Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch
Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 17, 2008
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 0 0 0
Osprey 26 122 123
Bald Eagle 9 65 67
Northern Harrier 25 110 110
Sharp-shinned Hawk 74 1210 1212
Cooper's Hawk 2 7 7
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0
Broad-winged Hawk 13199 97587 97595
Red-tailed Hawk 0 1 3
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 70 658 674
Merlin 5 35 35
Peregrine Falcon 7 10 10
Unknown Accipiter 0 7 7
Unknown Buteo 0 1 1
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 0 0
Mississippi Kite 0 1 1
Total: 13417 99814 99845
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Observation start time: 06:00:00
Observation end time: 15:15:00
Total observation time: 9.25 hours
Official Counter: Colin Horstead, Jennifer Lyon, Tom Bolohan
Observers: Alf Rider, Derek Lyon, Eleanor Kee-Wellman,
Jan Niewiadomski, Jennifer Lyon, Mary Carnahan,
Mike Kirchin, Ronnie Goodhand, Su Ross-Redmond,
Tom Bolohan
Visitors:
Bev McLeod, Jan and Mike from Hamilton, Don and Beth Wigle from Ottawa and
others (sorry didn't get all the names). Thanks again to the counters and
spotters that helped on a tough day of hawkwatching.
Weather:
Lots of sun till about 2:00 PM and then clouds developed to the north.
Winds were light SW to start but built to strong (especially felt at the
cliff edge). Temp made it to a high of 23.
Raptor Observations:
Another great flight today with the Broadwings (13,199) streaming across
the sky and swirling upwards in several large kettles (another one today
exceeded 5000 birds). Unfortunately, there were no clouds and eventually
the Broadwings disappeared into the stratosphere and we didn't record any
after 1:00 pm bird time. The other highlight of the day was the Peregrines
(7) that made good use of the strong SW winds up the cliff face. Today one
of the Peregrines managed to snag another bird on the fly (the counters
thought it might've been a Kestrel but couldn't tell for sure). It actually
hung in the air at the cliff edge and proceeded to tear into its catch on
the fly! Today was the first decent count for Northern Harriers (25) and
typically they start coming through in better numbers over the next week or
so.
Non-raptor Observations:
About a dozen Common Loons again today...piles of Goldfinch flights,
Kingfisher, Wood Duck (2). Still no big push of Monarchs...but lots of
Yellow Sulphurs.
Predictions:
Could be interesting on thursday with predicted NE winds and lots of
sunshiine.
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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
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