DRHW- Lake Erie Metropark Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 16, 2011 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 10 85 85 Osprey 1 31 31 Bald Eagle 3 45 45 Northern Harrier 5 50 50 Sharp-shinned Hawk 51 1363 1363 Cooper's Hawk 8 39 39 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 230 2575 2575 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 1 39 39 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 22 260 260 Merlin 0 7 7 Peregrine Falcon 1 1 1 Unknown Accipiter 0 4 4 Unknown Buteo 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 1 1 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 1 1 Total: 332 4501 4501 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8.25 hours Official Counter: Jonathan Stein Observers: John Elliott Visitors: Well over 50 people. Many were in and out throughout the day in an attempt to catch a glimpse of the broadwings on the move. Weather: Cloudy and cool with light winds mainly out of the north. Raptor Observations: A large broadwing flight never materialized. A few small kettles and some single birds zipping by were all that was seen from the boat launch. There were again reports of several largish kettles sighted south of us by observers at the southern end of Point Mouillee. The highlight of the day turned out to be great looks at a peregrine falcon flying fast and low during the 2 o'clock hour. Non-raptor Observations: There were reports of a pileated woodpecker seen flying over the trees behind the watch area. It is the first-ever sighting of this species at Lake Erie Metropark and one of only a handful of sightings of this species for all of Wayne County. Predictions: It's going to be clear blue skies, light winds and temperatures hovering in the 60s tomorrow, which should provide pleasant conditions for the first day of Lake Erie Metropark's 22nd Annual Hawkfest. Tomorrow's light winds will be out of the northeast in the morning and then shift to the east and finally the southeast in the afternoon. Let's hope that's the right mix for a whole lot of raptors streaming by overhead. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Greg Norwood ([email protected]) SMRR- Lake Erie Metropark information may be found at: http://www.drhawkwatch.org Site Description: The primary site used by the Detroit River Hawk Watch (a joint venture of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge and it's Friends group, the International Wildlife Refuge Alliance) is the Boat Launch at Lake Erie Metropark located approximately 20 miles south of Detroit, Michigan. A secondary site, the Headquarters of Pointe Mouillee State Game Area is used during certain wind conditions. When staffing is available, both sites can be used at the same time. The season begins on the first day of September and concludes on the final day of November. For details and directions, log on to www.drhawkwatch.org Directions to site: Lake Erie Metropark: >From I-75, exit at Huron River Drive (exit 27). Continue east on Huron River Drive. Turn left on West Jefferson and proceed a few hundred yards to the entrance of Lake Erie Metropark. After paying the entrance fee, follow the signs to the Boat Launch. _______________________________________________ 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/
