Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 20, 2015 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 27 502 24866 Osprey 0 1 124 Bald Eagle 3 23 173 Northern Harrier 0 35 1002 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 38 8382 Cooper's Hawk 0 10 219 Northern Goshawk 0 0 7 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 31 332 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 13000 Red-tailed Hawk 15 830 2630 Rough-legged Hawk 0 6 8 Golden Eagle 1 19 77 American Kestrel 0 2 1936 Merlin 1 4 93 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 76 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: 47 1501 52925 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 14:00:00 Total observation time: 5 hours Official Counter: Mary Carnahan Observers: Don Taylor, Ernie Gribble, Jim Dunn, Keith Sealy Visitors: Bob Hubert dropped by this afternoon for a short visit. Weather: The W wind was cold today but the temperature reached a high of 6 C. by this afternoon, and as long as we were able to stay out of the wind, the abundant sunshine was very warming, so it was not a bad day at all for late fall. Raptor Observations: Unfortunately, however, it was not a good day for raptor migration! Those strong Westerly winds were too much headwind for most migrants today. A few TVs and Red-tails kept struggling until they made it across the road but it took many minutes for each bird to reach the road from the point where they initially came into view, over the treeline to the east. Other raptors appeared, struggling, then simply dropped out of sight. The total after 5 hours was only 47 migrants including 27 Turkey Vultures, 15 Red-tailed Hawks, 3 Bald Eagles, 1 Golden Eagle and 1 Merlin. A few locals were also seen, including an adult pair of Bald Eagles performing a synchronized aerial display high above the field at the B&B and later, at the Ridge, a local Coopers Hawk crossed the road headed east and perched in the treeline just a few feet away from observers -- keeping an eye on the hawkwatchers? Non-raptor Observations: Nothing much was happening along Hawk Cliff Rd or in the woods today. Thanks to Ernie for his non-raptor sightings including Am. Crow, Blue Jay, Am. Tree Sparrow, Am. Goldfinch, White-breasted Nuthatch, Downy Woodpecker and Dark-eyed Junco. As the day wore on, a few more species were found, mainly at the B&B including European Starling, Horned Lark, House Sparrow, and many flocks of Tundra Swans, the largest of which contained about 50 birds. Some Swans were flying at tremendous altitude. Predictions: Snow is expected tomorrow morning, probably changing to rain by afternoon. Winds will be mainly E and ESE. Sunday its back to West winds again, but not as high a wind speed as we had today. Sunday could bring some migrants our way, depending on whats already in the pipeline . . . if anything. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Mary Carnahan ([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
