Cranberry Marsh Hawk Watch Whitby, Ontario Tuesday 7 October 2014 Species: Turkey Vulture 34 Bald Eagle 1 juvenile Sharp-shinned Hawk 7 Red-tailed Hawk 2 Merlin 1 Peregrine Falcon 2
Total Species: 6 Total Individuals: 47 Observation time: 6 hours Official Counter: Jean Iron Observers: Many thanks to Eleanor Beagan and Charlie Adey, and others who dropped by during the day. Weather: A downpour, winds, thunder and lightning interrupted the watch for an hour in the morning then clearing for a beautiful day with light to moderate winds out of the south/southwest. Other birds: 52 species: 18 species of ducks, geese and swans, including 233 American Wigeon, 106 Northern Pintails, 115 Gadwalls, 61 American Black Ducks; 9 Wood Ducks, 75 Green-winged Teal, 9 Great Egrets; 16 American Coots, 6 Pied-billed Grebes; 6 Pectoral Sandpipers, 1 Dunlin; 21 Wild Turkeys (on Halls Road); 21 Rusty Blackbirds; 13 Purple Finches. Even if the winds don't favour a good hawk flight, Cranberry is an excellent spot for waterfowl, sparrows and Rusty Blackbirds, which allow close views on the path. Mute Swans: Many visitors ask about the Mute Swan families because of the interesting white and grey morphs of the juvenile swans. Please see http://www.jeaniron.ca/2014/mutemorphs.htm Monarch Migration: 156 counted migrating west along Lake Ontario. Directions: Exit from the 401 at Brock St. in Whitby. Go south on Brock St. to Victoria St. Go west on Victoria St. to Halls Road. Go south on Halls Rd to the 2nd walkway to Cranberry Marsh. The data will be submitted to HMANA and eBird. OFO Fall Hawkwatching Guide http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/articles.hawkwatching Jean Iron Toronto ON _______________________________________________ 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 Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide
