Holiday Beach Migration Observatory Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 29, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Turkey Vulture 0 834 14752 Osprey 0 0 83 Bald Eagle 0 16 61 Northern Harrier 0 24 272 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 133 5504 Cooper's Hawk 0 85 368 Northern Goshawk 0 23 28 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 249 403 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 27843 Red-tailed Hawk 0 1579 2771 Rough-legged Hawk 0 35 64 Golden Eagle 0 40 42 American Kestrel 0 1 1369 Merlin 0 4 62 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 15 Unknown 0 106 239 Total: 0 3129 53876 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 12:00:00 Total observation time: 4 hours Official Counter: Claude Radley Observers: Weather: An overcast layer of Altocumulus at 13000 ft. became scatterd and allowed the sun to shine for a while through the patchy cirrus above. Near the end of the watch a deck of Stratocumulus based at 2500 feet formed in the onshore flow. Visibility improved from 10 km to 30 km as the morning wore on. The early wind was light out of the NE but gradually veered to the South and increasing to 12 KPH by noon. Observations: The only raptors seen today were the immature BE patrolling the north shore and one adult BE on it's normal roost to the west. The only migrating passerines noted were two flights of Goldfinches totalling 36 birds. Locals included Tree Sparrows, Swamp Sparrows, and an immature White Throated Sparrow. Carolina wrens are still present and serenaded most of the morning. The Kingfisher is also still about as are the local Downy Woodpecker and Flicker. The waterfowl as reported on the 26th were still present (estimated 3,000 birds in the marsh) as well as two very large rafts of unidentified birds (5,000+) at the limit of visibility out on the lake. Predictions: An area of low pressure is moving out of the southern Mississippi valley this evening. Ahead and to the north of this system the airmass is quite moist and stable which indicates widespread stratus ceilings and reduced visibility for Holiday Beach. As the low passes to the southeast we can expect the infeed of moisture ahead of the attendant upper trough to trigger light rain/snow showers by midmorning. The shallow pressure gradient means that winds will be light and variable for the day. Expect ceiling in the neighbourhood of 600 feet and visibilty abound 3 km in mist in the early morning. By about 9:00 a.m. look for the 600 foot ceiling to scatter out below an overcast layer based around 1500 feet producing visibily around 3-6 km in light rain/snow showers becoming rain showers as the day progresses. Temperatures will climb to about 6C from an early morning reading of near freezing. I can safely predict that few if any birds will be reported tomorrow. So ends my first season on the tower (although Bob P. has threatening to drag me out in December if we get decent weather) Enjoyable, fruitful and enlightening. Met some wonderful folk in a worthy persuit. Those whom I don't see Saturday I will see next year. Those who read this list and haven't been out, come on down...a great experience and all are welcome. CHEERS!!! ======================================================================== Report submitted by Claude Radley (ca@radley.ca) Holiday Beach Migration Observatory information may be found at: http://hbmo.org/