Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 05, 2013 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 0 0 Osprey 3 32 39 Bald Eagle 0 0 0 Northern Harrier 3 10 15 Sharp-shinned Hawk 86 147 152 Cooper's Hawk 1 2 2 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 4 7 7 Red-tailed Hawk 0 0 0 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 29 46 59 Merlin 1 5 5 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 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: 127 249 279 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 12:00:00 Total observation time: 5 hours Official Counter: Jim Dunn Observers: Dave Verkley, Mary Carnahan Visitors: Thanks to volunteers Mary C., Jum D. and Dave V. for covering at the hawkwatch today and submitting the raptor and non-raptor reports. Weather: Finally some more favourable conditions with cooler temps between 12 and 17C and moderate winds from the NNW, N and NNE. Humidity much lower today with a small amount of cloud cover. Raptor Observations: The change in weather brought our first 100+ flight day with a total of 127 raptors tallied. The flight height was quite variable with birds at all levels passing through the hawkwaatch area. The flight started slowly with just 2 Osprey in the first hour and then a single N. Harrier and 3 Sharpies in the 2nd hour. The flight picked up in the next hour with another lone N. Harrier, 20 Sharpies, 5 A. Kestrels and a single Merlin. The last 2 hours of the count period brought another Osprey, N. Harrier, young Cooper's Hawk, 4 more Broadwings, 24 A. Kestrels and 63 Sharpies...their biggest push to date. Non-raptor Observations: Today's songbird count was a little disappointing in that only 4 Warbler species were identifed, all near Sharpie Alley. These were Magnolia, Blackburnian, Black & White and American Redstart. Brown Thrashers were seen in a couple of locations this morning and Gray Catbirds continue to be seen and heard everywhere! The usual mob of Gulls was seen early this morning hanging around on the beach and on the water below the cliff. Herring, Ring-billed and Bonaparte's were easy to spot. A Great Blue Heron was perched on a sand bar below and a couple of Caspian Terns flew by just below the cliff. The best non-raptor sightings today were a Belted Kingfisher that flew across the field and a Red Admiral Butterfly which we have not seen in a few weeks. This Red Admiral looked as if it had just hatched. ======================================================================== 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 including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup
