Oct 10th - Turkey Vulture Time!!!

Oh my goodness, when those Vultures decide to go, they really go!  Nine hundred and two of them!  Altogether, we've tallied-up 2001 raptors in just the last 3 days!  Thankyou everyone for your help and support.

We've already enjoyed our best year ever for Broad-winged Hawks.  At present, we are experiencing our 2nd best years for Osprey, Bald Eagles, Sharp-shinned Hawks, and Merlins.  And to top it off, our season count is good enough for third place with lots of days still to come.

Today:
Turkey Vulture - 902
Osprey - 1
Bald Eagle - 8
Northern Harrier - 20
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 242
Cooper's Hawk - 11
Red-tailed Hawk - 18
American Kestrel - 43
Merlin - 6
Peregrine Falcon - 4
Total - 1255

To Date:
Turkey Vulture - 1170
Osprey - 139
Bald Eagle - 81
Northern Harrier - 161
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 2728
Cooper's Hawk - 64
Northern Goshawk - 2
Red-shouldered Hawk - 0
Broad-winged Hawk - 1408
Red-tailed Hawk - 61
Rough-legged Hawk - 0
Golden Eagle - 0
American Kestrel - 594
Merlin - 105
Peregrine Falcon - 62
Total - 6575

Eagle Time (EDT):
09:45 AM - BE
10:20 AM - BE
11:27 AM - BE
12:52 PM - BE x3
01:18 PM - BE
02:05 PM - BE

A young Bald Eagle (Walter)

Kettling Turkey Vultures (Kris)

...and more TVs (Walter)

This poor individual had a long ?rope wrapped around it's wing (Walter)

An early morning Bald Eagle (Mike D)

Coming in for a better look (Mike D)

Merlin (Mike D)

A 'Sharpie' (Mike D)

 

An American Kestrel (Mike D)

An American Crow and a Sharpie (Mike D)

Non-raptors today included - Eastern Bluebird, Fox Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow and Pileated Woodpecker.  Also 3 more Loons were counted.

Monarchs picked up again today and I estimate we saw roughly 350 flying through and over the Gardens.

With me today were - Kris, Mike D, Dave, Manny, Hugh, Norm, Peter, Berle, Betty, Lee, Ron, Lynn, MC, and Arvo.  A big thankyou to everyone.

Winds for Saturday are predicted to be NW 10-15kms.  If there are any birds left they should come tomorrow. - LOL!

Walter

Oct 9th - And So They Came.....Again!!!

Just the facts for now, will finish with photos later tonight.....or tomorrow!

Today:
Turkey Vulture - 31
Osprey - 1
Bald Eagle - 2
Northern Harrier - 21
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 223
Cooper's Hawk - 9
Northern Goshawk - 1
Broad-winged Hawk - 4
Red-tailed Hawk - 6
American Kestrel - 102
Merlin - 14
Peregrine Falcon - 5
Total - 419

To Date:
Turkey Vulture - 268
Osprey - 138
Bald Eagle - 73
Northern Harrier - 141
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 2486
Cooper's Hawk - 53
Northern Goshawk - 1
Red-shouldered Hawk - 0
Broad-winged Hawk - 1408
Red-tailed Hawk - 43
Rough-legged Hawk - 0
Golden Eagle - 0
American Kestrel - 551
Merlin - 99
Peregrine Falcon - 58
Total - 5319

Eagle Time (EDT):
02:49 PM - BE
02:58 PM - BE

 adult Sharp-shinned Hawk (Ann)

Broad-winged Hawk (Ann)

Northern Harrier (Ann)

Peregrine Falcon (Ann)

a juvenile Northern Goshawk (Ann)

Osprey (Donna)

Northern Harrier (Donna)

Bald Eagle (Walter)

Non-raptor birds included 2 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds that at the end of the day were found feeding on the Black-and-Blue Salvia and resting in the usual unknown tree that all the hummers like.  Also, today we had yet another new park bird - early in the day, an Eastern Meadowlark flew over the fountain and in to the center of the park before heading a little more north-west.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Walter)

Another 64 Monarchs were tallied along the bluffs today.

My thanks to - John, Trudy, Ann, Donna, Pat & Nancy, Ron & Jean, Betty, Lee, Peter, MC, Hugh, Berle, Manny, and Cori.  My apologies for forgetting anyone.

weatherunderground.com predicts WNW wind for tomorrow.  Could be good!

Walter

Oct 8th - And So They Came!

The number of small songbirds that we watched fly overhead early this morning suggested that the rest of the day was going to be busy and sure enough it was!  Even without the N element in the wind, the birds were wanting to fly.  Most of them were turning and twisting all over the sky adjusting to the gusts of wind.

Today:
Turkey Vulture - 121
Osprey - 3
Bald Eagle - 1
Northern Harrier - 16
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 104
Cooper's Hawk - 1
Red-tailed Hawk - 3
American Kestrel - 51
Merlin - 6
Peregrine Falcon - 21 (new 'Day' record!)
Total - 327

To Date:
Turkey Vulture - 237
Osprey - 137
Bald Eagle - 71
Northern Harrier - 120
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 2263
Cooper's Hawk - 44
Northern Goshawk - 1
Red-shouldered Hawk - 0
Broad-winged Hawk - 1404
Red-tailed Hawk - 37
Rough-legged Hawk - 0
Golden Eagle - 0
American Kestrel - 449
Merlin - 85
Peregrine Falcon - 53
Total - 4901

Eagle Time (EDT):
11:34 AM - BE

Non-raptor sightings today included an early morning Hummingbird and lots of migrating songbirds.  This afternoon Peter found a Jaeger sp. out on the lake.  A new bird for the park but a 100% accurate ID cannot be made.

Today despite the strong wind, we counted another 37 Monarchs.

A big thankyou to Bruce, John, Berle, Terry, Manny, Betty, Peter, Allison, Don, Hugh, and Ann.

Tomorrow's weather appears to be an exact copy of today.

Walter

Oct 7th - Our First Northern Goshawk!

While we were sitting around twiddling our thumbs waiting for something to happen, our first Northern Goshawk of the season flew right over the center of the park at tree top level.  Oh my, what a sight!!!

Today:
Northern Harrier - 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 9
Cooper's Hawk - 1
Northern Goshawk - 1
American Kestrel - 1
Merlin - 1
Total - 15

To Date:
Turkey Vulture - 116
Osprey - 134
Bald Eagle - 70
Northern Harrier - 104
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 2159
Cooper's Hawk - 43
Northern Goshawk - 1
Red-shouldered Hawk - 0
Broad-winged Hawk - 1404
Red-tailed Hawk - 34
Rough-legged Hawk - 0
Golden Eagle - 0
American Kestrel - 398
Merlin - 79
Peregrine Falcon - 32
Total - 4574

There were 3 Loons counted today.

Monarchs are continuing to impress as we added another 87 to our count today.

On hand today were - Pat & Nancy, Carol, Terry, Effie, Allison, Hugh, and Kathryn.  Thankyou all.

Strong west winds are predicted for the next couple of days.  Let's see what happens.

Walter

Oct 6th - 5 More Peregrines!

Today:
Osprey - 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 2
Cooper's Hawk - 1
American Kestrel - 1
Merlin - 1
Peregrine Falcon - 5
Total - 11

To Date:
Turkey Vulture - 116
Osprey - 134
Bald Eagle - 70
Northern Harrier - 102
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 2150
Cooper's Hawk - 42
Northern Goshawk - 0
Red-shouldered Hawk - 0
Broad-winged Hawk - 1404
Red-tailed Hawk - 34
Rough-legged Hawk - 0
Golden Eagle - 0
American Kestrel - 397
Merlin - 78
Peregrine Falcon - 32
Total - 4559

Three Loons were observed flying south and the local Red-tails were flying everywhere!  Today they had the park, it's visitors and it's residents under siege!

This bird was locked on to Cori's head  (Terry)

Actually it flew by her head with it's wingtip no further than 10 inches away!

 This one was locked on a squirrel as it leaped out off of the tree top  (Walter)

  

And a fly-by along the bluffs side  (Walter)

123 Monarchs were counted today including our 6000th of the season!

Many thanks to Peter, Lee, John, Terry, Allison, Betty, Cori, and Berle for the day!

More strong SW wind is predicted for tomorrow.

Walter

Oct 5th - This One Is Short...

Sorry everyone, I'm just going to put the figures up for today without comments.  I'm having a problem with a sore neck which in turn is giving me pounding headaches.  Normally I don't get headaches...ever!  When I signed up for this job they didn't tell me that I could suffer injury to my body!

Today:
Turkey Vulture - 1
Osprey - 6
Northern Harrier - 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 31
Cooper's Hawk - 3
Broad-winged Hawk - 1
Red-tailed Hawk - 4
American Kestrel - 1
Merlin - 1
Peregrine Falcon - 2
Total - 52

To Date:
Turkey Vulture - 116
Osprey - 133
Bald Eagle - 70
Northern Harrier - 102
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 2148
Cooper's Hawk - 41
Northern Goshawk - 0
Red-shouldered Hawk - 0
Broad-winged Hawk - 1404
Red-tailed Hawk - 34
Rough-legged Hawk - 0
Golden Eagle - 0
American Kestrel - 396
Merlin - 77
Peregrine Falcon - 27
Total - 4548

Non-raptor sightings included - 16 Loons, a Swallow sp. - likely Tree, and two separate sightings of shorebirds.  The second sighting, which consisted of 4 birds was identified as being Plovers, either Golden or Black-bellied.  Unfortunately, lighting was very poor at the time.

Another 44 Monarchs were seen today flying along on their journey south.

My thanks to Ron, Norm, Phil, Allison, Carol, Pat & Nancy, Margaret, Dave, Patty, Cori, Hugh, John, Betty, and a long-overdue return of Mike & Leslie.  It was great fun finding those 'specks' with you all!

Sometime this week we should get a few NW wind days.....if they don't change.

Walter

PS - Looks like I did comment after-all.  LOL!