Oct 17th - Another Fabulous Day!

Well, everything fell into place for another fabulous day of raptor migration over Rosetta.  We ended up seeing 12 out of the usually 15 species that migrate along the north shore of Lake Ontario.  I'd like to thank everyone for coming out, spotting, identifying, and counting the birds - there were lots of them!

Today:
Turkey Vulture - 1134
Osprey - 1
Bald Eagle - 6
Northern Harrier - 16
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 129
Cooper's Hawk - 6
Northern Goshawk - 1
Red-shouldered Hawk - 9
Red-tailed Hawk - 130
American Kestrel - 3
Merlin - 5
Peregrine Falcon - 5
Total - 1445

To Date:
Turkey Vulture - 2626
Osprey - 92
Bald Eagle - 64
Northern Harrier - 171
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 2515
Cooper's Hawk - 31
Northern Goshawk - 4
Red-shouldered Hawk - 12
Broad-winged Hawk - 89
Red-tailed Hawk - 176
Rough-legged Hawk - 0
Golden Eagle - 1
American Kestrel - 298
Merlin - 99
Peregrine Falcon - 56
Total - 6234

Eagle Time (DST):
11:00am - UE (not counted)
11:48am - BE
01:00pm - BE
01:40pm - BEx2
01:52pm - BE
02:20pm - BE

an 'ID' shot of a Northern Goshawk (Mike)

Sharp-shinned Hawk (Mike)

 Merlin (Mike)

a very low flying Bald Eagle (Mike)

 

 various Red-tailed Hawks (Mike)

 Turkey Vulture, bird of the day! (Mike)

kettling Turkey Vultures (Arvo)

Other Birds:

Common Loon - 2

Fox Sparrow - at least 3 seen in the park

Butterflies:

Cabbage White - 1
Monarch - 3 counted

Mammals:

Eastern Cottontail - 1

Hawkwatchers:

Bruce M, Mike, Mark, Betty, Justin, Ron, Phil, Gunnar, Norm, Irv, Charlie, Hugh, Trudy, Bruce F & Madi and kids, Dave S, Pat & Nancy, Dave W, Bruce & Ann Falls, John, Noah, Eleanor, Sheldon, Ann, Arvo, Anne, and several others.  Thankyou everyone!

Just some of today's crowd (Pat)

Weather Prediction:

Oct 18th - snow-rain showers switching to a mix of sun and clouds, N 10km/h switching to NW 15km/h and gusting to 33km/h  (theweathernetwork.com)

Hope to see you at the park,

Walter

Oct 16th - Turkey Vultures Everywhere!

Today I was only at the park for an hour and a half but what I saw was just spectacular, Turkey Vultures all over the sky streaming through.  I'd like to extend a huge thankyou to all those who were at the park in my absence and those who sent me reports of birds seen in other areas along the Kingston Road corridor or within a reasonable distance of it.  What a fantastic day!

Today:
Turkey Vulture - 1035
Bald Eagle - 1
Northern Harrier - 10
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 70
Cooper's Hawk - 3
Red-shouldered Hawk - 1
Red-tailed Hawk - 18
American Kestrel - 1
Merlin - 2
Peregrine Falcon - 9
Total - 1150

To Date:
Turkey Vulture - 1492
Osprey - 91
Bald Eagle - 58
Northern Harrier - 155
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 2386
Cooper's Hawk - 25
Northern Goshawk - 3
Red-shouldered Hawk - 3
Broad-winged Hawk - 89
Red-tailed Hawk - 46
Rough-legged Hawk - 0
Golden Eagle - 1
American Kestrel - 295
Merlin - 94
Peregrine Falcon - 51
Total - 4789

Eagle Time (DST):
01:03pm - BE (unknown age)

Today's photos are courtesy of Arvo...

streaming Turkey Vultures

 Red-shouldered Hawk

Other Birds:

Common Loon - 1

Butterflies:

Monarch - 17 counted

Mammals:

Nothing of note

Hawkwatchers:

Mark, Allison, Cori, Gunnar, Betty, Berle, Carol, Dave, Manny, Arvo, Sheridan, and Bruce.  Thankyou everyone!

Weather Prediction:

Oct 17th - mainly sunny in the morning switching to snow-rain showers in the afternoon starting around 2:00pm, NW 15km/h in the morning switching to NW 20km/h and gusting to 35km/h in the afternoon!!!  (theweathernetwork.com)  Not quite as windy as they'd predicted last night for today but still it should be another good day!

See you there,

Walter

Oct 15th - Another 31 Birds

Although there wasn't a huge number of birds, today's flight was much lower down and many birds passed directly overhead which made for excellent viewing.  It wasn't long after speaking about not seeing an adult male Northern Harrier that one flew by the hawk watch just out over the lake!

Today:
Northern Harrier - 6
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 21
Cooper's Hawk - 1
Merlin - 3
Total - 31

To Date:
Turkey Vulture - 457
Osprey - 91
Bald Eagle - 57
Northern Harrier - 145
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 2316
Cooper's Hawk - 22
Northern Goshawk - 3
Red-shouldered Hawk - 2
Broad-winged Hawk - 89
Red-tailed Hawk - 28
Rough-legged Hawk - 0
Golden Eagle - 1
American Kestrel - 294
Merlin - 92
Peregrine Falcon - 42
Total - 3639

Today's photos are courtesy of Ann...

A juvenile Sharp-shinned Hawk

and a juvenile Northern Harrier

Other Birds:
Eastern Phoebe - 2 perched along the fence flicking their tails
Red-tailed Hawk - 2 locals putting on another great show over the park

 local Red-tailed Hawk

Butterflies:
Monarch - 8 migrating west

Mammals:
Nothing of note

Hawkwatchers:
Terry, Allison, Manny, Ron and Jean, Dave, Arvo, Berle, Betty, Hugh, Vickie and Diana, Ann, Charlie, Mark, plus a few others including a small group from a local Probus Club.  Thankyou everyone!

trying out a selfie stick that I was given

Weather Prediction:
Oct 16th - chance of a shower in the morning switching to light rain in the afternoon, W 20km/h and gusting to 33km/h in the morning switching to W 25km/h and gusting to 44km/h in the afternoon  (theweathernetwork.com)

I will not be at the park tomorrow as I will be busy elsewhere so if you go and see any birds please email or text me what you've seen.  Thanks and enjoy your day!

Walter

Oct 14th - Our Biggest Day, 12 Species!

The dark skies, light winds, and spitting rain during the morning hours sure had us wondering but eventually that gave way to a mix of sun and clouds and the birds starting to fly overhead.  Unfortunately, many birds were quite high up which made viewing difficult for some.  We had a good number of Turkey Vultures pass to the north of the park but I think we counted most of them.  One Red-shouldered Hawk was correctly ID'd as a Broad-winged Hawk by Ron Pittaway on Facebook.  Thankyou Ron!  Overall a wonderful day at the park with 12 out of 15 species being observed.

Today:
Turkey Vulture - 209
Bald Eagle - 2
Northern Harrier - 8
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 169
Cooper's Hawk - 1
Northern Goshawk - 1
Red-shouldered Hawk - 2
Broad-winged Hawk - 1
Red-tailed Hawk - 5
American Kestrel - 13
Merlin - 2
Peregrine Falcon - 2
Total - 415

To Date:
Turkey Vulture - 457
Osprey - 91
Bald Eagle - 57
Northern Harrier - 139
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 2295
Cooper's Hawk - 21
Northern Goshawk - 3
Red-shouldered Hawk - 2
Broad-winged Hawk - 89
Red-tailed Hawk - 28
Rough-legged Hawk - 0
Golden Eagle - 1
American Kestrel - 294
Merlin - 89
Peregrine Falcon - 42
Total - 3608

Eagle Time (DST):
12:10pm - BE (unknown)
03:00pm - BE (unknown)

juvenile Broad-winged Hawk (Kris)

Other Birds:
Common Loon - 27
Common Raven - 4
Eastern Bluebird - 1 small flock
Pine Siskin - several

Butterflies:
Monarch - 15 counted!

Hawkwatchers:
Lee, Terry, Mark, Peter, Gunnar, Kris, John, Dave and Mary Beth, Manny, Hugh, Sheldon, Berle, plus a few others

Weather Prediction:
Oct 15th - mainly sunny in the morning switching to risk of a thunderstorm in the afternoon, SW 20km/h gusting to 33km/h switching to W 25km/h gusting to 48km/h (theweathernetwork.com)  The SW wind should die-off around 8:00am and then switch to W, rain should start around 1:00pm.  If I go to the park it likely won't be for long tomorrow morning.

Walter

Oct 13th - Another 18 Birds

Not sure if today's wind ever did blow from the SW, the clouds above us sure didn't show it.  Most of the day it was from the N or the W.  Strange day again!

Today:
Northern Harrier - 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 11
American Kestrel - 1
Merlin - 2
Peregrine Falcon - 3
Total - 18

To Date:
Turkey Vulture - 248
Osprey - 91
Bald Eagle - 55
Northern Harrier - 131
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 2126
Cooper's Hawk - 20
Northern Goshawk - 2
Red-shouldered Hawk - 0
Broad-winged Hawk - 88
Red-tailed Hawk - 23
Rough-legged Hawk - 0
Golden Eagle - 1
American Kestrel - 281
Merlin - 87
Peregrine Falcon - 40
Total - 3193

Other Birds:
Common Loon - 1
White-throated Sparrow - everywhere!

Butterflies:
Monarch - 6

Mammals:
Eastern Cottontail - 1

Hawkwatchers:
Lorne, Betty, Mark, Terry, Hugh, Manny, Carol, Berle, John, Peter, plus several others who stopped by.

Weather Prediction:
Oct 14th - a mix of sun and clouds, NW 20km/h gusting to 36km/h  (theweathernetwork.com)  Sounds like it's going to be a great day tomorrow!  Don't blame me if it isn't, I don't have any control over this crazy weather - LOL!

See you at the fence,
Walter

Oct 12th - 5 More Birds

I thank Peter for today's report.

Today:
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 3
Cooper's Hawk - 1
Peregrine Falcon - 1
Total - 5

To Date:
Turkey Vulture - 248
Osprey - 91
Bald Eagle - 55
Northern Harrier - 130
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 2115
Cooper's Hawk - 20
Northern Goshawk - 2
Red-shouldered Hawk - 0
Broad-winged Hawk - 88
Red-tailed Hawk - 23
Rough-legged Hawk - 0
Golden Eagle - 1
American Kestrel - 280
Merlin - 85
Peregrine Falcon - 37
Total - 3175

Other Birds:
Nothing of note

Butterflies:
Monarch - 4

Mammals:
Nothing of note

Hawkwatchers:
Peter, Mark, Allison, John, and a few others

Weather Prediction:
Oct 13th - partly sunny, SW 32km/h (theweathernetwork.com)

See you there,
Walter

Oct 11th - 6 Peregrine Falcons!

We only had 13 raptors pass over Rosetta today but 6 of them were Peregrine Falcons!  I would have to say that is not too bad of a number at all, a very good day in the end.

Today:
Northern Harrier - 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 3
Merlin - 1
Peregrine Falcon - 6
Total - 13

To Date:
Turkey Vulture - 248
Osprey - 91
Bald Eagle - 55
Northern Harrier - 130
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 2112
Cooper's Hawk - 19
Northern Goshawk - 2
Red-shouldered Hawk - 0
Broad-winged Hawk - 88
Red-tailed Hawk - 23
Rough-legged Hawk - 0
Golden Eagle - 1
American Kestrel - 280
Merlin - 85
Peregrine Falcon - 36
Total - 3170

Today's photos are courtesy of Ann...

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Northern Harrier

Peregrine Falcon

2 Peregrine Falcons talon touching!

(note the upper bird has a blue band on it's right leg - Ann

 checked with Tracy of the Peregrine Foundation and she thought

that it was likely to be Horton of the ICICI building, he was banded

backwards, with blue tape, in 2009)

Again the 2 Peregrine Falcons and another view of the banded bird -

in the upper right-hand corner

Other Birds:

local Red-tailed Hawk

a Ring-billed Gull with a nice snack

Canada Geese

Butterflies:

Monarch - 4 counted migrating

Mammals:

Nothing of note

Hawkwatchers:

Lee, Lorne, Mark, Ann, Pat & Nancy, Trudy, Carol, Hugh, Allison, Dahye, Vickie & Diana, Phil, Blaine, plus a few others today.  Thankyou everyone!

 The Gang

Weather Prediction:

Oct 12th - sunny, SW 25km/h gusting to 41km/h in the morning switching to S 25km/h and gusting to 44km/h in the afternoon  (theweathernetwork.com)  The morning looks very good for more Peregrines!

Unfortunately, your truely will not be at the park today due to an early afternoon Thanksgiving dinner.  The upcoming week looks very promising!

Happy Thankgiving!
Walter