Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 02, 2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 2144 2626 Osprey 0 1 131 Bald Eagle 0 14 176 Northern Harrier 1 11 292 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 400 4414 Cooper's Hawk 0 4 81 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 1 4 Broad-winged Hawk 0 29 22110 Red-tailed Hawk 0 6 58 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 1 American Kestrel 0 49 2065 Merlin 0 0 50 Peregrine Falcon 1 3 59 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 3 2662 32067 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 09:00:00 Total observation time: 2 hours Official Counter: Colin Horstead, Jennifer Lyon Observers: Colin Horstead, Derek Lyon, Jennifer Lyon Visitors: Lionel ? (Sorry...didn't get his last name). He was hoping to get some photographs on a tough day. Weather: In a word ...WET! The rain was pretty much constant for both hours of today's count period. Winds were strong from the SE (our worst wind) and cloud cover was 100%. Raptor Observations: Thanks to the three diehards (I'm tempted to call them the 3 amigos!) for sticking around for even 2 hours. :) Total raptors...3....a Harrier, a Sharpie and a Peregrine. Non-raptor Observations: Robins were seen...and not much else. Predictions: Well...the weather gurus seem to think that rain will redevelop over the north shore of Lake Erie tomorrow. However, things have cleared nicely tonight and may start with a clear break Saturday morning. The winds are perfect for Peregrine primetime...strong from the SW. The big question will be whether there's any near enough to cruise through. If winds continue SW on Sunday and with less chance of rain...it might be the better day to check for a 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: The Hawk Cliff Hawk watch is located just east of Port Stanley on the cliff overlooking Lake Erie. Over the years the Hawk Cliff site has grown in popularity and today it is recognized as one of the prime fall migration hawk watching destinations in North America. Every year hundreds of birders (and non-birders!) from Canada, the U.S. and other countries visit the site. Knowledgeable volunteers are always on hand to assist visitors with raptor identification and to raise public awareness on the subject of raptor migration. Birders can normally expect to see some 15 different raptor species with typical count totals reaching several thousand birds per day. The count season is from September 1st to November 30th. On a few exceptional occasions lucky visitors have witnessed the amazing spectacle of over 100,000 raptors of various species migrating past Hawk Cliff in a single day! Hawk Cliff hawkwatch is a great location for visitors to come to learn about raptors and their migration. We cater to school groups, and will arrange to provide special live bird demos for the kids (if possible) depending on the day's flight. Please visit the Hawk Cliff Foundation website listed above for more detailed information and special events. 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 information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
