Holiday Beach Hawk Watch Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 28, 2024 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Turkey Vulture 1 3426 68147 Osprey 0 0 24 Bald Eagle 2 79 411 Northern Harrier 4 166 1057 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 262 8751 Cooper's Hawk 2 105 320 American Goshawk 0 2 4 Red-shouldered Hawk 2 285 616 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 4331 Red-tailed Hawk 22 1621 3416 Rough-legged Hawk 2 12 29 Golden Eagle 2 78 122 American Kestrel 0 3 1706 Merlin 1 20 107 Peregrine Falcon 0 10 96 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 Mississippi Kite 0 0 1 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 2 Total: 38 6069 89140 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours Official Counter: Hugh Kent, Mike Jaber Observers: Hugh Kent, Ian Woodfield, Juliette Herdman, Liz Kent, Michael Arthurs, Mike Jaber, Noel Herdman Visitors: Thanks again to Mike, Michael, Ian, Liz, Noel and Juliette for helping out with observing and counting. A big thanks to Noel and Juliette who arrived with a very warming soup/stew, cookies and hot chocolate. We all very much appreciated the food which was most welcome on a cold day. Weather: A strong, then moderate wind initially north north west then changing to west north west around midday. Chilly with the temperatures starting at 2c and rising to 5c at midday. Visibility was good, despite the heavy grey cloud with the sun only poking through occasionally. The pressure rose 5 points throughout the day. Raptor Observations: A good day for variety with an early light phase Rough-legged Hawk and a gorgeous midday dark phase Rough-legged Hawk. Also two Golden Eagles at 13.01 and 14.15. Red-tailed Hawks (22) topped the bill, next were Northern Harrier (4). Throughout the day there were ones and twos of the following: Bald Eagle (2), Cooper's Hawk (2), Red-shouldered Hawk (2), a single Turkey Vulture and a single Merlin. A total of 9 species which is not bad for this time of year. Non-raptor Observations: Very quiet day for small birds with only American Goldfinch (62) reaching double figures. A different waterbird story with more activity on the lake including Common Goldeneye (16), Bufflehead (30), Red-breasted Merganser (185) and Hooded Merganser (2). Ducks on the marsh seem to be holding their own, with the exception of American Coot whose numbers have dwindled to 5 close to the Tower. The list is at https://ebird.org/checklist/S203717571 Predictions: There may be a dusting of snow to greet us on the tower tomorrow morning, accompanied by freezing temperatures and a moderate west wind, increasing to strong. The sky will be overcast. Probably fewer raptors will be flying than today . ======================================================================== 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