Hello HMANA List Subscribers

Saturday, November 23, 1996

I now know what that feeling is when one waits for hours and days for those "special" hawks to pass the count site. Even though Holiday Beach has "many" individuals that pass in a season, there comes a time when the flood becomes less than a trickle. As noted on some of the posings from me this past several weeks of November has not been generous to HBMO observers. This is the time of the count that I become humble in my sightings. To the eastern counts that have quality birds but few birds per day, I "bough" to your seasonal fortitude.

When one is alone as the guardian of the watch and the birds are ephemeral, one's mind races to other thoughts. Today I didn't solve many global problems.

Most Official Numbers



RT  2 west bound

RT  1 east bound

RT total 1

Daily total 1



10,000 Duck species (mostly Mallards)



Hours 8:30-3:00

Observers 1

Visitors 8





- Bob



Bob Pettit

userbobpet@aol.com

Holiday Beach Migration Observatory, President



23393 Meadows Ave.

Flat Rock, MI 48134



313-379-4558 home

313-384-4256 work

313-242-9711 fax

Fellow Watchers

Note that the following records have not been checked or confirmed and that some of them may be subject to review by the Ontario Bird Records Committee (OBRC) and HBMO. Publishing here does not indicate acceptance.

Any researchers wishing to do analysis of our data should refer to the official reports published in HMANA's "Hawk Migration Studies." For non-raptors refer to the annual "HBCA Migration Summary" published by HBMO.

My "Hawk Migration Studies" arrived yesterday!!! Another fine issue. Thanks Jeff Dodge.

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November 20, 1996

Wednesday



TV - 9

NH - 2

SS - 4

CH - 2

RS - 10

RT - 154

PG - 1

Total - 182.

NNW wind



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November 21, 1996

Thrusday



TV - 9

NH - 3

SS - 6

CH - 5

RS - 2

RT - 224

RL - 9

Total - 258.

NNW-N Wind



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November 22, 1996

Friday



NH = 7

RS = 3

RT = 18

Total: 28

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"We never miss the music till the sweet-voiced bird has flown."  

O. Henry (1862-1910)  American writer.



- Bob



Bob Pettit                       Allen Chartier 

co-compiler                      co-compiler

userbobpet@aol.com               amazilia@aol.com

313-379-4558 home

313-384-4256 work

313-242-9711 fax

Fellow Watchers

Note that the following records have not been checked or confirmed and that some of them may be subject to review by the Ontario Bird Records Committee (OBRC) and HBMO. Publishing here does not indicate acceptance.

Any researchers wishing to do analysis of our data should refer to the official reports published in HMANA's "Hawk Migration Studies." For non-raptors refer to the annual "HBCA Migration Summary" published by HBMO.

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November 17, 1996

Saturday

Wind SE 10-15 mph

7:00 am-12:00 pm observation

Rain after 2:00 PM (At the "bridge" on the way home.)



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TV   4 

Total - 4 -

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Non-raptors:

A few birds (non-raptors) passed: 400 Am. Crows, 50 Am. Gold Finch, 5 Lapland Longspurs, 40 Bonaparte's Gulls, 3 Greater Black-backed Gulls, Downy Woodpecker,and Northern Flicker.

Raptors:

Well as you can see the SE wind, or as I call it the "Death Wind" was waiting for us at Holiday Beach.

How appropriate to have the "Death Wind" with just Turkey Vultures migrating.

In honor ot Turkey Vultures I am presenting the following information on the The Turkey Vulture Society.

It is an international non-profit (501(c)(3)) corporation for the scientific study of the Turkey Vulture (_Cathartes aura_), and major clearing house and centra library for published papers, reports, news items, and other information related to the vulture. Contact them at the following addresses. Mention HMANA and this list serve.

e-mail: vulture@accutek.com.
website: http://www.accutek.com/vulture/

Nothing wholly admirable ever happens in this country except the migration of birds. Brooks Atkinson, (1894-1984), American critic.

- Bob



Bob Pettit                       Allen Chartier 

co-compiler                      co-compiler

userbobpet@aol.com               amazilia@aol.com

313-379-4558 home

313-384-4256 work

313-242-9711 fax

Fellow Watchers

Note that the following records have not been checked or confirmed and that some of them may be subject to review by the Ontario Bird Records Committee (OBRC) and HBMO. Publishing here does not indicate acceptance.

Any researchers wishing to do analysis of our data should refer to the official reports published in HMANA's "Hawk Migration Studies." For non-raptors refer to the annual "HBCA Migration Summary" published by HBMO.

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November 16, 1996

Friday

SE wind (The "Death Wind")



TV    7

NH   3 (all males)  

SS     2       

RT     10

GE      3

UB      1

Total - 26 -

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Thanks to Bob Hall-Brooks for covering Saturday while Sue Tanner and I

attended the Whitefish Point Bird Observatory's Board of Directors 

meeting in Midland, MI.



Sue and I will be at the tower Sunday. Please let it be any wind 

but SE or S.   Ho well!



Let's keep looking up



- Bob



Bob Pettit                       Allen Chartier 

co-compiler                      co-compiler

userbobpet@aol.com               amazilia@aol.com

313-379-4558 home

313-384-4256 work

313-242-9711 fax

Fellow Watchers

Note that the following records have not been checked or confirmed and that some of them may be subject to review by the Ontario Bird Records Committee (OBRC) and HBMO. Publishing here does not indicate acceptance.

Any researchers wishing to do analysis of our data should refer to the official reports published in HMANA's "Hawk Migration Studies." For non-raptors refer to the annual "HBCA Migration Summary" published by HBMO.

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November 14, 1996

Thursday



TV       2 

SS       4

RS     19

RT   220

GE       2

Total - 248 -

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November 15, 1996

Thrusday



TV      3

NH     5 (1 male)

SS      3

CH     5

NG     1

RS      2

RT    16

RL      1 (dk phase)   

Total - 36 -

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You can't be suspicious of a tree, or accuse a bird or a squirrel of subversion or challenge the ideology of a violet. Hal Borland, "Spring Is for Laughter - April l3," Sundial of the Seasons (1964).

-Bob



Bob Pettit                       Allen Chartier 

co-compiler                      co-compiler

userbobpet@aol.com               amazilia@aol.com

313-379-4558 home

313-384-4256 work

313-242-9711 fax

Fellow Watchers

Note that the following records have not been checked or confirmed and that some of them may be subject to review by the Ontario Bird Records Committee (OBRC) and HBMO. Publishing here does not indicate acceptance.

Any researchers wishing to do analysis of our data should refer to the official reports published in HMANA's "Hawk Migration Studies." For non-raptors refer to the annual "HBCA Migration Summary" published by HBMO.

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Nov. 12, 1996

Tuesday

NO REPORT SENT TO ME.

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Nov. 13, 1996

Wednesday



TV    4

NH   3

SS    5

CH   9

NG   2

RS   6

RT   106

RL   1

Total  136

Wind was light from the west.  Also had 28 Sandhill Cranes and 83 Tundra

Swans.





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-Bob



Bob Pettit                       Allen Chartier 

co-compiler                      co-compiler

userbobpet@aol.com               amazilia@aol.com

313-379-4558 home

313-384-4256 work

313-242-9711 fax

Fellow Watchers

Note that the following records have not been checked or confirmed and that some of them may be subject to review by the Ontario Bird Records Committee (OBRC) and HBMO. Publishing here does not indicate acceptance.

Any researchers wishing to do analysis of our data should refer to the official reports published in HMANA's "Hawk Migration Studies." For non-raptors refer to the annual "HBCA Migration Summary" published by HBMO.

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 Nov. 9, 1996

Saturday



  TV   32

  BE   1

  NH   19

  SS   20

  CH   12

  RS   18

  RT   350

  RL   9

  AK   1

  UB   3

  Total  465



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Nov. 10, 1996

Sunday



TV    52

BE      2

NH    15

SS    7

CH    11

NG     2

RS    36

RT    478

RL    6

GE    2

AK    2

PG    1

UR    

Total    614



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Nov. 11, 1996

Monday



TV    60

NH    6

SS    16

CH    13

RS    17

RT    822

RL    3

GE    9  (All between 10:10am-12:45pm)

AK    1

UA    1

UF    1

Total   949 



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-Bob



Bob Pettit                       Allen Chartier 

co-compiler                      co-compiler

userbobpet@aol.com               amazilia@aol.com

313-379-4558 home

313-384-4256 work

313-242-9711 fax

Fellow Watchers

Because I didn't recieve reports every day and since I just returned from the HMANA board meeting at Hawk Mt. (10 hours both ways) I am listing Saturday, Nov 2 through Saturday, Nov. 9. The comments and other sightings were provided By Betty Learmouth, HBMO's Newsletter Editor. She has been publishing a weekly report (_Tower Talk_) which is posted at the sight so that visitors can read a sommary of the weeks events.

Note that the following records have not been checked or confirmed and that some of them may be subject to review by the Ontario Bird Records Committee (OBRC) and HBMO. Publishing here does not indicate acceptance.

Any researchers wishing to do analysis of our data should refer to the official reports published in HMANA's "Hawk Migration Studies." For non-raptors refer to the annual "HBCA Migration Summary" published by HBMO.

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Nov. 2, 1996

Saturday



TV    189

NH    7

SS    39

CH    13

RS    2

RT    530

RL    7

GE    4

AK    3

ML    1

UR    5

Total    800

This day really felt cold (where are the snowmobile suits?) with a cold winter blowing under overcast conditions until mid morning when hawk watchers enjoyed a blue sky and white clouds before the grey clouds closed in again. Despite the weather conditions, several groups of hawk watchers traveled to Holiday Beach from as far away as Cleveland, Ohio. Hawk watching was steady from 9:30 through the noon hour. Groups of migrating crows were mixed with Red-tailed Hawks and a small groups of Turkey Vultures. The second and third Golden Eagles (both immatures) were spotted in high kettles with Red-tailed Hawks over Big Creek Marsh. The three Northern Harriers observed were two males and an immature. Flocks of Tundra Swans were observed including one flock of 45 high overhead in a blue sky and two groups of three and four birds for a total of 68. Eight hundred crows were tallied.

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Nov. 3, 1996

Sunday



TV    57

NH    3

SS    15

CH    11

NG    2

RS    10

RT    81

RL    3

GE    5

AK    1

Total    188

An overcast, cold day (1-3x C) with winds west southwest to southwest at 15-20 kilometers per hour. The Golden Eagles were all immatures that took 9, 15, 15, 39 and 49 minutes to reach Lake Erie Metro Park. The flight line moved to the north in the afternoon. An immature Golden Eagle was seen at the junction of Essex Road 10 and Essex Road 9 (6 km. north of the site) , circling low over a field (below treetops), with a full crop, and eventually going to roost in a tree on the edge of a farmer's field. Other observations were 50 Dunlin, 50 Pipits, 5 Lapland Longspurs, 1 Snow Bunting, 2 Great Egrets and 1 Common Loon.

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Nov. 4, 1996 

Monday





TV    34

NH    1

SS    11

CH    9

RS    1

RT    22

AK    1

Total    79

Five thousand crows were counted as they passed the tower. Eight Bonaparte's Gulls were seen.

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Nov. 5, 1996

Tuesday



TV    9

NH    9

SS    7

CH    5

RS    6

RT    39

RL    1

Total    76

Rain in the a.m., then occasional showers in the p.m. with southwest winds. Birds seen included 2,200 crows, 18 American Robins and one Tundra Swan.

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Nov. 6, 1996

Wednesday



NH    7

SS    7

CH    1

NG    1

RT    4

GE    1

Total    21

The Golden Eagle was seen at Lake Erie Metro Park about 30 minutes after it passed the tower. Fred Urie reported 28 Eastern Bluebirds at Point Pelee National Park.

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Nov. 7, 1996

Thursday



SS       2

Total    2

Steady rain and fog throughout the day.

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Nov. 8, 1996

Friday





TV    195

NH    8

SS    11

CH    5

NG    1

RT    358

RL    1

GE    6

AK    1

Total    586

Hawk watcher Hank Hunt reports a cold day with winds from the northwest. Patience was required for the hawk watch as the birds were high and migrated over the entire day. Five birds migrated from 9:00 - 10:00 a.m., 106 birds were seen from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m., 221 raptors from 11:00 - 12:00 p.m., 69 birds of prey from 12:00-1:00 p.m., 53 birds from 1:00 - 2:00 p.m., 74 raptors from 2:00 - 3:00 p.m., 5 from 3:00 -4:00 p.m. and 2 Northern Harriers and 2 Red-tailed Hawks at 4:15 p.m. The Golden Eagles were seen at 11:16 a.m. (imm.), 12:51 p.m. (adult), 12:45 p.m. (imm), 2:44 p.m. (imm), 3:47 p.m. (adult), and 3:35 p.m. (adult). The first four Golden Eagles passed from the direction of Carp Crossing. The last two passed along the south shoreline. Other species observed were 4 Great Blue Herons, 56 Tundra Swans in groups of 25, 7, 8 and 16, 17 Ruddy Ducks, 2 Greater Yellowlegs which landed on the muddy margin of the trout pond, 150 Canvasback Ducks, 12 Eastern Bluebirds, 1 Common Loon, 9 Pipits, 6 Dark-eyed Juncos and 8,340 American Crows. Wayne and Sylvia Telesco were visitors. Judith King from Port Elgin, Ontario assisted along with Fred Urie who left at 1:00 p.m. and Jim McCoy who arrived in the early afternoon. The count began at 7:15 a.m. and concluded at 4:30 p.m.

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-Bob



Bob Pettit                       Allen Chartier 

co-compiler                      co-compiler

userbobpet@aol.com               amazilia@aol.com

313-379-4558 home

313-384-4256 work

313-242-9711 fax

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