Report for Tuesday 9 October 2012. Turkey Vulture: 203 (This species is moving now in increasing numbers.)
Northern Harrier: 2 local juveniles Sharp-shinned Hawk: 8 Cooper's Hawk: 1 Red-tailed Hawk: 4 migrants plus 3 probable locals American Kestrel: 1 Merlin: 3 Peregrine Falcon 3, included 2 pale adult tundrius subspecies and one juvenile tundrius Totals: 8 species and 228 individuals Other Birds: 56 species. American Bittern 1. Black-crowned Night-Heron 3. American Pipit 76. RUSTY BLACKBIRD 46, very conspicuous all day. Wilson's Snipe 2. Great Egret 5 (1 orange and 1 green wing tag). Tree Swallow 2. Eastern Meadowlark 2. CACKLING GOOSE 2. Canada Goose - hundreds because the corn fields on Halls Road were recently cut. Numerous waterfowl easily viewed in the open marsh. Counter: Jean Iron Observers: Rosemary Harris, Doug Lockrey, Alan Woods, Ross Lamb, John Stirrat, Karl Jennewien, Charles Liddle, Les and Jean Sayer Time: 8:00 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Weather: Day warmed to 20 C on the viewing platform, colder at the lake, mix of sun and cloud. Light south wind off Lake Ontario. Directions: From Victoria St in Whitby go south on Halls Rd to the second short walkway going east to the Cranberry Marsh Lookout. NOTE: October is the best month at Cranberry to see Turkey Vultures, Cooper's Hawks, Red-shouldered Hawks (peak after mid-Oct) and Red-tailed Hawks (peak late Oct) with good opportunities to see Northern Goshawks, Rough-legged Hawks (after mid-Oct) and Golden Eagles. The best weather to see hawks at Cranberry is a cold front with a northwest wind which pushes migrating hawks close to Lake Ontario as they move west along the lake. On other days with light or south winds the main flight line for many species is farther inland such as at the Iroquois Shoreline 10 km north of Cranberry and places between the two watches. OFO Hawkwatching Guide (ID tips, migration times, hawk basics) http://www.ofo.ca/webapp/site/page/view/articles.hawkwatching Jean Iron Toronto, Ontario _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
