When I sat down on Hawk Hill this morning a single Broadwinged Hawk flew low
right over my head. The weather was right for broadwings, with Northwest winds
and rising barometric pressure, although it was a few days early in the
Broadwing seasonand there was a bit too much cloud cover. As a result, by the
time the afternoon rolled around, there was a dozen of Toronto's finest birders
(most but by no means all from the Toronto Ornithological Club) along with a
bunch of extremely welcome newcomers anxiously awaiting the arrival of the
hawks. Trouble is, the Broadies weren't buying it. A few other species came
through so Ok I'll read you the day's take if you like just so I can stay on
this reportsite because I think its the best one.
1 Osprey
2 Bald Eagles
3 Northern Harriers
46 Sharpshins
3 Coopers
5 Redtails
2 American Kestrels
2 Unidentified
and
1 Broadwinged Hawk
If you didn't know, you may have guessed. The weather report pretty much
dictates what you will find at Hawk Hill. The fact that so many of Toronto's
best birders called in sick, skipped school, cancelled their golf game, put the
chicken back in the freezer - whatever, just tells you that something worth
seeing was supposed to happen. And they all showed up today between 11 am and 3
pm.
What they came for in case you don't know, is the annual migration of the
Broadwinged Hawks. They are the only species which fly south together in flocks
of hundreds, sometimes thousands.
The annual event is predictable, and truly one of nature's most incredible
spectacles. Ok, that river in Africa where the crocodiles eat all the
Wildebeest is pretty cool but it can leave you with some pretty horrific
memories not including the bills. And watching the caribou trying to find a way
around the pipelines is a great sport for now but its heavy going.
But this is happening right in your own back yard. Free parking, cheap
breakfast and, need I add, great company. Bring your binoculars plus a lawn
chair and join us any day from now until the 3rd week in September to see the
Broadwings particularly when the skies are partly cloudy, the wind is from the
Northwest especially, but North and/or West is not bad. East and South winds
rarely bring many birds. Hopefully my next report will have less chatter and
more sightings as I hope I will be too busy recording to think.
The other species on the list above will increase in numbers as the migration
season wears on and there will be some new additions but they don't make the
spectacle that Broadwings do. I will endeavour to report sightings from good
days right through November but it would be much better if you were there.
Hawk Hill is a famous hawkwatching spot in the fall. It is located adjacent to
the North side of the parking lot of the Grenadier Restaurant in High Park. If
you drive, be advised that the North entrance to High Park, off Bloor Street is
temporarily closed. You have to go around to Parkside Drive and in the East
entrance. The subway drops you off at High Park station. Walk due South from
there, through the park until you get to the Grenadier Restaurant.
Good Luck Birding
Tim Mccarthy
and the Toronto Ornithological Club
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