Observation start time: 06:30:00 Observation end time: 14:00:00 Total observation time: 7.5 hours
Official Counter: Erik van den Kieboom
Observers: Hugh Kent, Liz Kent, Mike Jaber
Visitors: Thank you to Mike for helping with the count during the morning hours! Thank you to Lou, Tori, Edward, John, and Robin for visiting us today!
Weather: Sunny, cloudless skies all day, with temperatures increasing from 16 to 26C during the count period. Wind was fairly light today, starting from the northwest and shifting to the southwest by late morning, and then to the southeast in the afternoon. Visibility was reduced in the morning by fog, but eventually cleared up mid-morning.
Raptor Observations: Raptor numbers were lower today compared to the past couple of days. Sharp-shinned Hawks and Northern Harriers began moving in the early morning close to the lakeshore due to more northerly winds. As the winds shifted southward, raptor movement began to shift far to the north, with distant views of most birds. Activity picked up in the late morning/early afternoon, with good numbers of Turkey Vultures, Sharp-shinned Hawks, and lower numbers of buteos, harriers, and falcons.
Non-raptor Observations: We observed 81 species of birds, including raptors, during the count period. Some highlights included the first Ring-necked Ducks, Redheads, and Common Loon of the season. Today's bird list can be found here: https://ebird.org/checklist/S277065881
Predictions: Tomorrow's forecast is calling for southerly winds and sunny skies, with a high of 28C. Wind speeds are expected to be within 10-15 km/h. This will likely push raptor movement further to the north, and this combined with cloudless skies will make raptors harder to spot. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Erik van den Kieboom (<ErikKieboom...>) Holiday Beach Hawk Watch information may be found at: http://hbmo.ca/
