Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 02, 2007 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 18 18 260 Osprey 1 3 188 Bald Eagle 1 11 256 Northern Harrier 10 36 1268 Sharp-shinned Hawk 11 36 9482 Cooper's Hawk 0 2 191 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 1 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 41011 Red-tailed Hawk 0 0 51 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 1 6 3708 Merlin 1 10 202 Peregrine Falcon 7 45 75 Unknown 9 Total: 50 167 56702 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 06:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 10 hours Official Counter: Colin Horstead Observers: Dave Brown, Derek Lyon, Jennifer Lyon, Su Ross-Redmond Visitors: Several visitors today despite the weather. Weather: A very unsettled day today weather wise. Hazy most of the day with visibility going from bad to decent to bad again. Winds were SW for the day but never really got strong enough for a decent flight. Temp was still too warm with a high of 20 C (although with the humidity it felt warmer). Raptor Observations: Even on such a dreary day thw winds were enough to get a few more Peregrines with 7...all low and right along the cliff edge. Two of these birds had captured prey in their talons...the first appeared to be warbler size while the second unfortunate bird was larger and looked like a shorebird. We struggled to get to our total of 50 birds for the day...with the first and last birds of the day being Peregrines. Non-raptor Observations: There seemed to be a bit of a passerine fallout in the hawkwatch area today. Some nice looks at a Phoebe...along with several warbler species; Palm (sev), Black-throated Green (2), Cape May (1), Myrtle (sev), Northern Parula (1), Blackpoll (sev), Bay-breasted (2) and others too tough to get an id on. Also Red-eyed and Philadelphia Vireo. Towhee (2) and White-throated Sparrow (sev) were heard calling throughout the day. Predictions: Strong SW winds (30-35 kph) are predicted for Lake Erie for Wednesday and for western sections of Lake Ontario. This should provide the right conditions for another potential good Peregrine flight. ======================================================================== 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 _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdshow.htm ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm
