Undr directions: when the condos are in front of you the bay will be on your RIGHT!!
--- Garth Riley <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Hi all, > > At approximately 10:50 a.m. this moring I observed a > light coloured falcon flying obove and between the > condominiums located on the west side at the mouth > of > the Humber River. It appeared to be about the size > of > a Peregrine Falcon. The upper surface of the wings > were brown and the feathers were darker towards the > outer third of the wings to the tips. The tail > appeared noticibly lighter. I lost sight of the bird > and about 20 minutes later picked it up again in the > bay on the east side of Humber Bay East. It was > harassing the pigeons and attempting to harass the > ducks. The geese and gulls were not disturbed by it > and neither were most of the ducks. While watching > it > dive bombing the waterfowl I was trying to observe > the > dark underwing coverts (as illustrated in most field > guides)in order to give me a positive I.D. > Unfortunately it spent most of it's time very low to > the water and when it did fly up the sun was > directly > behind it. Later it flew so that I could observe > that > the underwing coverts had dark streaks in them which > contrasted with the lighter primaries. I tried to > focus on the axilla region and briefly saw a darker > area (band) along the feathers where the underside > of > the wing met the body. There were dark streaks on > the > sides of the breast which reminded me of the light > breast streaking seen on Red-tailed Hawks. I never > did > see that the underwing coverts were as dark as most > field guides show. On page 120 of the first edition > (1996)of the Stokes Field Guide to Birds of Eastern > North America there is a picture of a Prairie Falcon > which very closely resembles this bird. Backlit by > the > sun it appeared larger than a Peregrine but I did > see > it almost grab a Mallard and it was smaller than the > Mallard. The facial markings were very pronounced, > especially the sideburns and the cap was uniformly > brown. It had a strong direct flight and only > occassionaly soared. > > To those who want to try for this bird I would > suggest > checking out this area mid morning and looking > around > the many cliffs (condos) on the west side of the > Humber River. I observed the bird until about noon > at > which time it stopped hunting in this area. My > apologies for not getting the word out sooner but in > my excitement I locked my cell phone,keys and camera > in my car. Fortunately my car was running so they > were > all nice and warm, unlike me. > > Good Luck, > Garth > > P.S. While trying to refind the bird one of my sons > found a pocket watch. Please contact me if you know > of > anyone who lost one at Humber Bay East. > > Humber Bay East is located south of Lake Shore Blvd. > south of Parklawn Rd. in west Toronto. South of > Lakeshore Blvd. keep on the road as it vers east the > condos will be directly in front of you and the bay > were the bird was dive bombing the waterfowl will be > on your left. Stop along the side of the road and > look > for Rock Pigeons being spooked into flight. > > > > ===== > Garth Riley > Etobicoke, Ontario > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > ________________________________________________________________________ > Yahoo! Messenger - Communicate instantly..."Ping" > your friends today! Download Messenger Now > http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com/download/index.html > =?iso-8859-1?q?Garth=20Riley?= <[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. ===== Garth Riley Etobicoke, Ontario [EMAIL PROTECTED] ________________________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Messenger - Communicate instantly..."Ping" your friends today! Download Messenger Now http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com/download/index.html =?iso-8859-1?q?Garth=20Riley?= <[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.
