Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 28, 2005 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 392 13484 13845 Osprey 0 42 360 Bald Eagle 8 127 329 Northern Harrier 5 344 837 Sharp-shinned Hawk 93 5603 11595 Cooper's Hawk 20 373 525 Northern Goshawk 5 35 39 Red-shouldered Hawk 105 903 904 Broad-winged Hawk 0 16 34424 Red-tailed Hawk 312 3177 3346 Rough-legged Hawk 6 32 32 Golden Eagle 14 40 40 American Kestrel 0 566 3981 Merlin 0 70 182 Peregrine Falcon 0 60 115 Unknown 3 29 104 Prairie Falcon 0 1 1 Total: 963 24902 70659 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: Colin Horstead Observers: Alf Rider, Dave Brown, Tom Thomas Visitors: Lots of visitors today hoping for a good flight ...and they were well rewareded. Thanks to Ed, Murray, Kenny, Mike, Jim, Carol, Bruce, Steve and Barb for helping spot the birds. Weather: Great weather today resulted in a good sized flight. Clear blue skies eventually filled with clouds. Winds were moderate from the NNE to NE for the whole day. Raptor Observations: A very good flight today with a total of 963 birds tallied of 10 different species...and yet not a single falcon. The GOLDEN EAGLES are obviously on the move as 14 were counted today. The day really ended with a bang as we spotted 3 Golden Eagles over a mile east of the count site...then 4 and finally 5...all in the same kettle!! With it being so late in the day they passed over only a few hundred feet up...1 Adult, 1 Sub-adult and 3 Juveniles. Other good birds included 5 Goshawks,6 Roughlegs and 8 Bald Eagles. Non-raptor Observations: Another highlight for the day was a single Tufted Titmouse...along with lots of Yellow-rumped Warblers, a few Rusty Blackbirds, a single Phoebe right beside the counters...several small flights of Purple Finch, and Horned Larks. Predictions: The winds for the weekend don't look promising as they're predicted to be SW. However, the weather is supposed to be nice...so it may be worth it. ======================================================================== 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
