Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 27, 2024 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 5 8 8 Osprey 8 41 42 Bald Eagle 14 41 41 Northern Harrier 60 221 221 Sharp-shinned Hawk 87 1810 1810 Cooper's Hawk 12 34 34 American Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 3 3 Broad-winged Hawk 21 1245 1275 Red-tailed Hawk 7 50 50 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 101 1107 1108 Merlin 2 40 40 Peregrine Falcon 1 14 15 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: 318 4614 4647 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 06:00:00 Observation end time: 14:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: Dave Brown Observers: Chris Burris Visitors: Quite a few visitors today and they were very helpful with spotting birds as the flight was spread across the sky (not enough of a northerly component in the winds). A big thanks to Chris B who was helping me today as an observer. Weather: An interesting day for weather as it started out much drier and VERY windy right off the bat. Winds were strong from the NE then backed to ENE, E and finally ended with SE winds but remaining strong. There was a high overcast cloud for the day as well and a wonderful sun dog as the sun rose. Temps were about 15C to start and got to a high of 23C. Raptor Observations: The day started like yesterday ended with a push pf birds right as the sun was coming up... only today it was N. Harriers (60) with the bulk of these tallied in the first 3 hours from 7-10 am bird time. We also had a number of Osprey (8) several of which passed right low along the cliff and a few others that got a bit higher as winds shifted straight out of the E. Some Cooper's Hawks (12) and Sharpies (87) were being pushed through quickly on the strong tail winds. We also had all 3 falcon species today with Am Kestrels (101), Merlins (2) and a lone Peregrine. The total raptors for the day was 318. Non-raptor Observations: The Blue Jays were putting on another big push today with 1000's moving through during the first few hours before petering out by 11 am or so. There were lots of other passerines flying past including a couple of flocks of Am Pipits and Am Goldfinch and a nice flyby of the local pair of Pileated Woodpeckers. Unfortunately, with the strong winds most of the warblers, vireos and so on we hiding out of sight... we could only hear their calls. For more details check out Chris B's eBird checklist at the following link: https://ebird.org/checklist/S196681676 Very few Monarchs today with less than 10 being seen. Predictions: The forecast for Saturday is E winds (which spreads the flight out) and a possibility of rain so not the best conditions for a flight. Sunday has much better winds with predicted moderate NE but again a threat of rain. If the rain were to hold off on Sunday some birds my push through on these more favourable winds. Note that the TUV (Thremal Updraft Velocity) forecast for Saturday is quite poor so the birds wouldn't be getting any decent thermals. The TUV for Sunday is a bit better but still so-so. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Dave Brown (ez.raptor1210@gmail.com) Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch information may be found at: http://www.ezlink.ca/~thebrowns/HawkCliff/index.htm More site information at hawkcount.org: https://hawkcount.org/siteinfo.php?rsite=392