August 24th - 6 Birds, 5 Species

Today was as predicted, absolutely beautiful and not conducive to hawk migration.  Having said that we did get a couple of birds that didn't really care about what the weather people forecasted!  Best sighting of the day was seeing Ann.  With a plate full of work and yard full of birds she hasn't been able to get to the park till today.  Birds were few and far between but as each one passed it gave us hope that there would be more.  They're coming!

Today:
Osprey - 1
Northern Harrier - 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1
American Kestrel - 2
Merlin - 1
Total - 6

To Date:
Turkey Vulture - 6
Osprey - 10
Bald Eagle - 4
Northern Harrier - 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 15
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 - 3
Peregrine Falcon - 1
Total - 66

Today's List additions include a Common Yellowthroat for 'Birds' and Clouded Sulphur and Eastern Tailed Blue for 'Butterflies'.  Also, I forgot to mention that the other day Betty saw a critter that she has identified as a Northern Short-tailed Shrew (common around the Great Lakes).  An excellent sighting and a new mammal for the Park.  I had a Common Raccoon on Friday morning.

Eastern Tailed Blue

Phil, Lee, Peter, Ann, Norm, Carol, John, Betty, and Sheldon were at the Watch and eager to see hawks.

Walter

August 23rd - 4 Eagles!!!

The strong NW wind which came late Thursday afternoon must have brought a few birds down to the lake.  Today's 14 birds were seen between 8:15 AM and 11:10 AM and then it was over.  The last 2 birds, which were a pair of Bald Eagles were the only real high-fliers.  Everything else was lower down suggesting that they were coming from much shorter distances away.  It was a very exciting start to the day, wish it didn't end.  Anyway, here's what was seen:

Today:
Osprey - 3
Bald Eagle - 4
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 4
Red-tailed Hawk - 1
American Kestrel - 2
Total - 14

To Date:
Turkey Vulture - 6
Osprey - 9
Bald Eagle - 4
Northern Harrier - 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 14
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 - 6
Merlin - 2
Peregrine Falcon - 1
Total - 60

Eagle Time (EDT):
09:43 AM - BE immature (non-adult)
09:52 AM - BE adult
11:10 AM - BE immature (non-adult)
11:10 AM - BE immature (non-adult)

The Bird list for the season went up by two today with the sighting of 4 Trumpeter Swans flying low over the lake heading towards the Spit and the other was the Bald Eagles.  That brings our species total to 55.  The Butterfly list is now at 17 with the sighting of the first Orange Sulphur.  There should be many more of these guys fluttering through soon.

Today's group included: Carol, Betty, Phil, Lee, and Peter.

Probably not-so-great tomorrow with SE 10 km/h wind in the forecast.  I'll be there at 8:00 AM again just in-case.

Walter

August 22nd - One Osprey

In my absence today Betty was kind enough to do a bit of watching while she was at the park.  She was happy to report seeing an Osprey fly past.  Thanks Betty!  I'll be back at it early tomorrow morning.

Should be a few birds tomorrow with the predicted N and NE winds and cooler temperatures.

Walter

August 21st - 2 Bird Day

With today's heat and humidity I wasn't expecting to see any raptors go by but they fooled me again.  We had an Osprey fly along the bluffs at eye-level and a Cooper's Hawk that flew up from the park and then soared out over the bluffs and back in and over the park before heading west.  Cori, Berle, and Phil were on-hand.

Walter

August 20th - 1 Northern Harrier

Not only was it hot today, it was also hazy too!  I didn't stay long but during my time there was a Northern Harrier that flew by mixed in with about 15 gulls.  Other then that, there was very little movement from any creatures big or small today.

Walter

August 19th - No Raptors!

Unfortunately today was another one of those days - no raptors!  I did manage to find a new butterfly though - it was a Leonard's Skipper.  It's new for the Fall List, the Park List, and my Life List.  It's butterfly number 66 for me in the province.  I had a wonderful visit with Carol today and she did show up with binoculars in-hand!

Walter

August 18th - 2 Sharpies

Today, we counted 2 Sharp-shinned Hawks flying over Rosetta.  It was another fabulous day out but not good for bird migration.  What is was good for was bringing many great friends to the park.  Watchers and walkers included; Lorne, Mike 4, Ron, John, Mark, Pat & Nancy and Pat's brother Mike, plus Leslie & Mike and their son Daniel.  Today's weather will be much of the same.

Walter

August 17th - One Sharpie!

Sorry for this late post.  Just wanted to let you know that after several hours of looking in to a blue sky today, John and I saw one lone Sharp-shinned Hawk come soaring over the park.  That was it though.  It was quiet on all fronts.  The only other highlight was a new species of butterfly for the Fall List - Peck's Skipper.  Susan got shots of a male and I got shots of a female.  Very cool to see.

Walter