Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch
Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 14, 2015
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 1316 5835 6346
Osprey 0 4 121
Bald Eagle 4 24 82
Northern Harrier 35 243 687
Sharp-shinned Hawk 323 1244 5679
Cooper's Hawk 24 46 110
Northern Goshawk 2 2 2
Red-shouldered Hawk 1 10 12
Broad-winged Hawk 6 58 12998
Red-tailed Hawk 16 72 133
Rough-legged Hawk 0 1 1
Golden Eagle 1 1 1
American Kestrel 52 247 1852
Merlin 2 18 73
Peregrine Falcon 2 28 72
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: 1784 7833 28169
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Observation start time: 07:00:00
Observation end time: 15:00:00
Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Jim Dunn
Observers: Don Taylor, Keith Sealy, Mac McAlpine, Mary Carnahan,
Ronnie Goodhand
Visitors:
We had lots of visitors today including Harry, Charotte and Skyler Caldwell
along with Clark and Colleen Taylor. As well Jerry Guenther joined us at
the B&B and at the cliff. And thanks to Helen and Rick from London for
their assistance in spotting TV kettles, etc. in the last hour of the day.
Thanks also to Paul Nicolson, and Wayne from London for their contributions
to the day's raptor and non-raptor counts.
Weather:
It was a beautiful fall day, but very windy, with NW most of the day.
Cloud increased during the afternoon, but visibility was good throughout
the day. Temperature reached 12 C and stayed there for most of the
afternoon.
Raptor Observations:
Thanks to Jim Dunn, Don Taylor, Keith Sealy, Mac McAlpine, Mary Carnahan
and Ronnie Goodhand for their assistance at the knoll and at the B&B. We
had a great day with a total of 1748 birds, of which 432 were migratory
raptors, the remaining 1316 being Turkey Vultures which constituted the
majority of todays count.
Today brought many highlights including our first Golden Eagle (1) of the
day which cruised with TVs, high above the B&B around 11:20 AM. As if that
wasnt enough, we had a total of 2 Northern Goshawks and a single
Red-shouldered Hawk (1) plus 2 Peregrine Falcons and 2 Merlins. In
addition, the folks at the knoll spotted 6 late Broad-winged Hawks. Of
those remaining, the majority were Sharp-shinned Hawks (323), Am. Kestrels
(52), 35 Northern Harriers, 24 Coopers Hawks,16 Red-tailed Hawks and 4
Bald Eagles for a grand total of 12 raptor species.
Non-raptor Observations:
A number of passerine species were seen flying westward today including
Blue Jays, whose numbers have really dwindled from a week ago, American
Goldfinch, American Robin, Red-winged Blackbird, Eastern Bluebird. A flock
of Am. Crows were hanging out at the B&B as were European Starlings and a
few renegade Blue Jays, all of which did their best to complicate things
for counters.
Observers found a few highlights up and down Hawk Cliff Rd and along the
trails including a Philadelphia Vireo, Black-capped Chickadees and Tufted
Titmouse, House & Winter Wrens, Red-bellied, Downy & Hairy Woodpeckers plus
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Yellow-rumped & Magnolia Warblers, both Ruby- and
Golden-crowned Kinglets and 5 Sparrow species including White-throated,
White-crowned, Song, Swamp and Field Sparrows as well as Dark-eyed Juncos.
Butterflies included 4 Monarchs, a few Sulphurs (Orange and Clouded) and
Cabbage White, while several Green Darners (dragonflies) were seen at the
knoll.
Predictions:
Tomorrow morning will be chilly at 8 C., but feeling like 5 C. with
westerly winds at 23 km / hr. Sunshine with some clouds will make for
ideal viewing conditions, but the possibility of rain will increase as the
day progresses and the wind is expected to shift to SW by 1:00 PM. That
west wind in the morning could scatter the flight from the cliff
northwards, but in the afternoon the SW wind at 37 40 km / hr could bring
a good Peregrine flight along the cliff. There is a 40% chance of rain in
the afternoon.
Friday on into the weekend are looking good for wind direction and speed
(NW in the 20s) but maybe a little rain on Saturday. Or even some light
snow?? Ouch!
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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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