Supplemental

Wooops in my sleepy haze I forgot to add these terrific inflight shots of a Northern Shrike. It landed every so briefly on a Spruce tree that as soon as Walter and I mis-ID'd it quickly as a Mockingbird,it flew off. As soon as I saw Ann's photo,I could see very clearly it indeed was a Northern Shrike! A buddy has always told me that what was important was getting it right in the end!

Another view of the Northern Shrike

These are some of Anns Northern Harrier Photos from today.

Being as we hit that 300 benchmark,I thought it important to include a few good shots!

Here one is from above..A unique angle seen at Rosetta.

Classic shape.

Over The Top With 83 Raptors...5 Redshouldered Hawks

Today we set a new season high total for total number of raptors. In 2007,5844 raptors were observed going by Rosetta McClain Gardens Raptor Watch. Today we surpassed that total and got a good run at achieving 6000 this season. Our new high season total raptor count is 5924. With another month to count,we should surpass 6000 quite easily,a nice milestone to achieve.
We had 5 Red-shouldered Hawks today,a few passed very close to us,allowing for some good photos. Thanks Ann. One juvenile circled co-operatively along the bluff,giving those watching closely views of his "windows" from on top and below. A very co-operative adult circled above us for some time. Its great to see some of these threatened birds so well,especially with several newish raptor watchers present.
Another number we hit today was over 300 Northern Harriers for the season. While Harrier sightings have increased over the last 2 seasons from a low of 84 in 2008 to 122 in 2009,todays mark of 304 while significant,pales to the 2006 count of 488. Walter started the day by seeing 13 Turkey Vultures fly past. They must have spent the night close by,as Lee had messaged Walter late yesterday that 13 Vultures were near Brimley and Kingston Rd. Also of interest was 1 Broadwinged Hawk,which came at us over the lake. Some question my call,but I am very sure of this ID. The bird was dark..appreared Crow-like when in flight,all agreed looked nothing like the Red-shouldered Hawks seen today under identical wind conditions,that it was smaller than a Redtailed Hawk and had no white chest.
Redshouldered Hawk

Redshoulder In Flight

Sharpshinned Hawk

Coopers Hawk

Interestingly marked Redtailed Hawk..some checking is being done. Note there is no white chest on this bird,the streaking goes all the way to its chin.

Will report if it is something other than an Eastern Redtailed Hawk...I suspect it is.
Today saw 83 raptors in total consisting of:

14-Turkey Vultures

13-Northern Harriers

24-Sharpshinned Hawks

2-Coopers Hawks

5-Redshouldered Hawks

1-Broadwinged Hawk

21-Redtailed Hawks

3-Merlins

Also seen today were thousands of Redwinged Blackbirds/Brown Cowbirds in huge flocks,many House Finches,Eastern Bluebirds,a small group of Yellow rumped Warblers and on the lake a few thousand Red-breasted Mergansers. No swallows were seen today at all.

The entire week to come looks quite promising. Remember that NE winds means higher birds...Northwest is best. Bathrooms are now closed for the season! Dress warm any day you come now.

Oct 28th Cave Swallows..Bluebirds and a few Raptors

Many House Finch were seen migrating today.

Many Eastern Bluebirds passed us.

Walter,Joe,Ann,Carol,Berle,Pat,Nancy,Hugh,Terry and I saw a large movement of small birds today,while raptors were slow. With less than ideal viewing conditions,Walter and I were frustrated a few times on birds. Eventually between a few periods of decent lighting and some confirming photos taken by Ann Brokelman we ID'd Eastern Bluebirds. Throught the day we had been seeing Swallows fly by. We saw a small "flock" of 7,as well as a few more small groups of 5. The ones that finally convinced us we were very likely seeing Cave Swallows were 2 together. We got good long looks and were convinced as we could be. Luckily Ann had arrived and was at the ready with her camera. She got 2 decent shots as they went by. Independantly Walter and I did our best to confirm our sighting. All of the swallows we saw seemed to be the same as the one in Ann's photos. This is bird #189 for Rosetta and for myself,Walter and Ann a life bird! I dont doubt there could be others tomorrow. Not coincidentally Paul Prior reported what he thought could be Cave Swallows at the Leslie Spit,which is just along the lakeshore to us. Additionally at Long Point,at least 100 were reported in the area. A real thrill to see...great luck that Ann got a couple of shots too.

I have sent the photos to a few experts and thus far their opinions confirm Cave Swallow. I have not used their names here as yet as confirming the sightings,as they like to guard their reputations and be 100% confident. I do respect this and expect by tomorrow,I will formally be able to thank them for their help.

Other than the "local" Goshawk going by at Mach2 being chased by American Crows,there was nothing miraculous raptor wise.

Raptors seen were:

3-Northern Harriers

3-Sharpshinned Hawks

1-Coopers Hawk

4-Redtailed Hawks

1-Peregrine Falcon

Tomorrows conditions look great for a large movement of raptors. Lets hope the birds read the same weather reports. We will be on the look out for more Cave Swallows,Bluebirds and maybe a Boreal Chickadee. Dress warm. Bathrooms are available until 2pm reliably during the week right now. We fully expect to go well over our season high final count of 5844 tomorrow as we have now seen a total of 5841 raptors so far this fall. We are hopeful of topping 6000 by seasons end come November 30th.

6 More Raptors...A few locals put on a show.

This migrating Peregrine Falcon was photographed by Trudy,the gang also saw another that for now we are calling local. He put on a real show,flying back and forth around our viewing area over the course of about 90 minutes.

The local Redtailed Hawk did a few flybys and some kiting,putting on his usual show.

Thousands of gulls and Red-breasted Mergansers!

Thanks to Trudy for todays great shots.

Today Walter,Pat,Nancy,Carol,Lorne,Trudy and Hugh saw a few raptors,6 to be exact. The final tally was:

1-Northern Harrier

1-Sharpshinned Hawk

2-Redtailed Hawk

1-Merlin

1-Peregrine Falcon

Friday could be a big day. Winds are predicted to be good,and with several days of south winds and rain birds could be backed up. Lets hope the birds read the memo!

Oct 23...Ann's Hour At The Park...6 Raptors..Co-operative Local Redtail

Local juvenile Redtailed Hawk photos shared by Ann Brokelman.

While Walter and I enjoyed a day off,Ann dropped down to the park for an hour from 11am-12 While there she saw the local Redtailed Hawk and it put on a real show from the looks of her photos! These are as good as any I have ever seen. Ive cropped them only to save myself memory on the blog,they are sharp and very close up!! Brilliant!

In the hour Ann was at the park she saw:

3-Sharpshinned Hawk

2-Redtailed Hawk

1-Peregrine Falcon

Ann also sent along this nice shot of some Cedar Waxwings.

The next few days do not look like there will be much of anything flying. If I want to get out of the house for awhile,I may pop over to the park in the coming days. Realistically if you are coming from any distance,think twice! Hoping for a northwest wind Friday with little rain.

Murray Spots Stormin Again

Stormin perched under the water tower.

Stretched wings and fanned tail.

A few days back our buddy Murray Shields,told me at the watch,that he had seen and photographed a Peregrine Falcon on a nearby ish watertower. Murray sent along these great shots today. They are of the same Peregrine Falcon which I had observed eating on an antena near my home on September 21.

Its Stormin! He was banded on May 28th of 2009 at the Toronto Sheraton Centre Hotel,in downtown Toronto. Thanks For the great shots Murray. We do know of a female who had been spotted in this area in the past...hopefully they will meet up. We will keep our eyes peeled.

First Golden Eagle of Season..Record 74th Peregrine Falcon ..48raptors

While today was abit slow,it didnt lack highlights,both numerical and bird. We recorded our 74th Peregrine Falcon sighting of the season,this is one higher then last seasons high of 73. At 210pm,Jean spotted an Eagle over Lake Ontario. Soon with Bill,Hugh and Jean all scoping the bird,it eventually showed us the unmistakeable field marks of a juvenile Golden Eagle,our first of the season. For Hugh this was a life bird. For Bill it was the first one he has seen in Ontario.

The "local" Northern Goshawk gave all gathered quite a thrill as it blasted past us,bluffside screaming past Berle and I very closely,while being chased by several Crows. It really woke us up! A low heavy flapping Turkey Vulture fooled me as I went for my camera and mistakenly called it a Golden Eagle. Bill corrected me and I snapped a photo quickly.

Redtailed Hawk over sparkling Lake Ontario.

Todays total of 48 raptors was:

1-Turkey Vulture

6-Northern Harrier

20-Sharpshinned Hawk

1-Coopers Hawk

15-Redtailed Hawk

1-Golden Eagle(juvenile at 210pm)

1-American Kestrel

2-Merlin

1-Peregrine Falcon

In the morning,Walter,Bruce and I saw thousands of Red-winged Blackbirds and American Robins. There were also many Cedar Waxwings. A real surprised was over 160 Common Loons in the lake. We also saw thousands and thousands of Red-breasted Mergansers. They gathered in a massive raft,before a boat disturbed them and they took to the air. It was an amazing sight!! Mergansers filled the sky over the lake. If anyone is present Saturday,please let Walter or I know what you see. Its very likely we will both take a day off. Winds tomorrow will not be condusive to much of a flight. Good luck if you try. Until Thursday we dont expect much of a flight. Bathrooms are no longer open on weekends. It is very likely that beyond next Friday they will be closed for the season.

Bald Eagle Video

Walter shot this video yesterday of a juvenile Bald Eagle. Thanks Walter,great stuff!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIAWVkQF3_Y
If it doesnt work,copy and paste the address.

Season Sharpshinned Hawk Record Set...109 raptors

Today was a good day. Winds were right all day long,despite a few short spits of rain. Things did shut down early by 2pm birds had stopped moving. Walter and I hung in until about 4pm and called it quits. Before the day was done though another record fell. We recorded our 2692nd Sharpshinned Hawk among the 53 Sharpshinned Hawks that we saw today,bringing our season total to 2715 which breaks our previous season high of 2691.

We saw 3 Merlins today,this brings the season total to an incredible 80 sightings. This one even co-operated for a photo.
We had a small group of Redtails pass over,as the colour on my monitor is messed up I though we had something different,but Walter assures me this is 3 Redtailed Hawks.

Our total today was 109 raptors consisting of:

9-Turkey Vulture

1-Bald Eagle(2:10pm a juvenile..thanks for confirmation Jean)

9-Northern Harrier(one spotted by watcher Terry age 89)

53-Sharpshinned Hawk

1-Coopers Hawk

1-Northern Goshawk

30-Redtailed Hawk(including a kettle of 6)

1-American Kestrel

3-Merlin

1-Peregrine Falcon

Murray spotted a Peregerine Falcon in its popular perch on the watertower at Warden and Eglinton.(not the one we counted) We are now only 77 raptors away from a new season high total! I suspect we could pass that total tomorrow. Lets hope so!

We saw this Pine Siskin today. Thanks for spotting it Bill! Thanks to everyone for their contributions today..Hugh,Bill,Terry,Berle,Jean,Carol and of course Walter! Tomorrow looks like great conditions again. If you are coming PLEASE dress very warm...morning they are predicting a windchill below 0c,with a high of only 9c. Its better to be over-dressed then to be uncomfortably cold. It is no fun I have done it before! While there may be some upflight tomorrow,please be aware that flight of Redtailed Hawks and larger birds isnt starting up until 10am or later. Sharpshined Hawks were on the move early today.In recent days we have seen a few Eastern Bluebirds and yesterday Walter and I saw a Viceroy Butterfly and a late Fiery Skipper.

Slow Day only 6 Raptors

We had only a few raptors today. I was beat so packed it in by 130pm. If anyone was present and saw birds I will add them to the count. Pat spotted a Bald Eagle,which stirred things up at 1210pm.(mostly me I was sorta snoozing on a bench) It was very visible but very high too. Most amusing today was a Crow attacking a Coopers Hawk. It dove many times at the Coopers who while it took evasive action,didnt seem overly bothered by it. Keep an eye on Thursday,it has a chance if it doesnt rain here or east of us too much.
Today we saw:
1-Bald Eagle(juvenile)
1-Northern Harrier
3-Sharpshinned Hawk
1-Coopers Hawk
Tomorrow is another day,lets hope for better

Lee Ellis Sends Along Her Great Pictures Of The Peregrine Falcon Release

Lee Ellis has kindly allowed the use of these great photos she took of the Peregrine Falcon release on Saturday.

Frank Butson(CPF Volunteer and Hawk Watch Co-ordinator) and Canadian Peregrine Foundation Co-director/Co-founder Mark Nash bring the Peregrine Falcon to be released.

Canadian Peregrine Foundation Co-director Marion Nash opens the box to set the Peregrine free.

At first he doesnt want to leave. Marion tries to coax him out.

And there he goes.

Moment of freedom!

Landing briefly on the fence.

Launching off the fence for the sky.

Off he goes into the wild blue yonder,to patrol the skies again!

What a moment!

Thanks again Lee,Ive no doubt we will get many positive comments about your shots!

Now Back To Your Regularily Scheduled Raptor Watch

Today was highlighted by a late movement of 3 Bald Eagles. Walter spotted the first one as Lyn was about to leave. I hollered her back to see the first of 3 Bald Eagles fly by. Walter and I hung in and as we packed up to go I spotted the 2nd Bald Eagle of the day. It was at 508pm. Wondering what else might come,packing up to go again at 530pm,Walter looked up and said "Im not kidding you!" Bald Eagle number 3. Earlier in the day we had seen a few Northern Harriers and a few passing Redtailed Hawks. Ann got these excellent shots of a passing RedtailedHawk.

Our final total of 25 Raptors was:

2-Turkey Vultures

3-Bald Eagles(315pm,508pm & 530pm)

7-Northern Harriers

6-Sharpshinned Hawks

1-Coopers Hawk

5-Redtailed Hawks

2-Merlin

1-Peregrine Falcon

We saw thousands of migrating Robins today,particularily in the morning. Down on the lake we saw several Red-breasted Mergansers too.

Keep your eye on Thursday,the winds look most favorable that day.