There was a spectacular hawk flight today at Rosetta McClain Gardens in Toronto. Hawks were flying low and very close to the observers. When I left at 2 p.m. the total count was over 400 individuals of 9 hawk species and the flight was still going strong.
Osprey: 30, which is a new one day record and more were likely recorded after I departed. Bald Eagle: 2 adults Northern Harrier: 16 Sharp-shinned Hawk: 210 apparently all juveniles (juveniles migrate ahead of adults in most hawks). Cooper's Hawk: 2 juveniles Broad-winged Hawk: 1 juvenile (several big flights should happen over the next two weeks) Red-tailed Hawks: 2 juveniles American Kestrel: 143 when I left was already a new one day high count Merlin: 6 Monarchs: Hundreds streaming by going west like the hawks. Official counter is BIGFRANK (Frank Butson) ably assisted by BIGWALTER (Walter Fisher) and others. See BIGFRANK'S Hawk Blog. In yesterday's group photo Frank is on the left and Walter is in the middle. http://raptorwatch.blogspot.com/ Directions: Rosetta McClain Gardens is in Toronto atop the Scarborough Bluffs overlooking Lake Ontario. On clear days you can see the mist rising above Niagara Falls. The park is south off Kingston Road one stoplight east of Birchmount Road. The entrance is easy to miss. The park has strict rules - no dogs, no picnics, no bicycles, no ball playing, etc. The park is wheelchair accessible and there are clean washrooms. Hawkwatching guide/primer with a migration chart. Print a copy. http://www.ofo.ca/reportsandarticles/hawkwatching.php Southern Ontario has some of the finest fall hawkwatching sites in North Amnerica. Tomorrow's forecast is for 20 km/hr north winds suggesting another good flight at Rosetta McClain Gardens. Ron Pittaway Minden ON _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
