Raptors Are Moving
Outdoor Ontario

Raptors Are Moving

Cody

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Quote from: "Bluffs Birder"
Today at the Rosetta McClain Gardens Hawk Watch we observed our 76th Osprey fly by, an amazing number so early in the migration.  A sure sign that this species is doing well.

Also today, BIGFRANK counted his 25,000th raptor (a Sharpie!) at the park since he started his Hawk Watch in 2004.  Congratulations!!!

Walter


Osprey counts are certainly better then Beamer!

Congratulations Frank! You can make it 40,000 by coming to Beamer every day next year :D
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Cody »


BIGFRANK

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Cody thats 25000 at our watch,since 2004,when I started it. Ive seen far more then that over the past 10 years of birding. We should see another 5000 or so this fall before its all done.  Today it was 135raptors including 9 more Osprey and 10 Merlin. Tomorrow should be excellent too!
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by BIGFRANK »


Bluffs Birder

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And by the end of today's Watch, our 129th Osprey of the fall migration!!!

An amazing day today with 654 raptors counted.

Osprey - 53
Bald Eagle - 4
Northern Harrier - 30
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 351
Cooper's Hawk - 2
Broad-winged Hawk - 1
Red-tailed Hawk - 2
American Kestrel - 203
Merlin - 6
Peregrine Falcon - 2

Walter
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Bluffs Birder »


Cody

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Quote from: "Bluffs Birder"
Osprey - 53
Northern Harrier - 30
American Kestrel - 203
Merlin - 6


Walter


203 Kestrel's, 30 Harriers and 53 Ospreys!! Wow!
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Cody »


Leslie

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Way to go, BIGFRANK, Congradulations indeed!
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Leslie »


BIGFRANK

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We saw 18 Bald Eagles..most were high and somewhat to the north of the park. Jeans scope was a big help. We had 318 raptors in total. Amazing day..our previous high for Bald Eagles was 10. Next Tuesday shows promise for a big day. We'll see how many times the winds change b4 then.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by BIGFRANK »


egret

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Thanks Frank
for your blog
and postings here


Egret :)
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by egret »
Egret


BIGFRANK

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Optimal conditions are predicted for Thursday and Friday right now. If predicted conditions come to pass they could be very big days at all southern Ontario raptor watches. Get to your favorite one! Dress warm if the 25kmh NW winds come,no matter the air temps it will feel colder! Good luck everyone! A reminder that historically Thanksgiving weekend is peak for Turkey Vulture migration.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by BIGFRANK »


Cody

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I haven't been keeping track of Hawkcliff on a daily basics this year,  but based on their total number of raptors seen (128 063),  is this due to a heavy Broad-wing migration?
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Cody »


Bluffs Birder

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Hawk Cliff has observed over 99,000 Broad-winged Hawks this year which does make up the majority of their count but other birds are being seen in good numbers there as well.  We at BIGFRANK's Rosetta McClain Gardens Hawk Watch are having a terrific year so far with site count records being broken one after the other although Broad-wingeds do not make a dent in our count, we just don't see very many.

Walter
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Bluffs Birder »


BIGFRANK

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Migration of raptors is winding down,but they are still going. Watch the skies on strong North element winds as there are still more Redtailed Hawks to come(the predominant migrant now). Roughlegged Hawks are moving,so are Golden Eagles. Thus far we have seen 26 Roughlegs and 11 Golden Eagles. Tuesday looks reasonably promising. They dont get moving until around noon.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by BIGFRANK »


BIGFRANK

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A reminder that Beamer Memorial Park,Raptor Watch in Grimsby starts up soon(if it didnt start midmonth). Early days in Feb are very slow but one more sign spring is springing.
Ive also seen several posts of Northern Saw-whets in areas they havent been seen in so far this winter,likely they are moving north now. If you notice the local highway Redtails they are sitting side by side or in the same tree,pairing up. Local Peregrine Falcons around Toronto and the GTA are all on territory and begin courtship behaviors this time of year.(city Peregrines stay all year as no shortage of pigeons).
Anyone wanting to go to Beamer,check for peak migration times before going. I dont get there often so will check peaks and post soon. In the spring raptors fly ahead of storms,as opposed to fall when they follow them. In spring there is an urgency to get north and find a territory and a mate so they migrate ahead of storms rather then wait them out. Please note Rosetta McClain Gardens is NOT a good migratory path for raptors in the spring. A really good day in April,if there all day U might see 20 birds. It IS however very good for small birds. When there are fallouts we do very well. They have recently chainsaw massacred many trees in the park and brush in some areas,so this could effect spring migration,Im interested to see,come warbler time.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by BIGFRANK »


Bluffs Birder

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BIGFRANK has mentioned the word 'fallout' in the above post, a word that I thought might need a bit of explaining especially for all the newbies as spring migration is quickly approaching.

Fallout is exactly what it sounds like.  When birds which normally migrate at night encounter bad weather which may include strong winds from the north, they fall out (put down as soon as possible).  Migration is then put on hold until conditions improve.  At this time the birds are generally very tired and hungry.   Come daybreak, the birds can be observed out of their element as they go in search of food to refuel their bodies.  A fallout can literally drop thousands of birds on to an area including some species that would normally not be seen there.  Trees, bushes and shrubs can be covered in birds and song will fill the air.  This is a birder’s dream come true!  This spring I suggest watching the weather forecasts and look for fog, rain, strong winds, etc. generally starting in the middle of the night and get out early that morning to see what you can find.  Your morning could be filled with some wonderful surprises.

Happy Birding!
Walter  :D
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Bluffs Birder »


Cody

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Quote from: "BIGFRANK"
A reminder that Beamer Memorial Park,Raptor Watch in Grimsby starts up soon(if it didnt start midmonth). Early days in Feb are very slow but one more sign spring is springing.
Ive also seen several posts of Northern Saw-whets in areas they havent been seen in so far this winter,likely they are moving north now. If you notice the local highway Redtails they are sitting side by side or in the same tree,pairing up. Local Peregrine Falcons around Toronto and the GTA are all on territory and begin courtship behaviors this time of year.(city Peregrines stay all year as no shortage of pigeons).
Anyone wanting to go to Beamer,check for peak migration times before going. I dont get there often so will check peaks and post soon. .


On Saturday around 1145AM a Turkey Vulture was seen along the ridge of the Niagara Escarpment at Beamer. This was the poster's message

"Today around 11:45, I watched a lone Turkey Vulture as it soared
westward
along the edge of the Niagara Escarpment at Beamer CA, Grimsby.

Frank Horvath "

Beamer's Website can be viewed here....
http://www.niagarapeninsulahawkwatch.org/
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Cody »