Holiday Beach Migration Observatory Essex County, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 10, 2003 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Turkey Vulture 526 5135 5371 Osprey 1 16 85 Bald Eagle 1 7 62 Northern Harrier 29 330 604 Sharp-shinned Hawk 87 2799 6695 Cooper's Hawk 5 111 209 Northern Goshawk 0 5 14 Red-shouldered Hawk 3 12 14 Broad-winged Hawk 6 2653 6776 Red-tailed Hawk 8 88 203 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 9 620 1800 Merlin 0 15 48 Peregrine Falcon 0 15 37 Unknown 9 12 18 Swainson's Hawk 0 1 1 Total: 684 11819 21937 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours Official Counter: Bob Pettit Observers: Dorothy McLeer, Jim Crozier, Jim McCoy, Kathy Evans Visitors: Pastor Scott and Maggie Kigar and many students from the first Baptist Church of Rochester (MI) were on the tower most of the day. Weather: Rainy (drizzle) until 12 noon EST. Wind generally SE but times swinging NW, W, E, S. Crazy! Wind speed (calm)0-3 mph. For a few minutes some blue sky but clouds returned. Observations: Harriers and Sharpies began low over marsh then medium alt. and finally very high at limit of unaided vision. Turkey Vultures were in several kettles of 40-80 individuals. Kettles formed after the rain stopped completely. Large gull movement. They got in the way of finding raptors and of course distant individuals and massive 'kettles' made for false looks by observers. INSECTS were also moving. small winged ants were bitting us. "Parachute spiders" (2-3 foot web strand with small spider moving on the wind) were landing on us too (winds were mostly calmafter the rain). Predictions: A note to visitors from USA using the Bridge to Canada. 1. Only one lane open in AM to Canada and one lane open in PM to USA. 2.On weekend the time on Bridge is usually not long. 3. On weekdays USE the TUNNEL TO Canada. Check Windsor map for further directions. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Bob Pettit (redknot@earthlink.net) Holiday Beach Migration Observatory information may be found at: http://hbmo.org/ reports@hawkcount.org Visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm for information on leaving and joining the list. As well as general information and content guidelines.