Regardless of where summer went -- some would say "what summer?'' -- we've arrived at September.
Besides the movements of small birds, raptors will be pushing through southern Ontario from east to west, heading for that point near LaSalle where the river is the narrowest and land is in sight from Ontario and down the Mississippi flyway, always moving to the southwest and eventually passing through Mexico at certain strategic areas where hawk counts are the highest in North America.
We get our share of good looks at Hawk Cliff with some favourable winds -- usually north winds after a rain with winds from the southwest. These include ospreys -- moving already; hummingbirds --they are beginning to stream through; bald eagles and hawks including kestrels, merlins and sharp-shinned hawks .
This weekend is one of two in a row when banded birds will be shown at the Cliff, and will likely feature kestrels, sharp-shinned hawks and merlins, if we're lucky. Showings will be at approximately 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. this weekend and next by the Hawk Cliff Banding Association.
It is a good time to visit the Cliff, as banders and others will be available to help identify birds as they pass by to those not fully acquainted with them. It is the best place to learn to identify hawks that will stand you in good stead through the year.
Good sightings rely so much on the wind, but you can be sure there will be hawks of some sort every day from now until Sept. 20. Best times are usually after several days of rain and southwest winds when the wind changes to the north. After two or three days of rain and a wind shift to the north, birds will flock through to make up for lost time. Broad wings in September and red-shouldered hawks in October feed little on the way south and they depend on the right weather to glide and conserve energy. Accipiters and falcons will feed on the way.
There will also an exhibition of tagging monarch butterflies on both weekends. My favorite way to the Cliff is the one mentioned in the August edition of the Cardinal magazine, published by the Macllwraith Field Naturalists.
Take Hwy. 4 south from Lambeth past and below St. Thomas and it becomes County Road 4. At Union, take turn east on County Road 24, then south on County Road 22 all the way to the lake. The last part of this road is gravel.
Remember not to give up in October for these larger birds include Cooper's and goshawks, rough legged hawks, and golden eagles.
Updates: We have had some good sightings of hummingbirds lately at the Grand Bend cottage. Last Tuesday we even had one that would hover for some seconds several times in a sprinkler spray that we had going to water the garden. The feeder was nearby.
For data about other outdoor events by Macilwraith phone Cathy McCrae at 519-438-5879. For membership information call Ann Day at 519-473-0292. For indoor meetings, call Karen Auzins at 519-652-9483. If you're not a member, it's worth joining if you have any interest in nature and the outdoors.
Safari still wild at 40TRW Camera Technologies - Our Vision Makes Life Easier for Drivers
