Sep 7th - Not Bad For Half a Day!

As the Hawk Watch started today, the wind was still blowing from the northwest.  Unfortunately somewhere about mid-day the wind shifted to the southwest and the migration ended over Rosetta.  Not all was a loss though as early in the afternoon Phil started to see hawks flying over his backyard north of Lawrence Avenue.  He saw 3 Eagles, an Osprey and a few Sharpies!  Within 30 minutes or so, Phil jokingly declared that the 'The Dorset Park Hawk Watch' was officially open!

Today:
Osprey - 6
Bald Eagle - 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 63
Cooper's Hawk - 1
Broad-winged Hawk - 4
Red-tailed Hawk - 1
American Kestrel - 10
Merlin - 5
Total - 92

To Date:
Turkey Vulture - 0
Osprey - 61
Bald Eagle - 17
Northern Harrier - 19
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 461
Cooper's Hawk - 10
Northern Goshawk - 0
Red-shouldered Hawk - 0
Broad-winged Hawk - 91
Red-tailed Hawk - 14
Rough-legged Hawk - 0
Golden Eagle - 0
American Kestrel - 114
Merlin - 31
Peregrine Falcon - 2
Total - 820

Eagle Time (EDT):
10:25 AM - BE (immature)
11:40 AM - BE (adult)

Merlin with dragonfly bits (Ann)

Another Merlin (Ann)

 Immature Bald Eagle (Mike D)

The local Cooper's Hawk really didn't care for this migrating Broad-winged Hawk (Mike D)

Early today we added a new bird to our Rosetta List.  We had a Pectoral Sandpiper fly over the park mixed in with a flock of 6 or 7 Pigeons.  Is it just me or does that seem a little weird...a shorebird in with pigeons!  This is bird species number 201 for Rosetta and also a new species for my own personal Life List.  I was the one who noticed the bird, Mike D was the one to get a few photos of it and Ron P was the one who identified it - wow, talk about teamwork!

Elsewhere in the park, many enjoyed getting photos of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds which were mainly feeding from the Black-and-blue Salvia.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Ann)

As with the hawks, the insect migration also came to a grinding stop mid-day.  Again things were looking real good up until the time the wind shifted.  We did however see roughly 200 Monarchs flying through.  The dragonflies were also in good number early on.

My thanks to: Lorne, Ron, Mike D, Phil, Leon, Betty, Mike P, Ann, Trudy, John, Mark, Terry 1, Carol, Norm & Honey, Dave & Mary Beth, and today we welcomed Paul P, Derryn and Donna to the group.  What a wonderful time!

Upon my arrival back home, I found our local Red-tailed Hawk (the one with the leg-band) sitting in the top of a neighbour's tree and being harassed by 6 American Crows.

 

Walter