Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 08, 2005 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 1827 2317 2678 Osprey 0 26 344 Bald Eagle 14 37 239 Northern Harrier 95 159 652 Sharp-shinned Hawk 880 1437 7429 Cooper's Hawk 68 95 247 Northern Goshawk 2 3 7 Red-shouldered Hawk 18 19 20 Broad-winged Hawk 7 9 34417 Red-tailed Hawk 137 146 315 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 1 1 1 American Kestrel 169 430 3845 Merlin 5 41 153 Peregrine Falcon 2 56 111 Unknown 1 16 91 Total: 3226 4792 50549 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 17:00:00 Total observation time: 9 hours Official Counter: Dave Brown Observers: Ches, Colin, Keith Sealy, Su Ross-Redmond Visitors: Lots....including Randy and Deb Fowler and Marco and Donna DeBrun from the KWFN. Also John Maybury, Bill Thompson, Cecil, Wayne and Dean. It was great to see Bruce Duncan out to help with his wife Janet and their daughter who seemed to be a very keen birder! :) Weather: Well...we started with light rain first thing this morning but things quickly dried up and a the cloud deck was up at a good height. Temp very cool to start at 6 then to a high of only 13. Raptor Observations: Awesome flight today with a 2,837 raptors counted. Highlights of the day were the season's first Golden Eagle...a nice looking Juvenile bird that did a powerdive across the sky and then circled out a few times before contiuing westward. Also got some nice low Red-shoulders...including a few adult birds. Large movement of TV's and a good number of Redtails seemed to be moving as well. Non-raptor Observations: Lots of warblers and other passerines at Hawk Cliff today...including Black-throated Green, Cape May, Palm, Tennessee and just a pile of Yellowrumps and several YB Sapsuckers. OF note was a single Snow Goose in with a flock of Canada Geese flying west along the shoreline. Interestingly enough, this bird was seen earlier in the morning...and then a Snow Goose was reported in the afternoon at Jack Miners at 4:00 PM...same bird??? Who knows :) Predictions: Strong NE winds again for Sunday...and I see that both Cranberry and Iroquois hawkwatches had a Golden Eagle today. Let's hope they make their way past Hawk Cliff tomorrow. The day promises to start out much drier all the way along both Lake Erie and Lake Ontario which should make for an earlier and potentially even bigger flight than today. ======================================================================== 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
