Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 12:00:00 Total observation time: 4 hours
Official Counter: Kiah Jasper
Observers: Daniel Lee, Juliette Herdman, Mike Jaber, Noel Herdman
Visitors: Thanks to Mike, Daniel, Noel and Juliette for helping out with the count today. I am fortunate to have such good company on these blustery November days, and even more fortunate to have company who brings me hot chocolate.
Weather: Another blustery day up on the tower! The wind was slightly reduced compared to yesterday at 25-40kph, though gusts over 50kph were fairly frequent. The wind was from the West today, which is a bit better for us than Southwest because the forest beside the lake seems to buffer the wind a bit. It was a chilly day at 1C, feeling more like -8C with the windchill. The sky was mainly overcast all day, with the sun breaking through dramatically sometimes, casting a golden glow over the marsh with dark storm clouds in the background. At times we could see bands of snow moving over the landscape to the North, but we only had a few snowflakes fall on the tower. The pressure held at around 30.03.
Raptor Observations: I was expecting another shutout today, So I was pleasantly surprised to see 12 migrating raptors. Turkey Vultures stubbornly took the top spot at 7, apparently they haven't gotten the memo that red-tails are meant to be more common at this point. Red-tailed Hawks followed in second place at 3, including a nice northern type adult bird. 1 Cooper's Hawk and 1 Red-shouldered Hawk added some diversity to the flight.
Non-raptor Observations: Quite a switch from yesterday, when we recorded large numbers of ducks on the lake but basically no other migration. Today the lake was pretty quiet for ducks, with finches and gulls being the main species moving in numbers. Large groups of American Herring Gull (368) moved along the shoreline, a single Lesser Black-backed Gull mixed in with them (3rd this season). Killdeer (3) made an appearance on the shoreline today after being absent all week, these shorebirds are getting late now and won't be around much longer. American Goldfinch (138) were doing their best to migrate into the headwind, often passing by low beneath the tower. Purple Finch (2), Common Grackle (1), American Robin (16) and Cedar Waxwing (14) were the only other songbirds seen migrating today. Tundra Swans (155) passed overhead in small groups throughout the morning, sometimes continuing South over Lake Erie. 48 species were observed from the tower today, for the eBird list click here - https://ebird.org/checklist/S286382546
Predictions: The last three days of the count are looking rather unpleasant at the moment. Tomorrow may be the most promising of the lot, not that that's saying very much. At -1C it will be another cold day on the tower, though the wind is meant to be a but lighter so that should make a difference. There is a slight chance the wind will shift from West to WNW. There is also a slight change for some sunshine during the first half of the day. These two factors could encourage some raptors to move, so we shall see what happens. South winds are forecasted for Saturday, followed by a windy and snowy end to the count on Sunday. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Kiah Jasper (<kiahbirder...>) Holiday Beach Hawk Watch information may be found at: http://hbmo.ca/
