Oct 24th - Holy Crow!

Today was one of those days - perfect sky, perfect wind, very few birds!  As was mentioned by Ron Pittaway, it's likely that we were just out of birds ready to migrate.  This was day 3 of decent wind blowing down from the north.  Oh well, we all had a great time at the watch all the same.  We'll try again tomorrow.

Today:
Turkey Vulture - 17
Northern Harrier - 4
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 15
Northern Goshawk - 1
Red-shouldered Hawk - 2
Red-tailed Hawk - 8
Golden Eagle - 1
Peregrine Falcon - 1
Total - 49

To Date:
Turkey Vulture - 2135
Osprey - 59
Bald Eagle - 94
Northern Harrier - 149
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1388
Cooper's Hawk - 49
Northern Goshawk - 7
Red-shouldered Hawk - 39
Broad-winged Hawk - 236
Red-tailed Hawk - 395
Rough-legged Hawk - 0
Golden Eagle - 4
American Kestrel - 275
Merlin - 83
Peregrine Falcon - 42
Total - 4955

Eagle Time (DST):
02:10pm - GE

What We Are Seeing: 

"Northern" Red-tailed Hawk: Ron Pittaway and Jean Iron mentioned that most of the Red-tailed Hawks now migrating past Rosetta are the Northern subspecies abieticola. Compared to our local breeding Red-taileds, Northern birds average decidedly darker overall with more heavily streaked belly bands. The scientific name abieticola means “dweller of the fir” referring to the Northern’s breeding range and habitat.

a heavily streaked and darker marked "Northern" Red-tailed Hawk (Ann)

and another "Northern" Red-tailed Hawk (Paul)

as compared to our local Red-tailed Hawk (Mike D)

The number of Northern Goshawks seen so far this fall at Rosetta and Cranberry Marsh (and elsewhere) suggests that southern Ontario may be experiencing a minor irruption.

Northern Goshawk (Mike D)

Of interest:
As of today the Holiday Beach Hawk Watch south of Windsor has counted nearly 38000 Turkey Vultures and just across the Detroit River at the hawk watch near Detroit they've counted over 32000!  Sure some birds would be the same but not all.  My God there must be an awful lot of dead and rotting meat somewhere to support them!!!

Other Birds:

American Crow - 100+!!!

Black Scoter - 6

Loon sp - 4

Swan sp - 1 (up high, possibly a Tundra)

White-winged Scoter - a few small groups flying low over the lake

Black Scoters (Tom)

Mammals:

American Red Fox - 1

 Red Fox (Trudy)

People:

Gray, Tom, Peter, Ron, Betty, Matt, Manny, Berle, Terry, Paul, Arvo, Hugh, MC, Jean, Lee, Haja, and Trudy.  Thanks for all the comraderie in-between bird sightings today!

Weather Prediction:

More strong NW wind for tomorrow!  Hopefully the birds will want to go!

See you at the park,

Walter