Sep 19th - Great Day.....If You Like Flickers!

Today we had more migrating Northern Flickers fly over than we did raptors!  With today's strong SE winds blowing from across the lake, we didn't have too many countable hawks above Rosetta.  Southeast wind is the most unfavorable wind for big birds that don't particularly like to flap their wings.  One raptor, a falcon, that we did see today was the fast flying Merlin.  We had 8 of them zoom by over the course of the day!

Today:
Turkey Vulture - 1
Osprey - 2
Northern Harrier - 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 3
Cooper's Hawk - 1
Merlin - 8
Today - 17

To Date:
Turkey Vulture - 102
Osprey - 114
Bald Eagle - 58
Northern Harrier - 48
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1297
Cooper's Hawk - 16
Northern Goshawk - 0
Red-shouldered Hawk - 0
Broad-winged Hawk - 1294
Red-tailed Hawk - 23
Rough-legged Hawk - 0
Golden Eagle - 0
American Kestrel - 202
Merlin - 62
Peregrine Falcon - 4
Total - 3220

Merlin (Lee)

 Osprey (Lee)

We had roughly 40 Northern Flickers fly over Rosetta today heading westward.  Heading eastward, we had 2 Common Ravens!

Blue Jay (Lee)

 

 A migrating Common Loon (Lee)

I'd like to thank everyone who came by today and if nothing else, chatted for a while.  The coffees kept me extra alert in case anything flew by at high speed.

Today we had about 150 Monarchs go by and Terry was able to tag about 20 of them.  A few folks got to capture and tag their own butterflies.  Ann caught a Monarch, tagged it and then let it go.  Then, she walked back over to the garden area only to catch the very same butterfly again!

Saturday will see the wind switch over to SW and pick up quite a bit.  If we're lucky, we may see Peregrines, Osprey, and Eagles.  The all enjoy the updraft off of the bluffs.

See you there!

Walter

Sep 18th - Another 16 Bald Eagles!

Today sure started off 'iffy', didn't know if we'd see anything with the heavy clouds and dampness in the air.  Thankfully as the day progressed the sky became clearer and clearer.  Though the eagles and osprey were up high again today, most flew right over top of us giving us spectacular views.  Though we didn't get as many Broad-wings as we'd hoped for, we did finish the day with a respectable count of 89 - remember twice that number is normally a good BW year at Rosetta.

Today was my day to be attacked by a bird - lol!  As I was standing along the fence-line looking north and just about to say "eagle over Kingston Road", I got this really loud buzzing noise coming from behind my head.  As I lunged forward and knocked my baseball cap off, everyone laughed and said "you had a Hummingbird behind you".  That's not what it sounded like from my angle!  Imagine the sound of some 200 wing beats per second right behind your ears, and in stereo!  The hummer must've thought that the small logo on the back of my bright red cap was the center of a flower.  Too funny!

Today:
Turkey Vulture - 52
Osprey - 14
Bald Eagle - 16
Northern Harrier - 11
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 106
Cooper's Hawk - 2
Broad-winged Hawk - 89
Red-tailed Hawk - 3
American Kestrel - 31
Merlin - 3
Peregrine Falcon - 1
Total - 328

To Date:
Turkey Vulture - 101
Osprey - 112
Bald Eagle - 58
Northern Harrier - 46
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1294
Cooper's Hawk - 15
Northern Goshawk - 0
Red-shouldered Hawk - 0
Broad-winged Hawk - 1294
Red-tailed Hawk - 23
Rough-legged Hawk - 0
Golden Eagle - 0
American Kestrel - 202
Merlin - 54
Peregrine Falcon - 4
Total - 3203

Here are two beautiful eagle shots that Kris got today...

Best non-raptor sighting of the day was a Common Nighthawk flying high along the shoreline.  Also, a pocket or two of Warblers were seen early in the day.

During the afternoon the Dragonfly and Monarch numbers rose substantially.  I estimate that we had another 200+ day for Monarchs.

Hawk-watchers today included - Dave, Bruce, Charlie, Sarah, Ron, Kris, Norm, Terry, Berle, Betty, Don, Manny, Arvo, Murray, Pat & Nancy, Carol, Hugh, Byron, Lee, Bruce & Ann Falls, and a nice couple who were over visiting and birding from England.  My thanks to everyone for another great day.

Walter

Sep 17th - Back to Reality!

After such a spectacular day yesterday we were brought back to reality today.  Just a handful of Sharpies, a couple of Turkey Vultures, Osprey and Merlins.  In this game, wind has everything to do with migration.  Yesterday, conditions were perfect for flight - moderate wind blowing from the northwest and lots of sunshine providing the heat needed to form thermals over the land.  Today there was sunshine but the wind was blowing from the southwest which is not conducive to good bird migration.  Tomorrow looks much better!

Today:
Turkey Vulture - 2
Osprey - 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 25
Merlin - 2
Total - 32

To Date:
Turkey Vulture - 49
Osprey - 98
Bald Eagle - 42
Northern Harrier - 35
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1188
Cooper's Hawk - 13
Northern Goshawk - 0
Red-shouldered Hawk - 0
Broad-winged Hawk - 1205
Red-tailed Hawk - 20
Rough-legged Hawk - 0
Golden Eagle - 0
American Kestrel - 171
Merlin - 51
Peregrine Falcon - 3
Total - 2875

Hawkwatchers today included Ron, Pat & Nancy, Arvo, Mark, Terry, Murray, Allison, Betty, Carol, Manny and our roving field reporter Lee, who quickly alerted us of an Osprey that was coming along the top edge of the bluffs.  Thankyou all.

Another good day for Monarchs with 100+ passing by.

From weatherunderground.com:   A few clouds early, otherwise mostly sunny. High around 15C. Winds N at 15 to 25 km/h.

Don't be late!

Walter

Sep 16th - Broad-wings Over Rosetta!

It's been a long time coming but finally we got our day, Broad-winged Hawks kettling over Rosetta!  I had mixed feelings this morning as I stood down along the fence-line and I wasn't seeing a whole lot flying hawk-wise.  There were a lot of Blue Jays overhead but not much else.  Of course, once the sun got a little further up in the sky and the thermals began to rise, everything changed.  By noon, the sky was busy with hawks.  Broad-wings were being seen in good numbers to the north over Kingston Road and over the park.  Turkey Vultures, a bird not seen migrating until today were flying over in small groups.  As well, Sharp-shins, Osprey, Eagles, Merlins and Kestrels all had decent showings today.

Today:
Turkey Vulture - 47
Osprey - 6
Bald Eagle - 5
Northern Harrier - 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 247
Broad-winged Hawk - 1057
American Kestrel - 31
Merlin - 8
Total - 1404

To Date:
Turkey Vulture - 47
Osprey - 95
Bald Eagle - 42
Northern Harrier - 35
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1163
Cooper's Hawk - 13
Northern Goshawk - 0
Red-shouldered Hawk - 0
Broad-winged Hawk - 1205
Red-tailed Hawk - 20
Rough-legged Hawk - 0
Golden Eagle - 0
American Kestrel - 171
Merlin - 49
Peregrine Falcon - 3
Total - 2843

Eagle Time (EDT):
10:42 AM - BE (imm)
11:01 AM - BE (imm)
12:55 PM - BE (adult)
01:27 PM - BE (adult)
05:06 PM - BE (imm)

It was exactly three years ago to the day that we had our previous best Broad-winged Hawk day.  Normally each year we see somewhere between 150-250 BWs, on September 16th, 2011 we counted 605 at the park which included a few small kettles.  That year we finished-up with an impressive (for Rosetta) 757 BWs.  Today we counted 1057, giving us 1205 for the year.  We still have a few days left of Broad-winged Hawk migration to possibly add to that number!

Don't forget to click on each photo to enlarge them...

Roughly 60 Broad-winged Hawks (Kris)

Broad-winged Hawk (Kris)

An incoming American Kestrel (Kris)

Broad-winged Hawk (Arvo)

Sharp-shinned Hawk (Mike D)

Sharp-shinned Hawk (Mike D)

Juvenile Bald Eagle (Mike D)

A nicely marked adult Broad-winged Hawk (Mike D)

Turkey Vulture (Mike D)

American Kestrel with dragonfly bits. (Mike D)

After almost having his head split open by a diving local Red-tailed Hawk yesterday, Don thought he'd tempt fate and return the park today wearing a Coonskin Cap!  Sadly for us the Red-tails weren't bombing the park today.  Perhaps another day Don.

'Tempting Fate' (Arvo)

As mentioned above, Blue Jay migration started today with a few hundred flying over the park early before the hawks came.

Another 200+ Monarchs were observed flying along the bluffs today.

My thanks to everyone assembled at the park today, without your help the numbers would have been significantly smaller.  And my thanks to the many photographers who continually make this blog a very special place to visit.

Watch the weather forecasts over the next few days, if we get more north winds, we may see more Broad-wing kettles.

Walter

Sep 15th - A Comparison of Numbers

As of September 15th:

2014 - 1439 birds
2013 - 1412 birds
2012 - 1470 birds
2011 - 1244 birds
2010 - 2987 birds
2009 - 0753 birds
2008 - 0792 birds
2007 - 1901 birds
2006 - 1177 birds

Walter

Sep 15th - More of the Same Action

When I arrived at the park this morning at 9:30, the Royal Rosetta Air Force was already practicing their aerial acrobatic maneuvers.  While I was walking down the hill in to the parking lot, one Red-tail was sitting in a tree close to the office where Charlene was photographing it.  When I got over to the hawk watch area the same bird came flying by right in front of me almost as to say 'good morning'.  Another interesting moment came a little later in the day while we were all enjoying the show - for some reason one of the hawks decided that it was going to dive down at Don who was simply standing still trying to get a photo of the bird.  Not sure if there was a squirrel anywhere behind him or it was his black ball cap that the bird was after, mistaking it as a squirrel.  Luckily for Don the hawk letup at the last minute.  I wouldn't advise anyone to wear a Coonskin Cap in the park once it really gets cold - LOL!

Today:
Osprey - 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 36
American Kestrel - 1
Total - 39

To Date:
Turkey Vulture - 0
Osprey - 89
Bald Eagle - 37
Northern Harrier - 32
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 916
Cooper's Hawk - 13
Northern Goshawk - 0
Red-shouldered Hawk - 0
Broad-winged Hawk - 148
Red-tailed Hawk - 20
Rough-legged Hawk - 0
Golden Eagle - 0
American Kestrel - 140
Merlin - 41
Peregrine Falcon - 3
Total - 1439

Red-tailed Hawk (Paul)

 Sharp-shinned Hawk (Walter)

Red-tailed Hawk (Walter)

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds were again juicing-up today for the big flight south.  Several photographers were busy moving between the Black-and-blue Salvia and the Spanish Flag flowers in hopes of getting 'The Shot'.

A beautiful photo! (Paul)

It was another fantastic day for Monarch migration!  My best guesstimation would be 500+.  Terry was able to tag a total of 16 of them today.

Charlene was kind enough to show us all this Praying Mantis.

Another great shot! (Terry)

Lots of wonderful people gathered again today at the Watch.  My thanks for your friendship and help.

From weatherunderground.com:  Areas of patchy fog early. Sunny, along with a few afternoon clouds. High 19C. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 km/h.

See you at the park!

Walter

Sep 14th - Just The Facts!

Sorry folks, I had a busy night tonight with family and I'm dead tired so all you're getting are the facts!

Today:
Osprey - 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 46
American Kestrel - 1
Total - 48

To Date:
Turkey Vulture - 0
Osprey - 87
Bald Eagle - 37
Northern Harrier - 32
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 880
Cooper's Hawk - 13
Northern Goshawk - 0
Red-shouldered Hawk - 0
Broad-winged Hawk - 148
Red-tailed Hawk - 20
Rough-legged Hawk - 0
Golden Eagle - 0
American Kestrel - 139
Merlin - 41
Peregrine Falcon - 3
Total - 1400

a migrating Sharp-shinned Hawk (Lee)

local Red-tailed Hawks (Lee)

local Red-tailed Hawks (Ann)

Best non-raptor sighting was 4 Great Egrets circling low over Kingston Road.

male American Goldfinch (Lee)

female Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Lee)

Monarch butterflies again today came through in decent numbers.  My best guess would be somewhere over 600.

A huge number of people at the Watch today, too many to list!  My thanks to everyone.

Tomorrow's SW wind may bring a few birds along the bluffs including Osprey...remember, I said "may".  Tuesday is shaping-up to be pretty good with NW wind between 15 and 25km/h.

Walter