Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch
Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 29, 2009
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 105 105 118
Osprey 2 123 129
Bald Eagle 7 144 162
Northern Harrier 5 251 276
Sharp-shinned Hawk 36 3477 3503
Cooper's Hawk 2 73 75
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0
Broad-winged Hawk 2 22013 22040
Red-tailed Hawk 0 44 49
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 1 1
American Kestrel 27 1930 1944
Merlin 2 46 49
Peregrine Falcon 5 52 55
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: 193 28259 28401
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Observation start time: 07:30:00
Observation end time: 15:30:00
Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Colin Horstead
Observers: Bouwe Bergsma, Derek Lyon, Jennifer Lyon, Jim Dunn,
Keith Sealy, Mary Carnahan, Remy Pokraka, Wayne Parnall
Visitors:
Dom "Butch" Pierre (Wallaceburg)
Weather:
Another windy day with winds initially fom the W then quickly swinging
aroundto the NW and strengthening throughout the count period. Much cooler
today with a high of just 15C and that was earlier in the morning with the
temp dropping as the day wore on. Lots of cloud cover and rain on and off
throughout the day.
Raptor Observations:
A few birds on the move today with a total of 193. Most of these were TV's
(105) which was really the first bit of a flight for them. Other numbers
included a decent showing of Bald Eagles (7), Sharpies (36) and Kestrels
(27). A couple of low flying Broadwings and 5 more Peregrines providing
some nice viewing opportunities.
Non-raptor Observations:
The counters commented on the number of warblers today and how close they
were to the ground and in and around the knoll site...so close in fact that
even those who typically don't take the time to check out the passerines
were having a look. :) Warblers: Blackpoll, Magnolia, BT Green, BT Blue,
Cape May, Bay-breasted, Palm, Yellow-rumped, Am. Restart..,Vireos:
Blue-headed and Philadelphia...Shorebirds: Dunlin, Killdeer and Dowitcher
sp...Swallows/Swifts: Cliff, Tree, Chimney Swift...omly about 500 Blue
Jays...and a lot fewer Monarchs on the move today.
Predictions:
Wednesday would be OK for winds from the NW...if the rain holds off or is
just scattered.
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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:
The Hawk Cliff Hawk watch is located just east of Port Stanley on the cliff
overlooking Lake Erie. Over the years the Hawk Cliff site has grown in
popularity and today it is recognized as one of the prime fall migration
hawk watching destinations in North America.
Every year hundreds of birders (and non-birders!) from Canada, the U.S.
and other countries visit the site. Knowledgeable volunteers are always on
hand to assist visitors with raptor identification and to raise public
awareness on the subject of raptor migration.
Birders can normally expect to see some 15 different raptor species with
typical count totals reaching several thousand birds per day. The count
season is from September 1st to November 30th.
On a few exceptional occasions lucky visitors have witnessed the amazing
spectacle of over 100,000 raptors of various species migrating past Hawk
Cliff in a single day!
Hawk Cliff hawkwatch is a great location for visitors to come to learn
about raptors and their migration. We cater to school groups, and will
arrange to provide special live bird demos for the kids (if possible)
depending on the day's flight.
Please visit the Hawk Cliff Foundation website listed above for more
detailed information and special events.
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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