Cranberry Marsh Hawkwatch - 22 October 2013 Weather: Platform was sheltered from brisk west wind, cool temperatures all day. Clear skies at first, then a balance of cloud and blue sky for the rest of the day.
Observation time: 6.5 hours Turkey Vulture - 138 Northern Harrier - 3 Sharp-shinned Hawk - 18 Cooper's Hawk - 2 Red-tailed Hawk - 20 American Kestrel 4 Merlin - 2 Unidentified Accipiter - 1 TOTAL - 188 An adult Cooper's Hawk chased a loudly protesting Belted Kingfisher then caught a Red-winged Blackbird from the marsh and flew west with its prey. A Merlin chased birds, but wasn't successful and headed west. Other Birds: RUSTY BLACKBIRDS stole the show with 75 on the path early morning. There was a steady stream of Rusties migrating west all day for a total of about 250, with many perching in great light in the trees.48 species. 14 species of waterfowl included 110 Gadwalls, 100 American Wigeons, 10 American Black Ducks, 26 Blue-winged Teal, 24 Northern Shovelers, 50 Northern Pintails, 100 Green-winged Teal, 1 Ring-necked Duck, 1 Ruddy Duck, 28 Hooded Mergansers, 4 Buffleheads, 27 Hooded Mergansers, 5 Common Mergansers. 6 Wild Turkeys on Halls Road, 1 Pied-billed Grebe, 12 Great Egrets, 4 Black-crowned Night-Herons, 6 American Coots, 3 Greater and 1 Lesser Yellowlegs, 1 Pectoral Sandpiper, 1 Wilson's Snipe, 2 Belted Kingfishers, 4 Common Ravens, 1 Gray Catbird, 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler. Official Counter: Jean Iron Observers: Many thanks to everyone who helped spot the birds. Rick LaForest, Scott Martin, Eleanor Beagan, Rosemary Harris, Falmai Page, Charlie Adey, Doug Lockrey, Jim Skene, Ross Lamb, Reid and Margaret Wilson, Jackie McBlain, Lynn Pady. OFO Hawkwatching Guide (ID tips, migration times, hawk basics) http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/articles.hawkwatching Directions: From Victoria Street in Whitby go south on Halls Road to the second short walkway going east to the Cranberry Marsh Lookout. 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 including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup
