Sep 6th - The Storm

I had titled yesterday's post 'A Calm Before The Storm?'  We got our storm!  Today we counted a total of 244 raptors flying over Rosetta.  The day didn't look too promising at first with a heavy sky, rain and no wind but eventually it all changed just like the weather people predicted.  One for them!  My thanks to everyone for their help in spotting, identifying, and photographing everything that was zooming by.

Today:
Osprey - 15
Bald Eagle - 4
Northern Harrier - 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 171
Cooper's Hawk - 2
Broad-winged Hawk - 5
Red-tailed Hawk - 1
American Kestrel - 34
Merlin - 11
Total - 244

To Date:
Turkey Vulture - 0
Osprey - 55
Bald Eagle - 15
Northern Harrier - 19
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 398
Cooper's Hawk - 9
Northern Goshawk - 0
Red-shouldered Hawk - 0
Broad-winged Hawk - 87
Red-tailed Hawk - 13
Rough-legged Hawk - 0
Golden Eagle - 0
American Kestrel - 104
Merlin - 26
Peregrine Falcon - 2
Total - 728

Eagle Time (EDT):
01:25 PM - BE
02:16 PM - BE
02:30 PM - BE
02:44 PM - BE

Local Raptors:
Turkey Vulture - 2
Cooper's Hawk - 1
Red-tailed Hawk - 2

Raptor shots from the day...

 Sharp-shinned Hawk (Mike D)

 American Kestrel (Mike D)

 Sharp-shinned Hawk (Paul)

 Sharp-shinned Hawk (Mike D)

Merlin (Mike D)

Red-tailed Hawk (Mike D)

 Broad-winged Hawk (Mike D)

Northern Harrier (Mike D)

Sharp-shinned Hawk (Ann)

Osprey (Ann)

Sharp-shinned Hawk (Ann)

At 5:30 PM as we were getting set to leave a Common Nighthawk flew over the center of the park fairly low.  Always exciting to see!  Early in the day today we counted at least 9 Common Loons flying overhead and out over the lake.  Canada Geese in small numbers also appeared to be on the move.

Hawk watching became rather interesting in to the afternoon as the sky quickly filled with thousands of migrating dragonflies of various species and at best guess, at least 1000 Monarch butterflies.  Absolutely beautiful to witness but not while you're trying to find hawks!

These two have some business to take care of before heading south (Paul)

Common Loon (Ann)

Great Blue Heron (Ann)

Some of today's crowd (Ann)

The gang today included - Kris, Phil, John, Mike D, Ann, Mark, Sheldon, Gunnar, Mike P, Pat & Nancy, Dave, Norm, Irv, Allison, Hugh, Ron & Jean, Paul, Brian, Elias & Grace, Doug, Berle, Will, and Byron.  My apologies if I've forgotten anyone.

The predicted winds for Sunday are still from the northwest but not quite as strong.  Let's see what happens.

Check you tomorrow!

Walter

Sep 5th - A Calm Before the Storm?

I thought it might've been a little better today after the morning rain but I guess the birds are just waiting to go tomorrow instead.

Today:
Osprey - 2
Northern Harrier - 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 7
Merlin - 1
Total - 11

To Date:
Turkey Vulture - 0
Osprey - 40
Bald Eagle - 11
Northern Harrier - 18
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 227
Cooper's Hawk - 7
Northern Goshawk - 0
Red-shouldered Hawk - 0
Broad-winged Hawk - 82
Red-tailed Hawk - 12
Rough-legged Hawk - 0
Golden Eagle - 0
American Kestrel - 70
Merlin - 15
Peregrine Falcon - 2
Total - 484

My thanks to Allison, Lee, Brian, Leon, Peter, and Margaret.

Saturday (at present) is still looking perfect for a decent movement of birds.  Wind is predicted to be from the northwest at 25km/h and gusting even higher.  Birds will likely be down low and in our faces!

See you at the park!

Walter

Sep 4th - Here a Sharpie, there a Sharpie!

Oh my, the Sharpies were everywhere in the sky today!  Everywhere from over Kingston Road to out over the lake.  What a great surprise, wasn't expecting so many.

We had our annual visit from the class of kids from Cliffside Public School early today.  While there they enjoyed a few of the Sharpies flying overhead, the squirrels and the bunny.  I was 'schooled' by one young fella who told me all about the fastest land animal in the world.  We also talked about the Peregrine Falcon.  Always a fun time!

Today:
Osprey - 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 117
Broad-winged Hawk - 1
American Kestrel - 5
Merlin - 1
Total - 126

To Date:
Turkey Vulture - 0
Osprey - 38
Bald Eagle - 11
Northern Harrier - 17
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 220
Cooper's Hawk - 7
Northern Goshawk - 0
Red-shouldered Hawk - 0
Broad-winged Hawk - 82
Red-tailed Hawk - 12
Rough-legged Hawk - 0
Golden Eagle - 0
American Kestrel - 70
Merlin - 14
Peregrine Falcon - 2
Total - 473

Monarchs were moving again today.  We counted 21 of them flying by the Watch site.

My thanks to Don, Arvo, Hugh, Dave, Betty, Terry (today and yesterday!), Peter, Mark, Doug, Gord, and the kids from Cliffside PS for making it such an enjoyable and successful day.

Tomorrow will be hot and humid with wind blowing from the southwest.  Osprey and Peregrines?

Saturday (at present) is looking perfect for a decent movement of birds.  Wind is predicted to be from the northwest at 25km/h and gusting higher.  Birds will likely be down low and in our faces!

Hope to see you out both days!

Walter

Sep 3rd - 44 Birds, 31 Sharpies!

A pleasant surprise today with the old saying 'cooler by the lakeshore' holding true.  It turned out to be not quite as hot and humid as predicted on the bluffs.  For most of the day the clouds were blowing from the north while lower down the wind was from the southwest.  Bird flight was slightly above tree level.

Today:
Osprey - 1
Northern Harrier - 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 31
Cooper's Hawk - 4
American Kestrel - 4
Merlin - 2
Total - 44

To Date:
Turkey Vulture - 0
Osprey - 36
Bald Eagle - 11
Northern Harrier - 17
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 103
Cooper's Hawk - 7
Northern Goshawk - 0
Red-shouldered Hawk - 0
Broad-winged Hawk - 81
Red-tailed Hawk - 12
Rough-legged Hawk - 0
Golden Eagle - 0
American Kestrel - 65
Merlin - 13
Peregrine Falcon - 2
Total - 347

It wasn't long after arriving this morning that I realized that the start of the Monarch migration was underway.  We tallied up 38 Monarchs that were flying westward along the bluffs.

Sheldon, Allison, Hugh, Betty, Peter, Ron, Berle, Cori, Shirley, and Don were there for much of the action today.

Walter

Sep 2nd - Sharpies!

Over the last couple of days we've had a number of Sharp-shinned Hawks flying over the park but not really going anywhere.  Today, they left just before the rain.

Today:
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 6

To Date:
Turkey Vulture - 0
Osprey - 35
Bald Eagle - 11
Northern Harrier - 15
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 72
Cooper's Hawk - 3
Northern Goshawk - 0
Red-shouldered Hawk - 0
Broad-winged Hawk - 81
Red-tailed Hawk - 12
Rough-legged Hawk - 0
Golden Eagle - 0
American Kestrel - 61
Merlin - 11
Peregrine Falcon - 2
Total - 303

Today's group were Mike P, Pat & Nancy, Hugh, Peter, Terry, Lee, and me.

Walter

Aug 30th thru Sep 1st - No Birds!

As far as I know we've not had a single bird to count this entire long weekend.  If anyone did see anything today please let me know as soon as you can, thanks.  I'll be back down at the park tomorrow morning depending on the weather.  There is a 60% chance of rain at present.

Walter

Aug 29th - What a Show!

With very little raptor movement today, the two local Red-tailed Hawks thought they'd put on a show for all to see.  They flew in to the park around eleven o'clock and we're still being seen when we left at four.  Many park goers today got amazing unexpected views as the hawks came down to the ground repeatedly searching for squirrels.  What a thrill watching them dive at high speed from across the park, talons down ready to grab a meal.  I, myself took very few photos, I just sat back and enjoyed the show.  Way better than television!

Today:
Osprey - 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1
Merlin - 1
Total - 4

To Date:
Osprey - 35
Bald Eagle - 11
Northern Harrier - 15
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 66
Cooper's Hawk - 3
Broad-winged Hawk - 81
Red-tailed Hawk - 12
American Kestrel - 61
Merlin - 11
Peregrine Falcon - 2
Total - 297

 Red-tailed Hawk (Walter)

Osprey (Patty)

The best non-raptor sighting of the day without a doubt was of a Pileated Woodpecker which flew right over our heads at tree level.

We added our 22nd butterfly species to our survey list today - a Leonard's Skipper.  Butterfly experts Bob and Karen Yukich and Barry Harrison found and photographed it.  They told me that it vanished after one shot was taken, much the same as when I found one in the park last year.  As these 'rare for Toronto' butterflies are not migrants, it is believed that there is likely a small colony of them somewhere close to the park.  I will be going through the park over the next couple of days in hopes of finding one myself.

I was in great company again today.  Norm, Ron, Carol, Dave, Peter, Patty, and new hawk-watching friend Matt all enjoyed the day, the park and the Red-tails.

Tomorrow I'll be absent from the park so if you see anything interesting, please let John know.  If I don't get sick eating chocolate-covered chicken tasty food at the EX, I'll see you Sunday.

Walter

Aug 28th - Record Broken!

As I had mentioned in yesterday's post, we normally see just over 100 birds in the month of August each year.  This year we're only 7 birds away from hitting the 300 mark - amazing!  With yesterday's large movement of raptors, it wasn't surprising that there weren't quite as many today.  Simply put, we just ran out of birds that were waiting for favourable winds.  It happens.

Today:
Bald Eagle - 2
Northern Harrier - 4
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 16
Broad-winged Hawk - 13
Red-tailed Hawk - 4
American Kestrel - 9
Merlin - 2
Total - 50

To Date:
Osprey - 33
Bald Eagle - 11
Northern Harrier - 15
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 65
Cooper's Hawk - 3
Broad-winged Hawk - 81
Red-tailed Hawk - 12
American Kestrel - 61
Merlin - 10
Peregrine Falcon - 2
Total - 293

Eagle Time (EDT):
10:55 AM - BE (adult)
12:40 PM - BE (adult)

Terry started his Monarch Monitoring program today.  He was able to catch and tag a pair of Monarch butterflies.  Hopefully some day in the spring of 2015 we'll learn that one of his butterflies completed it's journey to Mexico and back up to the southern US.

Thanks to everyone who came to the Watch today for all your help.  Couldn't do it without you.

Walter

PS - Will try to add a few pictures to the post later.

Aug 27th - Our Best 'August' Day Ever!

Wow, I didn't see that coming!  When I was walking down to the park this morning I was concerned that it might still be a little too early for the migration to begin despite the predicted good northwest wind and that we would not see many birds flying.  My mind was put at ease when we started to see a few Kestrels and Sharpies coming along.  A lot of today's flight was way up high but with so much help I think we found most of the birds.  We ended up with a grand total of 158 birds spread out over 10 species.  Throw in a few 'local' Turkey Vulture sightings and make it 11 out of 15!  Thank you everyone for all your hard work today, even with cloud cover it wasn't easy.

Today:
Osprey - 7
Bald Eagle - 2
Northern Harrier - 7
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 24
Cooper's Hawk - 2
Broad-winged Hawk - 60
Red-tailed Hawk - 8
American Kestrel - 43
Merlin - 3
Peregrine Falcon - 2
Total - 158

To Date:
Osprey - 33
Bald Eagle - 9
Northern Harrier - 11
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 49
Cooper's Hawk - 3
Broad-winged Hawk - 68
Red-tailed Hawk - 8
American Kestrel - 52
Merlin - 8
Peregrine Falcon - 2
Total - 243

Eagle Time (EDT):
12:55 PM - BE (immature)
01:10 PM - BE (immature)

We now sit at 243 birds for the month.  We need just 8 more birds to break our all-time high.  That record will likely fall tomorrow.

Broad-winged Hawk (Kris)

Hummer (Lynn)

In other birding news, we had another Common Nighthawk early in the morning flying eastward.  In the afternoon we had a Cape May Warbler and a pair of Magnolia Warblers.

Butterfly numbers were fairly slim again today but this afternoon we had our first ever for the park Red-spotted Purple as well as a Spicebush Swallowtail and a Pipevine Swallowtail.  Two more Giant Swallowtails also flew through.  Dragonflies filled the sky this afternoon!  What a sight!

Red-spotted Purple (Lynn)

 

Spicebush Swallowtail (Walter)

Pipevine Swallowtail (Walter)

Good crowd today including: Gunnar, Kris, Allison, Ron, Jean, Don, Pat & Nancy, Carol, Hugh, Bruce, Bill, Berle, Peter, Betty, and Lee.  Many thanks again!

Northwest wind continues on Thursday, hopefully there are a couple of birds left.

Walter

Aug 26th - Close to 40!

Today I'm going to heed the warning and stay mostly indoors.  The temperature is supposed to feel like 39 degrees centigrade.  So if any of you are at the park and see anything big flying westward, please let me know as soon as possible.  Thanks.

Tomorrow will be a much better day with cooler temps and northwest winds!  Hopefully we'll see a good bump in the numbers.  We're currently sitting at 85 birds 'counted' and our usual goal for the month of August is 100 birds so I think we should meet that with no problem.

See you at the park!

Walter
 

Aug 25th - 5 More!

As expected, a warm southeast wind today did not bring many raptors our way, so we sat in the shade of the big ol' Maple and chatted instead.  The highlight of the day was watching our two local Red-tailed Hawks put on a wonderful hour-long show as only they can do.  They seemed to be very interested in something on the west side of the park, possibly a rabbit as one was seen headed in that general area earlier in the day.

Today:
Northern Harrier - 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 3
American Kestrel - 1
Total - 5

To Date:
Osprey - 26
Bald Eagle - 7
Northern Harrier - 4
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 25
Cooper's Hawk - 1
Broad-winged Hawk - 8
American Kestrel - 9
Merlin - 5
Total - 85

These are a few shots that I managed to get...

As some of you are aware, one of the two 'locals' has a silver band on it's left leg.  The bird has been in the area for a couple of months.  I was interested in knowing more about this bird and as Lee had mentioned to me in a text message, Ann would have the answer as to where it was banded - at the Tommy Thompson Park Bird Research Station two years ago by Amanda Guercio.  Thankyou!

Cedar Waxwings were the only songbird of note this morning.  They continue to move back and forth across the sky in small groups.

As for butterflies, the park was fairly quiet today although I did see 2 more Giant Swallowtails very early in the morning.

I thank Betty, Ron, Pat & Nancy, Peter, Hugh and Manny as well as a few others for all the camaraderie today.

Walter

Aug 24th - The Sharpies Are Coming!

A nicer flight today with a total of 16 birds being counted.

Today:
Osprey - 1
Bald Eagle - 2
Northern Harrier - 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 9
American Kestrel - 2
Total - 16

To Date:
Osprey - 26
Bald Eagle - 7
Northern Harrier - 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 22
Cooper's Hawk - 1
Broad-winged Hawk - 8
American Kestrel - 8
Merlin - 5
Total - 80

Eagle Time (EDT):
10:29 AM - BE (immature) x2

Lots of 'peeps' today including: Alan & Lydia, Freida, Norm, Pat & Nancy, Peter, John, Betty, Hugh, Sheldon, Helena, and Tim.  Thanks everyone!

Walter