[Ontbirds]HSR: Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch (18 Nov 2007) 3643 Raptors

[reports at hawkcount.org]

Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch
Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 18, 2007
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Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0              0              0
Turkey Vulture              69            910          21308
Osprey                       0              0            209
Bald Eagle                   3             28            395
Northern Harrier             6            101           2104
Sharp-shinned Hawk          10            220          16637
Cooper's Hawk               27            132            632
Northern Goshawk             2              8             31
Red-shouldered Hawk         54            489           1130
Broad-winged Hawk            0              0          41018
Red-tailed Hawk           3459           7508          10856
Rough-legged Hawk            3             24             34
Golden Eagle                 8             69            133
American Kestrel             1              5           4431
Merlin                       1              6            264
Peregrine Falcon             0              0            148
Unknown Accipiter            0              0              3
Unknown Buteo                0              0              7
Unknown Falcon               0              0              2
Unknown Eagle                0              1              1
Unknown Raptor               0              0              6

Total:                    3643           9501          99349
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Observation start time: 08:00:00 
Observation end   time: 16:00:00 
Total observation time: 8 hours

Official Counter:        Colin Horstead

Observers:        Alf Rider, Brian Hawthorne, Dave Verkley, Keith Sealy,
                  Mac McAlpine, Mark Cunningham, Mary Carnahan,
                  Ronnie Goodhand, Shay Redmond, Su Ross-Redmond,
                  Wayne Parnall

Visitors:
Just a few visitors today...Paul Thomas and Karen Devries from London and
John Potticary...and my thanks to them and all the usual gang to put in a
long day and tally such a great count.


Weather:
A great hawkwatching day today although a bit more cloud would've been
helpful. Winds were strong from the NE and just started swinging to the E
as the count was shutting down. Temp was cool today reaching just 3C and
feeling much colder given the strong winds. Much drier air today with lower
humidity and BP on the rise.

Raptor Observations:
Wow!! A fantastic flight today with a total of 3,643 birds total...the
majority of which were Redtails with 3,459 ...a new 1-day record for
Redtails at Hawk Cliff. The highest 1-hour count was 968 bewteen 10-11
o'clock. There were many kettles of Redtails today with a number of the
birds coming back in from over the lake showing just how strong the wind
was in pushing them out there in the first place. 

Perhaps as interesting as the high count if not more so were the 2 DARK
MORPH Redtails that were photographed by some of the usual suspects (Shay,
Alf and Mark) and also what appeared to be a partial albino raptor...its
plumage was nearly pure white save a lone feather in the right wing that
showed a faint pattern. At the time the bird was observed it was thought to
be a Redtail. However, upon seeing the photos from Shay and Mark (which are
excellent)...and especially one that has both this pure white raptor
circling right beside a Redtail, it appears (to me at least) to be a
different species. We'll see if a final id can be made and in the meantime
I'm hoping to get some of the shots posted on the HCF website.

Other good birds today included 3 Roughlegs (2 dark morph and 1 light
morph)...along with 8 more Golden Eagles (2 Ad, 1 SubAd and 5 Juv.) and a
couple more Northern Goshawks (1 Ad and 1 Juv).

Non-raptor Observations:
Other good sightings today included a pair of Sandhill Cranes followed a
bit later by a flock of 45...certainly one of the largest (if not the
largest) flocks of Sandhills we've seen pass by Hawk Cliff. Also lots more
crows on the move today.
========================================================================
Report submitted by Dave Brown (thebrowns at 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