Observation start time: 07:00:00
Observation end time: 15:00:00
Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Hugh Kent, Kiah Jasper, Michael Burton-Smith
Observers: Bryan Girling, Frances Girling, Hugh Kent, John Winebrenner,
Kiah Jasper, Lisa Silvey, Liz Kent, Matt Brannagan,
Michelle Mastellotto, Noel Herdman, Robin Smallwood
Visitors:
Thanks to Hugh and Kiah who stood in for me this morning - Kiah proved he
is an asset even in absence by phoning in a Golden Eagle he saw while
driving home!! It was lovely to be assisted by Bryan, Fran, John, Lisa,
Liz, Matt, Michelle, Noel and Robin, who kept great company when the birds
were slow. Fran's chocolate chip muffins have set a very high bar for
bakers on the tower. Even now that the park is closed to vehicles we still
have plenty of visitors, and it was lovely to see Doug, Sally, Dan, Jude,
Brenda, Peter, Anne, and three precious pooches through the day.
Weather:
Mainly clear skies, although a heavy haze on the horizon intensified in the
afternoon. Light southeasterly winds throughout the day limited
temperatures to the upper teens.
Raptor Observations:
A very quiet morning but a significant one, with three Merlin pushing us to
within six of our all time season record. The afternoon stream of Turkey
Vulture and Red-tailed Hawk was distant and only occasionally punctuated
with Red-shouldered and Cooper�s Hawk. This flight line north of the marsh
is usually frustrating, but today the more horizontal angle created rare
opportunities for aging Golden Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk and male Northern
Harriers more specifically than can be done when the birds are overhead.
Four Horned Grebe over Lake Erie were a pleasant sight and just our second
record for the season so far. A late scream of "Monarch!" was met with a
cheer from across the tower. The marsh has some added furniture thanks to
the local Musk Rats, with their sizeable lodges repurposed into comfortable
sun sofas by Mute Swan, Great Blue Heron and two of our immature
gallinules. The gallinule chicks increasingly have us feeling like parents
of a teenager in their final year of high school, knowing that one day very
soon they will be ready to venture off into the world leaving us behind.
Predictions:
As indicated by today's drop in barometric pressure, there will likely be
some scattered showers around tomorrow - whether these hit the tower or not
is another story! The winds are generally poor for raptors, but the strong
southerlies and good cloud cover may create nice conditions for
lake-watching through the day.
If we can defy the weather and get a few kettles of Turkey Vulture and
Red-tailed Hawk in the afternoon, listen for us cheering from as far away
as Detroit as we hopefully celebrate our 200,000th raptor for the year!
========================================================================
Report submitted by Michael Burton-Smith ()
Holiday Beach Hawk Watch information may be found at:
http://hbmo.ca/
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