DRHW- Lake Erie Metropark Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 29, 2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 720 54867 Osprey 0 0 46 Bald Eagle 0 15 112 Northern Harrier 0 21 167 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 47 3251 Cooper's Hawk 1 49 329 Northern Goshawk 0 7 23 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 256 608 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 20016 Red-tailed Hawk 3 936 2424 Rough-legged Hawk 0 8 13 Golden Eagle 0 52 115 American Kestrel 0 2 440 Merlin 0 0 39 Peregrine Falcon 1 3 35 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 0 0 12 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 2 2 Mississippi Kite 0 0 1 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 4 Total: 5 2118 82504 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 10:30:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 4.5 hours Official Counter: Greg Norwood Observers: Rodney Laura Visitors: Will Weber, Gloria and Ron Harkness, Terry Kowalczyk, and Mike Sissinger Weather: Winds were from the west-southwest starting at a gentle 1-5 mph and picking up as 1PM approached. By the last two hours of the count, there were some stronger gusts of 10 mph. Cloud cover was 35% to start, with increasing cover throughout the day and hazy conditions by noon. Rain was seen off to the northwest at 1:30PM at which time there was 100% cloud cover. Raptor Observations: Three red-tailed hawks, 1 Cooper's hawk, and 1 peregrine falcon were seen migrating. Non-raptor Observations: A cattle egret flew over Gibraltar and was first picked up flying over the sycamore. It headed over the parking lot towards the marshlands museum at 10:34AM EST. 12 black-crowned night herons flew just below treetop level and were counted entering the channel of Marsh Creek. This late season heron flight was noted in 2008 and 2007. Approximately 10 black-crowned night herons were seen on 28 November 2008. On November 28, 2007, there were 44 great blue herons, 6 black-crowned night herons, and 4 great egrets. The day before, there was 22 black-crowned night herons, 10 great egrets, and 15 great blue herons. Approximately 25 snow buntings flew over with horned larks mixed with them in one flock. 2 gadwall and 1 common goldeneye were seen, as well as the usual numbers of mallards. A flock of 10 Canada geese moved down the Strait. A flock of about 15 Aythya were seen. Predictions: There will be a high chance of snow in the early morning hours tomorrow and some chance of snow for the afternoon. Winds will be out of the northwest during tomorrow's count period which may encourage some birds to make the passage. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Greg Norwood ([email protected]) SMRR- Lake Erie Metropark information may be found at: http://www.smrr.net/ _______________________________________________ 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/
