Once again the weatherman was wrong and rather then rain with rain and rain we got northwest winds most of the day,with about 15min of rain after 2pm,by which time most of the 245 raptors sighted had already been seen. Thanks to many helpers,our total was able to climb,and a very enjoyable day was had. Brete and I saw a Ringbilled Gull harassing a Northern Harrier,which was barely above the lake below us. A Sharpshinned Hawk flew by the gathered birders,then went into a serious dive into an apple tree,seeming to land on a sparrow. The sparrow soon flew out,so it was a near miss by the juvenile Sharpie. Osprey and Peregrine Falcon flew by closely at eyelevel,adding more excitement. Today more than any other many birds were very high. Rodger visiting from the UK spotted a lone Turkey Vulture,passing to the north. I quickly(well quick for me!) moved into a spot I could view ahead of Rodger's TV and spotted another 21,plus 3 more that followed Rodgers original..by spotting one we picked up 25 in total. Todays total consisted of:
Turkey Vulture......................25(ytd 238)
Osprey...................................5(ytd 88 )
Northern Harrier....................27(ytd 346)
Sharpshinned Hawk..............160(ytd 1837)
Coopers Hawk.........................6(ytd 63)
Northern Goshawk....................1(ytd 6)
Broadwinged Hawk.................10(ytd 225)
Redtailed Hawk........................2(ytd 87)
American Kestrel.....................7(ytd 637)
Peregrine Falcon......................2(ytd 44)
Rosetta McClain Gardens is located in Scarborough,at Kingston Rd and Gleneverest Rd,one stop light east of Kingston Rd and Birchmount.
