a couple of questions from a casual observer

[henschel]

Hi

I'm not so much an enthusiast as a backyard observer but I've noticed what seems to be a change in the pattern of sightings and a few new (for me) birds. One day this year I saw two downy woodpeckers -- one in the Beach and one in Markham -- haven't seen one of those in decades, since I lived at Lawrence and Victoria Park. In Markham there have been cormorants and swallows and, I think plovers, around the little lake near the house. These are all new this year here.

Some of this change I attribute to the maniacal rate of development north of Steeles. The cardinals and blue jays have fled this chaos.

I was wondering if you real enthusiasts have recorded a significant change in sighting patterns over the last couple of years?

There is one "new" bird I've seen twice now over the past two weeks that I wondered if anyone else has noticed. It would appear to be a hawk, bigger than a red tail (seen a lot of these and lot more of these downtown and up the DVP this year) pretty uniformly dark brown. I saw it once over a cornfield at 9th and Highway 7 and then again yesterday flying over the lower DVP.

I've scanned some of the topics here looking for mentions but nothing stands out unless... it couldn't be a golden eagle could it? Has anyone else seen this bird -- and what is it, please?

Thanks so much.

[Kin Lau]

There is one "new" bird I've seen twice now over the past two weeks that I wondered if anyone else has noticed. It would appear to be a hawk, bigger than a red tail (seen a lot of these and lot more of these downtown and up the DVP this year) pretty uniformly dark brown. I saw it once over a cornfield at 9th and Highway 7 and then again yesterday flying over the lower DVP.

Probably a Turkey Vulture.

[henschel]

turkey vulture.... hmmm that would be nice -- I've never seen one of those before.

However, I took a quick at some on-line photos and almost all of them show marked lightening of the feathers on the back half of the underside of the wings.

This bird was pretty uniformly brown underneath.

[Joe]

Welcome to the forum.  If you're looking at Turkey Vultures with the naked eye, they tend to look uniformly dark unless they're pretty close.  Somewhere on this site, there is a shot of dozens of Turkey Vultures over downtown TO, and another (in Bird Photos) of a brownish Turkey Vulture.  Hope this helps.

Joe