Holiday Beach Hawk Watch Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 05, 2021 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Turkey Vulture 236 1305 6182 Osprey 2 3 20 Bald Eagle 2 3 85 Northern Harrier 22 52 255 Sharp-shinned Hawk 183 538 3886 Cooper's Hawk 16 26 108 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 6 8 11 Broad-winged Hawk 4 11 5252 Red-tailed Hawk 9 21 156 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 49 61 686 Merlin 2 3 93 Peregrine Falcon 0 2 53 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 531 2033 16787 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 9 hours Official Counter: Hugh Kent Observers: Chip Ogglesby, Liz Kent, Noel Herdman Visitors: We thank all today's observers for their efforts and those interested in the ongoing Hawk Count. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, access to the top level of Hawk Tower is limited to hawk counters and qualified observers only. The 2nd and lower levels are open to the public practising COVID-19 safe precautions (social distancing). Thank you for your understanding and involvement. Weather: The day started overcast and misty with visibility down to 5km. The day remained overcast but the mist lifted and visibility gradually improved. The wind was from the north east light to moderate and the temperature remained at about 20c throughout the day. Raptor Observations: The north wind produced a better selection of raptors today, with eleven species seen. Turkey Vultures took the top spot with 236, followed by Sharp-shinned Hawks at 183. American Kestrels improved their numbers of late with 49 seen. Northern Harriers had a good showing with 22, including a grey ghost. Although in low numbers it was good to see buteos return with Red-shoulders, Red-tails and Broad-wings all in attendance. Non-raptor Observations: Slow day today with a smaller selection of other species, the two high numbers were again Blue Jays (8380) migrating and Tree Swallows (815) feeding over the marsh. Three Common Nighthawks made an appearance over the wood and a Sandhill Crane was heard to the north. Duck numbers remain stable on the marsh, Herons and Egrets are reducing. The list can be viewed at https://ebird.org/checklist/S95653358 Predictions: Tomorrow should be sunny and much brighter than today with the wind from the north east. Hopefully this will encourage more thermal migration and more buteos probably mixed with the inevitable Turkey Vultures. It would be nice to see an increase in falcon numbers, especially American Kestrels. ======================================================================== 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 Count data submitted via Dunkadoo - Project info at: https://dunkadoo.org/explore/hbmo/hbmo-hawk-watch-fall-2021