Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 01, 2005 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 335 335 696 Osprey 3 3 321 Bald Eagle 1 1 203 Northern Harrier 3 3 496 Sharp-shinned Hawk 38 38 6030 Cooper's Hawk 3 3 155 Northern Goshawk 0 0 4 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 1 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 34408 Red-tailed Hawk 2 2 171 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 6 6 3421 Merlin 3 3 115 Peregrine Falcon 17 17 72 Unknown 0 0 75 Total: 411 411 46168 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: Ches Caister Observers: Alf Ryder, Dave Brown, Keith Sealy, Matt Oswald Weather: The strong SW winds were perfect for a Peregrine flight and the temp was comfortable in the high teens and low 20's. The only downside was the lack of cloud cover and me forgetting my hat and the shower of sand blowing up and over the cliff! Raptor Observations: Awesome flight of Peregrines today with a total of 17 counted. There were 11 Adults and 6 Juveniles...almost a 2-1 ratio. Some of these birds put on a real show...and in one case an adult stooped dramtically...diving below the level of the cliff then quickly sailed back up with a small bird in its talons. It then proceeded to eat on the fly! One very interesting Peregrine was a VERY PALE bird with virtually no malar strip or normal distictive dark helmut look on the head. Our thought is this was one of the more uncommon "Falco peregrinus tundrius" subspecies. We observed this bird up close and personal as it passed a mere 40 or 50 ft directly overhead! I only wish I'd had a camera handy. :) 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
