DRHW- Lake Erie Metropark Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 03, 2011 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 2057 7731 8248 Osprey 0 4 73 Bald Eagle 7 26 123 Northern Harrier 9 22 124 Sharp-shinned Hawk 143 607 3018 Cooper's Hawk 34 73 172 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 2 Broad-winged Hawk 154 505 195721 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 5 Red-tailed Hawk 26 61 139 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 12 144 548 Merlin 0 0 11 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 13 Unknown Accipiter 1 3 17 Unknown Buteo 2 4 4 Unknown Falcon 0 0 2 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 1 1 5 Total: 2446 9181 208225 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: Jonathan Stein Observers: Patrick Mulawa, Rodney Laura Visitors: Andrew Sturgess and Mark Wloch were both on hand and helped spot birds for most of the afternoon. Thanks to Mark for getting a helpful shot of that silhouetted harrier. Weather: The day started with 100 percent cloud cover and ended with 100 percent cloud cover. In between, there were a few times when it looked like the skies might clear but it never really did. A 20 minute pop-up shower around 1 o'clock sent us scurrying for the nearest shelter. After the rain came, the flight fizzled quickly and there wasn't much to see for the last two-and-a-half hours of the watch. Light to moderate winds were out of the northwest for the majority of the day. Raptor Observations: Despite the extensive cloud clover, there was still plenty of turkey vultures to be seen. Vultures were up and active for a good two hours midday when the skies were at their clearest. Several kettles of vultures featured quite the assortment of other species mixed in. The highlight was a rather large group that came streaming overhead during the 11 o'clock hour, which consisted of 16 broad-winged hawks, 19 turkey vultures, 2 red-tailed hawks, a harrier and a handful of accipiters as well. Non-raptor Observations: The brief shower provided us with the opportunity to scour the trees nearby for some smaller birds and we found a few of interest. Feeding along with the chickadees and titmice was a large flock of warblers that was mostly yellow-rumped but also held some cape may, black-throated green and a tennessee or two. A brown creeper was also spotted working its way up the trunk of the same tree everyone else was in. Predictions: It might wind up being too good to be true but, right now, tomorrow looks like it will be partly cloudy skies in the morning with lots of clearing in the afternoon. Light winds will be out of the northwest all day. Those are highly favorable flight conditions. Expect a great day tomorrow if the weathermen are right. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Jonathan Stein ([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/
