Sep 27th - 65 Birds, 8 Species

As beautiful as today was we did manage a decent number of birds at the Watch.  The light NW wind this morning brought several early movers over the park.  Once the wind started to shift the birds flew higher up and further to the north.  At the end of the day, I was sitting on a bench near the washrooms chatting with Ann and a Peregrine Falcon flew at tree-top height along the bluffs heading west.  As Ann was driving me home she had another Peregrine flying right over Kingston Road shortly after leaving the park.  Great way to end the day!

Today:
Turkey Vulture - 1
Osprey - 3
Northern Harrier - 5
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 24
Cooper's Hawk - 5
American Kestrel - 22
Merlin - 3
Peregrine Falcon - 2
Total - 65

To Date:
Turkey Vulture - 115
Osprey - 125
Bald Eagle - 67
Northern Harrier - 95
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 2069
Cooper's Hawk - 35
Northern Goshawk - 0
Red-shouldered Hawk - 0
Broad-winged Hawk - 1403
Red-tailed Hawk - 28
Rough-legged Hawk - 0
Golden Eagle - 0
American Kestrel - 383
Merlin - 72
Peregrine Falcon - 12
Total - 4404

We have now counted 2003 Sharp-shinned Hawks during the month of September.  The all-time 'Month' record is 2067 counted.  We need 65 more 'Sharpies' over the next 3 days to break it.

A Merlin with a quick snack (Mike D)

A lone Turkey Vulture (Mike D)

American Kestrel (Mike D)

Osprey (Mike D)

(Sharpie) Sharp-shinned Hawk (Mike D)

An adult male American Kestrel (Mike D)

(note the differences between the Kestrel and the above Sharpie)

Another Kestrel (Mike D)

A pair of high-flying Northern Harriers (Mike D)

Early this morning we had a Cackling Goose flying directly overhead with a pair of Canada Geese.  Also observed today were our first Golden-crowned Kinglets.

It was another good day in the world of butterflies with 150 Monarchs flying through.

My thanks to everyone who visited the Watch today.  It wasn't always easy finding birds in the all blue sky.

Light W and then SW winds are predicted for tomorrow.

Walter