Holiday Beach Hawk Watch Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 23, 2020 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Turkey Vulture 6 1009 52469 Osprey 0 0 9 Bald Eagle 0 25 84 Northern Harrier 3 125 731 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 140 8120 Cooper's Hawk 2 58 323 Northern Goshawk 0 1 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 210 748 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 45368 Red-tailed Hawk 51 2120 4850 Rough-legged Hawk 1 21 28 Golden Eagle 2 27 36 American Kestrel 0 5 1934 Merlin 0 5 162 Peregrine Falcon 1 7 119 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 1 Unknown Buteo 0 0 1 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 2 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 1 Total: 66 3753 114988 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: Hugh Kent Observers: Elizabeth Kent Visitors: We appreciate all the interest in the tower and the hawk watch but remind everyone that the tower remains closed to members of the public and has a three-person limit reserved for the Hawk Counters. Thank you to all who are respecting these precautions. Be safe everyone! Weather: The day started overcast but it gradually cleared, with the appearance of the sun very welcome in the early afternoon. The temperature rose slightly from 3 to 8c during the day. A brisk wind remained in the west, though veering slightly south and north throughout the day. Raptor Observations: Most of the Raptors were seen in the hours either side of midday. Red-tailed hawks led the pack at 51, with the remainder in low numbers; Turkey Vulture 6, Northern Harrier 3, Cooper's Hawk 2. It was great to observe 2 adult Golden Eagles flying over the marsh around midday. They were escorted off the premises by 2 immature Bald Eagles. Interesting to see the size difference. Close views of a dark morph Rough-legged Hawk and adult Peregrine helped make the day one to remember. Non-raptor Observations: Wildfowl numbers are decreasing on the marsh, with the exception of Ring-necked Duck (1810). However the variety seems to be increasing, we observed 13 species of duck, including the 3 Mergansers, Bufflehead, Goldeneye, Canvasback and Redhead. Double-crested Cormorants (7) are hanging on, Mute Swan (26) numbers are less than Tundra Swans (55). Finches are still flying in numbers; American Goldfinch (309), Pine Siskin (114) and Common Redpoll (32). A full list can be found at https://ebird.org/checklist/S76614305 Predictions: After a possibly bright start, it will be a dull day finishing with rain in the late afternoon. The temperature will remain low and the wind will be from the south east. We hope that some raptors will fly, but it probably will not be many :( ======================================================================== Report submitted by Hugh Kent (Hughnkent@gmail.com) 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