141 Raptors - Hawk Hill at High park

[Anonymous]

Good day Eh  

 Today I took a break from walking and took a chance on a Raptor movement at High Park and I wasn't disappointed both in Raptor sightings and the usual screwed up weather report. It was a beautiful day to be out and especially at a Raptor viewing area, right Big Frank ?   :wink:

 We had, and these are unofficial totals as far as the raptors go, these are my sightings. 79 Sharp-shinned Hawks, 14 A. Kestrels, 5 N. Harriers, 12 Broad-winged Hawks, 21 Red-tailed Hawks, 4 Cooper's Hawks, 4 Ospreys, 1 Peregrine Falcon and 1 juvenile Bald Eagle.

 Other birds observed were 62 Cedar Waxwings, 11 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds darting west, 17 B-H Cowbirds flying west, 33 Common Nighthawks flying west, 29 Chimney Swifts flying west, and on, over and around Hawk Hill, Common Loon, Barn and Tree Swallows, Northern Shoveler, Great Blue Heron, Nashville and Palm Warblers, Chipping Sparrows, Indigo Bunting, Northern Flickers and 74 Canada Geese high overhead flying south.

[christie]

are you using a scope to see these great sightings or can binoculars work? thanks in advance

[Anonymous]

are you using a scope to see these great sightings or can binoculars work? thanks in advance

All you need is binoculars and to listen to those around you as they and you spot the Raptors, etc overhead. If you are experianced in the use of a scope to locate and identify overhead birds thats good but not necessary.

[christie]

Thanks, I will have to check it out.

[Julie]

Further to Norm's report-- about a week ago we were at the Park. We birded the small pond in the south east corner first, looking for warblers-- and instead saw a peaceful Great Egret fishing away, a couple of great blue herons, and then an unsuccessful Cooper's hawk attack on a terrified green heron. (I assume it was a Cooper's-- right size, possibly a juvie?). Actually it took two runs at it before retiring to a willow and continuing to terrify the heron while ducks paddled around nonchalantly nearby.

Wow, we said. Not something you see often. We headed up to the zoo, admired the buffalo in their pathetic wee pen, tried to find a family of cardinals chipping away in the bush, and then turned around just in time for my partner to be almost whacked in the head by a sharp shinned hawk in pursuit of a house sparrow. The sparrow dived down to the ground and the hawk stooped over it, pressed it against the curb with its wings, and then lifted off with the sparrow in its clutches. The whole thing took about five seconds and the surrounding bush got very, very quiet.

Julie

[Ron Luft]

If anyone still hasn't seen the Heron collection it remains intact as of this past weekend. G.Egret, Blk. Cr. night(several)/Gr. Blue(3) and the Green still surviving. Several young Woodducks still around.