Update - Just added 3 Turkey Vultures that Kris saw later in the afternoon.
Rosetta McClain Gardens Raptor Watch, Toronto
05 October 2017
09:00am - 01:30pm
Today:
Turkey Vulture - 6
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 3
Cooper's Hawk - 1
Total - 10
Other Birds:
Short-eared Owl (flying west to east just over the trees), Orange-crowned Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Eastern Phoebe, Rusty Blackbird, Eastern Bluebird, Hermit Thrush, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Brown Creeper, Dark-eyed Junco, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ring-billed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Blue Jay, and White-throated Sparrow
Insects:
Monarch - 1500
Hawkwatchers:
Theresa, Kris, Berle, Ron, Betty, Tim, Linda, and Manny
Walter
Oct 1st - 2 Raptors
Rosetta McClain Gardens Raptor Watch, Toronto
01 October 2017
09:00am - 01:30pm
Today:
Peregrine Falcon - 2
Other Birds:
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1
Philadelphia Vireo - 1
White-throated Sparrow - 35+
Lots of Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets
Hawkwatchers:
Peter K, Norm, Eric, Tiziana, Berle, John, Ron, Hugh, Eleanor, Betty, and Theresa
Walter
01 October 2017
09:00am - 01:30pm
Today:
Peregrine Falcon - 2
Other Birds:
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1
Philadelphia Vireo - 1
White-throated Sparrow - 35+
Lots of Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets
Hawkwatchers:
Peter K, Norm, Eric, Tiziana, Berle, John, Ron, Hugh, Eleanor, Betty, and Theresa
Walter
Sep 30th - Another 500+ Raptor Day.....Actually 600+!!!
Another fantastic day at the Watch.....if you enjoy looking up at an all-blue sky and trying to find pepper specks in it - LOL!!! Thankfully we had some of our best pairs of eyes on-hand today to make sure that the birds weren't going to sneak by overhead quietly. We saw each and every one of the raptors that we counted today - LOL!!! I guess there could've been even more up there somewhere...who knows. Thankyou everybody for all the help today!!!
Rosetta McClain Gardens, Toronto
30 September 2017
08:00am - 04:00pm
Today:
Turkey Vulture - 561
Osprey - 1
Bald Eagle - 7
Northern Harrier - 11
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 35
Cooper's Hawk - 2
Broad-winged Hawk - 19
Red-tailed Hawk - 12
American Kestrel - 5
Total - 653
Eagle Time (DST):
09:50am - BE
09:57am - BE
10:18am - BE
10:32am - BE x2
12:20pm - BE
03:15pm - BE
To Date:
Turkey Vulture - 836
Osprey - 33
Bald Eagle - 51
Northern Harrier - 46
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 309
Cooper's Hawk - 24
Broad-winged Hawk - 59
Red-tailed Hawk - 47
American Kestrel - 177
Merlin - 19
Peregrine Falcon - 10
Total - 1611
These photos are courtesy of Mike...
These photos are courtesy of Lee...
Other Birds:
Brant - one large 'blizzard' of them heading south out over the lake to the east of the park.
Loon sp. - 2
Insects:
Monarch - still appears to be a decent number flying along the north shore of the lake.
Hawkwatchers:
Walter, Phil, Mike, Bruce M, Ron, Mark, Sonja, Bruce & Copper, Theresa, Gunnar, Betty, Joyce, Berle, Sheldon, Naish, Patti, Sue, Lee, Paul, Beth, Trudy, Eleanor, and many others! Again, thankyou all for your help and camaraderie today.
See you all again soon,
Walter
Rosetta McClain Gardens, Toronto
30 September 2017
08:00am - 04:00pm
Today:
Turkey Vulture - 561
Osprey - 1
Bald Eagle - 7
Northern Harrier - 11
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 35
Cooper's Hawk - 2
Broad-winged Hawk - 19
Red-tailed Hawk - 12
American Kestrel - 5
Total - 653
Eagle Time (DST):
09:50am - BE
09:57am - BE
10:18am - BE
10:32am - BE x2
12:20pm - BE
03:15pm - BE
To Date:
Turkey Vulture - 836
Osprey - 33
Bald Eagle - 51
Northern Harrier - 46
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 309
Cooper's Hawk - 24
Broad-winged Hawk - 59
Red-tailed Hawk - 47
American Kestrel - 177
Merlin - 19
Peregrine Falcon - 10
Total - 1611
These photos are courtesy of Mike...
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Bald Eagle
another beautifully marked Bald Eagle
These photos are courtesy of Lee...
local Red-tailed Hawk watching songbirds lower down in the tree
off it goes in search of a meal!
Other Birds:
Brant - one large 'blizzard' of them heading south out over the lake to the east of the park.
Loon sp. - 2
Golden-crowned Kinglet (Lee)
Palm Warbler (Lee)
Orange-crowned Warbler (Mike)
Insects:
Monarch - still appears to be a decent number flying along the north shore of the lake.
Hawkwatchers:
Walter, Phil, Mike, Bruce M, Ron, Mark, Sonja, Bruce & Copper, Theresa, Gunnar, Betty, Joyce, Berle, Sheldon, Naish, Patti, Sue, Lee, Paul, Beth, Trudy, Eleanor, and many others! Again, thankyou all for your help and camaraderie today.
See you all again soon,
Walter
Sep 29th - Adult Bald Eagle!
I received the following report from Ron via Lee...
Hi Lee,
I watched from 8 - 9:30 a.m. at the fence. Saw a fine adult Bald Eagle going west. Also saw an adult Red-tailed Hawk heading west and returning east a few minutes later. Afterwards I checked the northwest corner - loads of White-throated Sparrows, a male Eastern Towhee, and both a Gray-cheeked and a Hermit Thrush. Didn't see any other birders or photographers. Left about 11:15.
Ron
The wind for tomorrow (Saturday) is from the north. It'll be gusting up to roughly 40 kmph in the morning so it should be good for migrating raptors. Bring your most powerful binoculars, spotting scopes, and camera lenses as the birds will likely be way up there once again.
See you at the park,
Walter
Hi Lee,
I watched from 8 - 9:30 a.m. at the fence. Saw a fine adult Bald Eagle going west. Also saw an adult Red-tailed Hawk heading west and returning east a few minutes later. Afterwards I checked the northwest corner - loads of White-throated Sparrows, a male Eastern Towhee, and both a Gray-cheeked and a Hermit Thrush. Didn't see any other birders or photographers. Left about 11:15.
Ron
The wind for tomorrow (Saturday) is from the north. It'll be gusting up to roughly 40 kmph in the morning so it should be good for migrating raptors. Bring your most powerful binoculars, spotting scopes, and camera lenses as the birds will likely be way up there once again.
See you at the park,
Walter
Sep 28th - A 500+ Raptor Day! (more photos added!)
What a fabulous Fall day at the Watch, lots of great birds and lots of wonderful people...
Rosetta McClain Gardens Raptor Watch, Toronto
28 September 2017
8:00am - 5:30pm
Today:
Turkey Vulture - 229
Osprey - 3
Bald Eagle - 13
Northern Harrier - 11
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 92
Cooper's Hawk - 3
Broad-winged Hawk - 26
Red-tailed Hawk - 9
American Kestrel - 119
Merlin - 6
Peregrine Falcon 5
Total - 516
Eagle Time (DST):
10:15am - BE
12:50pm - BE
01:34pm - BE
02:34pm - BE x3
02:36pm - BE
02:50pm - BE
02:53pm - BE
03:09pm - BE
03:48pm - BE
03:51pm - BE
05:26pm - BE
To Date:
Turkey Vulture - 275
Osprey - 32
Bald Eagle - 43
Northern Harrier - 35
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 274
Cooper's Hawk - 22
Broad-winged Hawk - 40
Red-tailed Hawk - 35
American Kestrel - 172
Merlin - 19
Peregrine Falcon - 10
Total - 957
These photos are courtesy of Ann...
Loon sp. - 20
Swan sp. - 3
Insects:
Monarch butterflies and various species of Dragonflies filled the sky once again.
Mammals:
An American Mink was seen early morning in the grass along the top edge of the bluffs.
Hawkwatchers:
Walter, Noam, Manny, Ron, Bruce, Betty, Allison, Sheldon, Kris, Jean, Norm, Frieda, Ann, Berle, Terry, Pat & Nancy, John & Zeny, Justin, Joe, Naish, Blane, Joyce, Gillian, Arvo, Ed, Vicki, Diana, and many, many others!!! Thankyou so much everyone for such a great day of hawkwatching!
Weather Prediction:
Rain, rain, and more rain!!!
See you again at the fence,
Walter
Rosetta McClain Gardens Raptor Watch, Toronto
28 September 2017
8:00am - 5:30pm
Today:
Turkey Vulture - 229
Osprey - 3
Bald Eagle - 13
Northern Harrier - 11
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 92
Cooper's Hawk - 3
Broad-winged Hawk - 26
Red-tailed Hawk - 9
American Kestrel - 119
Merlin - 6
Peregrine Falcon 5
Total - 516
Eagle Time (DST):
10:15am - BE
12:50pm - BE
01:34pm - BE
02:34pm - BE x3
02:36pm - BE
02:50pm - BE
02:53pm - BE
03:09pm - BE
03:48pm - BE
03:51pm - BE
05:26pm - BE
To Date:
Turkey Vulture - 275
Osprey - 32
Bald Eagle - 43
Northern Harrier - 35
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 274
Cooper's Hawk - 22
Broad-winged Hawk - 40
Red-tailed Hawk - 35
American Kestrel - 172
Merlin - 19
Peregrine Falcon - 10
Total - 957
These photos are courtesy of Ann...
Bald Eagle
Broad-winged Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
American Kestrel
Turkey Vultures
Merlin
Red-tailed Hawk
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Merlin
Red-tailed Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Sharp-shinned Hawk
American Kestrel
Red-tailed Hawk
Lots of songbirds throughout the park today and hundreds of Blue Jays flying overhead.
These photos are courtesy of Joe...
Red-tailed Hawk
Other Birds:
Loon sp. - 20
Swan sp. - 3
American Goldfinch
American Redstart
Insects:
Monarch butterflies and various species of Dragonflies filled the sky once again.
Mammals:
An American Mink was seen early morning in the grass along the top edge of the bluffs.
Hawkwatchers:
Walter, Noam, Manny, Ron, Bruce, Betty, Allison, Sheldon, Kris, Jean, Norm, Frieda, Ann, Berle, Terry, Pat & Nancy, John & Zeny, Justin, Joe, Naish, Blane, Joyce, Gillian, Arvo, Ed, Vicki, Diana, and many, many others!!! Thankyou so much everyone for such a great day of hawkwatching!
Weather Prediction:
Rain, rain, and more rain!!!
See you again at the fence,
Walter
Sep 27th - The Heat and Humidity is Finally Leaving! (updated)
The north winds have arrived, raptors have arrived, and so have the biting Stable Flies! If you're planning on being at the park tomorrow, wear long pants! Thank you both Theresa and Terry for today's reports.
Rosetta McClain Gardens, Toronto
27 September 2017
08:15am - 01:30pm (Theresa)
01:45pm - 03:30pm (Terry)
Today:
Turkey Vulture - 23
Osprey - 2
Northern Harrier - 9
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 11
Cooper's Hawk - 1
Broad-winged Hawk - 1
American Kestrel - 7
Merlin - 1
Peregrine Falcon - 1
Total - 56
To Date:
Turkey Vulture - 46
Osprey - 27
Bald Eagle - 30
Northern Harrier - 24
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 182
Cooper's Hawk - 19
Broad-winged Hawk - 19
Red-tailed Hawk - 22
American Kestrel - 52
Merlin - 13
Peregrine Falcon - 5
Total - 434
Other Birds:
Canada Goose - 7
Loon sp. - 1
Red-tailed Hawk - 2 (locals)
Ring-billed Gull - 15
Downy Woodpecker - 1
Woodpecker sp. - 1
Merlin - 1 (local, chasing the Peregrine Falcon)
Northern Flicker - 1
Blue Jay - 280
American Crow - 1
Black-capped Chickadee - 5
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 2
American Robin - 10
Cedar Waxwing - 5
Palm Warbler - 1
Warbler sp. - 1
White-throated Sparrow - 15
Northern Cardinal - 2
Red-winged Blackbird - 2
Common Grackle - 2
American Goldfinch - 2
House Sparrow - 5
Insects:
Monarch - 2200
Dragonfly sp. - lots
Hawkwatchers:
Theresa, Ron, Berle, Chris, Terry, Betty, and Ed
Weather Prediction:
Northwest wind all day long! Should be a great day!
Special added bonus hawk-watching coverage...
With me feeling a little under the weather this morning I only made it as far as the backyard to do a bit of raptor watching. It turned out to be fairly good. With texting back and forth to Theresa I know many of my birds weren't seen at Rosetta. Almost all of the birds seen from the yard were flying due west and would've passed to the north of the park and likely out of sight.
Butchered Gardens Hawk Watch, Toronto
27 September 2017
11:00am - 02:00pm
Today:
Turkey Vulture - 15
Osprey - 2
Northern Harrier - 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 5
Cooper's Hawk - 1
Broad-winged Hawk - 1
Red-tailed Hawk - 3
American Kestrel - 5
Total - 34
Other Birds:
Canada Goose - 11
Loon sp. - 3
Turkey Vulture - 4
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1
Chimney Swift - 2
Insects:
Cabbage White - 4
Monarch - 172 (22 landed in the garden)
Painted Lady - 3
Dragonfly sp. - lots!
Hawkwatcher:
Walter
See you at Rosetta early tomorrow,
Walter
Rosetta McClain Gardens, Toronto
27 September 2017
08:15am - 01:30pm (Theresa)
01:45pm - 03:30pm (Terry)
Today:
Turkey Vulture - 23
Osprey - 2
Northern Harrier - 9
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 11
Cooper's Hawk - 1
Broad-winged Hawk - 1
American Kestrel - 7
Merlin - 1
Peregrine Falcon - 1
Total - 56
To Date:
Turkey Vulture - 46
Osprey - 27
Bald Eagle - 30
Northern Harrier - 24
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 182
Cooper's Hawk - 19
Broad-winged Hawk - 19
Red-tailed Hawk - 22
American Kestrel - 52
Merlin - 13
Peregrine Falcon - 5
Total - 434
Other Birds:
Canada Goose - 7
Loon sp. - 1
Red-tailed Hawk - 2 (locals)
Ring-billed Gull - 15
Downy Woodpecker - 1
Woodpecker sp. - 1
Merlin - 1 (local, chasing the Peregrine Falcon)
Northern Flicker - 1
Blue Jay - 280
American Crow - 1
Black-capped Chickadee - 5
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 2
American Robin - 10
Cedar Waxwing - 5
Palm Warbler - 1
Warbler sp. - 1
White-throated Sparrow - 15
Northern Cardinal - 2
Red-winged Blackbird - 2
Common Grackle - 2
American Goldfinch - 2
House Sparrow - 5
Insects:
Monarch - 2200
Dragonfly sp. - lots
Hawkwatchers:
Theresa, Ron, Berle, Chris, Terry, Betty, and Ed
Weather Prediction:
Northwest wind all day long! Should be a great day!
Special added bonus hawk-watching coverage...
With me feeling a little under the weather this morning I only made it as far as the backyard to do a bit of raptor watching. It turned out to be fairly good. With texting back and forth to Theresa I know many of my birds weren't seen at Rosetta. Almost all of the birds seen from the yard were flying due west and would've passed to the north of the park and likely out of sight.
Butchered Gardens Hawk Watch, Toronto
27 September 2017
11:00am - 02:00pm
Today:
Turkey Vulture - 15
Osprey - 2
Northern Harrier - 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 5
Cooper's Hawk - 1
Broad-winged Hawk - 1
Red-tailed Hawk - 3
American Kestrel - 5
Total - 34
Other Birds:
Canada Goose - 11
Loon sp. - 3
Turkey Vulture - 4
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1
Chimney Swift - 2
Insects:
Cabbage White - 4
Monarch - 172 (22 landed in the garden)
Painted Lady - 3
Dragonfly sp. - lots!
Hawkwatcher:
Walter
See you at Rosetta early tomorrow,
Walter
Sep 23rd - A Nice Surprise
This afternoon while watching butterfly and dragonfly migration over the backyard I got a nice surprise when this beautiful Bald Eagle flew through.
Also seen flying over was an American Kestrel and 2 local Turkey Vultures.
As for butterflies - between 12:30 - 4:00pm I counted 254 Monarchs flying overhead heading due west, 4 Cabbage Whites, and 5 Painted Ladies. 41 Monarchs landed in the back garden to nectar on various flowers. Dragonflies filled the sky all afternoon.
Keep lookin' up!
Walter
Also seen flying over was an American Kestrel and 2 local Turkey Vultures.
As for butterflies - between 12:30 - 4:00pm I counted 254 Monarchs flying overhead heading due west, 4 Cabbage Whites, and 5 Painted Ladies. 41 Monarchs landed in the back garden to nectar on various flowers. Dragonflies filled the sky all afternoon.
Keep lookin' up!
Walter
Sep 22nd - Bird Species #212
Hi folks,
Sorry this is a little late but, better late than never, right? Anyway, our good birding friend Noam Markus found and photographed a Northern Waterthrush (our 29th Warbler species) in the north-western corner of the park back on September 9th. This is just another amazing sighting and new addition for our little garden park. Bird species #212. Way to go Noam!
All 212 bird species and 2 'spuhs' can be found here
Walter
Sorry this is a little late but, better late than never, right? Anyway, our good birding friend Noam Markus found and photographed a Northern Waterthrush (our 29th Warbler species) in the north-western corner of the park back on September 9th. This is just another amazing sighting and new addition for our little garden park. Bird species #212. Way to go Noam!
All 212 bird species and 2 'spuhs' can be found here
Walter
Septemer 21-2017
One measly peregrine!
This continues to be a very frustrating fall migration and I expect more of the same with this heat wave. Theresa sent along this report:
Non-raptors:
Magnolia Warbler
2 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds
and all the regulars
Again the Monarchs were migrating at at least one per minute and by the afternoon there were at least two dozen Painted Ladies in the park at the same time.
Observers: Sonja, Hugh, Beryl and Theresa
Thanks to everyone who keeps going out. On the plus side, it's always nice to get together and it's great that we have such a beautiful park full of other types of wildlife. It never gets boring!
Lee
This continues to be a very frustrating fall migration and I expect more of the same with this heat wave. Theresa sent along this report:
Non-raptors:
Magnolia Warbler
2 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds
and all the regulars
Again the Monarchs were migrating at at least one per minute and by the afternoon there were at least two dozen Painted Ladies in the park at the same time.
Observers: Sonja, Hugh, Beryl and Theresa
Thanks to everyone who keeps going out. On the plus side, it's always nice to get together and it's great that we have such a beautiful park full of other types of wildlife. It never gets boring!
Lee
September 20/2017
From Theresa:
Only two Sharp-shinned hawks migrating. Also two groups of Blue Jays, totalling about 50 birds, about 25 Robins and 25 White-throated Sparrows. One Black-throated Blue Warbler the only warbler nearby, but we didn't wander much
About one Monarch every minute from 10:45 to 1:45 pm
Present: Carol, Ann, Berryl, Betty, Terry and Theresa
Lee
Only two Sharp-shinned hawks migrating. Also two groups of Blue Jays, totalling about 50 birds, about 25 Robins and 25 White-throated Sparrows. One Black-throated Blue Warbler the only warbler nearby, but we didn't wander much
About one Monarch every minute from 10:45 to 1:45 pm
Present: Carol, Ann, Berryl, Betty, Terry and Theresa
Lee
Sep 19th - The Numbers So Far
Well folks, unfortunately the 'Global Warming' effect is not doing us any favours at Rosetta. It's not doing any Hawk Watches along the shores of the Great Lakes any favours either! The cool north-west winds have yet to blow and the low count totals so far are a clear result. Hopefully things will change soon!!!!! Enjoy the lasting heat and humidity while you can!
To Date (as of Sep 19th):
Turkey Vulture - 23
Osprey - 25
Bald Eagle - 30
Northern Harrier - 15
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 169
Cooper's Hawk - 18
Broad-winged Hawk - 13
Red-tailed Hawk - 22
American Kestrel - 45
Merlin - 12
Peregrine Falcon - 3
Total - 375
The Numbers comparison (as of Sep 19th):
2010 - 3188
2011 - 1968
2012 - 1660
2013 - 1610
2014 - 3220
2015 - 1941
2016 - 1098
2017 - 375
Thousands of raptors are heading south at this time (Sharpies, Kestrels, and Broad-wings especially) but without the north-west winds a-blowin' it's unlikely we'll be seeing many of them in the sky over Rosetta. They'll be crossing the city further to the north unfortunately. We have to continue to watch for them all the same as this is the ultimate reason why we hawk-watch in the first place (sure they're beautiful to look at!). As observers of nature, we have to know what they're doing and where they're flying whether good or bad.
Keep up the excellent job everyone!
Walter
To Date (as of Sep 19th):
Turkey Vulture - 23
Osprey - 25
Bald Eagle - 30
Northern Harrier - 15
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 169
Cooper's Hawk - 18
Broad-winged Hawk - 13
Red-tailed Hawk - 22
American Kestrel - 45
Merlin - 12
Peregrine Falcon - 3
Total - 375
The Numbers comparison (as of Sep 19th):
2010 - 3188
2011 - 1968
2012 - 1660
2013 - 1610
2014 - 3220
2015 - 1941
2016 - 1098
2017 - 375
Thousands of raptors are heading south at this time (Sharpies, Kestrels, and Broad-wings especially) but without the north-west winds a-blowin' it's unlikely we'll be seeing many of them in the sky over Rosetta. They'll be crossing the city further to the north unfortunately. We have to continue to watch for them all the same as this is the ultimate reason why we hawk-watch in the first place (sure they're beautiful to look at!). As observers of nature, we have to know what they're doing and where they're flying whether good or bad.
Keep up the excellent job everyone!
Walter
September 16-2017
Another quiet day. Thanks to Dave for being a rock star and going out on these slow days.
Sharp-shinned hawks - 3
Notable birds include a great crested flycatcher.
Lee
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