Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 06, 2013 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 0 0 Osprey 3 35 42 Bald Eagle 0 0 0 Northern Harrier 5 15 20 Sharp-shinned Hawk 47 194 199 Cooper's Hawk 0 2 2 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 0 7 7 Red-tailed Hawk 1 1 1 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 16 62 75 Merlin 0 5 5 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: 72 321 351 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 13:00:00 Total observation time: 6 hours Official Counter: Jim Dunn Observers: Mary Carnahan Visitors: Visitor Gary Irwin stopped by the site today to hang with Jim and Mary who compiled and submitted today's report. Weather: The wind direction wasn't very favourable today with no wind at all to start and then a light breeze from NE to SSE to SW and SSW. Temp was quite cool to start at 6C, eventually climbing to a high of 18C. Not much cloud cover under a high pressure system that settled over the Lower Great Lakes region. Raptor Observations: The light and variable wind condition made for variable flight heights as well as birds headed westward past Hawk Cliff. A total of 72 birds was counted today including 3 Osprey in the first couple of hours, 5 Northern Harriers cruising past low and a single Redtail that appeared to be on the move and not just local. The American Kestrels began to move in the 3rd hour with a total of 16 migrating past, many right over the observation knoll. There was also a total of 47 Sharpies for the day with the majority passing through from 9-10. Non-raptor Observations: Things were pretty quiet at the Cliff today except for the Catbirds and several Flickers gave great views as they flew back and forth across the field numerous times in the two hours. Interesting finds in the bushes along the roadside included 3 Least Flycatchers, Warbling and Red-eyed Vireo, Eastern Towhee, a couple of Brown Thrashers and a Swainson's Thrush. only 4 Warblers were seen today, including Magnolia, Black & White, American Redstart and Common Yellowthroat. We also had Downy and Red-bellied Woodpeckers. Eastern Bluebirds can be seen catching some early morning rays on the wires along Fairview Rd., south of John Wise Ln almost daily. Today there was a mob of at least 8 as this observer drove by. Today's New Species for the season was a Lance-Tipped Darner perched on a weed at the pond and during today's watch we tallied 15 Monarch Butterflies flying around in the tobacco. A couple of those were seen high up, moving westward. ======================================================================== 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
