Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 14, 2012 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 0 0 Osprey 3 86 105 Bald Eagle 1 51 64 Northern Harrier 6 124 173 Sharp-shinned Hawk 61 714 721 Cooper's Hawk 6 20 21 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 9 7048 7222 Red-tailed Hawk 0 0 2 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 49 501 663 Merlin 1 17 18 Peregrine Falcon 0 11 12 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: 136 8572 9001 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 17:00:00 Total observation time: 9 hours Official Counter: Colin Horstead, Dave Brown, Jim Dunn Observers: Ches Caister, Dave Brown, Don Campbell, Linda Parafenko Visitors: Quite a few today...M. Irwin, Bruce and Monica Gates (Sudbury) and their daughter Sarah (Toronto)...Sue Andrew (Toronto)...Dave McDowell and Heather Pearl (Oshawa), Elizabeth and Bob Sontrop, Mark and Linda and several others whose names we didn't get...including a couple from just outside L.A. California. Weather: In a word...WET!! After a few birds got up and moving first thing the cold front approached from the west and the rain started ...and didn't let up till 3:00 p.m. At that point the sun came out...and by the end of the day the winds were still moderate from the NW under a mix of sun and cloud. Temp cooler to a high of 18C. Raptor Observations: After a rough start with just a few raptors...once the rain letup and the skies opened up there was actually a flurry of activity...and the total was 136 birds....including Osprey (3), Bald Eagle (1 imm counted as migrant...others were seen cruising the cliff and out over the lake but were considered local), N. Harriers (6), Sharpies (61), Cooper's Hawk (6), Broadwing (9) with a few low ones right at the end of the count likely coming down to roost for the night, Kestrel (49) and a single Merlin. Non-raptor Observations: On the passerine front we had several sightings of Red-bellied Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Eastern Bluebirds, Common Nighthawk and right near the end of the day a Black-billed Cuckoo snuck low across the bean field just south of the knoll. The Monarchs were very numerous today and were flying even during the rain. As the day progressed we realized they were roosting just to the north of the knoll...and sure enough we found a couple of branches with 110 Monarchs...with lots more flying all over the bean field. There's a good chance there will be some nice Monarch roosts on the east side of the trees tomorrow (Sat) morning. Predictions: Winds are predicted to be NW light to moderate...and skies have cleared. Combine this with the fact that Saturday is basically the peak date for the main Broadwing flight for the past several decades....and we may see a very good flight tomorrow. Note that this weekend is also the first of the open house weekends with raptors talks at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Dave Brown ([email protected]) Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch information may be found at: http://www.ezlink.on.ca/~thebrowns/HawkCliff/index.htm 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 set of lights with a curve ramp 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 (gravel) on the south side of Dexter Line. 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 Hawk Cliff Rd and follow gravel road to viewing area. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
