Lots of hawks in the 905 region

[fill23ca]

I know most of you know there has been an influx of hawks in the 905 area this winter.  I live in Barrie and work in Thornhill and have been taking notes on how many I see along highway 7 and the 400 into Barrie the past two weeks when I commute.  I have seen at least one hawk every day.  Most days are around 3-5 and the most was 7 hawks on the 16th of this month.  All these birds are along the highways and were in trees, not flying, so I'm sure the numbers that I didn't see are even more.  There is a pole along the 400 and 7 junction that I've seen  the same (probably) hawk eight times in the past two weeks.   Also seen redtailed hawk in the field just west of the Bass Pro store at Rutherford and 400 a few (3-4) times in the past month.
Cheers

[BIGFRANK]

There must be tons of rodents along the highways.A  fellow raptor addict and I often do a mid-winter "Raptor Safari" along the 400series highways and sideroads between Toronto and Lake Erie and back to get a "winter fix".  Our best roadside count was in excess of 400 birds of prey including Harriers,Kestrels,Redtails,Roughlegs,Coopers,Peregrines and Bald Eagles.  At this stage we are now counting down the days till the spring Raptor Watch at Beamer Memorial Park in Grimsby.

[Anonymous]

Working with a client out in Pickering this week, I went for a drive East along Bayly just south of the 401 and saw 6 RTH's on my lunch break.  I'm going to take the camera tomorrow to see if I can get some pictures for everyone.

Attila

Late Edit ->  Was just out doing some driving and managed to get a picture of a RTH on a signal light for the trains.  Also observed 4 other birds sailing over the 401 but I couldn't stop to get a picture.  I'll post the link when I get home!  Weather is beautiful out there today!

[Anonymous]

Here's the picture - sorry about the quality, shot through my windshield...lol http://outdoorontario.net/Gallery/Attil ... ots%21/RTH

Attila