Cranberry Marsh Whitby, Ontario, Canada 6 hours of hard work by many helpers kept us watching the skies, not giving us much time to devote to songbirds. Indeed, 333 migrating raptors were counted (see table below).
Allow me to apologize for an inclusion of a "y-b cuckoo" in yesterday's report--we had a Black-billed only. Non-raptor Observations for Sep.8: Wilson's warbler, c. yellowthroat, magnolia warbler, r-b grosbeak, chimney swift, Am.redstart, red-eyed vireo, warbling vireo, many r-t hummingbirds, 5 Great Egrets, E.phoebe, ring-necked pheasant; COYOTE ------------------------------------------------------------------- Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 8, 2007 Species Day's Count Sep. Season ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 3 11 13 Osprey 12 60 95 Bald Eagle 5 10 12 Northern Harrier 4 14 20 Sharp-shinned Hawk 181 338 356 Cooper's Hawk 1 3 5 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 11 11 25 Red-tailed Hawk 4 7 15 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 105 122 157 Merlin 2 10 12 Peregrine Falcon 0 1 1 Unknown 5 7 13 Total: 333 594 724 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation time: 8 to 2 on Sep.8 Total observation time: 6 hours Official Counters: Doug Lockrey, Rayfield Pye Observers: Bob Shillabeer, Steve Wood, Dan Kaczynski, Jim Skene, Jody Melanson, Dave Wysotski, Jim Fairchild, Karl Jennewein, Pat Schleiffer, Don Lloyd, Don Perks, Arlene Brazeau, Carol Horner, and others. Visitors: Along with many weekend visitors we were happy to have Brett Griffin and 15 keen birders from his Peel Birding Class. Weather: Medium N winds and rising BP, along with a TUV=2.5 brought migrating raptors in along several fronts, keeping us alert. The blue sky made it a challenge, but WE MET IT. The thrill of having 5 Bald Eagles (5yr., 4yr., 2-3 yr. & 2 1-yr.) float along over our heads was accepted by all. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdshow.htm ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm
