DRHW- Lake Erie Metropark
Brownstown, Michigan, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 15, 2011
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 0 1152 52586
Osprey 0 0 85
Bald Eagle 1 16 196
Northern Harrier 5 22 246
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 77 5311
Cooper's Hawk 0 54 705
Northern Goshawk 1 6 17
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 165 369
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 195858
Swainson's Hawk 0 0 5
Red-tailed Hawk 5 1326 3162
Rough-legged Hawk 0 7 15
Golden Eagle 1 53 148
American Kestrel 0 2 664
Merlin 0 1 21
Peregrine Falcon 0 3 21
Unknown Accipiter 0 4 60
Unknown Buteo 0 17 58
Unknown Falcon 0 2 5
Unknown Eagle 0 0 2
Unknown Raptor 0 13 37
Total: 14 2920 259571
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 15:00:00
Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Jonathan Stein
Observers: Andrew Sturgess, Fred Kirn, John Elliott, Patrick Mulawa,
Rodney Laura
Visitors:
Jim Maki stopped by for a short time in the afternoon.
Weather:
Couldn't have asked for nicer weather. There were clear skies for a
majority of the day. Only a few times did a smattering of white puffy
clouds wander into view. Temperatures hovered around the low 50s, touching
the high 50s in the early afternoon. The wind was very light and out of the
south, turning more southeast late.
Raptor Observations:
Some nice variety today despite the low numbers overall. Most sightings
occurred during the morning hours. Activity slowed from a crawl to a full
stop in the afternoon.
Non-raptor Observations:
A flock of approximately 40 snow geese was seen at around 130 pm. The flock
flew in low over the stacks, circled twice over the parking lot and then
proceeded to fly off toward Celeron Island. It was a curious flight path to
say the least but one that allowed us to get some great looks.
Interestingly, only one was white. Every other goose in the flock was a
dark morph. Don't see that every day.
Forster's terns (five birds total) returned to the channel for the first
time in a while. Four more tundra swans were seen today. Bonaparte's gulls
continue to increase in number. And great blue herons were noticeable
during the last hour with a total of seven flying past.
There was also a lot of songbird activity in the trees around the site
throughout the day. Species noted were American robin, blue jay, tufted
titmouse, black-capped chickadee, downy woodpecker, northern flicker,
red-bellied woodpecker, northern cardinal, carolina wren, mourning dove,
cedar waxwing, brown creeper, american tree sparrow, white-throated
sparrow, golden-crowned kinglet, pine siskin, American goldfinch and
European starling.
Predictions:
Tomorrow will be mostly sunny with highs in the mid-40s. Moderate winds
(10-15 mph) will be out of the northwest, turning west later on. Sounds
good so long as the wind doesn't blow the birds too far south.
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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/
