Finally today a good north element wind,after a day of rain,brought raptors past Rosetta McClain again in higher numbers. Try as I mite,I couldnt drag 3 more birds over the park no matter how much looking I did. From 10am onward things were reasonably steady for this time of year until about 230pm. A flurry of Redtails came about 215pm,as 14 kettled together,followed closely by 2 others. A very low Red-shouldered Hawk gave Carol and I terrific views(it was her first sighting of one ever) and another later provided a great contrast in size with an adult Golden Eagle,which it circled with briefly. A dark morph Rough-legged Hawk,became Carols first RL sighting ever,and we both enjoyed it. Earlier a light morph Roughie circled co-operatively as we ID'd it. We may have seen why Loons are called Loons,as a Common Loon actually seemed to take a few runs at the Rough-legged Hawk as it circled! Todays 4 Rough=legged Hawks brought my year total to 8,which is the highest Ive counted at Rosetta McClain Gardens in a season(3 years). Year to date I surpassed the 5500 mark,now at 5518 raptors identified. Todays total included:
Northern Harrier.....................1
Sharpshinned Hawk................2
Redshouldered Hawk..............2
Redtailed Hawk....................84
Roughlegged Hawk..................4
Golden Eagle...........................2(adults,one at 12:45pm,the other 2:20pm)
American Kestrel.....................2
Thanks to Keith and Carol for their company on a terrific day! It was great to see that High Park and Cranberry Marsh both had amazing days as well. High Park got close to 400 raptors and Cranberry Marsh had over 700!
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