Detroit River Hawk Watch
Brownstown, Michigan, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 22, 2015
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 1
Turkey Vulture 4188 59690 62096
Osprey 1 6 79
Bald Eagle 5 54 140
Northern Harrier 15 127 416
Sharp-shinned Hawk 194 2187 5102
Cooper's Hawk 19 98 152
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 73 117 117
Broad-winged Hawk 0 255 72460
Swainson's Hawk 0 0 1
Red-tailed Hawk 143 439 546
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 3 6 7
American Kestrel 7 165 807
Merlin 1 12 39
Peregrine Falcon 2 11 30
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 9
Unknown Buteo 0 0 5
Unknown Falcon 0 1 3
Unknown Eagle 0 0 1
Unknown Raptor 1 4 24
Total: 4652 63172 142035
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Observation start time: 07:00:00
Observation end time: 17:00:00
Total observation time: 10 hours
Official Counter: Jonathan Stein
Observers: Andrew Sturgess, Jim Lynch, Patrick Mulawa, Raburn Howland,
Rosemary Brady
Visitors:
8
Weather:
A low ceiling of stubborn gray clouds refused to budge all morning. But by
early afternoon, our gray ceiling began to show some signs of decay that
proved to be beyond repair. The gray clouds dissipated and what were once
cracks of blue soon widened into a shimmering pool of blue sky. Some high
cirrus and residual contrails stuck around thereafter, gifting us a helpful
spotting backdrop for much of the afternoon and early evening. Even the
haze melted away, allowing for high visibility and crisp lighting as well.
Stable throughout, temperatures hovered around the low 60s. The wind was
light and mostly out of the northwest.
Raptor Observations:
Clearing skies and light northwest wind sent raptors aloft this afternoon.
The pipeline, clogged previously, burst open today, sending a
near-continuous gusher of vultures, buteos, accipiters harriers and eagles
surging our way. Stream after stream of mixed vultures and buteos floated
over the channel, often overhead and sometimes quite low, producing an
awe-inspiring flight that required some rapid-fire counting. Wishing not to
be excluded and hoping to catch our attention, Sharp-shinned Hawks,
Cooper's Hawks and Northern Harriers weaved in and out of the many
vulture-and-buteo streams. On our first twelve species day of the season,
Red-tailed Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Cooper's Hawk and Golden Eagle all
achieved season-to-date high counts, generating heavy volume to go along
with the appealing variety. Let's see. What else? All three Goldens came in
close. The day's lone Merlin came in so close we could almost make out what
it was eating on the wing. Both peregrines gave us nice looks. And a late
season Osprey provided an unexpected thrill. All in all, not a bad outing.
Non-raptor Observations:
American Crow (3400+), Blue Jay (350+), Red-winged Blackbird (1200+), Rusty
Blackbird (20+), American Pipit (14), Cedar Waxwing (12), American Robin
(20+), American Goldfinch (60+), Pine Siskin (25+), Killdeer (3), Monarch
(1)
Predictions:
Partly cloudy skies with mild temps and light east wind. Tomorrow is likely
to be quite good as well.
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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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