Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 29, 2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 34 21372 21570 Osprey 0 12 212 Bald Eagle 0 96 240 Northern Harrier 11 284 596 Sharp-shinned Hawk 66 3488 8345 Cooper's Hawk 6 159 214 Northern Goshawk 0 6 6 Red-shouldered Hawk 4 249 249 Broad-winged Hawk 0 12 100354 Red-tailed Hawk 2 1299 1305 Rough-legged Hawk 7 17 17 Golden Eagle 27 81 81 American Kestrel 2 1374 3794 Merlin 1 26 100 Peregrine Falcon 0 22 50 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 7 Unknown Buteo 0 1 2 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Mississippi Kite 0 0 1 Total: 160 28498 137143 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 6 hours Official Counter: Colin Horstead Observers: Kathy Knott, Keith Sealy, Mike Street Visitors: A BIG THANKS to Mike Street, Colin Horstead, Kathy Knott and Keith Sealy for sticking it out today...they should get a bravery award for hanging in there to complete a 6 hour count!! Weather: In a word...snowsqualls....with snow very heavy at times dropping visibility. Winds were from the NW but not as strong as yesterday. Temp got to just 6C. Raptor Observations: Despite the crappy weather...there were birds on the move...and the 4 individuals that braved the cold and snow weren't disappointed with another 27 Golden Eagles!! That's two "Golden" days back to back. :) Virtually no buteos today (at least not Redtails and Red-shoulders)...but there were 7 Roughlegs with 5 light morph and 2 dark morph birds. A total of 160 birds were tallied for the day. Non-raptor Observations: Lots of Cedar Waxwings, Robins, Crows, Pipits...along with Tundra Swans (20) and Sandhill Cranes (10). Predictions: Thursday still looks promising with predicted NW winds (20k/h) and lots of sunshine to start the day. Interestingly, I've heard from a couple of individuals that live in the Hamilton abd Burlington area that they've had a good movement of buteos over the last couple of days headed westward. (and we haven't seen them come through Hawk Cliff yet) ======================================================================== 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/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
