October 1st - Wow!

BIGFRANK got to the park at 7:00 AM and already had about 10 birds before I arrived twenty minutes later. We both thought this was going to be the day. By 10:00 AM when we were already up over 200 birds, we knew for sure!

Kestrel after Kestrel to start the day and at one point 17 zipped through in the span of about 90 seconds. During the afternoon I didn't see a bird with my binos for roughly 10 minutes because I was so busy writing down what everyone was calling out!

Today:
Turkey Vulture - 774 (new 'day' record!)
Osprey - 11
Bald Eagle - 11 (adult 10:20, 11:35) (juvenile 9:43, 9:50, 12:40, 1:40, 2:49, 4:11 x2, 4:16, 4:50)
Northern Harrier - 48
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 144
Cooper's Hawk - 14 (new 'day' record!)
Red-shouldered Hawk - 4
Broad-winged Hawk - 6
Red-tailed Hawk - 46
American Kestrel - 233 (new 'day' record!)
Merlin - 11 (new 'day' record!)
Peregrine Falcon - 3
Total - 1305 (new 'day' record!)

To Date:
Turkey Vulture - 896
Osprey - 103
Bald Eagle - 39
Northern Harrier - 133
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1247
Cooper's Hawk - 42
Northern Goshawk - 4
Red-shouldered Hawk - 4
Broad-winged Hawk - 748
Red-tailed Hawk - 60
American Kestrel - 531
Merlin - 67
Peregrine Falcon - 19
Total - 3893

Some spectacular shots taken today even though most birds were a little high up. Great job guys!

Sharp-shinned Hawk

A Sharpie heading due south!

A Red-tailed Hawk and Turkey Vulture seeing eye to eye.

Red-tailed Hawk

Broad-winged Hawk

Bald Eagle

American Kestrel

Turkey Vulture

Some non-raptor sightings included: 2 Cackling Geese, Belted Kingfisher, Pine Siskin, and 2 flocks of Sandhill Cranes - about 50 Cranes total!

Belted Kingfisher

A bus load of hawk watchers today including: BIGFRANK, Lorne, Peter, Bob, Pat, Nancy, Mike 2, Mike 3, Berle, Mary, Katherine, Norm, Freida, Ron, Huey, Tom, Allison, Bruce, Phil, Tim, Jean, Barb, Pam, Brad, Theresa, Bob 2, Gunnar, Mark, Leslie 2, Betty, Frank, Margaret, Sheldon, Randy, Ann 2, Julie, plus many others that I didn't get the names of unfortunately. A big thankyou to all for your help in spotting and ID'ing birds today! Also, thanks for all the coffee/donuts (yesterday and today), it's very much appreciated.

Just some of the crowd.

Walter

September 30th - A Nice End To The Month

Once again the weather people were not exactly correct with their prediction for the day. It turned out to be a beautiful ever-changing kind-a day. The birds were slow to come at first but really picked during the afternoon as the wind changed direction.

Today:
Turkey Vulture - 31
Osprey - 18
Bald Eagle - 1 (juvenile 2:10)
Northern Harrier - 8
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 23
Cooper's Hawk - 3
Red-tailed Hawk - 2
American Kestrel - 11
Peregrine Falcon - 7
Total - 104

To Date:
Turkey Vulture - 122
Osprey - 92
Bald Eagle - 28
Northern Harrier - 85
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1103
Cooper's Hawk - 28
Northern Goshawk - 4
Broad-winged Hawk - 742
Red-tailed Hawk - 14
American Kestrel - 298
Merlin - 56
Peregrine Falcon - 16
Total - 2588

The best non-raptors of the day were 2 shorebirds flying west out over the lake. My best guess would be Greater Yellowlegs but we'll never know for sure.

Hawk watchers today included: Theresa, Terry 2, Gunnar, Pat, Lee, Betty, and Ron & Jean.

The next few days are still looking excellent for large movements of raptors. Please join us as many birds should be flying passed quite low and easy to see.

Walter

September 29th - A Tied Record!

With Terry 2's morning report today we've now tied our 'single month' record for Merlin at 52 birds. We've only tomorrow left to break the record! I added a Harrier and a couple of Sharpies to the Count in the afternoon. Today's off and on rain brought few birds our way.

Today:
Osprey - 2
Northern Harrier - 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 5
Northern Goshawk - 1
Merlin - 1
Total - 10

To Date:
Turkey Vulture - 91
Osprey - 74
Bald Eagle - 27
Northern Harrier - 77
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1080
Cooper's Hawk - 25
Northern Goshawk - 4
Broad-winged Hawk - 742
Red-tailed Hawk - 12
American Kestrel - 287
Merlin - 56
Peregrine Falcon - 9
Total - 2484

During the morning Watch several waves of Warblers passed through the park and during the afternoon Watch, I noticed that the Monarchs were flying right along the top edge of the Bluffs one after the other.

The morning crew consisted of Terry 2 and Berle and the afternoon crew consisted of Peter and myself. Thanks for your help again.

Walter

September 29th - The Mega-Weekend Cometh?

If the predicted NW 30-35kph winds come on Saturday and Sunday, we could be in for one heck of a good show. I'm talking hundreds of birds down low and in your face. The stuff dreams are made of! Phone the neighbours, wake the kids, it's gonna be wild!!!

Or, it could turn out to be just like any other weekend.

Walter

September 28th - Not Too Bad Today

On a day that we didn't quite know what to expect, we did alright seeing 52 raptors. The weather was very different then what was predicted, it turned out to be hot, hazy, and humid.

Today:
Northern Harrier - 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 38
Cooper's Hawk - 1
Northern Goshawk - 1
American Kestrel - 8
Merlin - 3
Total - 52

To Date:
Turkey Vulture - 91
Osprey - 72
Bald Eagle - 27
Northern Harrier - 76
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1075
Cooper's Hawk - 25
Northern Goshawk - 3
Broad-winged Hawk - 742
Red-tailed Hawk - 12
American Kestrel - 287
Merlin - 55
Peregrine Falcon - 9
Total - 2474

Blue Jay migration continued with many flocks flying down low and right over our heads. We weren't counting them but I think a thousand wouldn't be too far off.

A few early morning shots of the lake.

Today we had: Theresa, Berle, Pat, Nancy, Betty, and Allison on hand.

Walter

September 27th - Another 33 Birds Today

Again, my thanks to all who helped spot and count raptors today in my absence. I'll be back at the park tomorrow, weather permitting.

Today:
Turkey Vulture - 19
Osprey - 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 5
American Kestrel - 5
Merlin - 2
Total - 33

To Date:
Turkey Vulture - 91
Osprey - 72
Bald Eagle - 27
Northern Harrier - 75
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1037
Cooper's Hawk - 24
Northern Goshawk - 2
Broad-winged Hawk - 742
Red-tailed Hawk - 12
American Kestrel - 279
Merlin - 52
Peregrine Falcon - 9
Total - 2422

More than 1000 Blue Jays were seen flying over the park and also today, over 250 Northern Flickers were observed flying westward.

Hawk watchers today included: Terry 2, Betty, Peter, Berle, and Phil.

Walter

September 26th - Strong East Wind Today

My thanks to Theresa and Terry 2 for staying and counting raptors this afternoon after I had left at 11:30 AM. Again today we had fairly strong wind from the east so many of the birds seen were moving through a little faster than normal.

Today:
Osprey - 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 19
American Kestrel - 7
Merlin - 1
Total - 28

To Date:
Turkey Vulture - 72
Osprey - 70
Bald Eagle - 27
Northern Harrier - 75
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1032
Cooper's Hawk - 24
Northern Goshawk - 2
Broad-winged Hawk - 742
Red-tailed Hawk - 12
American Kestrel - 274
Merlin - 50
Peregrine Falcon - 9
Total - 2389

Today we had another Cackling Goose mixed in with a small flock of Canada Geese. 5000+ Blue Jays moving through. Many Monarch butterflies also fluttering by today.

Strange sighting of the day was a very bright yellow bird mixed in with a flock of Blue Jays that flew right overhead. The unID'd bird was smaller than a Jay but bigger than a Goldfinch or any of the Warbler species. Also, it had a very long narrow tail. My best guess would be a Budgie (Budgerigar).

Attendees today included: Pat, Terry 2, Theresa, Berle, Betty, and Peter.

Walter

September 25th - Not Quite As Good As We'd Hoped

Today was not quite as good as we'd hoped. With mostly east winds a lot of the birds were up high and moving through fast. A few birds put on beautiful aerial displays for us a little lower down.

Today:
Turkey Vulture - 3
Osprey - 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 31
Cooper's Hawk - 4
American Kestrel - 8
Merlin - 1
Peregrine Falcon - 1
Total - 49

To Date:
Turkey Vulture - 72
Osprey - 69
Bald Eagle - 27
Northern Harrier - 75
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1013
Cooper's Hawk - 24
Northern Goshawk - 2
Broad-winged Hawk - 742
Red-tailed Hawk - 12
American Kestrel - 267
Merlin - 49
Peregrine Falcon - 9
Total - 2361

Sharp-shinned Hawk

American Kestrel

Turkey Vulture

Cooper's Hawk (adult)

Cooper's Hawk

Merlin

Peregrine Falcon

Both Blue Jay and Monarch numbers were way down today.

A local Blue Jay catchin' a peanut on the fly.

Lots o' people on hand today including: Lorne, Ann, Heather, Theresa, Carol, Rodger & Jane, Pat & Nancy, Norm, Jack, Mike 3, Mike 2, Lee, Murray, Leslie 2 & Peter 2, Mary, Phil and his 2 little ones, Mike & Leslie, Bruce & Sue, and Anne 2.

The 3 Mikes

Walter