DRHW- Lake Erie Metropark Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 07, 2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 2820 55529 56900 Osprey 0 2 54 Bald Eagle 5 16 154 Northern Harrier 8 51 313 Sharp-shinned Hawk 51 440 5395 Cooper's Hawk 34 182 419 Northern Goshawk 0 1 3 Red-shouldered Hawk 2 58 63 Broad-winged Hawk 0 60 79423 Red-tailed Hawk 18 121 369 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 1 1 American Kestrel 7 36 609 Merlin 1 10 34 Peregrine Falcon 0 8 28 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 17 Prairie Falcon 1 1 3 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 5 Total: 2947 56516 143790 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:30:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours Official Counter: Rob Payne Observers: Jim Maki, Patrick Mulawa, Raburn Howland, Rodney Laura Visitors: A hand full came out for the TV show. A good group of volunteers came in handy as well. Weather: Another beautiful day among a string of many. It was more like a nice spring day than an early fall one. Temperatures reached 70f, and visibility was perfect. Winds where mostly from the west, they where moderate but the gusts pushed 20mph. Raptor Observations: Turkey Vultures continue to push through, in a bit less than average numbers. The winds might be pushing birds back into Canada. This warm week we're having might have be another reason. "Hey, it's not that cold. Let's hang out a bit longer." These are just possibilities. I also can't speak Vulture. Most of the TVs where coming over in small groups, but often a few groups at a time. From around 12 to 4 (EDST), we were getting at least 250 an hour. A grand total of 2,820 Turkey Vultures where counted. Other raptors had a hard time pushing through the wind, it seems. We had a total 2,947 of 10 species (with TVs). Only 18 Red-tailed Hawks is very low for this time of year. However Accipiters and Falcons fly through the wind with ease, and were coming in right overhead. The big deal of the day was the continuance of the Prairie Falcon. Yes, not another PRFA, but probably the same one. All times the bird is seen it is very high up and moving fast, always right over head heading for the parking lot to the south west of us. No pictures have been taken, yet. There is also a report of a Falconer reporting a lost PRFA in south east Michigan in the spring of 2009. The bird did follow the protocol to be counted for the purpose of the hawk count. So, it will be on the chart for the third time, but it should have an asterisk. Non-raptor Observations: An Opossum came out of the woods today for a drink from Lake Erie. It was a small one, probably young. Predictions: More good weather, warm temps and moderate winds from the west. It should be at least as plentiful as today was. Probably no major push as we saw earlier in the week. Early next week is looking better for that. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Greg Norwood ([email protected]) SMRR- Lake Erie Metropark information may be found at: http://www.drhawkwatch.org _______________________________________________ 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/
