Detroit River Hawk Watch Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 27, 2012 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 372 994 994 Osprey 0 48 48 Bald Eagle 3 107 107 Northern Harrier 13 94 94 Sharp-shinned Hawk 73 1255 1255 Cooper's Hawk 16 76 76 Northern Goshawk 1 1 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 1 1 Broad-winged Hawk 2020 40620 40620 Swainson's Hawk 0 3 3 Red-tailed Hawk 23 87 87 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 6 325 325 Merlin 2 19 19 Peregrine Falcon 2 15 15 Unknown Accipiter 4 15 15 Unknown Buteo 3 5 5 Unknown Falcon 0 1 1 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 7 26 26 Total: 2546 43692 43692 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 17:45:00 Total observation time: 10.75 hours Official Counter: Jonathan Stein Observers: Fred Kirn, John Elliott, Patrick Mulawa, Raburn Howland Visitors: Karen Markey, Harris Abramson, Darlene Friedman, Rodney Laura, Greg Smith, Tom Olkowski and a handful of others. Weather: A high partly cloudy ceiling provided a nice mix of white and blue to aid in spotting today. Cool and crisp, the temperature never rose above the mid 60s. And gusting strongly out of the northeast for the better part of the day, the wind did calm eventually as we moved into the evening hours. Raptor Observations: Today was highly enjoyable and action-packed, a 12 species day that saw the addition of our first Red-shouldered Hawk and Northern Goshawk of the season. The goshawk, in particular, announced its entry with authority, flying in low and close and then undertaking a spectacular stoop that sent it barreling into the trees just beyond the nature center. Turkey Vultures and Broad-winged Hawks were streaming overhead throughout, making their way south well into the evening. Riding a nice tail wind, many raptors were spotted very high as they shot through the viewing area without much hesitation. Non-raptor Observations: The Blue Jays (40,000+) were never ending, on the move from arrival until departure. Also, Black-crowned Night Herons (6) and Herring Gulls (4) were more noticeable than usual. Predictions: Mostly sunny with highs in the mid 60s and north wind at 5 to 10 mph. Let's keep it going. ======================================================================== 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/
