Detroit River Hawk Watch
Brownstown, Michigan, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 19, 2015
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 1
Turkey Vulture 5147 54590 56996
Osprey 0 5 78
Bald Eagle 3 47 133
Northern Harrier 9 110 399
Sharp-shinned Hawk 94 1883 4798
Cooper's Hawk 3 77 131
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 44 44
Broad-winged Hawk 0 255 72460
Swainson's Hawk 0 0 1
Red-tailed Hawk 14 286 393
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 3 4
American Kestrel 7 158 800
Merlin 0 10 37
Peregrine Falcon 0 9 28
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 9
Unknown Buteo 0 0 5
Unknown Falcon 0 1 3
Unknown Eagle 0 0 1
Unknown Raptor 0 3 23
Total: 5277 57481 136344
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Observation start time: 07:00:00
Observation end time: 14:30:00
Total observation time: 7.5 hours
Official Counter: Jonathan Stein
Observers: Andrew Sturgess, John Elliott, Patrick Mulawa,
Rosemary Brady
Visitors:
5
Weather:
Sunny and clear, a handful of puffy white clouds drifted into view midday,
briefly providing minimal cover. Temperatures rose considerably as the day
progressed, beginning in the low 40s and ending in the low 60s. The wind
was strong and out of the south and southwest.
Raptor Observations:
Riding the strong south wind, Turkey Vultures sped by today, shooting
through the viewing area with exceptional haste. Often, they remained low
and crossed well to our north. And by the end of the day, the flight line
extended so far beyond the stacks, they were mere specks in the distant
haze. Sharp-shinned and Red-tailed hawks tagged along with them during the
morning hours but their numbers petered out by the afternoon. Interspersed
among the vultures, American Kestrels, Cooper's Hawks and Bald Eagles put
in a small showing. Eschewing the lengthy streams, Northern Harriers
reveled in their independence, dropping down off Celeron Island, pumping
hard low along the water and darting into the trees off to our right.
Non-raptor Observations:
Blue Jay (400+), American Crow (460+), Red-winged Blackbird (2100+), Rusty
Blackbird (70+), Tree Swallow (2500+), American Pipit (26), American Robin
(20+), American Goldfinch (30+), Pine Siskin (18), House Finch (7), Black
Saddlebags (2), Common Green Darner (1)
Predictions:
Partly cloudy with warm temps and moderate southwest wind.
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Report submitted by Jonathan Stein ([email protected])
Detroit River Hawk Watch information may be found at:
http://www.drhawkwatch.org
Site Description:
The Detroit River Hawk Watch (a joint venture of the Detroit River
International Wildlife Refuge and its Friends group, the International
Wildlife Refuge Alliance) is the Boat Launch at Lake Erie Metropark located
approximately 20 miles south of Detroit, Michigan. The location is at the
mouth of the Detroit River as it enters Lake Erie.
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.
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