[Ontbirds] aerial harassing marks unofficial end of raptor watch at Cranberry. along with some good birding--southwest Whitby--Nov.30

[Doug Lockrey]

Cranberry Marsh, southwest Whitby, Ontario
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 30, 2007 (see table below)

Observation time: 9am to 12 noon, before snowfall commenced
Official Counter: Doug Lockrey
Observers: Jim McKnight, Jim Munroe, Jim Skene, Ross Lamb, Rosemary Harris, 
Frank Oland, Phil Babbin, and several others who braved the strong winds and 
c-c-cold.

Weather: strong SW winds; falling BP; -2C; cloudy; at noon light snow 
started to fall

Non-raptor Observations: on the waterfront--many Greater Scaup, Common 
Goldeneye, several Redheads, Buffleheads, Common Mergansers; over the 
wetlands- N.Flicker, 1 Am.Pipit, Red- and White-breasted Nuthatches, 
N.Shrike

Raptor Observations: AGAIN I WISH TO THANK EVERYONE OF THE OVER 100 WHO 
HELPED WITH THE CMRW 2007 OVER 104 DAYS. On 25% of those days we had weather 
conditions amenable to a migratory raptor flight, this being the first time 
since 2001 in which over 15% of the days were satisfactory. Undoubtedly this 
explains why we had nearly 11,000 choose the lakefront route--the first time 
since 2001 with over 9,000

Today the raptors were strongly buffeted by the SW winds, gradually coming 
through. To watch the antics of Rough-legged Hawks, whether hovering, 
battling winds or feeding always brings thrills. An aerial battle took place 
over the field to the west of Hall's Rd.--2 N. Harriers being harassed, 
unsuccessfully by a Peregrine falcon.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
      Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
> ------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
> Black Vulture                0              0              0
> Turkey Vulture               0             10           2264
> Osprey                       0              0            167
> Bald Eagle                   0              4             53
> Northern Harrier             3             25            237
> Sharp-shinned Hawk           0             79           2108
> Cooper's Hawk                0             23            120
> Northern Goshawk             0              7              9
> Red-shouldered Hawk          0             13             35
> Broad-winged Hawk            0              0           3185
> Red-tailed Hawk              2           1235           1855
> Rough-legged Hawk           10         116            121
> Golden Eagle                 0              5              8
> American Kestrel             0             21            627
> Merlin                            0              2             27
> Peregrine Falcon             1              4             43
> Unknown Accipiter            0              2             15
> Unknown Buteo                0              1             28
> Unknown Falcon               0              0              7
> Unknown Eagle                0              2              4
> Unknown Raptor               0              3             53
>
> Total:                      16           1552          10966

Doug Lockrey, coordinator CMRW 2007 (CMRW 2008 will start up in late August)
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
  ========================================================================
> Report submitted by John Douglas Lockrey (lockrey33 at rogers.com)
> Cranberry Marsh information may be found at:
> http://www.torontobirding.ca/~gtrw
>
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