October 21st - Our First Golden Eagle!

It was an amazing but somewhat cold day at the park today with a great variety of raptors and non-raptors on the move. The Golden Eagle was spotted just out over the lake beyond Bluffer's Park and heading right towards us. As it moved closer and closer, we watched silently hoping to be the first to make the call "It's a Golden!" Sadly, no photos were taken, most photographers had left the park by then and the rest of us were more than happy just seeing it. What a magnificent bird!

Today:
Turkey Vulture - 55
Osprey - 2
Northern Harrier - 13
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 91
Cooper's Hawk - 7
Northern Goshawk - 2
Red-shouldered Hawk - 2
Red-tailed Hawk - 24
Golden Eagle - 1 (juvenile 2:30)
American Kestrel - 7
Merlin - 9
Total - 213

To Date:
Turkey Vulture - 1558
Osprey - 122
Bald Eagle - 56
Northern Harrier - 178
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1645
Cooper's Hawk - 72
Northern Goshawk - 14
Red-shouldered Hawk - 7
Broad-winged Hawk - 757
Red-tailed Hawk - 126
Golden Eagle - 1
American Kestrel - 616
Merlin - 119
Peregrine Falcon - 37
Total - 5308

Seconds after this shot was taken the bird was attacked by another Merlin. A Merlin's territory is wherever it is at that moment!

Merlin

Cooper's Hawk

Northern Harrier

Osprey

Red-shouldered Hawk

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

This RT shot was from yesterday.

All kinds of non-raptors observed migrating in decent numbers today including: Common Loon (230+), Red-breasted Merganser, Long-tailed Duck, Wing-winged Scoter, American Robin, European Starling, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird, and our first flocks of Eastern Bluebird.

Eastern Bluebirds

Lots of eyes on the skies today including: BIGFRANK, Ann, Tony, Allison, Terry 2, Carol, Gunnar, Betty, Mike 3, Theresa, Pat & Nancy, Barb & Ken, Ron & Jean, Hugh, Cori, Shirley, Richard, The kids from Cliffside PS, Bill, Peter, Bill 2, and Bob. Thanks for all your help today.....and the coffee, donuts, and cookies!

Walter