Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 23, 2005 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 22 22 Osprey 11 298 298 Bald Eagle 46 171 171 Northern Harrier 101 454 454 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1949 5474 5474 Cooper's Hawk 56 131 131 Northern Goshawk 1 4 4 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 3574 33895 33895 Red-tailed Hawk 43 125 125 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 642 3296 3296 Merlin 16 95 95 Peregrine Falcon 5 39 39 Unknown 12 54 54 Total: 6456 44058 44058 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:30:00 Observation end time: 17:00:00 Total observation time: 9.5 hours Official Counter: Keith Sealy, Su Ross-Redmond Observers: Colin, Dave Brown, Shay Redmond, Tom T. Visitors: Lots of visitors today helping spot the birds. Thanks to the usual suspects along with Dean, Wayne P., Eleanor and all the whose names I didn't manage to get down. Weather: Awesome weather today...but could've used a bit more cloud. The winds were strong from the N and NE which kept the birds pushed down to the lakeshore and lower in altitude. Temp cooler today with a high of just 23...although it certainly felt cooler with the stronger winds. Raptor Observations: Wow!...An absolute flurry of activity for the flight in the morning with a flood of Kestrels, Sharpies and Harriers and some good kettles of Broadwings. The real story again today was breaking 1-DAY RECORD for BALD EAGLES again this season...with a total of 46. As well, we've now surpassed our original best month total for Kestrels (2771 set in 2002) with a month-to-date total so far of 3296. The month total for Merlins (92) has also been surpassed this year with our current month-to-date total of 95. Awesome!! Non-raptor Observations: Predictions: Predicted strong E winds for Saturday....could be birds going through ...but this wind allows them to get very high. Will be a tough flight to count most likely. ======================================================================== 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: Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch: Oldest Hawkwatch in Ontario - since 1931 - located just east of Port Stanley on the cliff overlooking Lake Erie 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
