Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Hugh Kent, Liz Kent
Observers: Liz Kent, Michelle Mastellotto, Noel Herdman, Peter Veighey
Visitors: Thanks to Liz for taking over as Official Counter for a period during the middle of the day and to Peter, Noel and Michelle for keeping us company. We were able to show off the Pelicans to Linda S, Judy, Linda J and Carol from Essex and Maidstone, Ann from LaSalle, Mary from Tecumseh, Chelsea and Kursten from Amherstburg and Weiner from Berlin, Germany.
Weather: Very pleasant day on the Tower with a light to moderate wind from the south east, scattered clouds and a temperature starting at 14c and reaching 23c in the afternoon. It was a bit hazy, restricting visibility slightly. The pressure stayed constant until mid morning and then fell 15 points throughout the remainder of the day.
Raptor Observations: Another quiet day with Turkey Vultures (905) making up the lion's share with a flightline way off to the north. Only Sharp-shinned Hawks (22) and Red-tailed Hawks (15) made it into double figures. It was good to see a Merlin passing the Tower low and fast chasing a bird.
Non-raptor Observations: American White Pelicans (458) were again stars of the show with people coming to see them not disappointed. Some started off close to the Tower in a feeding huddle but soon dispersed, with at least half staying in their usual place on the north west edge of the marsh. Good numbers of dabbling ducks today with a notable flock of Green-winged Teal (520) in a creek to the north of the marsh. A small group of Pied-billed Grebe (16) were good to see just north of the Tower. The young Red-headed Woodpecker and a Blackpoll Warbler are still lingering. It was good to hear Eastern Bluebirds travelling west overhead together with reasonable numbers of American Robin (54), Cedar Waxwing (147) and American Goldfinch (135). The list is at https://ebird.org/checklist/S199927106
Predictions: A moderate wind is forecast from the southwest turning west northwest in the afternoon. Starting cloudy it will become overcast in the afternoon. The temperature is forecast to be in the high teens all day. Hopefully a change in direction of the wind and increase in strength will bring along more raptors than today, although probably the same mix. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Hugh Kent (<Hughnkent...>) Holiday Beach Hawk Watch information may be found at: http://hbmo.ca/
