DRHW- Lake Erie Metropark
Brownstown, Michigan, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 17, 2011
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 25 1185 52619
Osprey 0 0 85
Bald Eagle 3 19 199
Northern Harrier 0 25 249
Sharp-shinned Hawk 4 83 5317
Cooper's Hawk 6 64 715
Northern Goshawk 0 7 18
Red-shouldered Hawk 5 172 376
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 195858
Swainson's Hawk 0 0 5
Red-tailed Hawk 74 1474 3310
Rough-legged Hawk 0 8 16
Golden Eagle 1 55 150
American Kestrel 0 2 664
Merlin 0 1 21
Peregrine Falcon 0 3 21
Unknown Accipiter 0 4 60
Unknown Buteo 0 18 59
Unknown Falcon 0 2 5
Unknown Eagle 0 0 2
Unknown Raptor 1 14 38
Total: 119 3136 259787
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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, Frank Kitakis, Patrick Mulawa,
Raburn Howland, Rodney Laura
Visitors:
Nope.
Weather:
It was cold and it was also windy, which made it even colder. Temperatures
never rose above 40 degrees. There was mostly clear skies up until about
noon. After that, there was significant cloud cover and a handful of snow
flurries. The wind was out of the west and strengthened as the day went on.
Raptor Observations:
We had a good morning redtail flight today with a few sharp-shinned hawks,
cooper's hawks and bald eagles mixed in. When the clouds rolled in and the
wind picked up, the flight mostly shut down. We hit 150 golden eagles for
the season at approximately 1245 pm when an adult eagle rose up over the
pumpkin house and slowly made its way west and eventually out of sight.
Non-raptor Observations:
Several small flocks of American goldfinches and snow buntings flew by
during the first two hours. A common loon was seen during the 12 o'clock
hour. A flock of approximately 35 cedar waxwings passed by during the 1
o'clock hour. More than 150 tundra swans were counted throughout the day,
usually moving through in flocks of 5-15 birds.
Predictions:
Looks like partly sunny in the morning and then mostly sunny in the
afternoon. Highs in the upper 40s. Moderate south winds will strengthen as
the day progresses. Hopefully clearer skies gets some more birds up and
moving.
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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/
