Sept 2 A Few Raptors Despite The Heat

Despite high heat and humidity,a decent early September count of 23 raptors was observed. Sharpshinned Hawks were the bird of the day,with 15 being seen. They came in their usual spot,over the big Poplar tree along the side of the bluffs. The days only Osprey came right along the bluffs below eye level,offering a great view. With a humidex of 36c tomorrow,its unlikel I will attend. Todays total of 23 raptors consisted of

1-Osprey
15-Sharpshinned Hawks
1-Coopers Hawk
6-American Kestrels

Year to date 121.

WELCOME ...READ...WATCH..ENJOY

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),including Osprey,Redtailed Hawks,Golden Eagles,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 U have them bring scopes,binoculars,cameras or bird books. The gardens are wheelchair accessible and have bathrooms and many benches.(note: no dogs,no picnics,no bicycle riding or no ball playing are allowed in the Gardens)

WHEN: From Sept1-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 high volumes of Sharp-shinned Hawks occurred on winds with a south element.

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. Last season nearly 6000 birds of prey were seen,including Bald Eagles,Golden Eagles,Osprey,Turkey Vultures,Northern Harriers,Rough-legged Hawks,Red-tailed Hawks,Broadwinged Hawks,Red-shouldered Hawks,Northern Goshawks,Coopers Hawks,Sharp-shinned Hawks,Peregrine Falcons,Merlin and American Kestrels. Our best count was over 750 raptors in one day.

Please check back often once fall migration season starts for daily reports.If U decide to join me,I will do my best to show U whatever comes our way and pass on information to you. Contact me at raptor.watch@hotmail.com


August 31 2008

The month of August is the start of fall migration. It starts slow,leading to September's much higher numbers.
This August was no different. It was infact slower then normal owing to better weather then normal. Warm,humid conditions are not condusive to movement of birds of prey,so Augusts total of only 78 raptors is quite low.

Turkey Vulture...............1
Osprey..........................12
Bald Eagle......................2
Northern Harrier.............5
Sharpshinned Hawk.......16
Coopers Hawk...............6
Broadwinged Hawk........7
Redtailed Hawk.............14
American Kestrel...........11
Merlin.............................2
Peregrine Falcon.............2

September 1 2008
Aside from a few Air Show planes,a few birds of prey moved along the bluffs today. 20 birds were seen,including
Turkey Vulture.........6
Sharpshinned Hawk..6
Coopers Hawk........1
Redtailed Hawk.......1
American Kestrel.....4
Peregrine Falcon......2
Day total...............20
Year to date..........98
Given conditions todays total was pretty good. I look forward to many better days ahead. Please note that I will not be present days when temperatures with humidex readings are ridiculously high! Very few birds would fly those days and I prefer not to bake! Hang in and watch for some North element winds.

Rosetta McClain Gardens Raptor Watch In The News

The Bluffs Monitor,a local paper with a circulation of about 25000,has done an article on me and the raptor watch. Peter Wood who writes The Birds of Bluffers Park column approached me towards the end of last month to ask if Id be interested in him doing an article. I was,not for any personal glory,but so people would hear about the great birds of prey we watch and enjoy so much. So awareness would be created and so more people could learn about hawks,eagles and falcons. Below is how Peter's article reads. I thank him for his interest and kind words.

Hawk Watch With Frank
Frank Butson has a passion,he has an expertise and perhaps most importantly,he is willing to share it. The passion is for raptors,that is,predatory birds such as hawks,eagles,vultures and Osprey.
During the fall migration,which begins in September and continues to the end of November,Frank can be found in Rosetta McClain Gardens looking out over the Bluffs searching the sky for migrating raptors. He identifies them,records the species and numbers,photographs them and posts the information on the internet.

Frank began hawk watching as a member of the High Park watch group. As an "east-ender",he was excited to discover that the Scarborough Bluffs was on a "fly way" or migration route for raptors. It began as personal enjoyment,but soon developed into an educational project. So,five years ago he set up shop at Rosetta McClain Gardens and began to invite people to join him-"all ages,all skill levels" he likes to say,thats what "keeps it fresh" for him. He is rewarded by the amazement and joy that he brings to park visitors. So far this year the watch has been highlighted by 70 Osprey,400 birds of prey in one day and 3 Peregrine Falcons flying together.

There is a serious side to this work as well. When I asked Frank why he does this he told me about Red-shouldered Hawks. These birds have been diminishing in numbers for many years. People may be unaware of this decline,but if they actually see one,they may come closer to understanding that as Frank says"It does Matter" As a volunteer for the Canadian Peregrine Foundation he is proud that Peregrines have recently been moved off the endangered species list.

....the article goes on to invite folks to join me and gives the blog address and location of the park. Already we have had visitors join us after reading the article and others comment positively after having read it.

Another very sucessful season of the Rosetta McClain Gardens Raptor Watch has come to a close. Thanks to everyone who came out this fall. As well as a record count,many enthusiastic new folks joined us this fall. It was a pleasure to meet you all and teach you what I could.Thanks to the many experienced birders,who joined us and offered their expertise and knowledge. Thanks to the staff of Rosetta McClain Gardens,who offered flyers and encouraged park goers to join us,for allowing me to store equipment and get much appreciated and needed hot coffee. Thanks to those who allowed the use of their photos on the blog. Each and every one of you added to the success of the watch in many ways. Incredible views of all 15 species of raptors were enjoyed over the course of the season. Our lakeside,bluff-top view is an incredible vantage point,offering unique sight-lines. This years count was the highest ever,5845 and a park record 755 raptors was enjoyed on September 15th.
Final totals for this season were:
Turkey Vulture......... 1061(previous best 436)
Osprey.........................94(previous best 92)
Bald Eagle....................33
Northern Harrier..........389
Sharp-shinned Hawk..2691(previous best 2561)
Coopers Hawk..............92
Northern Goshawk.........10
Red-shouldered Hawk....18
Broad-winged Hawk.....177
Red-tailed Hawk...........715
Rough-legged Hawk..........6
Golden Eagle...................12(previous best 11)
American Kestrel...........431
Merlin..............................44
Peregrine Falcon..............72(previous best 58)
2007 Season Total.......5845(previous best 5675 in 2006)

74 days were counted on,totalling 440 hours of observation. 12 days over 100 raptors were counted 9 of those days were over 200. As mentioned the 15th of September 755 raptors were counted which is the most every at Rosetta McClain Gardens in one day.

Species High Days
TV.......393 Oct 14
OS..........7 Sept 28
BE...........5 Sept 15
NH.........65 Sept 28
SS........569 Sept15
CH...........7 Oct 14
NG...........3 Sept 28 and Oct 16
RS............4 Oct 12 and 14
BW..........63 Sept 12
RT.........185 Oct 28
RL.............4 Nov 7
GE.............3 Oct 12 and 14
AK..........105 Sept 28
ML.............5 Oct 24
PG.............18 Oct 10

Over the fall,many new birds for the park were seen including,Pine Grosbeak,Pine Siskin,Evening Grosbeak,Common Redpoll,Purple Finch,Rusty Blackbird and Surf Scoters.Thanks again to everyone! 88 Days Till Spring Raptor Migration Starts At Beamer!

ASHBRIDGES BAY RARITY:Yellow-breasted Chat

Since the raptor migration has all but officially come to a close,I went today to Ashbridges Bay Park,just near Woodbine and the Lakeshore. For the past week there has been a Yellow-breasted Chat out near the southwest tip. Directions posted online at a few birding sites were excellent and got me right in the general area. A helpful birder I met hadnt had good luck,but did point me in the right spot. I waited about 20min and decided to sit down on a nearby bench. Within 5minutes,Ross and 2 of his friends arrived. Ross disappeared around the corner where I had previously been standing,and soon called out.."Guys over here!" With that,we clamoured over,scopes,binoculars and my camera at the ready. What a beautiful little bird..sort of a warbler on steroids..its about 7.5 inches tip to tail. The yellow was wonderfully illuminated by the bright sunlight,giving us all fantastic views. It ate berries,moved around and preened unbothered by either us or the Pointer that ran roughshod all over the area. For 3 of us,the Chat was a life bird,so all gathered were very happy with the sighting. I was very pleased with my photos,especially with all the "shmutz" around the bird.

Soon I will post a final summary and note of the raptor watch season..stay tuned.

Northwest Winds Push Raptors And Our Total To A Record

Today,thanks to the day long healthy northwest winds and some hardy observers,168 raptors were seen. 2 Different Coopers Hawks landed in the park,one very co-operatively in the top of a bare tree. A Redtailed Hawk also landed in the park briefly today. The bulk of todays sightings were Redtailed Hawks,high,low,above and below. Todays total was made up as follows:
1-Bald Eagle(juvenile)
2-Northern Harriers
3-Sharpshinned Hawks
6-Coopers Hawks
3-Northern Goshawks
149-Redtailed Hawks
2-Redshouldered Hawks
2-Golden Eagles
One of the Redshoulders and one of the Goshawks gave terrific views,at very close range. This brings this years total well beyond last fall's 5675,currently totaling 5826. With a southwest wind tomorrow I will NOT be present. If U decide to go to Rosetta please email me what see,if anything. Special thanks to Ann,for my ride,lunch,photos and hot tea.

Nov15 24 Raptors...YTD..5658

It was a cold wind today,and several local Redtailed Hawks kept showing themselves just to confuse things. Those gathered saw :
1-Bald Eagle(juvenile distant)
1-Northern Harrier
4-Sharpshinned Hawks
1-Northern Goshawk(flew through low and fast)
16-Redtailed Hawks(high low near far)
1-Golden Eagle(juvenile)

Tomorrows conditions looked great the last time I looked..lets hope for a big day! or at least18raptors so I can achieve the highest count ever at Rosetta McClain Gardens Raptor Watch. Dress warm if U are coming!

Slow Day But Good Views

Despite early NE winds,the count was very low. Raptors definetly stayed north of the lakeshore in our area. Good but fast views of a Peregrine Falcon and Merlin were enjoyed. A few close Coopers Hawks and the star of the day,an immature Bald Eagle at 10:30am gave us hopes for a better day then we ended up with. Todays 15 raptors consisted of :

1-Bald Eagle

4-Sharpshinned Hawks

2-Coopers Hawks

4-Redtailed Hawks

2-American Kestrels

1-Merlin

1-Peregrine Falcon

Right now,Tuesday holds abit of promise. As the migration winds down,there are still some great birds to see.

Few Raptors Near The Lake..Day Count 53...YTD..5619

While conditions were very good and both Cranberry Marsh and High Park Raptor Watches saw over 200 birds of prey,many fewer followed the lakeshore in Scarborough. Among the 53 raptors seen today,the best birds were 2 low,close dark-morph Roughlegged Hawks. We had terrific views of them. The bulk of the birds as expected were Redtailed Hawks. Hoped for Golden Eagles never came. I hung in until 330pm

Among non-raptors,a Common Loon and a Red-throated Loon were seen swimming together on the lake,as well as a feeding frenzy which involved hundreds of Red-breasted Mergansers and Ring-billed Gulls. A number of Common Goldeneye and a number of huge rafts of Long-tailed Ducks were also seen on the lake. Ron heard a Pine Grosbeak fly over and both he and I saw an Evening Grosbeak. A Pine Siskin landed briefly in an Elm tree,before moving onward.

Todays total consisted of:

3-Northern Harriers

8-Sharpshinned Hawks

1-Coopers Hawk

1-Red-shouldered Hawk

36-Redtailed Hawks

4-Roughlegged Hawks

This brought the year total to 5619,which is 56 short of last years final total. There are still a few 100+ days out there,but conditions will have to be nearly perfect. The next several days do not look very promising. Its unlikely I will be present over the weekend,unless conditions improve.

Record Season Soon...YTD Totals As At Oct 31

As of October 31,Rosetta McClain Raptor Watch is very close to breaking last fall's record total of 5675 raptors identified. The October 31 running total is 5513. The break down this fall is different from last fall,with a few species up considerably and others down. This gives me great hope for future years,as if all species approach record highs,a final season total in November could be considerably higher then all previous years. A big if I know but an intriguing thought none-the-less.Turkey Vultures,Sharp-shinned Hawks,Osprey and Peregrine Falcon totals are already at record highs. Very few of any of those species are expected over the next month,while Redtailed Hawks should be the bulk of the November birds,with a smattering of Red-shouldereds,Roughlegs,Goshawks and Golden Eagles.

Year To Date Sightings
1061-Turkey Vulture
94-Osprey
29-Bald Eagles
381-Northern Harriers
2664-Sharpshinned Hawks
77-Coopers Hawks
6-Northern Goshawks
15-Redshouldered Hawks
177-Broadwinged Hawks
466-Redtailed Hawks
2-Roughlegged Hawks
7-Golden Eagles
426-American Kestrels
42-Merlins
68-Peregrine Falcons(plus one with tethers)
So far this fall has been a great success,not only from a numbers standpoint,but also the new folks,introduced to raptor watching and birding generally. Ive really enjoyed mentoring newer people and learning from those more experienced who have joined me this fall. Truely its been a pleasure. A reminder that bathrooms are now closed,but just a few blocks up Kingston Rd are several restaurants and coffee shops.

Nov 1 No Day Can Be All Bad When U See A Golden Eagle

Another day where we remember raptors dont read weather reports. There should have been alot more seen then was. An almost pitiful 41 raptors were observed,though we did have some very nice views of what was seen. At 12:30pm,I looked out over the lake and spotted the hoped for Golden Eagle,well enjoyed by Ron,Bruce Falls,and myself.Included are photos of A Golden Eagle(gull with it gives size perspective) and a Redtailed Hawk being harrassed by 2 of 3 American Crows. Down on the lake,a large "slick" of Long-tailed Ducks and hundreds of Common Mergansers,could be seen. Our final total today of 41 raptors consisted of:
2-Northern Harriers
5-Sharpshinned Hawks
2-Coopers Hawks
27-Red-tailed Hawks
1-Golden Eagle(12:30pm)
2-American Kestrels
1-Merlin
1-Peregrine Falcon

Also seen today,several flocks of Eastern Bluebirds,Cedar Waxwings,Pine Siskins and a few Common Redpolls were seen,flying past or landing briefly in the park. Towards the end of the day,a Yellow-rumped Warbler was seen "hawking" bugs.
Right now Saturday looks like the next best chancce to see some raptors.

Todays Total 231..YTD...5508

Eventually today became most of what was expected of it. Early arrivals were almost ready to pack it in for the day,when around 10:30am,a few vultures and Redtails were spotted circling together. While hoped for Golden Eagles failed to appear,all gathered went home happy. We saw a Bald Eagle at 4:15pm,many Redtailed Hawks near and far as well as several close views of a Northern Goshawk,which made several passes of the park(it may hang around awhile). With 4 or 5 other Redtailed Hawks,was what we believe was a dark-morph Redtailed Hawk. Jean got her scope on it,and the shape and pattern indicated the same. A new passerine for the park was recorded and photographed..Common Redpoll,a small flock of which landed in a tree almost right beside us. The large number of friends and visitors gathered,observed 231 raptors today.

21-Turkey Vultures

1-Bald Eagle

2-Northern Harriers

12-Sharpshinned Hawks

3-Coopers Hawks

3-Northern Goshawks

2-Redshouldered Hawks

185-Redtailed Hawks

1-Roughlegged Hawk

1-Merlin

Thanks to everyone for their contributions today. Hundreds of Mergansers were seen feeding,down at the lake today.