Haze, light winds and warmth were not conducive to significant raptor migration along the lakefront for the past week, up to & incl. Oct.12 at the Cranberry Marsh Raptor Watch.
The Cranberry Marsh Raptor Watch in southwest Whitby, ON, has been in operation since 1990. This year we started up on Aug.21; we try to cover the platform every day through to Nov.30, particularly in the AM hours. 2 SNOW GEESE have been seen flying with the many Canadas most mornings. Today/Oct.12 a TOWHEE and a WINTER WREN were noted near the platform. On the lakefront were all 3 Merghanser species, Common Loons and many Cormorants, one of which was somewhat albino. The table below indicates the number of migrating raptors recorded for the period of OCT.5 to OCT.12, and in BRACKETS is the TOTAL SINCE AUG.21. > TURKEY VULTURE 215 (758) > OSPREY 2 (120) > BALD EAGLE 8 (27) > NORTHERN HARRIER 33 (146) > SHARP-SHINNED HAWK 547(1609) > COOPER'S HAWK 13(54) > NORTHERN GOSHAWK 0 (3) > BROAD-WINGED HAWK 18 (18) > RED-SHOULDERED HAWK 3 (9) > RED-TAILED HAWK 19 (113) > ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK 0 (0) > GOLDEN EAGLE 0 (0) > AMERICAN KESTREL 84 (528) > MERLIN 8 (43) > PEREGRINE FALCON 3 (27) > UNIDENTIFIED RAPTORS 11 (179) > TOTAL 990 (3891) Directions: From Toronto--east on the 401 into Ajax, exiting south on Harwood, down to Bayly, left (east) along Bayly a few km., through Lakeridge Rd., whereupon Bayly becomes Victoria St. in Whitby--- 1 block east of Lakeridge turn south down Hall's Rd.; park in the second roadside parking area, just north of the lakefront; walk east down the path to the platform. Doug Lockrey, coordinator CMRW "Doug Lockrey" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm for information on leaving and joining the list. As well as general information and content guidelines.
