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Hawk Cliff Hawk Watch
Hawk Cliff Hawk Watch Raptor watching at its BEST
Raptor watching at its BEST

ABOUT HAWK CLIFF HAWK WATCH

History

Local naturalists had noted fairly significant movements of raptors along this stretch of the Lake Eire shoreline as far back as the late 19th century but a more organized hawk watch didn't occur till the mid to late 20th century. In 1974 the Hawk Migration Association of North America (HMANA) was formed with the goal of providing standardized forms and protocols for recording raptor migration counts.

Passion

The Hawk Cliff Hawk Watch is manned by a number of volunteers dedicated to the conservation of migratory raptors, passerines and Monarch butterflies of North America through scientific study, public education and appreciation of their fall migrations. Over the years the Hawk Cliff site has grown in popularity and today it is recognized as one of the prime fall migration hawk watching destinations in North America.

Species

Birders can normally expect to see some 15 different raptor species including the always sought after Peregrine Falcons, Broad-winged Hawks and the amazing Golden Eagles. Typical daily count totals can reach 100's to 1000's of birds but on a few exceptional occasions lucky visitors have witnessed the amazing spectacle of over 100,000 raptors of various species migrating past Hawk Cliff in a single day!

Timeframe

The primary migration occurs at Hawk Cliff during the fall season from September to November. However, raptors begin to migrate mid-August and will continue to migrate through to the end of December. The peak volume of raptors occurs in September with typical large Broadwing flights while peak variety of species occurs in October when we can get all 15 of the usual raptor species in a single day.

HAWK WATCHING AT HAWK CLIFF

Hours / Events

The hawk watch site is free to visit and open for visitors as follows:

Daily 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Sept 1st - Nov 30th

For details on events at Hawk Cliff check out the Thames Talbot Land Trust "Hawk Cliff Woods" event page at the following link:

TTLT Hawk Cliff Woods Events

Location

The Hawk Cliff Hawk Watch is located several kilometres due south of St. Thomas, just follow Fairview Ave south (it's also called Regional Road 22), and it runs directly into Hawk Cliff Road (turns to gravel) right where it hits Dexter Line.

The site is east of Port Stanley so from Hwy 4 (Sunset Dr) turn up to the water tower, go east on Dexter Line and turn right onto Hawk Cliff Rd.

Map

Tips

If you're planning a visit to Hawk Cliff you'll need to consider bringing the following items:

Binoculars / Spotting Scope

Folding Chair

Layered Clothing / Sunscreen

Raptor Field Guide(s)

Food and Drink

Weather

The number one factor that determines a good raptor flight at Hawk Cliff is WIND DIRECTION. The best and biggest flights almost always occur on days with NW, N and NE winds. Very strong SW winds are great for flights along the cliff edge, especially around Oct 1st for Peregrines. Cloud cover is also important as lots of nice puffy cumulus clouds help with spotting the birds in an otherwise blue sky and usually indicate good thermals in the area.

SPECIES INFO

American Kestrel

American Kestrel

Type: Falcon

The Kestrels are fond of hovering over the open fields in front of the hawkwatch area as well as along the cliff edge, watching intently for a quick snack. At Hawk Cliff we often see them passing through in groups comprising 10, 20 even 40 birds all at the same time!

Merlin

Merlin

Type: Falcon

The Merlin is a tough bird to peg to a specific flight line through the hawkwatch area...they simply seem to go almost anywhere and everywhere they like. They are VERY speedy flyers in level flight...and usually cross through the hawkwatch area so fast that visitors who blink will miss them!

Peregrine Falcon

Peregrine Falcon

Type: Falcon

Peregrines can be seen migrating right along the cliff riding updrafts created by strong SW winds and even on other wind directions they almost always pass by within a couple of hundred meters of the Cliff itself. They rarely need flap at all as they cruise past in mere seconds!

Northern Harrier

Northern Harrier

Type: Harrier

The Northern Harrier is one raptor species that typically provides the closest looks and great photo ops during migration as they fly a mere metre or two off the ground hunting the field in front of the count area. Note that the Harriers are sometimes seen soaring high above as well.

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Type: Accipiter

The best views of Sharp-shinned Hawks are usually right at "Sharpie Alley" (just south of the ravine) where one might have a Sharpie nearly take off your hat! The Sharp-Shinned Hawks can be seen chasing other small birds, looking for a quick meal.

Cooper's Hawk

Cooper's Hawk

Type: Accipiter

Like most accipiters, Cooper's Hawks tend to pass the watch along the tree lines or by sneaking along the cliff though they can also be seen soaring high with the buteos looking like a flying cross. The best views of Cooper's Hawks are also often at "Sharpie Alley".

Northern Goshawk

Northern Goshawk

Type: Accipiter

Northern Goshawks are often seen very low crossing the hawk watch area at tree top height or lower. Their bold white eyebrow can be seen often at a pretty good distance and they are a large heavy looking bird. When they do soar look for their wedge shaped tail.

Osprey

Osprey

Type: Osprey

Ospreys are typically cruising along above the cliff edge, using the updrafts of south and southwest winds hitting the cliff face. They may also be observed soaring with other raptors in kettles in thermals. They're very distinctive in flight, holding their wings in what looks like a "W" shape.

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

Type: Eagle

The best views of Bald Eagles tend to be as they cruise low along the cliff edge. Experienced observers will also look for the occasional eagle using the same flight lines as the Turkey Vultures. Bald Eagles have a very distinctive head-on flight profile...flat from wingtip to wingtip.

Golden Eagle

Golden Eagle

Type: Eagle

The Golden Eagles are most often spotted crossing through slightly inland from the cliff. Experienced observers know to watch for Golden Eagles mixed in with flights of Turkey Vultures. Their appearance can be very similar to the vultures, big and dark and exhibiting a slight dihedral in their wings.

Red-shouldered Hawk

Red-shouldered Hawk

Type: Buteo

Red-shouldered Hawks are often seen soaring and kettling with Redtails and as they fly towards you their wings are more bowed. Note, however that Red-shoulders usually prefer to migrate on less windy days. They seem not to like fighting into a strong head wind as much as the Redtails.

Broad-winged Hawk

Broad-winged Hawk

Type: Buteo

Broadwings can be seen virtually anywhere along the roadway just inland of the cliff to several km's north back towards St. Thomas. The key to seeing Broadwings and possibly large kettles is finding their flight line and getting yourself underneath it. Kettles of several hundred birds are possible.

Red-tailed Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Type: Buteo

Redtails migrate through the hawkwatch area in almost any location from the cliff itself, inland to "Sharpie Alley" and further north to the Fruit Ridge Rd. They are the most prominent species in kettles occurring in the latter part of migration. They will power their way into strong head winds.

Rough-legged Hawk

Rough-legged Hawk

Type: Buteo

Roughlegs pass through the hawkwatch area inland from the cliff. Observers will most often watch for Roughlegs starting at "Sharpie Alley" (just south of the ravine) and then moving further northward. They're typically seen migrating through individually in small numbers.

Turkey Vulture

Turkey Vulture

Type: Vulture

They're very large dark birds and easy to spot spiralling upward, gaining lift and then power gliding off westward to the next thermal. Experienced observers will look for the flight lines being used by the Turkey Vultures to spot smaller raptors that are moving with them.

HAWK CLIFF BY THE NUMBERS

Monthly

Check out the monthly summary counts. You can select any given month using the menu on the left

Daily

Have a look at the counts on a daily basis. You can select any given date using the menu on the left

Raptor Population Index (RPI)

Check out the latest RPI produced by Bird Studies Canada (as of 2016)

Migration Timeframe

The link below takes you to the Hawk Cliff Profile page, then click the Migration Timing tab.

CONTACT

Lets get in touch. Send us a message:

Email: ez_raptor@hotmail.com