On Nov.6 the overcast skies did not allow us to hone in on the details of a "mystery swallow". Today's morning sun gave Jim Fairchild, Karl Jennewein, Dan Kaczynski and I superb opportunities to view the bird as it flew many times around the wetland; indeed it sat three times on the tops of cattails not far away, enabling us to see with scopes the following features-- pale orange rump, pale orange throat, the colour extending around the neck, black cap AND dark forehead-- unmistakenly a CAVE SWALLOW-- many people were called, many arrived to see it (I do not know whether anyone saw him after 2PM).
While viewing the migrating hawks Dennis Barry called out a possible SHORT-EARED OWL coming westward from the willow barrier beach-- sure enough the bird flew low over us twice. As if that was not enough--after 1PM 2 Peregrines equipped with antennae came across on the same flight path-- might one of them be the "Richmond Hill" falcon? Finally--the raptor watch itself-- over 6 hours of cold westerly winds we managed to count 80 migrants--incl. 45 Red-tailed, 3 Rough-legged, 1 Kestrel, 4 Peregrine, 1 Merlin, 4 Sharp-shinned and 2 NORTHERN GOSHAWKS. Yesterday's juvenile BALD EAGLE made a fly-around several times. Cranberry Marsh is at the south end of Hall's Rd., accessed from Victoria St. in southwest Whitby,ON Doug Lockrey, coordinator CMRW "Doug Lockrey" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm for information on leaving and joining the list. As well as general information and content guidelines.
