Today was another reasonable day,after almost a solid month of crazy heat and humidity. Walter and I were joined by Carol,Betty,Ann,Pat and Nancy who all enjoyed some birds and chatting. Early in the morning I saw a female Merlin. The first sign a raptor was in the area,was a flurry of Starlings and pigeons taking to the air. Immediately I began a scan of the sky and didnt take long to see the Merlin in chase. It bumped one of the pigeons,eventually breaking off its hunt,perching for long enough to make a clear ID,before carrying on in search of breakfast. Later we saw an American Kestrel hunting the bluff,which Ann caught flying past.
She had something in her talons.
Todays total was 7 including
3-Turkey Vultures
1-Redtailed Hawk
2-American Kestrels
1-Merlin
These birds were different ones from yesterday,as the Kestrels have either been different sexes or in different molts. The hunting Kestrel was local and not recorded.
There were thousands of Double Crested Cormorants seen out fishing today. A very large stream of them flowed from the Leslie Spit(Tommy Thompson Park) area to beyond the Scarborough Bluffs. Hundreds(at leasts) of Barn and Northern Roughwinged Swallows were again seen migrating past,as well as a few Hummingbirds and many Cedar Waxwings. We saw 2 more Great Blue Herons go by headed west,bringing the 2 day total to 14. Ann captured this rather unique view of the Great Blues flying past us today.
The next several days will be hit and miss,as early August so often is.
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