Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 10, 2005 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 1 143 14199 Osprey 1 1 361 Bald Eagle 3 16 347 Northern Harrier 0 15 855 Sharp-shinned Hawk 7 94 11729 Cooper's Hawk 5 17 549 Northern Goshawk 2 13 56 Red-shouldered Hawk 5 92 1003 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 34424 Red-tailed Hawk 40 371 3833 Rough-legged Hawk 2 12 44 Golden Eagle 7 15 61 American Kestrel 0 1 3982 Merlin 3 4 186 Peregrine Falcon 0 1 116 Unknown 1 1 105 Prairie Falcon 0 0 1 Total: 77 796 71851 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:30:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 6.5 hours Official Counter: Dave Brown Observers: Mac, Matt Oswald Visitors: A few hardy souls came out to help with the count...thanks to John McKeeman, Ernie Gribbel and Sam Mallin. Weather: Quite a mixed bag for weather today. When I first arrived at the Cliff there was wet snow falling to the east in a flurry coming down off of Lake Huron and bright blue skies behind me to the west. Within 30 minutes this had changed to almost basically 100% cloud cover and snow pellets. Temp never got above 5C and likely felt colder due to the windchill. Winds were strong from the NW all day. Raptor Observations: Well...not a large flight today with a total of 77 birds tallied...but we did get a great variety with 12 different species...including 7 GOLDEN EALGES, a VERY LATE OSPREY (our average is less than 1 Osprey in November over the last 10 years), 2 NORTHERN GOSHAWKS and 3 adult male MERLINS. One of the more interesting interactions today involved a juvenile Bald Eagle that dove several times on an adult Red-shouldered Hawk...and on the last attempt it almost looked like the hawk was hit. The hawk disappeared down into the bush below while the eagle struggled to climb for altitude. Non-raptor Observations: LOTS of EASTERN BLUEBIRDS today (70+) in several flocks...many sat right beside the counters in the small willows near the Sharpie Alley gate. Other species included Rusty Blackbirds, both kinglets, 2 Hermit Thrushes, 2 Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Fox, White-throated and Tree Sparrows, a lone Yellow-rumped Warbler, lots of of Robins, Juncos and Blackbirds...and flybys of several Common Loons and a flock of American Nlack Ducks (15). Predictions: May see NW winds to start Friday morning...but eventually will back to SW. If the winds are lighter and there's lots of sun then the birds will likely be on the move. The only question is how far inland will the flightline be? ======================================================================== 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