>From Tim Mccarthy via Ontbirds.ca
The wind at Hawk Hill today was enough to blow your hat off followed by your
hair. But I seem to remember that its days like this one that kind of
jumpstart the Turkey Vulture migration. Now I'm going to stick with my
favourites, the Broaddies, but have to admit those rivers of big black birds
are also really something to see. In the space of 2 hours this morning we
counted 56 of them. Then I decided to do some exploring. Dundas Street, the old
Lake Iroquois shoreline, supposedly, has been on my mind for a while.
Queensway? Lakeshore Blvd? QEW? They've all received honourable mention from
raptor fans. And then there is or was the almost mythical Mrs. Macdougall's
Garden, the location where watchers of generations ago would see thousands of
Broadwings on a good day.
So I hopped in the Birdmobile and motored West, (top up) along the QEW. No
birds to be seen there but I did make a find that stirred my imagination. Right
at the SouthWest corner of QEW and Hurontario St. there was a little blue house
that just had to be Mrs. Macdougall's. Its been institutionalised somehow and
the garden, if ever there was one, has been paved over, but there it still is.
There were no Broadwings, of course, they are pretty much done for the season
but there was one Turkey Vulture hanging around overhead that seemed to say
"A-yup, that's it allright."
There's a pretty little wild park right next to it and plenty of empty space
to Hawkwatch from so guess where I'm going next September when High Park is a
bust.
I drove back along the South Queensway and Dundas Street because there are a
couple of "Nature" type stores along there that sell binoculars. For me? No,
what do I need another pair of bins for? They're for you. You've been asking me
so often where to get good binoculars and now I know and next time you drop by
the Hill, I'll have some great informtion for you.
But here's the hair-raiser. As I stepped out of the store there came 50 Turkey
Vultures all in a bunch, right over my head! You can bet I tried out a couple
of pair on them. What a coincidence or maybe not. We know that for some reason
the big guys like to travel along the Queensway.
So it looks like the move is a-wing. Get your woolies on and come out to Hawk
Hill. Or just look up now and then wherever you are and you just might see some
Turkey Vultures.
Or maybe even a stray Black Vulture. I didn't tell you last time when we talked
about lifers, but that would be a lifer for me too.
>From 10am to 2 pm we counted:
56 Turkey Vultures
6 Sharpies
1 Coopers
1 Broadwing (maybe the last one)
5 Red Tails
3 Am. Kestrel
and Yesterday- get this - we had 2 Ravens and today I'm sure I saw another one.
Cruisin' the restaurant for leftovers, maybe.
And I guess I should start doing this - Thanks to Joe, Hugh, Kalsey, Leslie and
a whole bunch of interested lookers- on, next time I'll get your names.
Tomorrow might be pretty good, kind of like today.
See you on the Hill
_______________________________________________
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
