Detroit River Hawk Watch Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 09, 2012 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 26 157 157 Osprey 6 32 32 Bald Eagle 5 31 31 Northern Harrier 4 29 29 Sharp-shinned Hawk 51 315 315 Cooper's Hawk 1 20 20 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 226 538 538 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 6 26 26 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 40 120 120 Merlin 0 4 4 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 1 4 4 Unknown Buteo 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 2 2 Total: 366 1278 1278 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 9 hours Official Counter: Jonathan Stein Observers: Don Sherwood, Jim Lynch Visitors: Patrick Jakel, Joe Faggan, Jeff Schultz, Rodney Laura, Mick Knox, Dave Smitley, Rosemary Brady, Neil Waldman, Mary Kleiss, Wes Hetrick and Tex Wells among others. Weather: It was a bizarre day, weather-wise. We alternated between clear, mostly sunny skies and ominous gray, overcast skies throughout. The wind was light and highly variable. Raptor Observations: The flight really got going in the late afternoon today. The last three hours of the watch featured our first no-doubt-about-it broadwing kettles along with some good Sharp-shinned Hawk and American Kestrel movement. Lots of neck-craning was necessary to sight the many birds that crossed high overhead. Non-raptor Observations: American Redstarts, Northern Parulas, Blackpoll Warblers and Cape May Warblers were visible in the trees behind the count site at the start of the watch. Northern Rough-winged Swallows (500+) were abundant for a second straight day. Purple Martins (6) and Chimney Swifts (11) were seen in limited numbers. Two Red-breasted Nuthatches could be heard during the morning hours. An adult Black-crowned Night Heron flew by in the afternoon, heading northwest. Predictions: Sunny and clear tomorrow with winds out of the north at around 5 mph. ======================================================================== 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/
