Report for Wednesday 5 October 2011: Eight species of diurnal raptors totaling 520 individuals were seen Tuesday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on very light to moderate north winds.
Turkey Vulture: 447 Osprey: 2 Bald Eagle: 1 subadult at 10:45 a.m. Northern Harrier: 4 Sharp-shinned Hawk: 28 Cooper's Hawk: 2 Red-tailed Hawk: 30 American Kestrel: 2 Unidentified Raptor: 4 Total species: 8 Total individuals: 520 Other birds: 53 species including a pair of Trumpeter Swans with 5 juveniles, 2 Common Gallinules, 1 American Coot, 2 Wilson's Snipes, 2 Eastern Phoebes, singing Blue-headed Vireo, Rusty Blackbirds, several flocks of Pine Siskins totaling about 160 flying east, Blue Jays and blackbirds moving in good numbers. Counter: Jean Iron Observers: I thank Jerry Ball, Eleanor Beagan, Rosemary Harris and Al Woods for their valuable help. Directions Cranberry: Exit Highway 401 at Brock St. in Whitby (not Brock Rd in Pickering), go south on Brock to Victoria St. Go west on Victoria to Halls Road. Go south on Halls Road to the second short walkway going east to the Cranberry Marsh Lookout. Hawkwatching guide with migration times for each species. Print a copy. www.ofo.ca/reportsandarticles/hawkwatching.php After hawkwatching I went to Frenchman's Bay in Pickering: 2 juvenile Hudsonian Godwits, 5 juvenile White-rumped Sandpipers, two beginning molt to winter plumage, 5 juvenile Semipalmated Sandpipers, 2 juvenile Lesser Yellowlegs, 1 juvenile Spotted Sandpiper, 6 Killdeer. Directions: exit 401 at Whites Rd and go south to Bayly. Then east about 1.5 km to Gingerbread nursery school on south side. Park at southeast corner where a short trail leads to cattails and mudflats. Rubber boots are essential. Jean Iron Toronto, Ontario _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
