Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 09, 2006 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 0 0 Osprey 10 54 54 Bald Eagle 4 20 20 Northern Harrier 89 152 152 Sharp-shinned Hawk 115 255 255 Cooper's Hawk 3 4 4 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 5 9 9 Red-tailed Hawk 0 0 0 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 159 565 565 Merlin 10 37 37 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown 2 9 9 Total: 397 1105 1105 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:30:00 Observation end time: 18:00:00 Total observation time: 9.75 hours Official Counter: Ches Caister Observers: Al Hurst, Dave Brown, Keith Sealy, Tom Bolohan Visitors: Lots of visitors today...even though the weather was questionable. However, the lower skies apparently helped with the banders who were able to show and release a dozen birds of different species during the live bird demo. These will be happening again 11:00 am and 2:00 pm on Sunday...and then again both Saturday and Sunday next weekend (Sep 16/17). Weather: A very up and down day for weather...with primarily N and NW winds ..fairly light. Temp to 20C but with rain on and off for most of the first part of the day. Raptor Observations: A slow start but ending with a bang!! A total of 397 birds tallied BUT over 350 of them in the last 4 hours of the day...with the count going right through to 6:00 pm EST. A great day for Northern Harriers with 89...and finally another 5 Broadwings kettling right overhead. Another 10 Ospreys and 10 Merlins...along with 159 more Kestrels and 115 Sharpies. Non-raptor Observations: A Pileated Woodpecker flew across the field to the right of the counters...crossing to the bushlot out in front of the hawkwatch area. More Monarchs today than Hummingbirds. Predictions: Sunday may be very good!! Especially given the late push by so many species. Winds are supposed to be NE and moderate. Hope to see you there. :) ======================================================================== 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
