Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch
Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 08, 2016
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 904 1496 1688
Osprey 1 11 91
Bald Eagle 4 25 116
Northern Harrier 17 57 358
Sharp-shinned Hawk 116 397 2329
Cooper's Hawk 3 13 44
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 2 4 4
Broad-winged Hawk 2 9 6802
Red-tailed Hawk 6 26 82
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 1 1 1
American Kestrel 61 104 1007
Merlin 6 9 54
Peregrine Falcon 0 17 37
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: 1123 2169 12613
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Observation start time: 07:00:00
Observation end time: 15:00:00
Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Jennifer Lyon
Observers: Bob Johnstone, Dave Brown, Derek Lyon, Keith Sealy,
Mac McAlpine, Matt Oswald
Visitors:
LOTS of visitors today... with a couple of folks all the way from Rochester
NY. Thanks to everyone who helped with spotting and counting the birds
today.
Weather:
A great day weather wise today though not quite enough cloud to help with
spotting birds. Winds were favourable from the WNW and fairly strong but
unfortunately, they backed to due W in the middle of the day and the flight
slowed to a trickle. Luckily, the wind turned back to the NW for a bit and
the birds got moving again in the last part of the count.
Raptor Observations:
A much better flight today with a total of 1123 birds. The majority of the
flight was TVs (904)...but there were some other highlights including a
couple more Red-shoulders, a very low young Broadwing right overhead and a
young / immature Golden Eagle...our first of the season at the hawkwatch.
This bird was actually spotted sneaking low right along the cliff at the
tail end of a flight of TVs! It crossed just to our right no more than a
100 feet up with big white patches in the wings and white across the tail
deck. Awesome! It certainly is unusual to get both a Broadwing and a Golden
Eagle on the same day.
A few N. Harriers today (17) and a decent number of Am. Kestrels (61) along
with a lone Osprey first thing, Bald Eagles (4), Sharpies (116), Cooper's
(3), Redtails (6) and Merlin (6). Not a bad day at all.
Non-raptor Observations:
Some nice birds in the Other category again today. A nice look at an E.
Phoebe hawking bugs from a low branch just to the north of the observers
and many warblers right in the shrubs beside the knoll including a male
Wilson's, female BT Blue, Common Yellowthroat, Nashville, Palm and lots of
Yellow-rumps. Other warblers reported included Blackpoll, Magnolia, a male
BT Blue and Am. Redstart. Both Nuthatches were actively feeding in the
trees above the counters as well along with flybys of several N. Flickers.
Lots of both RC and GC Kinglets again today.....with E. Towhee, Scarlet
Tanagers, House Wren, Junco, Song Sparrow, Common Loon and a lagging RT
Hummingbird.
Fewer Blue Jays moving through today...another 3490...and a surprising
number of Monarchs with 115.
Predictions:
Sunday looks really good for winds from the N and NW and a mix of sun and
cloud. Might just bring along a good flight and the birds should be easier
to spot.
========================================================================
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 (OFO) - 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
Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
