Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 26, 2011 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 447 32778 32936 Osprey 0 43 186 Bald Eagle 0 71 170 Northern Harrier 7 559 1045 Sharp-shinned Hawk 84 7502 12751 Cooper's Hawk 4 312 361 Northern Goshawk 0 10 10 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 45 45 Broad-winged Hawk 0 764 73020 Red-tailed Hawk 0 330 354 Rough-legged Hawk 1 3 3 Golden Eagle 1 37 37 American Kestrel 1 2344 5066 Merlin 1 86 144 Peregrine Falcon 0 15 38 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 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 1 Total: 546 44899 126167 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 14:00:00 Total observation time: 6 hours Official Counter: Colin Horstead Observers: Ian Cannell, Norm Murr, Ronnie Goodhand Visitors: There were a couple of visitors today...Tina Den-Besten (Kitchener) and her sister Leah Den-Besten (Montreal) who enjoyed the look at the Roughleg through the scope. A big thanks to Ian Cannell (Concorde) and Norm Murr (Richmond Hill) for helping with today's count...and glad they got at least the young Golden Eagle for their efforts. And thanks of course to Colin and Ronnie for hanging in to complete a count today.. Weather: Pretty much overcast for the day again...with one small break in the clouds and a bit of sunshine that quickly filled in again. Temp ranged 10C to a high of 18C. Winds were calm to start then light from the NW. Raptor Observations: The flight was again better than expected with a total of 546 birds tallied. Once again the majority were TV's (447), Harriers (7), Sharpies (84),Cooper's hawks (4), Roughleg (1), A single Golden Eagle (looked like a juvie) and 1 each of Merlin and Kestrel. The Roughleg actually lit on a small scrub bush across fro the observation site....providing great views for today's visitors through the counters scope. Non-raptor Observations: A couple of loons spotted today, Am. Robins, RC and GC Kinglets, C. Waxwings, lots of flocks of Blackbirds, Pileated Woodpecker, a couple of hairy Woodpeckers...and a deer out in the field near the observers. There were still a couple of Monarchs seen as well. Predictions: Thursday could prove very interesting for various reasons... 1) The weather in the north been as wet as down here 2) The winds in these areas have for the past couple of days had mostly a northern component...helping push the birds our direction. 3) Temperatures in the north have also started to drop to below freezing which often gets the birds moving 4) The temps in southern Ontario are set to drop quite a bit tonight. So...if the rain clears prior to sunrise and the air dries out there could be a reasonably good flight tomorrow. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Dave Brown (thebrowns@ezlink.on.ca) Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch information may be found at: http://www.ezlink.on.ca/~thebrowns/HawkCliff/index.htm