Holiday Beach Hawk Watch
Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 20, 2021
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Turkey Vulture 3361 31714 36591
Osprey 0 8 25
Bald Eagle 0 37 119
Northern Harrier 40 230 433
Sharp-shinned Hawk 270 3748 7096
Cooper's Hawk 11 111 193
Northern Goshawk 0 2 2
Red-shouldered Hawk 8 55 58
Broad-winged Hawk 0 19 5260
Red-tailed Hawk 119 471 606
Rough-legged Hawk 0 1 1
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 15 661 1286
Merlin 1 20 110
Peregrine Falcon 2 30 81
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0
Unknown Buteo 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 0 0
Total: 3827 37107 51861
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Observation start time: 07:00:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 9 hours
Official Counter: Stasso, Jacob
Observers: Andrew Fix, Heather Broddy, Hugh Kent, Klekner, Olga,
Liz Kent, Michael Arthurs
Visitors:
We thank all today's observers for their outstanding efforts and those
interested in the ongoing Hawk Count. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, access
to the top level of Hawk Tower is limited to hawk counters and qualified
observers only. The 2nd and lower levels are open to the public practising
COVID-19 safe precautions (social distancing). Thank you for your
understanding and involvement.
Forecast
Weather:
Weather today consisted of clear skies and warm temperatures, with
temperatures rising from 10 degrees in the morning to a high of 21 C.
Southerly and souther-westerly wind dominated the day, however wind
strength died down by afternoon.
Raptor Observations:
Turkey vulture migration continues although at lower levels then yesterday
(3361). Additionally Sharpie movement remains within the hundreds, today at
270. Northern Harrier movement was strong but not as strong as yesterday's
(40). Buteo movement today was brief but still numerous with 119 Red tails
and 8 Red Shoulders. Falcon movement was low, with Kestrels only making up
15. Interestingly, all raptor movement seemed to die off by the onset of
afternoon as the winds died down.
Non-raptor Observations:
Non-raptor diversity was standard, with diverse marsh numbers and high
marsh counts of waterfowl. Blue Jay movement continues but it remains at
lower levels (3720). Crow movement is picking up with today's number at
370. Blackbird movements have slightly slowed down while an extreme
abundance of Starling murmurations were present with numbers totally
50,000. Of course a Peregrine was consistently harassing these
murmurations! Monarch levels were slightly higher today at 11.
https://ebird.org/checklist/S96483566
Predictions:
Tomorrow it is predicted to be quite rainy in the morning until about noon
with strong south-westerly winds being present throughout the whole day
until a shift to westerly at around 4 pm. Due to these factors,
temperatures are expected to be lower. Hopefully, rain and strong southerly
wind will not impede raptor movements but it is likely.
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Report submitted by Jacob Stasso ([email protected])
Holiday Beach Hawk Watch information may be found at:
http://hbmo.ca/
More site information at hawkcount.org:
https://hawkcount.org/siteinfo.php?rsite=100
Count data submitted via Dunkadoo - Project info at:
https://dunkadoo.org/explore/hbmo/hbmo-hawk-watch-fall-2021
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