Holiday Beach Conservation Area Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 10, 2013 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Turkey Vulture 2286 5959 9571 Osprey 0 11 68 Bald Eagle 3 32 255 Northern Harrier 15 52 271 Sharp-shinned Hawk 32 346 4857 Cooper's Hawk 8 94 346 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 5 6 24 Broad-winged Hawk 0 3 48629 Red-tailed Hawk 24 60 427 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 2 2 4 American Kestrel 3 182 1072 Merlin 0 10 70 Peregrine Falcon 0 9 29 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 0 0 6 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 1 Gyrfalcon 0 1 1 Mississippi Kite 0 0 1 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 7 Total: 2378 6767 65639 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 15:30:00 Total observation time: 8.5 hours Official Counter: Todd Pepper Observers: Chris Craft, Ed Pitts Visitors: Steve from Belle River came back to see us again this week, as did two lay sisters from Madonna House. We also had 64 studends and teachers from St. Peter School in Tecumseh. I do not have room in the hourly data sheet to list all the "official observers" out today so I will list them here (in order of appearance): Larry Ludwicki; Frank Dolby; Ed Pitts; Carol Pitts; Chris Craft; John Craft; Cindy Isenhoff; Cramer; Olga Klekner; Roland Klekner. Special thanks to Chris, Larry and Ed for filling in for me as I opened the passerine banding nets to attempt to band some birds for the school group, with no success. Weather: As predicted, a bright, sunny, cloudless day with temperatures between 12 and 21C. The winds were light out of the SE most of the day with some shifts to S and SW. Raptor Observations: The percentage of raptors other than TV's increased a little bit today to 4% compared to yesterday's 1.2%. TV's totalled 2,286 birds, while the other 8 species accounted for 92 birds for a total of 2,378. Two immature Golden Eagles today, despite winds that would normally not be conducive to their migration. Non-raptor Observations: Another slow non-raptor migration day with most of the action taking place again within the first two hours of the day. The surprise of the day was to see 25 Great Egret in the marsh immediately north of the hawk tower first thing this morning when there has only been 10-12 Egrets each day for the last 2 weeks. The first American Crows flew today, but only totalled 13 birds. 33 Monarchs. Predictions: Another repeat of today and the last 2 days: sunny and warm at 10-22C. The good news is that winds are predicted to be out of the NE in the a.m. at 10 km/hr. That should get some migration moving. It could be another big TV afternoon when the winds shift to come out of the E at 15 km/hr. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Todd Pepper (pepper_todd@yahoo.ca) Holiday Beach Conservation Area information may be found at: http://hbmo.ca/ Directions to site: 1. Entering Canada from Detroit at the Ambassador Bridge: After Canadian Customs you are on Huron Church Road leading to Highway 401 and Highway 3. Continue east through the construction to HOWARD AVENUE ROUTE 9 SOUTH. Turn RIGHT onto HOWARD ROUTE 9 and 'carefully' follow signs south TO ITS END at County Road 20. Turn RIGHT (west) on County Road 20. Continue west to intersection with Route 50 with Ure's Country Kitchen & Variety on the LEFT. Turn LEFT onto Route 50 south going 1.3 miles. Soon after the left curve on Route 50 is the entrance to the Holiday Beach Conservation Area on the RIGHT. Pay the daily vehicle fee of $10 at gate or at credit card reader. Continue to the Hawk Tower parking at the south end of the park. Park vehicle and walk to the Hawk Tower. 2. West bound on Routes 401 and 3: Take HOWARD AVENUE ROUTE 9 SOUTH. Continue with directions above. Bring with you birding gear: books, binocs, scopes, camera, hat or bill cap, insect repellent, sunscreen, folding chair, (drink and food during non-festival time). Dress for the weather. It is cooler near the lake. (You may purchase an annual pass and electronic fob at the Essex Region Conservation Area building, 360 Fairview W Essex, ON N8M 1Y3, Canada, 519-776-5209, erca.org.) PLEASE OBEY SPEED LIMITS!