[Ontbirds] HSR: Holiday Beach (02 Oct 2009) 750 Raptors

[reports at hawkcount.org]

Holiday Beach
Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 02, 2009
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Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Turkey Vulture             721           1428           2683
Osprey                       0              1             73
Bald Eagle                   0              2             94
Northern Harrier             1              9            344
Sharp-shinned Hawk          19            182           5344
Cooper's Hawk                2             26            210
Northern Goshawk             0              0              1
Red-shouldered Hawk          0              0              5
Broad-winged Hawk            0             13          18185
Red-tailed Hawk              0              7            229
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0              0              1
American Kestrel             1             31           1051
Merlin                       3              6             69
Peregrine Falcon             3              6             40
Unknown Accipiter            0              0              6
Unknown Buteo                0              0              7
Unknown Eagle                0              0              0
Unknown Falcon               0              0              1
Unknown Raptor               0              0              1

Total:                     750           1711          28344
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Observation start time: 07:00:00 
Observation end   time: 16:00:00 
Total observation time: 6 hours

Official Counter:        Justin Bosler

Observers:        Bob Pettit

Visitors:
Bob Pettit arrived at the Tower by 3:00 PM. 


Weather:
Overcast skies with rain between 700 and 900 EST. East-southeast winds at
10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 25 mph. Overcast to partly cloudy skies
between 1200 and 1600 EST. Rapid clearing after 1300 EST when winds turned
Southwest. South-southeast winds swinging around to Southwest at 10 to 15
mph. Temps. ranged from 11 to 16.8C. Such a drastic change in the weather
made it feel like two completely different days.

Raptor Observations:
Vultures were lifting off less than two hours after the rain ceased. A
steady stream of vultures most of the afternoon. One continuous line of
birds started out along the shoreline but soon shifted slightly north to
apparently circum-navigate the marsh. Third day in a row with a lucky 700+.

Non-raptor Observations:
Low diversity of birds today with the unsettled weather. A number of Tree
Swallows (200-300) hawking insects low over the marsh in the rain and wind
this morning.

Predictions:
Mostly cloudy skies with rain showers possible. South-southwest to
Southwest winds at 10 to 15 mph. High of 15C. Chance of rain around 50%.
Another decent flight tomorrow if the rain holds off.
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Report submitted by Justin Bosler (justin.bosler at gmail.com)
Holiday Beach Migration Observatory information may be found at:
http://hbmo.org/