Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 22, 2008 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 10 10 10 Osprey 16 168 169 Bald Eagle 39 116 118 Northern Harrier 37 229 229 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1136 3695 3697 Cooper's Hawk 5 32 32 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 61 100325 100333 Red-tailed Hawk 0 3 5 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 92 1482 1498 Merlin 2 64 64 Peregrine Falcon 0 20 20 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: 1398 106153 106184 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 06:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 10 hours Official Counter: Colin Horstead Observers: Alf Rider, Dave Verkley, Dave Weir, Derek Lyon, Ed Taylor, Jason McGuire, Jennifer Lyon, Jim Dunn, Mary Carnahan, Remy Pokraka, Ronnie Goodhand Visitors: First a big thanks to everyone that helped out with our 2nd Open House weekend at the Hawk Cliff hawkwatch. It was MUCH drier than the previous open house weekend (thankyou hurricane Ike!!) and Sunday's flight was quite good despite the overly nice weather. Estimates for visitors to the hawkwatch over the 2 days were 600+. Today (Monday) saw a few visitors ...Derek & Sylvia Roe (Woodstock), Deb Lehman, Jon Moser, Elizabeth Morgan (Chester Eng.), Mary Barr (Sudbury), Mary Vernon (London ON) and Libby Dawson (London ON)...and John Potticary (London) Weather: Well, the winds didn't really cooperate with moderate E to strong to SSE then back to E. Temp got to 21C with no cloud cover. The humidity was much lower today. Raptor Observations: An excellent flight today despite the wind direction with 1398 birds tallied. A steady flow of Sharpies (1136) made them the impact bird for the day. However, the real highlight was the Bald Eagles (39)...with 23 tallied between 10-11 bird time. This stands as a new 1-hour record, besting the old record of 17 in an hour set back on Sept. 15 2005. More Broadwings (61)...along with Harriers (37), Osprey (16), Kestrels (92) and a couple of early morning Merlins. Non-raptor Observations: 300+ Blue Jays along with a lone Common Nighthawk. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Dave Brown (thebrowns@ezlink.on.ca) 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