Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 02, 2013 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 0 0 Osprey 20 22 29 Bald Eagle 0 0 0 Northern Harrier 2 3 8 Sharp-shinned Hawk 37 53 58 Cooper's Hawk 1 1 1 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 3 3 3 Red-tailed Hawk 0 0 0 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 15 15 28 Merlin 2 2 2 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 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: 80 99 129 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 10:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 6 hours Official Counter: Dave Brown, Jim Dunn Observers: Chris Burris, Dave Brown, Jim Dunn, Mary Carnahan Visitors: Well the Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch is off and flying for another fall season! It's been slow for the last part of August during which some of our volunteers were onsite...but let's hope things pick up as we move into September. A few visitors today. Thanks to Jim D and Mary C along with Chris B. for helping with todays spotting and counting. Weather: A great day for hawkwatching with lots of sun and cumulous clouds ...winds moderate from the NW for the day and lower humidity. Raptor Observations: This was the first good showing of raptors for the season with a total of 80 birds tallied. There was a good flight of Osprey (20) and as expected the majority were observed just slightly inland from the lake and most were low above the treetops as they headed west. The majority of the flight was Sharpies (37) almost all of which appeared to be young birds...along with a single young Cooper's Hawk that was escorted out of the hawkwatch area by a local Redtail. On the falcon front....AK's (15) passed through 1 or 2 at a time. One of the Merlins bombed through right over the observation knoll just above the treetops...while the second Merlin crossed the field to the north in a fast level flight. There were several sightings of Bald Eagles in and around the hawkwatch area. One group appeared to be 2 adults and 1 young bird (possible local family group)soaring together out from the shoreline...while 2 others were immature or sub-adult birds that came towards us then moved back eastward, The 3 Broadwings were the first of the season...with (hopefully) many more to come over the next couple of weeks. Non-raptor Observations: Non-raptor sightings were interesting from the observation knoll today and included Cliff Swallows, along with Bank and Barn. As well, 2 Pileated Woodpeckers were seen flying eastwards across the field, then a single flying back. 4 Chimney Swifts were spotted from the field and Ruby-throated Hummingbirds continued the trek across the field today, beginning partway through the first hour as the wind shifted cloud cover began to change: 6 were counted in the first hour and 15 in the second hour. More hummers were seen feeding and fighting in the jewelweed today than yesterday, including at least 1 adult male. Not many songbirds were found in the trees near Sharpie Alley and American Redstart was the only warbler identified. Hopefully, a new batch of songbirds will show up tomorrow with the change in wind and weather. Monarch Butterflies were back in the count today with 6 during the second hour of the watch. Also seen were Spicebush Swallowtail, Eastern Tailed Blue, Summer Azure and lots of Cabbage Whites and Orange Sulphurs. A few Clouded Sulphurs were spotted as well. Again today, Black Saddlebags and Common Green Darners were seen in large numbers up and down the field. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Dave Brown ([email protected]) Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch information may be found at: http://www.ezlink.on.ca/~thebrowns/HawkCliff/index.htm 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 set of lights with a curve ramp 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 (gravel) on the south side of Dexter Line. 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 Hawk Cliff Rd and follow gravel road to viewing area. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup
