Outdoor Ontario

Birding Reports => Toronto Reports => Topic started by: Kin Lau on February 20, 2007, 01:33:19 PM

Title: Lots of Red-Tailed Hawks
Post by: Kin Lau on February 20, 2007, 01:33:19 PM: While driving today at noon, I've noticed quite a few Red-Tails. The tall tree just east of McCowan Ave north of the 401 had 3 RTH's and there a few trees right at the south east corner of Hwy 404 & Hwy 7 btwn the onramp & offramp that had 5 RTH's in two trees, all staring intently at the ground.
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Post by: Dr. John on February 20, 2007, 06:26:04 PM: Yesterday a red tail was hanging out on one of the aerials at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre - flying around occasionally. Last week, one buzzed by me fairly closely in the parking lot here.

-John
Title: Red Tails
Post by: Napper on February 20, 2007, 07:23:03 PM: hey Kin

I saw more hawks along the 401 today than yesterday.

At downsview I spotted 4 hawks around 11:00 am
and 2 as I departed. One really likes the windsock at the South end of the field, it is there almost daily.. (Beffort Rd. Near the fire station)

Napper :lol:
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Post by: Carl-Adam on February 21, 2007, 12:15:30 AM: Hey Folk,

I have become quite familiar with at least four along the QEW on my daily commute to downtown. There are also a couple of Kestrels along the QEW to keep an eye out for. Cheers
Title: Hawks Along Highways
Post by: BIGFRANK on February 21, 2007, 07:09:14 AM: This happens every winter,a friend and I who are raptor addicts do what we call "Highway Runs" to get a fix between spring and fall migration. We cover a few areas off the highways too and sometimes finish having seen over 400raptors sometimes 5 or 6 species(mostly Redtails) This time of year we would often see pairs sitting quite closely together,part of their courtship.
A pair which friends and I will be observing for the 5th season,have begun repairing/rebuilding their nest. I visited yesterday and saw 3 repairs in 15minutes. This pair is resident year round,so get an earlier start then returning migrants.
Title: Bronte Creek Red-tailed Hawks
Post by: BC on February 21, 2007, 09:30:35 AM: There were several Red-tailed Hawks at Bronte Creek Provincial Park last Sunday morning. Almost everywhere, perching and hunting, in the fields and the creek. Also, a pair of House Finch at the Nature Centre feeder and a Sharp-shinned Hawk patrolling the valley trail.
Title: Raptors...
Post by: Anonymous on February 21, 2007, 12:30:28 PM: Every Saturday and Sunday morning I'm driving along the 401/427/409 etc highways and always see tonnes of Red Tails...

What really freaks me out is when they're taking off from a tree next to the highway and then they disappear into the grasslands below! Hard to keep my eyes on the road..lol

Attila
Title: Re: Hawks Along Highways
Post by: Kin Lau on February 21, 2007, 01:08:53 PM: Quote from: "BIGFRANK"
This time of year we would often see pairs sitting quite closely together,part of their courtship.
A pair which friends and I will be observing for the 5th season,have begun repairing/rebuilding their nest. I visited yesterday and saw 3 repairs in 15minutes. This pair is resident year round,so get an earlier start then returning migrants.

This is what I think I'm seeing.

The pair at Hwy 7 & 404 were quite close yesterday & today.

I've just never seen 5 RTH's less than 30ft away from each other.
Title: RTH Close Together
Post by: BIGFRANK on February 21, 2007, 06:08:16 PM: Hi Kin..travelling the sideroads around Cayuga/Fisherville and towards Nanticoke,we see one small woodlot behind a house where we've seen as many as 30 tree to tree lining the side of the woodlot. Another time Colin and I saw 58 Redtails rise from another small woodlot to form a kettle,joined by 2 Rough-legged Hawks(the roughies go to the top of the kettle). Definetly exciting to see so many together weather its 5 or 25.
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Post by: Kin Lau on February 21, 2007, 06:21:36 PM: Fisherville wouldn't be surprising. I wonder how the locals feel about the vole populations, which must be huge :shock: .
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Post by: Walter Sobchak on February 21, 2007, 06:27:35 PM: I counted a dozen today on my drive home on the 407, 8 Between Winston Churchill and Trafalgar. Number 8 was next to the off ramp eating some tasty samll rodent. I saw 3 White-tail deer too! I should keep my eyes open more often on the trip home. :shock:
Title: Locals and Vole Population
Post by: BIGFRANK on February 21, 2007, 11:12:39 PM: Too funny Kin,Ive wondered the same myself. There is a farmhouse/residence very near the one woodlot. I often wonder how many make their way inside? Im not afeared of a wee mousie but dont particularily want to live in a house full of them!
Title: Mob scene
Post by: Leslie Kinrys on February 25, 2007, 05:24:53 PM: We were walking in Earl Bales Park, this afternoon. (Bathurst/Sheppard area) I was disappointed, because there weren't any birds showing themselves. Then, a Red-tailed Hawk flew into a tree. Suddenly, it was a mob scene with Chickadees, Cardinals, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers all making noise near the hawk. Thank goodness for raptors to stir things up.
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Post by: Pat Hodgson on February 26, 2007, 10:28:01 AM: Though both are rodents, a meadow vole does not want to come into houses the way a house mouse does.