Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 18, 2010 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 233 8287 9355 Osprey 0 44 322 Bald Eagle 0 51 191 Northern Harrier 12 465 1279 Sharp-shinned Hawk 9 5054 12307 Cooper's Hawk 1 116 218 Northern Goshawk 0 5 6 Red-shouldered Hawk 7 108 119 Broad-winged Hawk 0 505 99101 Red-tailed Hawk 4 523 587 Rough-legged Hawk 0 1 1 Golden Eagle 0 6 6 American Kestrel 1 807 4324 Merlin 0 31 171 Peregrine Falcon 0 24 76 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 Total: 267 16027 128063 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 14:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours Official Counter: Colin Horstead Observers: Jim Dunn, Mark Cunningham, Mary Carnahan, Ronnie Goodhand Visitors: Visitors today included Ken Button (Welland) and Jeff and Paul (St. Thomas). Weather: Lots of cloud...damp air and a cool 8C to start and reaching a high of just 13C. Wind was light NW then swinging to S and then going variable. Raptor Observations: The total for today's flight was 267....mostly TV's (233). Highlights included some nice low Harriers (12), a few Red-shoulders (7) and some good kettles of TV's. Another lone Kestrel to represent the falcons today. It was sighted right along the cliff. Non-raptor Observations: Lots of birdsong greeted early birders this morning from Dexter Line right on down to the end of Hawk Cliff Rd., as many migrants foraged and socialized. There are so many thrushes and sparrows in the bushes that it is impossible to estimate their actual numbers. A few interesting highlights were noted including more PURPLE FINCHES (both male and female), numerous DOWNY & HAIRY WOODPECKERS, YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS, a few WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCHES & BROWN CREEPERS and 2 GREAT BLUE HERONS. A single PILEATED WOODPECKER flew across the field (eastwards toward the woodlot) at Sharpie Alley providing a spectacular view for early hawkwatchers. Predictions: Moderate W winds predicted with a mix of sun and cloud. There will be birds on the move....as long as there's enough thermal activity to go with the wind. The good news is that the thermal updraft velocities are predicted to be quite high in the Hawk Cliff area and to the east for most of the day Tuesday. ======================================================================== 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