Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch
Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 17, 2008
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 3934 17805 18003
Osprey 0 11 211
Bald Eagle 6 80 224
Northern Harrier 12 207 519
Sharp-shinned Hawk 108 3050 7907
Cooper's Hawk 14 101 156
Northern Goshawk 1 3 3
Red-shouldered Hawk 35 88 88
Broad-winged Hawk 0 12 100354
Red-tailed Hawk 190 361 367
Rough-legged Hawk 1 4 4
Golden Eagle 4 10 10
American Kestrel 7 1367 3787
Merlin 2 21 95
Peregrine Falcon 0 20 48
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 7
Unknown Buteo 0 1 2
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 0 0
Mississippi Kite 0 0 1
Total: 4314 23141 131786
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Observation start time: 06:30:00
Observation end time: 16:45:00
Total observation time: 10.25 hours
Official Counter: Colin Horstead
Observers: Bouwe Bergsma, Don Taylor, Eric Single, Jim Dunn,
Keith Sealy, Mac McAlpine, Mark Cunningham, Mary Carnahan,
Phil Waggett, Rebecca Vile, Ronnie Goodhand, Wayne Parnall
Visitors:
Thanks to everyone that helped on a tough day of observing...including Ann
Brokelman and Carol Lapointe who've been joing us at the hawkwatch for the
past few days...and Bruce Gates.
Weather:
Another great day weatherwise for hawk migration...but tough on the
observers. Early cloud cover cleared to mostly blue skies. Winds were light
to moderate from the NE for the entire day. Temp was very cool to just 11C.
Raptor Observations:
A very strong push of TV's (3934) lead the way to a total of 4314 birds
tallied. Interestingly, the TV upflight started by 8:00 a.m. (EST)...very
early and indicative of much drier air over the region. More Golden Eagles
(4) passed through along with our first decent push of buteos with Redtails
(190) and Red-shoulders (35). The observers today suspect that many more
birds passed overhead but were nearly impossible to find in the blue skies!
Also spotted was an adult Northern goshawk...just our 3rd for the season.
Non-raptor Observations:
Predictions:
More NE winds are predicted for Saturday and continued dry weather...should
make for another good flight...hopefully with more buteos and Golden Eagles
on the way. :)
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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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