Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 10, 2006 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 0 0 Osprey 34 88 88 Bald Eagle 62 82 82 Northern Harrier 252 404 404 Sharp-shinned Hawk 757 1012 1012 Cooper's Hawk 5 9 9 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 930 939 939 Red-tailed Hawk 33 33 33 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 662 1227 1227 Merlin 37 74 74 Peregrine Falcon 1 1 1 Unknown 9 9 Total: 2773 3878 3878 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 18:00:00 Total observation time: 10 hours Official Counter: Ches Caister, Dave Brown Observers: Ches Caister, Colin Horstead, Keith Sealy, Mac, Tom Thomas Visitors: Lots....the 2nd day of the first Hawk Cliff Weekend for the 2006 season was a huge success! Based on those that signed our guest book we had at least 110 visitors (with many more that didn't get a chance to sign the book :). There was a group from the KWFN, as well as a number of folks from Bird Studies Canada. Long distance visitors included Claire from Taiwan, Pat from Vancouver Island, and the Neyers from Liechtenstein The morning live bird display / talk (11:00 am) was very good with a young Redtail, a couple of Northern Harriers, a young male Merlin, a Sharpie and a male and female Kestrel all released in front of the large crowd. We're looking forward to seeing lots more folks for next weekend as well. Weather: An absolutely perfect hawkwatching day...lots of clouds providng a good backdrop for the many raptors counted today. Cooler temp to a high of just 17 after the passage of the cold front. Although the TUV (Thermal Updraft Velocity) was over 400 ft/min in the Hawk Cliff area, we suspect that the strong NE winds were disruptive for thermal development and as a result we didn't get as many kettles as one might've expected given the weather. Raptor Observations: Wow!! A spectacular day and a great flight with 2,773 birds tallied of which only 930 were Broadwings (best kettle was about 400 birds). However, the exciting part was that we broke 3 previous 1-day species count records... Merlin (21 in 1994 / now 37 for 2006) Northern Harrier (209 in 2003 / now 252 in 2006) Bald Eagle (46 in 2005 / now 62 for 2006) There was also an impressive number of Osprey with 34 for the day. Interestingly, the counts for Sharpies and Kestrels are almost identical with 653 and 662 respectively. And just to top things off...the 2nd last bird counted was a young Peregrine Falcon (first one for 2006) low over the field to the north. Non-raptor Observations: Not only was there an impressive hawk movement today...there was a huge fallout of passerines in the last couple of hours in the day. In the line of Willow trees right behind the counters there were literally hundreds of passerines including many warblers, vireos, tanagers and so on (over the 2 hours they were continuously feeding and moving both north up the trees on both sides of Hawk Cliff Rd and also west along the lakeshore) As the day drew to a close we noted many lose flocks that started to fly off to the west toward Windsor / Detroit. Highlights (based on a quick scan of just 200 ft of treeline and the one large mulberry tree!) included Canada Warbler (2), Tennessee Warbler (2), Northern Parula (3), Bay-breasted (3), Blackpoll (5), Blackburnian (6), Black-throated Green (7), Black-throated Blue (3), Black and White (2), Chestnut-sided (6 - all youngsters), Palm (6), Yellow (1), Common Yellowthroat (2), American Redstart (8), Yellow-rumped (1 youngster) and one possible Hooded. Vireos included Red-eyed (1), Warbling (3), Philadelphia (at least 2). At least 5 Scarlet Tanagers (male and females). Other birds seen throughout the day...Eastern Wood-pewee (2), Pileated Woodpecker (1), Northern Flicker (7). Unfortunately (if one should look at it that way) there was just too much activity with the raptors for spending the time scouring the area for the smaller birds. :) Predictions: Monday may not prove as large a flight with straight E winds...but they will be strong and provide a tail wind for the birds...so those that didn't get going today may still come through on Monday...especially with another wet system predicted for Tuesday and Wednesday and continued cooler temperatures. ======================================================================== 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
