Co-operative Osprey, Perched Peregrine,Tagged Monarch...56 Raptors...YTD...1832

Today started off wet, and ended off with perfect conditions. It was a good day all around. Lee, Berle, Anne, Ron, Carol, Mike 4, Atilla, Clemons, Phil, Josh, Marissa, Mykaela, Alexis and Cori joined Walter and I today and enjoyed seeing 10 Osprey, almost all at close range. Mike 4 got a phenominal shot of one of them. One Osprey was even below us to the bluff side.  We had 2 go past us together also.

While Sharpshinned Hawks made up the bulk of todays count, a Peregrine Falcon landed in a tree in the yard at the west end of Rosetta McClain Gardens, perching for photos. Mike 4 got a terrific shot of the young male Peregrine.

We also saw a beautiful Merlin which Mike 4 sent along a shot of.

Something new and different was a Northern Harrier passing by that was attacked by a gull. It was very interesting to watch this interaction.

In total we saw 56 raptors:
10-Osprey
1-Northern Harrier
38-Sharpshinned Hawks
1-Redtailed Hawk
3-American Kestrels
2-Merlin
1-Peregrine Falcon
56-Total Raptors

Clemons spotted and photographed first a tagged Monarch. He let Walter and I know so we went to find it on the verbena and I got photos of it. I was amazed at the amount of information they put on the tag. I have emailed the address on the tag and await information about the butterfly that we saw. We do know they are tagging them at Presqu'ile Provincial Park in Brighton but who knows where this Monarch was tagged.