The called for gusting NW wind around 1:00pm never did happen this afternoon, what the wind did do is turn and blow from the SW. In fact the Weather Network went as far as to say that the wind was now going to switch to NW at 4:00pm, which looking back now was more or less wishful thinking on their part. Colin Horstead, who many of you likely didn't get the chance to meet before he passed away last year. If I remember correctly, due to his illness, only made one brief appearance in 2013 before the passing of BIGFRANK. Colin was kindly called 'Hawkwatcher Extraordinaire' due to his many of years of hawkwatching prior to helping Frank start the hawkwatch at Rosetta. He always said "I taught Frank everything he knows but not everything I know". Anyway, Colin always used to say "When you see gulls above the park hawking for insects you might aswell fold everything up and go home because there will not be any hawks the rest of the day". That's exactly what happened this afternoon. I gave up staying until 5:30pm and a number of us left around 2:30pm. Some people stayed after we left but didn't report seeing anything. What Colin said to this day definately holds true.
Today:
Turkey Vulture - 35
Osprey - 2
Northern Harrier - 4
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 32
Cooper's Hawk - 4
Northern Goshawk - 1
American Kestrel - 1
Merlin - 2
Peregrine Falcon - 4
Total - 85
To Date:
Turkey Vulture - 248
Osprey - 91
Bald Eagle - 55
Northern Harrier - 116
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 2078
Cooper's Hawk - 17
Northern Goshawk - 2
Red-shouldered Hawk - 0
Broad-winged Hawk - 88
Red-tailed Hawk - 21
Rough-legged Hawk - 0
Golden Eagle - 1
American Kestrel - 273
Merlin - 80
Peregrine Falcon - 27
Total - 3097
Other Birds:
Blue Bird - at least one flock flew over the north end of the park
Common Loon - 5 counted today
Field Sparrow - seen yesterday Oct 6th
White-crowned Sparrow - a number were observed today
White-throated Sparrow - again, a number were obsered today
Butterflies:
Monarch - 8 were counted today migrating through the park
Mammals:
Nothing of note
Hawkwatchers:
Bruce, Terry, Betty, Hugh, Bill, Peter, Gunnar, Arvo, Berle, Dave & Mary Beth, Kris, Sheldon plus several others who stopped by.
Weather Prediction:
Oct 8th - Mainly sunny, NE 20km/h in the morning switching to SE 20km/h in the afternoon. (theweathernetwork.com) It appears that the morning is the best time to be at the park. Now just after looking at the hourly forecast for tomorrow morning it's shows that the NE wind will stop at 8:00am and then switch to E for the remaining part of the morning. For whatever reason the Weather Network does not show three digit wind directions like ENE, they only display one or two digit wind directions. Anyway, there is going to be wind from ENE tomorrow after 8:00am and may last one to two hours, maybe even three, who knows and the birds will still fly over the park on that direction. So if you can, I'd say your best bet is to get to the park around 8:00am(ish) or shortly there after if you really want to see any birds.
Walter
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