Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch
Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 03, 2009
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 285 2429 2911
Osprey 2 3 133
Bald Eagle 0 14 176
Northern Harrier 1 12 293
Sharp-shinned Hawk 7 407 4421
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 2 51 2067
Merlin 0 0 50
Peregrine Falcon 31 34 90
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: 328 2990 32395
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Observation start time: 07:00:00
Observation end time: 13:00:00
Total observation time: 6 hours
Official Counter: Colin Horstead
Observers: Dave Brown, Derek Lyon, Jennifer Lyon, Jim Dunn, Kathy,
Keith Sealy, Mark Cunningham, Mary Carnahan, Tom Bolohan,
Wayne Parnall
Visitors:
Quite a few visitors today...though I didn't get everyone's name. It was
nice that the Peregrines cooperated and most of these folks got great views
even without binoculars.
Weather:
Today's weather word....WINDY!! It was classic Peregrine weather with very
strong SW and SSW winds. The sand was blowing up over the edge of the cliff
and it was difficult standing even 20 feet back from the edge. The rain was
threatening right from the start but somehow we managed to dodge it several
times. It finally moved in for good around midafternoon and the count was
shut down.
Raptor Observations:
No surprise...the species of the day was Peregrines with 31 total...and
with a new 1-hour record with 15 seen between 10:00 and 11:00. At one point
we had 4 Peregrines coming along the cliff at the same time! Those visitors
that braved the wind were treated to flybys that were right on the deck. A
small flight of TV's and a couple of Ospreys.
Non-raptor Observations:
Good warblers continue to be seen with Cape May, Blackpoll, Bay Breated,
Pine and several Yellow-rumped. Lots of Cedar Waxwings as well.
Predictions:
Unfortunately, the large low to our NW is still going to drag more rain
into the Lake Erie region for Sunday....and winds are predicted to be
moderate from the W. Though not a bad wind...it makes it difficult to know
exactly where the birds will be passing through the hawkwatch area (i.e.
along the cliff or more inland?)
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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
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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/
