Aug 30 47 Raptors and Some Special Visitors

The morning started very slow,before the birds finally came. It was very windy and cool today. We had a real gang of visitors today,including Kathy and her husband,Lee,Anne,Carol and her son(first visit) Riel,Dave,Colin and Marguarite,Charlie,Peter and Bruce(sorry if I have missed anyone). By the end of the day we had a very respectable 47 birds of prey go past the park,including:

6-Osprey

38-Sharpshinned Hawks

1-Merlin

2-Redtailed Hawks

Our seasons total is now 232,which is almost 100 more then our best previous August total! Thanks to everyone for their contributions. We also saw a Northern Parula Warbler,Nashville Warbler,2 Great Egrets,a few Great Blue Herons,a few each of Great Crested Flycatchers and Baltimore Orioles.Below is a shot Lee took.

Our special visitors today were Mary West-Mortimer and Geoffry West-Mortimer,who were the last residents of the homes where Rosetta McClain Gardens is now. Their family donated the parcel of land to the city,to be a garden spot for relaxation and rest and a place of beauty. They were very pleased to hear of our watch and said they were glad the park was being used for such an activity. We informed them we have seen 185 species of birds from the park,and Mary said it was a great place to see spring Warblers. I let her know it still was and she was very pleased to know that,and that so many people were enjoying them. It was our honour to meet she and Geoffry. Before they left,I let them know one of the staff members kept some historical photos of the property and I asked permission to take a photo . They provided a way for us to contact Geoffry about filling in any blanks in the family and properties history. Thanks to the West family for their part in our having such a wonderful place to enjoy. We will do our best to bring more visitors to enjoy this marvelous treasure.

Aug 28th 13 Raptors On A Blustery Day

It seemed more like an October day,then an end of August day. It was windy and overcast. Walter,Ann,Carol,Beryl,Lee,Dave and Colin(Niloc) joined me today,on a day when several birds literally blew by very quickly. I did manage a decent silhouette shot of an Osprey and a Redtailed Hawk that landed atop a tree and rested for 10minutes or so before carrying on.

Todays totals were:

4-Osprey

1-Bald Eagle(adult..2:25pm)

3-Sharpshinned Hawks

1-Coopers Hawk

2-Redtailed Hawks

2-American Kestrels

13-Total Raptors

Sunday and Monday both have a chance to be great days for raptors. Watch for those Northwest winds,keeping in mind it is still August. We have had great turnouts which really makes the watch even more enjoyable.

Aug 27 16 Raptors,3 more Osprey

Today was a typical August count,16 is a respectable number. Our total included 3 Osprey..2 that Ann spotted,one later circled above us.

Today We Saw:

3-Osprey

4-Northern Harriers

4-Sharpshinned Hawks

2-Redtailed Hawks

3-American Kestrels

16-Total Raptors

Thanks to Dave we saw 2 Great Crested Flycatchers and a Red-necked Grebe.

Aug 26 Best Day In August Ever...71 Raptors 5 Bald Eagles

Walter and I met at about 715am shortly before it began to rain. It finally stopped for about the 3rd time around 10am. Shortly after,the sky cleared and the birds started to come. Again northwest winds brought out many watchers who all enjoyed some of the days record 71raptors. Gunner,Beryl,Lee,Dave,Peter and Murray all joined Walter and I . Everyone really enjoyed the day. We saw 5 Bald Eagles,which were definetly the highlight of the day. 2 came through together,both juveniles. At 1:10pm an adult Bald Eagle flew by close enough to view it naked eye,later at 2:35pm another adult Bald Eagle went over the park.

Not the best shot but its all I could do. We added 7 Osprey to our seasons tally. Remarkably we saw 11 out of 11 species that could normally be expected to be seen this time of year. We saw:
10-Turkey Vultures
7-Osprey
5-Bald Eagles(Juveniles at 12:40pm and 2 at 1:25pm,Adults at 1:10pm and 2:35pm)
3-Northern Harriers
11-Sharpshinned Hawks
1-Coopers Hawk(plus the local)
12-Broadwinged Hawks
8-Redtailed Hawks
12-American Kestrels
1-Merlin
1-Peregrine Falcon
71-Total
This total has been updated to reflect 8 Turkey Vultures Carol saw, after I left. Too many records fell today for me to keep track of. In my month end summary I will make note of them all. The seasons total is now 150. We are off to a great start. Thanks to everyone for their spotting help and commraderie.

Family Raptor Day At Cranberry Marsh Sept 3 2009

Central Lake Ontario Conservation and our raptor watching friends at Cranberry Marsh are taking part in their first Family Raptor Day and I wanted to post this message to show our support of the good folks out at Cranberry Marsh. There will be displays,a great handout filled with raptor information,prizes, a raffle and much more. Of course volunteers will be offering identification tips. All of the information can be found at http://www.cloca.com/2009/Family%20Raptor%20Viewing%20Day/index.htm . There are 3 presentation times 9-11am,1-3pm and 6-8pm. If you attend,tell em BIGFRANK sent ya. I am hoping to get at least one vehicle load of Rosetta raptor watchers to go and show our support. It looks like it will be fun and informative. Please let any family and friends know,especially if they live in the area.

Aug 24 and 25 Some Nice Birds

Over the past couple of days,things have slowed down,but there have been some great birds. On the 24th,7 raptors were seen,including 3 Osprey. Today,Walter and I saw 3 different Peregrines,2 were males..different ones for sure because one had a feather missing from its tail. Today at 12:30pm we had our first Bald Eagle of the season,a juvenile which flew east to west. At 12:51pm the same bird flew past going west to east. Birds seen over the 2 days were:
3-Osprey
1-Bald Eagle
3-Northern Harriers
1-Sharpshinned Hawk
1-Redtailed Hawk
3-Peregrine Falcons

This brings the season total to 79. The next 2 days have potential to be good days for August,again I remind folks August is slow,so a good day in August is something around 20 BOPS. Watch for a north component in the wind.
I invite everyone who wants to follow things even closer to join us on the Rosetta McClain Gardens Discussion Board. There we discuss everything thats being seen. With fall migration underway,the board will be more active again. Please join in and let us know what you are seeing,animals,bugs or birds. The link is to the right side of this page.

August 23 And So It Really Begins 42 Raptors

Today was the first day in August with a good North wind and not alot of heat,so this brought both birders and birds. Walter,Carol,Ann,Colin,Peter,Frank,Alice and I enjoyed a terrific day. Highlights included a nice look at an early Broadwinged Hawk,an American Kestrel that landed in a Pine Tree while alarm calling,before carrying on and an Osprey being harrassed by 2 Sharpshinned Hawks. There were more Monarch Butterflys the we have seen this season so far,hundreds/thousands maybe of Dragonflies filling the air and well over 100 Chimney Swifts. The Swifts were moving west to east which seemed strange,if anyone knows if they migrate different then most birds please let me know.

Todays Totals

1-Turkey Vulture

7-Osprey

2-Northern Harriers

4-Sharpshinned Hawk

1-Coppers Hawk

3-Broadwinged Hawks

16-Redtailed Hawks

6-American Kestrels

2-Peregrine Falcons

42-Total Raptors

This brings the season total to 67

Keep your eyes on the weather reports and watch for those North element winds.

Please Join Us

Hello,Im BIGFRANK,your host and avid raptor watcher. Please read the information provided,then plan to join me in watching birds of prey flying along the shoreline of Lake Ontario from atop the western end of The Scarborough Bluffs. Possible sightings of 15 species of raptors(birds of prey),includuing Osprey,Redtailed Hawks,Golden and Bald Eagles and Turkey Vultures.

WHERE: Rosetta McClain Gardens in Scarborough Ontario Canada,at Kingston Rd and Glen Everest Rd. One stop-light east of Kingston Rd and Birchmount Rd. If you have them bring scopes,binoculars,cameras and bird books. The gardens are wheelchair accessible and have bathrooms and many benches. NOTE The following ARE NOT ALLOWED in the Gardens,dogs,picnics,bicycle riding or ball playing.

When: From Aug15-Nov30 almost daily I will be present counting migrating raptors. Peak migration is from mid-September to mid-October. Peak time of day is most often 10am-2pm. Optimal conditions for large movements of raptors are on days with moderate north-west winds and nice white puffy clouds,though any day could bring great things.

WHAT IS SEEN: Any given day,any or all of 15 species of migrating birds of prey can be seen migrating along the shores of Lake Ontario. Some birds will land briefly in the trees of the gardens,some circle briefly,while most fly past. Past years between 4000 and 6000 raptors have been seen,with our best day last year being 845.

Please check back often once fall migration season starts for daily reports. If you decide to join me,I will do my best to show you whatever comes our way and pass on information to you. We have a great band of regulars who are happy to help. We welcome everyone,beginners to expert. Contact me at raptor.watch@hotmail.com if U have any questions.

AUG 1-15,2009 Summary
August has started out,much as expected...slowly. Migration starts but things dont really pick-up until the week or so. Thus far early days have seen Walter,Dave,Beryl,Carol,Lee and I find 21 raptors,consisting of:
1-Osprey
2-Turkey Vultures
2-Northern Harriers
5-Sharp-shinned Hawks
2-Coopers Hawks
1-Broadwinged Hawk
1-Redtailed Hawk
2-American Kestrels
3- Merlins
2 Peregrine Falcons
21-Total Raptors Aug 1-15

The heat and humidity are not condusive to movement of birds of prey. Included with todays report is a short video clip of one of the Peregrine Falcons. This is sort of an experiment so please bear with me.

The American Kestrel is the smallest raptor in North America. It is the smallest member of the Falcon family. It ranges from 22-30cm(9-12inches) in length and has a wingspan of up to 55cm(22inches). Females are larger then males. The appearance from one sex to the other is very different. The wings of the male are a blue/grey colour with the back being rusty/brown,while the females wings are more rusty/brownish in colour,as are their backs. The wings like all falcons are pointed. Both have a strong moustache around the eye,which can often be seen when in flight with binoculars. Perched it is very obvious and a big field mark to look for. They bob their tails alot when perched also. The tails of both males and females are a rusty colour with a thick black band at the end. Something to look for which doesnt exist on Merlins are as Colin and I have named them "Christmas Treelights" along the trailing(back) edge of the wings.(I also call them beads). The chest of the male is light to very bright rust coloured.
Kestrels can often be found hovering over fields or grassy type areas. They are hunting rodents,when doing this. American Kestrels are also often seen sitting on hydro wires. Watch for their bobbing tails. At migration time they often fly very early in the morning,starting at first light and often are the last birds flying on a good day. One day I counted 44 before 9am.

Cheats:Remebering our elimination identification,if U see a small bird,immediately U can hone in on 4 species. Sharpie,Coopers,Kestrel and Merlin. U have eliminated 11 species. Check if the wings are pointed. If the wings are distinctly pointed(triangular as opposed to rounded like a Sharpshinned Hawk) U are down to 2 of 15,and have given yourself a much better chance of identifying the bird correctly. Merlins often flap all the way,and their speed is sometimes incredible. We see several hundred Kestrels and around 50 Merlins,chances are its a Kestrel. Look for the "moustache",the "Christmas Tree Lights" and the rusty tail. Remember to keep on a bird if there is time.All species will often tilt slightly giving you just the angle U need to decide what it is. Over the winter in your spare time learn all 15 species we see regularily in southern Ontario. This will allow you to go through them in your head very quickly when trying to ID by elimination. If U find a nesting bird you are unsure of,officially very very few(some say none) Merlin nests are known of in Toronto. Kestrels nest in cavities(holes).

Redtailed Hawk

The most likely to be seen Buteo(large,long winged soaring hawks) in our area and at migration time at Rosetta(elsewhere at migration its the Broadwinged Hawk) is the Redtailed Hawk. Redtailed Hawks average a 120cm(49inch) wingspan and a length of 45cm-60cm(19-25inches),with females being as much as 1/3 larger then males. Aside from the obvious rusty(red) tail,which in flight isnt that obvious sometimes,there are a few things to look for to call it a Redtail. Its a good idea to really study Redtails,as they are quite abundant and use them to compare to other species of Buteo and smaller hawks. Distinct to the Redtails is a bellyband,which even at long distances is visible. Perched roadside birds U can often see the white on the upper chest like a beacon.The head is dark,the chest white/creamy coloured,the breast below the bellyband is streaked with brown,underneath it can appear very light,the back is mottled brown and white. The tail of an adult is rusty coloured,while a juvenile is striped brown and white. Also very noticable and with other signs are the "commas" on the wings at "the wrist". These are usually very dark on Redtailed Hawks. Albinoism is most common among Redtailed Hawks(among raptors).
In flight,the Redtail soars with a very slight dihedral,the tail somewhat short and wide. Its flap is usually very strong and definite. When gliding if U watch enough Redtails the shape is very distinctive,though it can give U many looks. While several raptors can hover,Redtails are the one that most commonly kites. Kitting is when the bird sort of hovers but without moving its wings at all. It stays in one place in the sky,adjusting using its tail. Ive viewed a Redtail in one place for 20 minutes.
CHEATS:Assume in our area that large raptors are Redtailed Hawks. Look for characteristics to confirm Redtails or count them out. Looking quickly at the shape..is there a dihedral or slight V in the wings? Is there a bellyband(white chest and brown streaking underneath it)? Is the tail red?(juveniles tails are not red) Does the bird have strong "commas" at the wrist? If U can see a few of those signs you can be confident it is a Redtailed Hawk. If U go through that list each time it becomes almost an instant ID.
Learn to ID using elimination,if U go through the list of 15 raptors seen in southern Ontario,it becomes automatic,as does looking for the above mentioned clues. Example: U see a raptor..a reasonably large one. So in saying large,U have eliminated Kestrel,Merlin,Sharpie and Coopers right away. Since Redtails are the most likely buteo,keep them in. Also in are Turkey Vulture,Osprey,Roughlegged Hawk,Broadwinged Hawk,Bald and Golden Eagle. Depending on the time of the migration season,U can eliminate reasonably safely some species. Most Turkey Vultures move in October. Broadwinged Hawks move in a very small window around September 11th(sadly easy to remember date) for about a week to 10 days. Golden Eagles and Roughlegged Hawks move late in the migration calander,usually late October or November. After September 30 few Osprey are still migrating. Bald Eagles are massive,flying with level wings.Leaving...the Redtail. This identification through elimination can be done with all families of birds and sizes. U can really narrow your choices quickly if U remember the distinctive marks,size and wingshapes.
When viewing a perched bird,particularily in the winter,note where and where in the tree/bush the bird is perched. Most birds perched along highways in the winter are Redtailed Hawks. In trees,a Redtail usually sits out on a branch to the side(example like at 3 o'clock),where as a Roughlegged Hawk(winter visitors) sits on the very top of the tree/bush. I hope these hints help.

Sharp-Shinned Hawk/Coopers Hawk ID Tips

I thought Id get this out of the way,as its a toughie.Its almost impossible to describe a Sharp-shinned Hawk,without refering to the Coopers Hawk,so why make things tough? Sharp-shinned Hawks are the smallest Accipiter,with a wingspan of just under 60cm( 24in) and a length of 25-35cm(10-14cm),with females being up to 1/3 larger then males. There is no overlap in size with the Coopers Hawk! The largest Sharp-shinned Hawk is smaller then the smallest Coopers Hawk.They have short,rounded wings. The tail is square and often appears knotched,whether perched or flying. This can be tricky to distinguish in flight,but careful study,and U can see that each individual feather is square on a Sharp-shinned Hawk,while those on a Coopers are rounded. Perched a Coopers Hawks tail is much longer. Feet,legs,head and length of the tail on a Sharp-shinned Hawks are all smaller. The eyes of a Sharp-shinned Hawk appear to be set further forward then that of a Coopers Hawk. With nothing to compare it to in the field,these differences are often hard to distinguish.

Adults have a rusty barred chest,with blue/grey back and a banned tail of the same blue/grey colour and white. Juveniles are brown backed with brown on white streaking on the chest. Coopers Hawks are the same...colour wont help distinguish between the 2. Coopers Hawks are 36-51cm(14-20inches) in length and have a wingspan of 74-94cm(29-37inches).
In flight,the cadence of a Sharp-shinned Hawk is a series of frequent flaps and glides. Flap,flap,flap glide.They look abit frantic like they believe they will fall out of the sky if they dont flap often. . Sharpies are very aggressive and may often attack other Sharp-shinneds or even much larger birds of prey. After their last flap,they push their wings forward,making it appear that their heads DO NOT extend beyond the wings. A Coopers Hawk's flight pattern is similar,but it seems more sure of itself..more definite and their heads appear to stick out further. The difference in the heads are again sometimes very difficult to differentiate.
A GOOD CHEAT to remember,is that in migration,many sites report the ratio of Sharp-shinned to Coopers Hawks is as much as 30-1,therefore most birds U will see will be Sharp-shinned Hawks. When seen around feeders,compare the bird to other birds around your feeder. A Sharp-shinned Hawk will scare Doves or pigeons but is unlikely to ever take something so large.
Most important to remember...even experts have troubles sometimes,telling the difference between a Sharpie and a Coopers,never feel too badly if people disagree with your decision. NOONE is right 100% of the time.

Northern Harrier Identification Tips

Inspired by an emailed photo from a friend Chris,inquiring as to its identification,Ive decided that over the next serveral cold winter weeks to highlight at least one species per week,using photos,slihouettes and information to help with identifications in the future. Chris' photo was of an adult male Northern Harrier,so I will start with the Northern Harrier.
Sizes for Northern Harriers varies greatly. Wingspan is as much as 105cm(42inches) Length is 42-60cm (17-24inches),with females being 1/3 larger then males,as is the case with most birds of prey. Females and juveniles look similar,with alot of rusty streaking on the chest. Juveniles have more. Their backs are brown. Males look completely different,appearing blue/grey on top. From below,they are very pale,appearing to be very white,with black wing tips. Many bird guides describe the wingtips as looking as though they've been dipped in ink. This is very diagnostic. All Northern Harriers have a prominent white bum patch. This is not soley a means of identification,but confirming evidence when other field marks are observed. In flight,all Harriers appear to have a long slim tail with long wings. To me on a down flap the wings look triangular and its very diagnostic. They appear to have a facial disk,owl like. When flying U will notice a strong dyhedral or v-shape.
At migration time Harriers often fly in heavy winds. Seeing males is a treat,as often migration sites see them at a rate of 8 females/juveniles to 1 adult male. Juveniles are often difficult to sex. The Perched birds are an adult female and a juvenile.