A perfect day at Hawk Cliff.
Mostly sunny, some breeze from the north and northwest brought many thousands of hawks south towards the lake. A large number of Broad-winged Hawks with others interspersed, kettled and surged westward. Numbers will be reported later by the official counters I am sure. Two main viewing areas were used. Many were stationed from the cliff up the road a few hundred metres. The others were just north of Dexter Line. All were pleased with their results. Those right at the cliff were noting kestrels and accipiters flying right by them, or just over them. Those just up from the cliff were noting sharpies and kestrels right over, but also thousands of Broad-wings kettling to very high altitudes before coursing off to the southwest. They were specks in the sky just under the clouds above them as they headed out. Similar species were noted up north of Dexter but the Broad-wings appeared to be even higher. Amongst the thousands of hawks, we also had several Merlin, Peregrine, Northern Harrier, osprey and Bald Eagles. Quite a few Kestrels were moving close to the cliff and many Sharp-shinned and some Cooper's Hawks were also streaming through. The action started shortly after 9 and continued till at least one pm. I left for Port Stanley and the Sewage Lagoons, so not sure what happened after one. Walking along the road, especially early in the day produced many migrant species as well as a few lingering locals. With the help of others, especially Ernie Gribble, I tallied what people were noting which totaled about 40 species. Some fifteen species of warbler including Northern Parula, American Redstart, Black-throated Blue, Cape May and Blackpoll. Yellow-throated, Warbling, Philadelphia, Blue-headed and Red-eyed Vireo. Ernie had two Olive-sided Flycatchers. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, both kinglets and White-throated Sparrow were included in the migrants. There was an Eastern Towhee about. In Port Stanley on the break-walls and the beach, thousands of gulls loitered but all I saw were Ring-bills and Herring, with a few Bonies and one Caspian Tern. No sign of the Laughing Gull reported a few days ago. Up at the Sewage Lagoons, there were no gulls when we were there. The only ducks different from the loafing mallards were a Ruddy Duck, a few shovellers, a pintail, a few gadwalls and a wood duck. Shorebirds close enough to identify included two Golden Plover, lots of Lesser Yellowlegs, a few Greater Yellowlegs, some Baird's, Pectoral, Least, and Semi-palmated Sandpipers, but I didn't spend too long there so there may be more. Water is fairly high but there is some mud margin around each lagoon, but distance to the birds can be far. Good birding. Pete Read Directions. Port Stanley is at the end of County Road/Highway 4, Sunset Drive which comes from the 401 interchange 177. Many alternate routes come south to the lake from that road and any other east west road. Viewing for the gulls is good from either side of the harbor which is bisected by Kettle Creek. If on the east beach side, drive down through the large parking area to where you can look out at the break-wall. If on the other side, once you drive over the lift bridge, take the road over to the parking area and scan the beach and break-wall. The Sewage Lagoons are on Scotch Line, a km from the intersection with Lake Line. Lake Line runs west of Road 20 which runs along the west side of Kettle Creek. Hawk Cliff is at the south end of Hawk Cliff Road which runs off Dexter Line. Dexter Line, aka County 24, is a lakeside road which runs east from County 23, which rises up from Port Stanley's main intersection with Road 4. (ie.the first road east of Port Stanley) _______________________________________________ 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/
