Wind (current)

August 25th - 8 More Birds!

Today we counted 8 more birds.  That was pretty good considering the higher heat and humidity we're experiencing right now.  Best bird of the day was an Osprey which flew by at eye level just over the bluffs.  Shortly after that a Merlin flew by.  It landed in a dead tree just outside the park in a neighbouring backyard and several folks got great photos of it.

Today:
Osprey - 1
Northern Harrier - 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 5
Merlin - 1
Total - 8

To Date:
Turkey Vulture - 6
Osprey - 11
Bald Eagle - 4
Northern Harrier - 4
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 20
Cooper's Hawk - 1
Northern Goshawk - 0
Red-shouldered Hawk - 0
Broad-winged Hawk - 4
Red-tailed Hawk - 11
Rough-legged Hawk - 0
Golden Eagle - 0
American Kestrel - 8
Merlin - 4
Peregrine Falcon - 1
Total - 74

Here are some photos from today courtesy of Ann Brokelman.

Osprey

Merlin

Merlin
 
Most of the gang from today
 
The park was fairly quiet today for songbirds.  Towards the end of the day, our friend Howie and his son Larry came over to show us photos and video of the Giant Swallowtail butterfly that they had just observed up by the Rose Gardens.  Wonderful find gentlemen!  Speaking of finds, I too got a fabulous surprise this morning when I walked through the main garden and noticed a Hummingbird-like insect flying from flower to flower in one of the beds.  Didn't know what it was until I identified it this evening - it was a Gallium Sphinx Moth.  Don't know if it's rare in the province or not but I do know that I've never heard or seen one before.
 
Gallium Sphinx moth
 
Good crowd today including:  Ann, Carol, Pat & Nancy, Mike, Mike 4, John, Betty, Lee, Freida, Norm, Ivor, Howie and Larry.
 
Looks like rain for tomorrow!
 
Walter
 
 

4 comments:

cori said...

Very nice to see such a good crowd on Sunday. You were all sure lucky to get the Osprey/Harrier and Merlin and such great shots too Ann. Great find Walter of the very cool moth. Thanks

Anonymous said...

Any chance of seeing anything after 5pm when I leave work?

Walter Fisher said...

Hi Anonymous,

Not usually, it's pretty much hit and miss by then. Sometimes on big days when winds are blowing strong from the NW there'll still be birds flying at that time. Your best bet is to come on weekends or days that you're not working.

Angie in T.O. said...

Looking forward to visiting on Saturday and hopefully seeing some Butterflies!! :)