Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch
Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 22, 2008
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 10 10 10
Osprey 16 168 169
Bald Eagle 39 116 118
Northern Harrier 37 229 229
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1136 3695 3697
Cooper's Hawk 5 32 32
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0
Broad-winged Hawk 61 100325 100333
Red-tailed Hawk 0 3 5
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 92 1482 1498
Merlin 2 64 64
Peregrine Falcon 0 20 20
Unknown Accipiter 0 7 7
Unknown Buteo 0 1 1
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 0 0
Mississippi Kite 0 1 1
Total: 1398 106153 106184
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Observation start time: 06:00:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 10 hours
Official Counter: Colin Horstead
Observers: Alf Rider, Dave Verkley, Dave Weir, Derek Lyon, Ed Taylor,
Jason McGuire, Jennifer Lyon, Jim Dunn, Mary Carnahan,
Remy Pokraka, Ronnie Goodhand
Visitors:
First a big thanks to everyone that helped out with our 2nd Open House
weekend at the Hawk Cliff hawkwatch. It was MUCH drier than the previous
open house weekend (thankyou hurricane Ike!!) and Sunday's flight was quite
good despite the overly nice weather. Estimates for visitors to the
hawkwatch over the 2 days were 600+.
Today (Monday) saw a few visitors ...Derek & Sylvia Roe (Woodstock), Deb
Lehman, Jon Moser, Elizabeth Morgan (Chester Eng.), Mary Barr (Sudbury),
Mary Vernon (London ON) and Libby Dawson (London ON)...and John Potticary
(London)
Weather:
Well, the winds didn't really cooperate with moderate E to strong to SSE
then back to E. Temp got to 21C with no cloud cover. The humidity was much
lower today.
Raptor Observations:
An excellent flight today despite the wind direction with 1398 birds
tallied. A steady flow of Sharpies (1136) made them the impact bird for the
day. However, the real highlight was the Bald Eagles (39)...with 23 tallied
between 10-11 bird time. This stands as a new 1-hour record, besting the
old record of 17 in an hour set back on Sept. 15 2005. More Broadwings
(61)...along with Harriers (37), Osprey (16), Kestrels (92) and a couple of
early morning Merlins.
Non-raptor Observations:
300+ Blue Jays along with a lone Common Nighthawk.
========================================================================
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
_______________________________________________
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial
birding organization.
Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected]
For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit
http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php
ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at
http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
