Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 20, 2018 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 137 7798 8134 Osprey 0 5 52 Bald Eagle 4 77 190 Northern Harrier 34 204 376 Sharp-shinned Hawk 265 2238 3515 Cooper's Hawk 9 78 121 Northern Goshawk 0 2 4 Red-shouldered Hawk 7 23 23 Broad-winged Hawk 2 39 5872 Red-tailed Hawk 13 132 182 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 2 3 American Kestrel 11 1424 2247 Merlin 1 74 120 Peregrine Falcon 2 55 78 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: 485 12151 20917 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours Official Counter: Chris Burris Observers: Cary Graham, Dave Brown, Ronnie Goodhand Visitors: A few folks out today including a couple from Ajax.... and a big thanks to Chris B, Ronnie and Cary for helping with today's count along with Gary C and a friend of his that were helping spot the birds while also trying to get some photos in some really lousy lighting :) All in all a bit of a wild day but fun and with good company. Weather: Winds didn't cooperate right off the bat as they were light directly from the W and remained that way for the first few hours before gaining strength as a number of thunderstorms rolled through. Twice we had to run for cover due to extended hail (dime sized) falling heavily across the hawk watch area with lots of lightning all around.... skies were pitch black. However, the storms would pass fairly quickly and we'd jump back out and more birds would move through. Temp started at 8C and got to 11C before dropping again by the end of the count period. Raptor Observations: A pretty good flight despite the crazy weather with a total of 485 birds most of which were Sharpies (265) along with a good flight of N. Harriers (34) including at least 8 that were adult males. We had some nice looks at passing Red-shouldered hawks (7) and 2 more very late Broadwings (1 juvie that was photographed and 1 adult). A couple more Peregrines also whipped through just as the 2nd round of hail hit. Non-raptor Observations: Some interesting non-raptors today with several sightings of shorebirds... with flocks of Dunlin and Killdeer, 3 small groups of Greater Yellowlegs (a couple of which were calling as they flew over) and a lone Wilson's Snipe. Also a Bonaparte's Gull, Hermit Thrush, lots of GC and RC Kinglets that were all around us in the nearby bushes for most of the day, 5 different woodpeckers... Downy, Hairy, Red-bellied, N. Flicker and Pileated, Eastern Phoebe, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Am. Robin, White-throated Sparrow, a lone Eastern Meadowlark, E. Starling, Am Goldfinch, RB Nuthatch, Eastern Bluebirds, Cedar Waxwings, Pine Siskins, Am. Pipits, Purple Finches, Black-capped Chickadees, N. Cardinal and near the end of the count a number of DE Juncos that flew directly behind the counters and sat nicely in the open not 10 ft away. Also of note.... 4 more MONARCHS! Predictions: Well... with winds forecast to be moderate from the NW for the entire day Sunday and (hopefully) a mix of sun and cloud... and a small chance of any precipitation... we should see a decent flight and we are now at the start of prime time for Golden Eagles migrating through the Hawk Cliff area. Hope to see you out there. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Dave Brown (thebro...@ezlink.ca) Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch information may be found at: http://www.ezlink.ca/~thebrowns/HawkCliff/index.htm More site information at hawkcount.org: http://hawkcount.org/siteinfo.php?rsite=392 _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca 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
