Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 15, 2007 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 13 18 Osprey 9 112 114 Bald Eagle 31 107 109 Northern Harrier 121 435 438 Sharp-shinned Hawk 880 4799 4804 Cooper's Hawk 13 48 49 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 22337 36159 36160 Red-tailed Hawk 3 6 10 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 542 1950 1997 Merlin 11 92 92 Peregrine Falcon 1 6 6 Unknown 6 7 Total: 23948 43733 43804 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 06:00:00 Observation end time: 17:00:00 Total observation time: 11 hours Official Counter: Dave Brown Observers: Alf Rider, Brian Hawthorne, Ches Caister, Colin Horstead, Dave Verkley, Derek Lyon, Eric Single, Jennifer Lyon, Keith Sealy, Paul Brown, Rebecca Vile, Su Ross-Redmond, Tim Foran, Tom Bolohan, Tom Thomas, Wayne Parnall Visitors: Estimates for todays crowd at the first 2007 Hawk Cliff Weekend ran upward of 500 visitors. My thanks to everyone who helped with todays count...at least 16 spotters and the official counters made for a formidable team. Weather: Overcast and rain to begin the day...but clear skies both east and west of Hawk Cliff. Eventually, the skies cleared to fairly high ceiling of cumulous...with large breaks of blue. Winds were very strong from the NW and remained so all day. Temp was much cooler after the passage of a fairly strong cold front that drop across the Great Lakes region Friday night. Raptor Observations: A fantastic flight today on strong NW winds and cooler temps. Our total was 23,948 birds... the majority of which were Broadwings (22,337) followed by Sharpies (880) and Kestrels (542). Other highlights were Bald Eagles (31) with some nice looks at very low birds providing great photo ops. Another good day for Northern Harriers (121) and right near the end of the day a lone juvenile Peregrine. Non-raptor Observations: Of note were at least 20 Common Loons and 6 Cormorants. Predictions: Light W and SW winds will likely slow the flight...but we could see some good birda along the cliff. ======================================================================== 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