Mt. Watatic 11/1/2010

Another Golden Eagle passed Mt. Watatic this morning about 10 minutes after I had my gear setup. As it was, this was the closest raptor I would see all day and not another "golden" was to be had.

The Oak leaf moves in for the kill!

Golden Eagle as it soars away in the thermal it was riding....the white patches on the base of the flight feathers show nicely, while bird on the 29th had very limited white wing patches.

Golden Eagle over Mt. Watatic.....if only they all "showed" so nicely.

A few Snow Buntings fed in the grassy areas near the east and main summit.

Migrant raptors:

Bald Eagle 1 adult

Sharp-shinned Hawk 5

Cooper's Hawk 1

Red-shouldered Hawk 7

Red-tailed Hawk 49

Golden Eagle 1 juvenile

Also:

Brant a flock of 70 headed south

White-winged Crossbill 1 ---heard well as I was leaving, it called from in the spruces (lacking a good cone crop this year) and then i heard it as it moved on south. Perhpas this is a prelude of more to come?