DRHW- Lake Erie Metropark Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 16, 2011 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 8 1160 52594 Osprey 0 0 85 Bald Eagle 0 16 196 Northern Harrier 3 25 249 Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 79 5313 Cooper's Hawk 4 58 709 Northern Goshawk 1 7 18 Red-shouldered Hawk 2 167 371 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 195858 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 5 Red-tailed Hawk 74 1400 3236 Rough-legged Hawk 1 8 16 Golden Eagle 1 54 149 American Kestrel 0 2 664 Merlin 0 1 21 Peregrine Falcon 0 3 21 Unknown Accipiter 0 4 60 Unknown Buteo 1 18 59 Unknown Falcon 0 2 5 Unknown Eagle 0 0 2 Unknown Raptor 0 13 37 Total: 97 3017 259668 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours Official Counter: Jonathan Stein Observers: Andrew Sturgess, Jim Lynch, John Elliott, Rodney Laura Visitors: Dan Bennett stopped by briefly around noon. John and Joanne Biddick enlivened the afternoon hours. Weather: The anticipated clear skies never really materialized. A thin white smear of cloud was present for the majority of the day. Not until the last hour did they begin to melt away. Temperatures were in the 40s and moderate to strong winds blustered forth from the west throughout. Raptor Observations: Good variety but limited volume again today. Red-tailed hawks were the big winners, dominating the afternoon. The best bird of the day was the last bird of the day: a dark morph rough-legged hawk streaming out high overhead. One more golden eagle and one more northern goshawk were also added. Any day now, we're going to eclipse 150 golden eagles counted for only the fourth time in the watch's history. It's been a great year for golden eagles. Non-raptor Observations: There was a sizable (and noisy) flock of more than 50 rusty blackbirds hanging out in the trees at our back early in the morning. More than 75 tundra swans could be seen flying low over the lake later in the day. American crows were more abundant than they have been lately with approximately 400 streaming by throughout the day. A muskrat was also seen. Predictions: Mostly cloudy in the morning, potentially becoming partly sunny in the afternoon. A small chance of snow flurries. Highs in the upper 30s. West winds, moderate at the start, should strengthen as the day goes on. ======================================================================== 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/
