September 24th - Monarchs Filled The Sky

Today most birds were fairly high up and difficult to find through all the Monarchs but we did also have some nice low passes as well. Another four more Osprey today, the first one almost got by us but sharp-eyed Nancy spotted it in the gap circling over the field at Birchmount Collegiate.

Today:
Osprey - 4
Northern Harrier - 5
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 58
Cooper's Hawk - 1
Red-tailed Hawk - 1
American Kestrel - 6
Merlin - 1
Peregrine Falcon - 1
Total - 77

To Date:
Turkey Vulture - 69
Osprey - 68
Bald Eagle - 27
Northern Harrier - 75
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 982
Cooper's Hawk - 20
Northern Goshawk - 2
Broad-winged Hawk - 742
Red-tailed Hawk - 12
American Kestrel - 259
Merlin - 48
Peregrine Falcon - 8
Total - 2312

Sharp-shinned Hawks

Osprey

Northern Harrier and a Sharpie.

Monarch migration was in full swing today with numbers well in to the hundreds per hour. In Whitby at the Cranberry Marsh Raptor Watch, they reported seeing 800 - 1000 per hour, I would say that those numbers were fairly accurate for our site too. In the morning we could see the butterflies flying at all heights of the sky and then later on they were down low and right in our faces.

A very still Lake Ontario.

Our crowd today included: Mike 3, Pat, Nancy, Norm, Sam, Ann, Theresa, Ron, Lee, Betty, and we welcomed newbie Leslie 2.

Walter

September 23rd - Before The Rain Came

Going by what everyone told us, there were 17 Turkey Vultures up in the air before we even arrived this morning. Apparently they put on quite the show along the bluffs dipping and diving in the wind. I feel enough people told us about them so I'm counting them. Hey, we're not an 'Official' Count Site anyway, we can write down anything we want! - LOL!! The birds that we did manage to see we only had a second or two to ID them as the strong east wind pushed them along. By lunchtime the rain had moved in and we all scattered.

Today:
Turkey Vulture - 17
Osprey - 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 11
American Kestrel - 7
Total - 36

To Date:
Turkey Vulture - 69
Osprey - 64
Bald Eagle - 27
Northern Harrier - 70
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 924
Cooper's Hawk - 19
Northern Goshawk - 2
Broad-winged Hawk - 742
Red-tailed Hawk - 11
American Kestrel - 253
Merlin - 47
Peregrine Falcon - 7
Total - 2235

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Today we heard and then saw our first fall sparrow species, White-throated Sparrow.

Some of today's watchers were: Theresa, Terry 2, Carol, Ann, Doug, Marg, Rodger, Jane, and Frank 2.

Walter

September 22nd - Another Gorgeous Day!

Thankyou to everyone who participated in today's count. What a gorgeous day to be at the park! I wished that I could've joined you.

Today:
Turkey Vulture - 7
Osprey - 3
Northern Harrier - 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 50
Cooper's Hawk - 4
Red-tailed Hawk - 1
American Kestrel - 14
Merlin - 1
Total - 81

To Date:
Turkey Vulture - 52
Osprey - 63
Bald Eagle - 27
Northern Harrier - 70
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 913
Cooper's Hawk - 19
Northern Goshawk - 2
Broad-winged Hawk - 742
Red-tailed Hawk - 11
American Kestrel - 246
Merlin - 47
Peregrine Falcon - 7
Total - 2199

Osprey

Merlin

Merlin

Sharp-shinned Hawk

During the morning more than 5000 Blue Jays flew by.

Monarchs were also on the move.

Today's group included: Bruce, BIGFRANK, Berle, Carol, Ann, Cori, Bill, Ron, Betty, Norm, Bruce 2, Sue, and Terry 2.

Walter

September 21st - Silhouette Day!

With today's fog and overcast skies, it was a real challenge trying to ID some of the birds. A few of the Sharpies magically morphed in to Kestrel as they flew overhead. Many of today's birds flew above us or just out over the bluffs and many were gliding a little further as well indicating that they were flying on air rising up from the bluffs. This happens with any winds from the south or southwest.

Just when I think it's over:
As I finished packing everything up and was ready to leave I looked up one more time only to see a Sharp-shin fly through, then a Kestrel...so back to the fence I went. Within a minute of standing there an Osprey appeared over the trees, then another Sharp-shin. That was the last bird I saw before the rain moved in.

Today:
Turkey Vulture - 1
Osprey - 2
Northern Harrier - 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 54
American Kestrel - 11
Merlin - 3
Total - 73

To Date:
Turkey Vulture - 45
Osprey - 60
Bald Eagle - 27
Northern Harrier - 69
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 863
Cooper's Hawk - 15
Northern Goshawk - 2
Broad-winged Hawk - 742
Red-tailed Hawk - 10
American Kestrel - 232
Merlin - 46
Peregrine Falcon - 7
Total - 2118

American Kestrel

Our watchers and visitors today included: Ann, Theresa, Carol, Rodger, Jane, Betty, Terry 2, and Murray.

Tomorrow (Thursday) I will more than likely not be at the park at all so if you go and you do see any raptors, please let me know as soon as you can.

Walter

Septermber 20th - A Much Better Day

Some amazing views of the birds today as they flew by. Our 2 local Red-tails decided to join us and sat in the trees on the west side of the park for a few minutes providing excellent views, especially for Maretha who was visiting us all the way from South Africa.

Today:
Turkey Vulture - 13
Bald Eagle - 1 (juvenile 12:15)
Northern Harrier - 6
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 45
Cooper's Hawk - 1
Red-tailed Hawk - 1
American Kestrel - 8
Merlin - 2
Total - 77

To Date:
Turkey Vulture - 44
Osprey - 58
Bald Eagle - 27
Northern Harrier - 67
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 809
Cooper's Hawk - 15
Northern Goshawk - 2
Broad-winged Hawk - 742
Red-tailed Hawk - 10
American Kestrel - 221
Merlin - 43
Peregrine Falcon - 7
Total - 2045

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Turkey Vulture

Our local Red-tailed Hawks

Maretha and I talking about African raptors.

Our unknown gull from last Sunday afternoon was nothing more than a Ring-billed Gull that had some sort of staining on it's breast. Probably something that it sat down in like motor oil in a parking lot.

Lots of people on hand today including: Dave, Peter, Ann, Bob, Betty, Terry 2, Berle, Carol, Theresa, BIGFRANK, Bruce, Effi, 'Bobobird', and Maretha.

Walter

September 19th - A Short Day Today

Not too much happening today with southeast wind blowing in the morning and rain during the afternoon. Our biggest excitement came while we were watching a local Red-tailed Hawk dive out of the sky from the east side of the park and attempt to remove a squirrel off the trunk of the big maple tree just behind us. With wings up and talons down, it came through the 'gap' and right along the top of the bluffs passing by us at near full speed less than 5 feet away. Luckily for the squirrel the hawk pulled out at the last moment. It's never a dull day at the Raptor Watch!

Today:
Turkey Vulture - 4
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 3
Peregrine Falcon - 2
Total - 9

To Date:
Turkey Vulture - 31
Osprey - 58
Bald Eagle - 26
Northern Harrier - 61
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 764
Cooper's Hawk - 14
Northern Goshawk - 2
Broad-winged Hawk - 742
Red-tailed Hawk - 9
American Kestrel - 213
Merlin - 41
Peregrine Falcon - 7
Total - 1968

Blue Jays were migrating through in better numbers today.

Today's gang was: Lee, Pat, Nancy, Terry 2, BIGFRANK, Carol, Rodger, Jane, Betty, and we welcomed Brenda to our Watch.

Walter

September 18th - Only 9 Birds Today

Today we had a bunch of great friends on hand to watch the raptors fly by but unfortunately the birds didn't really care. The bird of the day was a juvenile Bald Eagle that almost got by us down low on the lake. A big thanks to Bruce for spotting it! The falcon that was in question today turned out to be a Merlin and not a Peregrine as I had originally thought. Thanks everyone for your input and Effi for the photo!

Today:
Bald Eagle - 1 (juvenile 9:50)
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 3
Merlin - 4
Peregrine Falcon - 1
Total - 9

To Date:
Turkey Vulture - 27
Osprey - 58
Bald Eagle - 26
Northern Harrier - 61
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 761
Cooper's Hawk - 14
Northern Goshawk - 2
Broad-winged Hawk - 742
Red-tailed Hawk - 9
American Kestrel - 213
Merlin - 41
Peregrine Falcon - 5
Total - 1959

Not much in the way of non-raptor species flying today, the highlight was an unusual looking gull that flew over us several times. Photos of it have been sent to our 'Gull Experts' for identification purposes. A Black Swallowtail butterfly was seen along the top edge of the bluffs.

Today we had several watchers at the ready including: Bruce, Mike 2, Norm, Lee, Mike, Leslie, Harvey, Laura, Theresa, Effi, and Peter.

Walter