Rosetta McClain Gardens Raptors

[BIGFRANK]

Note..I wont post totals here on a daily basis,but will use the blog that Ive set up for my migrating raptor count at http://raptorwatch.blogspot.com  If there is a very high count,or something remarkable seen I will post here.


Up to this point,August had been extra slow,a combination of poor weather conditions coupled with my own lack of attendance. I refuse to poke even my nose from the house on days the humidex is very high! I had counted 58 birds of prey this month b4 today. Today was the best August count in the 4 years of the count..a final tally of 59 birds of prey.  The day began with very grey dark skies,which momentarily gave way to some nice blue sky with white puffy clouds followed by the bright blue sky for the remainder of the day. We had some close up birds,but many were medium high today. Colin,Eleanor,Ron,Leon and Tim joined me today...thanks everyone for your contributions to a great count and comraderie. Our count consisted of:
Osprey.............5
Bald Eagle.........3(2 full adults and one juvenile)
Northern Harrier.4
Sharpie...........14
Coopers...........4
Broadwing........4
Redtail.............7
Kestrel...........15
Merlin..............1
Peregrine.........2  
 
I expect a good day tomorrow as well,despite a very blue sky that will make spotting a challenge. This brings the August total to 117,which is about average for August.

Rosetta McClain Gardens is at Kingston Rd and Glen Everest Rd in Scarborough,one stoplight east of Birchmount Rd and Kingston Rd.

[BIGFRANK]

Saturday at Rosetta McClain Gardens,thanks to a number of helpers including Rob,Bruce,Andrew and Charlie,a total of 755 raptors were counted.  Very close Bald Eagles(2) and 2 juvenile Peregrine Falcons were real thrills. The predominant bird was the Sharpshinned Hawk. Several Broadwinged Hawks were quit low over the park,providing terrific  views.

Id promised Rob a low Bald Eagle and we vigilantly kept our eyes low along the lakeshore. Around 940am,Rob hollered that something big was flying low along the bluffs.It was so low and close,we lost sight of it in tight to the bluffs. It emerged giving us an amazing view of a juvenile(nest year) Bald Eagle. Rob,Bruce and myself shall not forget that one for awhile. Later another juvenile Bald Eagle passed by very close again as more of us were gathered to watch,providing more thrills. Some very low Broadwinged Hawks provided excellent views and Sharpshinned Hawks were appearing everywhere.By the end of the day,last seasons record one day count of 559 was shattered,with 755 raptors being recorded. This great total consisted of


6-Turkey Vultures


5-Osprey


5-Bald Eagles


54-Northern Harriers


569-Sharpshinned Hawks


4-Coopers Hawks


61-Broadwinged Hawks


9-Redtailed Hawks


39-American Kestrels


1-Merlin


2-Peregrines

[norman]

I went down to The Spit this evening, really just to get away from the noise, but brought the binoculars (natch) just to have a quick look. I was sitting near the lighthouse (east side) around 6:30, thinking about something entirely different, when a peregrine blew by due north at near-eye-level. It had the wind behind it, but I've never seen anything in feathers move that fast.

I wonder if the gadwalls, blacks and mallards in the embayments enjoyed it as much as I did.

[BIGFRANK]

Hi gang,today as expected was a terrific day. Only once did it rain,all other threatening clouds blew over. Winds were favorable all day long. Jean,Ron,Mary,Carol,Berle and I as well as several passersby,enjoyed 317 birds of prey.From 8-9am I had seen 30 raptors already,predominantly Kestrels,which continued all day. The number of Northern Harriers was also impressive,as we saw 65..very many very close views. Turkey Vultures have begun their migration,we saw 21. In all we saw 11 species. Our total was made up of:

21-Turkey Vultures

7-Ospreys

2-Bald Eagles(1pm and 1:20pm)

65-Northern Harriers

74-Sharpshinned Hawks

1-Coopers Hawk(plus the local)

21-Broadwinged Hawks

18-Redtailed Hawks

105-American Kestrels

2-Merlins

4-Peregrine Falcons



A great day enjoyed by all. Very few of the birds were seen at long distance,most were very close up. Tomorrow looks good for a decent flight of birds.

[BIGFRANK]

As at the last day of September:
46-Turkey Vultures
82-Osprey
19-Bald Eagles
269-Northern Harriers
1798-Shapshinned Hawks
34-Coopers Hawks
174-Broadwinged Hawks
86-Redtailed Hawks
374-American Kestrels
23-Merlins
26-Peregrine Falcons
2929-Year To Date Total

The YTD total is abit lower then last season,but there have been very few favorable winds to bring large numbers of raptors this fall. Great for the general populace,not so great if U want to see raptors migrate through Toronto. The low Broadwinged Hawk total is typical of Rosetta McClain Gardens Raptor Watch,the BWs just dont seem to come right down to the lake. Fortunately the ones that did were often very low,some barely scraping the treetops. Bring on October.

[BIGFRANK]

We arrived at the park at 10am with our friends Laura and Harvey  and were shocked that no one was by the fence. We're glad that it was just the humidity that kept you away and that you are OK otherwise.  Everyone who stopped or walked by asked where you were.  We thought you were enjoying turkey time with your family.
 
Because no one was there, I was concerned that maybe I picked a bad day.  Then, Lorne showed up and told me that he had been seeing lots of Sharpies in the last half hour.  (He said he'd call and give you his numbers from before 10am.)  We were later joined by Ron Pittaway, Mary, Vern, Beryl, and Ann (with the camera).
 
 It was a good day.  Many of the birds (Osprey and Bald Eagles) were low and gave us great views.  We were an excited bunch!  Because I had the notebook, I became the official recorder.  It's hard work!  By the end, I was almost dizzy by everyone making calls and trying to see birds myself.  I was counting from 10am to 1:30pm.  The birds slowed down after 12:30pm when it got really hot and humid.  Here are the numbers:
 - 303 Sharpies
 -     3 Cooper's Hawks
 -     1 Red-Tailed Hawk
 -     1 Merlin
 -     7 Peregrine Falcons
 -     3 Osprey
 -     4 American Kestrels
 -   39 Northern Harriers
 -    8 Turkey Vultures
 -    2 Bald Eagles
 -    3 Unknown
--------
  374 TOTAL(Lorne's pre-10am totals still to be added)

[angelicque]

whereabouts in the park did you find the bald eagles?

i may go on Saturday, but i have never visited this site before...so if you can give me a general direction to go in it would help tremendously

[Leslie Kinrys]

Rosetta McClain Gardens is at Kingston Rd and Glen Everest Rd,one stoplight east of Kingston Rd and Birchmount.

[BIGFRANK]

Hi angelicque,the birds are migrating through,along the lakeshore. Its a very small park,so just come through the main path towards the big rock fountain and U will see a group of people with binoculars looking skyward. Sometimes the birds are very close..sometimes below eye level  along the side of the bluffs. Please do join us,conditions are optimal this weekend if weather forcasts hold true. I cant guarentee we will see an Eagle but I do suspect there is a good chance for a Bald Or Golden Eagle. BIGFRANK

[RobMcKay]

Great reports Frank, thanks for the update, I am sure all appreciate it. See you there this weekend!
Rob

[BIGFRANK]

Today was another day with optimal conditions. Myself,Ron,Carol,Berle,Lee,Gunner,Rodger and Jane,as well as a small class of kids enjoyed some great raptors. We saw 13 of the 15 species normally seen in southern Ontario today. The first 3 Golden Eagles of the season and first 4 Red-shouldered Hawks(one was below us) of the season were the true excitement of the day. A few small kettles of Vultures were also enjoyed.
Todays final numbers
222-Turkey Vultures
2-Osprey
1-Bald Eagle
5-Northern Harrier
73-Sharpies
6-Coopers Hawk
4-Red-shouldered Hawk(2 very well)
3-Broadwinged Hawk
59-Redtails
3-Golden Eagles(all juvie)
4-American Kestrel
3-Merlin
1-Peregrine Falcon
386-Final Total
 
The current year to date total is 4250  which was not acheived until Oct 20th last year.All ready this season Ive seen more Osprey(94),TVs(609) and Peregrines(65) then any other season at Rosetta. The weekends weather looks good for some good movement of raptors,with Sunday looking the better of the 2 days as they are predicted.
 
Other special sightings 10 Common Loons on the lake,heard several times calling and one Shrike most likely a Northern .BIGFRANK

[BIGFRANK]

Sometime after 11am,by which time we had only 22 raptors,the squadrons of Turkey Vultures began to arrive. Within about 20minutes we saw about 150 and they just kept coming. As many of those gathered are newer raptor watchers,the volume of Turkey Vultures was very impressive,and I must say it was the biggest day for them yet at Rosetta.  We saw many kettles of Vultures,with a Redtail,Sharpie or Red-shoulder thrown in. More people left,and Les,Berle and myself were treated to a Northern Goshawk,on which I was able to point out various characteristics to Leslie,an immature Bald Eagle..ID'd properly from a photo..at the time I couldnt get any colour looking at it and mistakenly recorded it as a Golden. ,and 3 immature Golden Eagles! Times 2:15,2:20(2 came) and the Bald was basically same time. One of the eagles circled with a Redtail,first just offering a great lesson in size contrast and wing shape,and then the eagle got annoyed at the hawk and turned its tallons up and grabbed at it! Quite a thrill to see.
 
Our final total was 499 raptors,consisting of:
393-Turkey Vultures
1-Bald Eagle
3-Northern Harriers
29-Sharpshinned Hawks
7-Coopers Hawks
1-Northern Goshawk
4-Red-shouldered Hawks
54-Redtailed Hawks
3-Golden Eagles
3-American Kestrels
1-Merlin
 
The 393 Turkey Vultures is a new one day record for this site. Thanks to everyone for their contributions and commraderie,without all those extra eyes,I would have missed alot.

[Jaedon]

is this the height of the migration we're at now or is there still a chance at getting some good views in the next few weeks to come?

[GStuart]

It all depends on which raptors you are talking about.

The peak of Ospreys is long over, but Golden Eagles, Northern Goshawks and Rough-legged Hawks is just about to start (not that we ever get those ones by the hundred...).  Most southern Ontario hawk watches run until the beginning of December and, if you get a good day, there will still be plenty to see.

[BIGFRANK]

G Stuart is correct while the peak of migration is over,Northwest winds (as predicted for Tues and Wed..barring alot of rain) could bring some spectacular days still,with the potential to see hundreds of birds. Today we saw at very close range many beautiful adult Sharpshinned Hawks,a local Coopers Hawk,a Merlin,3 Peregrines,a few Northern harriers and a great look at treetop level of a Northern Goshawk. As well as the afore mentioned Roughlegs,Goshawks,and Golden Eagles,Redtailed Hawk migration is still to come in numbers. If U are inclined ..get thee to a raptor watch.  The guys at High Park have a great saying....a bad day on Hawk Hill is better then a good day at work!