DRHW- Lake Erie Metropark Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 24, 2011 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 5431 36906 37423 Osprey 0 16 85 Bald Eagle 1 74 171 Northern Harrier 2 94 196 Sharp-shinned Hawk 84 2572 4983 Cooper's Hawk 9 473 572 Northern Goshawk 2 4 4 Red-shouldered Hawk 13 51 53 Broad-winged Hawk 0 642 195858 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 5 Red-tailed Hawk 94 445 523 Rough-legged Hawk 0 5 5 Golden Eagle 3 22 22 American Kestrel 5 247 651 Merlin 0 8 19 Peregrine Falcon 0 5 18 Unknown Accipiter 1 31 45 Unknown Buteo 6 17 17 Unknown Falcon 0 0 2 Unknown Eagle 0 2 2 Unknown Raptor 1 10 14 Total: 5652 41624 240668 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 9 hours Official Counter: Jonathan Stein Observers: Andrew Sturgess, John Elliott, Patrick Mulawa, Rodney Laura Visitors: Mark Wloch was around for most of the afternoon. Ron Harkness dropped by briefly. And up from Ohio, John Matous was a pleasant addition to the early morning hours. Weather: The overcast skies stuck around for a little while after the morning rain. Around 11, the clouds began to break up and the west winds helped push most of them from view, leaving us with blue skies for the rest of the day. The wind, out of the west and then the northwest, was light at first but grew progressively stronger. Raptor Observations: The slow start to the day was quickly forgotten once the clouds of turkey vultures began to appear over Canada. Up until 430, we watched as group after group wound their way past Celeron Island and steadily made their way toward us, either crossing just south of us, just north of us or, even better, right overhead. Mixed in among the vultures were a smattering of red-tailed and red-shouldered hawks as well as another three golden eagles. Non-raptor Observations: Tree swallows were the story early. More than 15000 tree swallows could be seen pushing through during the first two hours. Later in the morning, a flock of 30 cedar waxwings buzzed the watch site. Monarchs were again on the move but not as abundant as the last two days. Predictions: It looks to be a lot like today. Heavy cloud cover in the morning will likely drift away by the afternoon. Winds will be light and mainly out of the west, shifting southwest later on. The potential remains for yet another good day. ======================================================================== 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/
