There were some migrants of at least local interest in the northwest part of
York region this weekend. Yesterday afternoon on the west side of 2nd
Concession just north of Newmarket, Bruce Brydon had two BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS.
I drove up there this afternoon but the plovers were gone. As consolation
there were three GREATER YELLOWLEGS and a dozen Killdeer.
Since I was about halfway to Keswick at that point, I continued northward to
check the west end of Ravenshoe Road, which runs along the southern perimeter
of that town. Just west of property #562 in a big puddle on the north side of
the road there was a surprisingly good selection of birds that included 18
AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER, 3 BLK.-BELLIED PLOVER, 16 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, 13
DUNLIN, 2 LSR. YELLOWLEGS, and a flock of about 30 AMERICAN PIPITS. Further
west, close to where Ravenshoe Rd. dead ends at the Holland River, I turned
onto a desolate fragment of Yonge St. and drove to its muddy southern terminus.
As I got out of my van I flushed an AMERICAN BITTERN. It flew south into the
huge marsh area there.
Returning to Newmarket via Holland Landing, I did a quick stop at the sewage
lagoons. There was very little bird activity, but the last cell held 72
BONAPARTE'S GULLS and about 30 GW TEAL. As I was leaving I observed a COOPER'S
HAWK circling high overhead. I stopped at the Cawthra Mulock reserve on
Bathurst St. in northwest Newmarket and also found it to be quiet, but I did
manage to find two GB HERONS, numerous kingets of both species, several
White-throated Sparrows, a PILEATED WOODPECKER, and 7 HERMIT THRUSHES feeding
on wild grapes with a flock of about 60 robins.
Ron Fleming, Newmarket
DIRECTIONS: The 2nd Concession is the northern extension of Main St. out of
Newmarket. The puddle where Bruce had the plovers and I had the G. yellowlegs
is on the west side of the road, about a km north of Queensville Sdrd.
Ravenshoe Road, as mentioned, runs along the southern edge of the town of
Keswick.
It is accessed by taking Leslie St. north from Newmarket. At the stoplights
where there is a gas station and a Country Style Donuts, turn left and follow
Ravenshoe down the hill, past the ball diamonds, past Lake and Canal streets,
and out into the flat expanse of the vegetable fields. (This area is a good
place to check in winter for Snow buntings, Rough-legged hawks, and Snowy Owls.)
The Holland Landing lagoons are at the eastern terminus of Cedar Ave., a
short street that runs east from Yonge St. in the north part of Holland
Landing. This section of Yonge Street runs south from Queensville Sdrd. The
Cawthra Mulock reserve is on the west side of Bathurst, just north of Green
Lane in NW Newmarket.
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Date: 15 Oct 2006 17:10:15 -0400
Subject: [Ontbirds]HSR: Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch (14 Oct 2006) 1450 Raptors
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Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch
Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 14, 2006
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 1358 8524 9615
Osprey 2 48 265
Bald Eagle 4 69 284
Northern Harrier 3 369 1320
Sharp-shinned Hawk 51 2915 8574
Cooper's Hawk 3 164 316
Northern Goshawk 1 16 24
Red-shouldered Hawk 1 34 41
Broad-winged Hawk 0 1095 43080
Red-tailed Hawk 17 724 856
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 3 574 4972
Merlin 3 19 205
Peregrine Falcon 4 21 98
Unknown 5 30
Total: 1450 14577 69680
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Observation start time: 09:00:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Dave Brown
Observers: Jason McGuire, Shay Redmond
Visitors:
A few visitors today...and thanks to Ed Miller for bringing the counters
coffee. :)
Weather:
Clouds built up steadily and provided a great backdrop for spotting the
birds but the wind was strong to moderate from the W for most of the day.
Temp to 11C.
Raptor Observations:
Not a bad flight given the wind direction...with 1450 birds total.
However, the vast majority were TV's with 1358. Managed to get 4 more
Peregrines bringing our year total to 98. Still no Golden Eagle ...but we
expect the first of the season any day now.
Non-raptor Observations:
========================================================================
Report submitted by Dave Brown ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch information may be found at:
http://www.ezlink.on.ca/~thebrowns/HawkCliff/index.htm
Site Description:
Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch:
Oldest Hawkwatch in Ontario - since 1931 - located just east of Port
Stanley on the cliff overlooking Lake Erie
Directions to site:
>From east 401, take the Highbury south cut off at London, follow Highbury
(Hwy 30) south to St. Thomas. Highbury changes into South Edgeware at a
large curve in the road to the west. Follow South Edgeware west to the
first set of traffic lights - Burwell Road, turn left (south) and stay on
this road. It becomes Fairview Ave (Regional Road 22), which runs directly
into Hawk Cliff Road. You will see a sign for Hawkes Cliff Farm, where they
sell fresh vegetables and a gravel road just beyond sign. Just continue
down gravel road to viewing area.
>From west 401, take the Highway # 4 (Colonel Talbot Rd.) exit south,
through Talbotville, road now is Sunset Rd. continue towards St. Thomas;
you will come to a veer in the road, straight up to St. Thomas, veer to
the right for Port Stanley, follow Highway 4, now Sunset to Port Stanley.
As you approach Port Stanley you will come to a large curve in the road
with a sign saying East St, to the left. Take East St., and follow it to
the first road left, (opposite Port Stanley Water Tower) Dexter Line.
Follow Dexter Line approximately 2 km. and turn right down gravel road at
Hawkes Cliff Farm, and follow gravel road to viewing area
