Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 15, 2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 0 0 Osprey 9 29 58 Bald Eagle 36 37 37 Northern Harrier 21 32 62 Sharp-shinned Hawk 814 828 845 Cooper's Hawk 4 5 6 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 1 1 Broad-winged Hawk 39445 39450 39463 Red-tailed Hawk 6 7 21 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 271 404 458 Merlin 10 13 15 Peregrine Falcon 1 2 2 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 40618 40808 40968 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 06:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 9 hours Official Counter: Colin Horstead Observers: Derek Lyon, Ernie Gribble, Jennifer Lyon, Jim Dunn, Kathy, Keith Sealy, Mac McAlpine, Mary Carnahan, Mike Street, Pete Read, Ronnie Goodhand, Su Ross-Redmond, Wayne Parnall Visitors: A few visitors today got to enjoy the big Broadwing flight...Pete Read and his wife Sue, Nancy Dawson and her son (Waterloo), Garney Gunn, Sally Brownell. A big thanks to them all along with the usual suspects. Weather: Today's weather was almost perfect for a big flight with light NW winds and just a few clouds in the sky. The temp made it to a high of 18C. Raptor Observations: Wow! What else can you say to such an amazing raptor flight. The total count for the day was 40,618...the second day in a row with a large Broadwing movement. The Broadwings formed the bulk of today's flight (39,445)...but the Sharpies put in a great showing (814) consisting primarily of young birds. The Bald Eagles were certainly on the move as well (36) with 15 adults and the rest juvies. Non-raptor Observations: Most Hawk Cliff observers were focused on today's anticipated broadwing flight. Nevertheless, a few early bird(er)s managed to log 45 songbird species. The new species for today was BLUE-HEADED VIREO, and there were sightings of RED-EYED, WARBLING & PHILADELPHIA VIREO as well. An OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was spotted along the roadside and there were sightings of DOWNY WOODPECKER, NORTHERN FLICKER & YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER as well. Spotters also had nice looks at many GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, a few RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, and 10 warblers including NORTHERN PARULA and numerous BLACKPOLL WARBLERS. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Dave Brown (thebro...@ezlink.on.ca) Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch information may be found at: http://www.ezlink.on.ca/~thebrowns/HawkCliff/index.htm 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 ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/