Over 4 hours migrating hawk numbers, on a mild southerly wind-day, totalled 11, including 2 OSPREYS. Other birds included Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Blue-headed Vireo, 2 Lincoln's Sparrows, 26 Tree Swallows, C.Yellowthroat, Yellow-rumped W., Am.Redstart, White-breasted and Red-breasted Nuthatches, among others, and the "resident" great Egrets (3).
At 1130EST a single white goose flew low over the wetland from the north, circling around the Alder Island, then continuing beyond the willow barrier-beach-- a number of us immediately said "SNOW GOOSE", but there were features that Ron Pittaway felt may have maken it a Ross's Goose-- unfortunately its brief sortee did not allow us a fair assessment. I had to leave before finding out whether any people managed to find it on the lake. As of Sep.30 the total migrating raptor count, started on Aug.14, is 2878-- for the third consecutive year the low number of NW-wind days along the lakefront kept the Broad-winged total unfortunately low (890). Highlights have been 108 Ospreys, 34 Bald Eagles and 31 Merlins. Exit the 401 at Salem in Ajax, south to Bayly, east through LakeRidge to the first block--south at Hall's Rd. in southwest Whitby-- to the 2nd roadside parking area north of the lakefront. Doug Lockrey, coordinator CMRW
