Observation start time: 07:30:00 Observation end time: 14:45:00 Total observation time: 7.25 hours
Official Counter: Michael Burton-Smith
Observers: David Wharton, Kiah Jasper, Mike Jaber, Noel Herdman, Robin Smallwood, Stephen Courtney
Visitors: Congratulations to Robin who came up the tower this afternoon after a morning of absolute domination on the pickleball court. It was great to have Mike and Noel back after a short hiatus (and not just because of the double serving of hot chocolate), and to be aided by Kiah, Steve and David throughout the day.
Weather: Steady northwesterlies and temperatures hovering around five were balanced out by good birds, ample hot chocolate and patches of sunshine to keep us warm. Occasional bands of drizzle in the afternoon.
Raptor Observations: Wow, not bad for mid-November!
The hour after 0730 was an unreal start to the day, with seven different species of raptor including two close Rough-legged Hawk. As the day "warmed up" more and more, the buteos in particular really got going with strong numbers of Red-shouldered and Red-tailed Hawk. One Red-tailed Hawk was really ugly with very tatty feathers (we expect better at Holiday Beach), and another was extremely overweight with a very distended crop - both terrible ambassadors for their species. There were also a few more flocks of Turkey Vulture, continuing this unexpected run into mid-November.
The poor lighting made for rubbish duck-watching conditions today, and the strong winds and overcast conditions dampened most passerine numbers. Cedar Waxwing (642), Purple Finch (48), and American Goldfinch (1728) refuse to be silenced, however. Common Raven are living up to their name in 2026, with yet another sighting. Rusty Blackbird are also amping up in numbers, overtaking Red-wings to be the most common blackbird over the marsh today (770).
The biggest moment of the day for non-raptors came in the late morning as two white birds flew parallel to the shoreline behind us. Usually, Mute Swan are not viewed with any elation by our team, but there were cheers of jubilation as Kinky, our beautifully bent-necked babe, showed she was still kicking.
Predictions: Kiah has been talking up tomorrow and when Kiah says it you know it is true. Consistent northwesterlies should combine with patches of blue sky to make good conditions for both raptor and diurnal passerine migration, coupled with north winds overnight to bring in new waterfowl and songbirds around the tower. Good luck to our weekend crew! ======================================================================== Report submitted by Michael Burton-Smith () Holiday Beach Hawk Watch information may be found at: http://hbmo.ca/
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