Frank And Walter's Thanks For A Great 2010

With another raptor watching season in the books,both Walter and I wanted to thank everyone for an amazing seaon. While it sort of fizzled out at the end,we sure had alot of highs this fall! High day,month and season counts and many fantastic views of all 15 species. We welcomed more visitors then ever. We welcomed more photographers who contributed more photos then ever. Thanks to all of you! Ann Brokelman continued to offer her pictures for use on the blog,which deserve more superlatives then I can include. Thanks Ann!! Your contributions have been enjoyed by many folks all over the world that follow the blog. So many people have commented on how interesting the photos make the blog. We added some great folks to the Rosetta Regular Irregulars.
Before I go further,thanks to Walter most of all for his help running the watch. There is no way I could have done it without you! Walter's constant commraderie,good humor and enthusiasm,kept me up,excited and helped me hang in on slow days. His help passing on information and teaching others is invaluable.
To all the Rosetta McClain Gardens Regular Irregulars,thanks for your friendships,interest and coming out to share the fall with us.You all made things much more fun,rewarding and successful.It's great to see peoples interest and abilities to spot and identify raptors grow.Tim Horton's runs are something unique to us at Rosetta. Thanks to everyone who sustained us with coffee,hot chocolate,Timbits,donuts and even chilli now and then! Welcome Cori,Mike 2,and Hugh,to our band of irregulars. Walter and I cant thank you enough for your contributions. I will be in touch with as many of you as possible when we plan over winter birding and non-birding outtings.
To the staff and management of Rosetta McClain Gardens...thanks to all of you,for your contiuned friendships and the immense amount of assistance which you gave. Our visitors loved the gardens and clean facilities. You are to be commended,as,as you well know,the impact of your work represents not just yourselves,but our community and city. Thanks for your many kindnesses to Walter,myself and others. Hot coffee(caffine fixes) got us going many mornings! Without your help and co-operation,we couldnt do what we do.
People call this BIGFRANK's watch...NO WAY!!,it would never be the success that it is,without everyone playing their part. People not only around Toronto,but southern Ontario,now recognize Rosetta McClain Gardens as a great place to view birds of prey during migration.

Record Year!!! Wrap(tor)-Up Summary 2010

Another season of raptor watching has come to an end.It was a record setting fall,with a final total of 6545 raptors observed. This smashed our previous record of 5844. It seemed daily at peak migration time,that record after record fell,one day,one month and species final totals. Walter and I have been asked to submit a Toronto Records Committee report for our September 9th record Osprey count of 53 in one day. This is a GTA record! Thanks to Walter for this impressive list of records set this season at Rosetta. We set 21 and tied one other record this year.
53 Opsrey were seen Sept 9th,176 were seen in the month of September,which led to our season best 211. All new records! Bald Eagles were a similar story,18 were observed on Sept 10th a new site record. September saw a new monthly record of 43 Bald Eagles and a record final tally of 73 Bald Eagles were spotted. We saw a record number of Sharpshinned Hawks in September,finishing with 2067 and a new season high of 2797. 15 Northern Goshawks in the month of October was a new record. November 1st we had a record number of Redtailed Hawks fly by with 251. Roughlegged Hawks have moved in larger numbers then normal in southern Ontario and the sightings at Rosetta McClain Gardens Raptor Watch reflect this as well. We recorded a one day record of 9 on October 31st,a high of 18 in the month of November and a season best total of 28. We set records for all 3 falcon species. On Sept 9th we saw a day record of 203,a new month record of 581 in September were counted and the final total of 719 was also a record. We tied our best one day Merlin total of 10,on Sept 8th,had a record 52 sightings in September and observed 87 in total for another record. We saw the highest number of Peregrine Falcons for any southern Ontario count site,with a new site record of 85. On October 1st we tallied our best one day total of all raptors ever with 946! September saw our highest monthly count ever too,with 3385 total birds of prey counted. Lastly we had our most ever days with over 100 raptors observed,with 20. WHAT A SEASON WOW!!!!
Final Totals
211-Osprey
1195-Turkey Vulture
73-Bald Eagle
322-Northern Harrier
2797-Sharpshinned Hawk
82-Coopers Hawk
17-Northern Goshawk
21-Redshouldered Hawk
190-Broadwinged Hawk
707-Redtailed Hawk
28-Roughlegged Hawk
11-Golden Eagle
719-American Kestrel
87-Merlin
85-Peregrine Falcon
6545-Final Total
Thanks to everyone for an amazing season.
We also counted:
44-Great Blue Heron
20-Common Nighthawk
410-Common Loons
Oddities Seen This Season:
Cave Swallows
Sandhill Cranes
Snow Geese
American White Pelican
White-winged Crossbills
Short-eared Owl
Rusty Blackbirds

Nov 29 The Finale 4 Raptors

On Monday,Carol,Pat,Nancy and Peter,dropped by the park. In addition to our local Redtailed Hawk being harrassed by American Crows and a co-operative Coopers Hawk,they observed a final 3 Redtailed Hawks and one migrating Coopers Hawk. Pat sent along these shots of a Redtail chased by a Crow.

Our Co-operative Coopers,fence sitting.

End of season summaries soon to come.

A Few More Raptors

Walter,Mike 2(thanks for todays Timbits!!),Ann,Murray,(2 separate people not Canada's Snowbird)Anthony,Pat and I,were present today to count a few more raptors. A couple of "local" Redtailed Hawks tried to confuse things by making several passes of the park. Many times they were "accompanied" by the local American Crows. A nice male Northern Harrier was spotted about 1230pm,just over the lake. A few countable Redtails went through and a Peregrine went through the park in a hurry.
Just before the first of the gang got too cold to hang in,Mike picked up a high Sandhill Crane,which got ridiculously high,out over the lake. Eventually it made its way back toward land. One Common Loon was observed. Walter has been keeping track of Loon sightings and powered by a day that saw 160 down on the lake in October,todays made something over 400.(final tally will appear in our season end wrap up).
Todays Count
1-Northern Harrier
3-Redtailed Hawks
1-Peregrine Falcon
It was very cold. Extremities got the worst of it today.

Earlier this season Cave Swallows were seen. Anthony Glenesk sent along these 2 shots taken at The Spit(Tommy Thompson Park).

3 Cave Swallows

Cave Swallow Close-Up

Thanks to Anthony for his first contributions to our site. I hope the first of many come next season!

Nov 24th 10 More Raptors

Today the winds ended up weaker than predicted earlier in the week. Myself,Walter,Bill,BillB,Hugh,Betty,Cori,Shirley,Pat and Nancy saw a few raptors. A Peregrine Falcon circled very high up,while a few of the Redtails spiralled to "ozone" height. Good conversation was enjoyed,with some hopeful plans for winter birding among the many topics.Our final total today was:
1-Sharpshinned Hawk
2-Coopers Hawks
6-Redtailed Hawks
1-Peregrine Falcon
There looks like a number of very wet days coming up. If there is a north element wind in the next week we will be present to count.

A Few Days Left

With a week left in count season,things are really winding down. Walter and I will still be present on days we think could hold promise. Wednesday and Saturday look alright. Things will be over officially on Nov 30 and weather pending I hope many folks will come for the final day. Then its winter birding. Try to keep in touch and if you are heading out remember to get hold of some of your raptor watch pals. Later in the winter we will do a trip to Nanticoke to see Bald Eagles,check for Short and Long-eared Owls and see many Redtails and Roughlegs. Stay tuned for details.
Have a look at this video called How Hawks See
http://wimp.com/hawkssee

Nov 20 A Beautiful Late Novemeber Day 16 Raptors..Fox

The chances for a big day I think have passed us by. Todays 16 raptors with almost perfect conditions indicate its pretty much over. Over the next week(till month end) we may count but there is not much chance of it being daily. Today many folks showed up hoping for a big northern bird. Alas none came but we did see some Redtailed Hawks including the local juvenile. It sat co-operatively while I took photos. Local crows enjoyed a day of chasing several Redtails and a local Coopers Hawk. A Merlin was a nice surprise. A lone Red-shouldered Hawk was seen,very high up.

This juvenile Redtail is very lightly coloured on its head.

Ann sent along this beautiful shot of a Coopers Hawk in flight. Thanks so much for all the photos you've contributed to the site Ann,its been a great interest grabber for many readers and encouraged others to join us.

This Red Fox ran through the park,it was very close to our buddy Mark. The park is part of the Foxes territory and it goes through several times a day. I was lucky enough to get a quick shot. While I was missing,recovering from a cold,Richard the head gardener from Rosetta told Walter he had seen an Oppossum walk by. I look forward to seeing it soon.

Todays count of 16 brings our current season tally to 6526.We also saw 2 White-winged Crossbills fly past quickly. American Pipets were heard. An end of season wrap up will come soon. Thanks to everyone for an enjoyable day.

Keep An Eye On Friday

Friday looks like it could be one of the last chances for a big final push of raptors. It will be frigid,so if you attend dress very warm! Feet get cold easy! Hands too! Winds are to be 25kmh Northwest,with a high of only 4c. Midday is probably early enough to arrive. Remember those that have my cell # can call me first to see if we think the conditions are good...or if there is already a good flight in progress. We will count on other days later in the month but this may be the last 100+ raptor day of the season.

Next Several Days Not Promising

Right now there doesnt appear to be a good day on the horizon for migrating raptors. Its unlikely a count will be conducted until at least mid-week of the coming week. If you attend please email any sightings. Get out and enjoy the unusually warm weather,even if you cant see birds of prey and remember each beautiful day now is one closer to spring without SNOW!!

The Legend of Pale Male

For the many raptor watchers who know of Pale Male,or love watching Redtailed Hawks. This is a 3minute trailer of a new Pale Male movie.

http://magblog.audubon.org/legend-pale-male-movie-trailer-released

Very Slow...4 Raptors

Walter stuck out a very slow day. Saturday now looks very promising..stay tuned. Today Walter and a few others added 2 Redtails,a Coopers Hawk and a Northern Goshawk. The locals of each of these species was also seen,so Walter is sure none are double counts.

Slow Day...16 Raptors...YTD 6500

Today was abit slower then hoped for but,with some concentrated spotting,we were able to spot several Redtailed Hawks and a lone Redshoulded Hawk. Pat and Nancy told me of a Peregrine Falcon they had seen yesterday,so that has been added to todays total. Tomorrow will be like today at best. Id imagine the next big day will follow the current warm weather which reaches through next Monday at this point .

Redtailed Hawks

Northern Junco

Todays totals

1-Redshouldered Hawk

14-Redtailed Hawk

1-Peregrine Falcon

Watch for the next north element wind 15kmh-30kmh for a big day. Until that condition exists,high counts are unlikely. Counters are selective during weather like the coming week,so there is a strong chance noone will be present.