary Graham Visitors: Lots of people out for a walk or to take photos, but not really hawk counting enthusiasts. Weather: It was cold and gloomy to start, beginning to warm up around noon. However, that strong ESE wind was simply not conducive to a good raptor flight. Raptor Observations: TVs (216) were heading west, far to the north of the observation knoll and very high up. In addition, 4 raptor species fled westward including Bald Eagle (1), Northern Harrier (2), Sharp-shinned Hawk (4) and Red-tailed Hawk (1). Total for the day was 224 birds. Thanks to Cary Graham for her assistance on the mound and in the woods. Non-raptor Observations: Blue Jays were moving west in huge flocks -- more like one endless flock for at least the first hour of the day. They had probably started moving at daylight because the flight was well underway by 8:00 AM. In the first hour, about 25000 to 30000 Blue Jays passed. Then the flocks began to thin, with a small space between each flock, but after about a half hour, the endless flocking westward began again. This pattern continued until about 11:00, with more defined flocks after that. Jays were still moving westward when the watch ended. Other species found were 1 Common Loon, numerous Canada Geese, 5 Woodpeckers including Northern Flicker, Downy, Red-bellied and Hairy Woodpecker and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Observers also reported Blue-headed and red-eyed Vireo, House & Carolina Wren, Chickadees, Catbirds, 4 Warblers which were Yellow-rumped, Palm, Blackpoll and Wilsons. In other highlights, a few flocks of Red-winged Blackbirds were seen flying westward, some stopping in the cornfield at Sharpie Alley. During the third and fourth hours of the watch, many Tree Swallows were seen hawking bugs above the field right at the Cliff. Predictions: Todays easterly winds will persist into tomorrow, with the possibility of NE to start the day at 10 15 kph, but swinging around to S by afternoon. Then there will be a more northerly trend for Tuesday and Wednesday, but winds will be light, so although we are heading in the right direction with a more northerly influence, it remains to be seen whether the wind velocity will be sufficient to yield many migrants. On the other hand, anything has to be better than the last couple of days!! Temperatures are expected to rise to the high teens by Wednesday and Thursday. ======================================================================== 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
