Detroit River Hawk Watch
Brownstown, Michigan, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 23, 2015
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 1
Turkey Vulture 4019 63709 66115
Osprey 0 6 79
Bald Eagle 4 58 144
Northern Harrier 10 137 426
Sharp-shinned Hawk 57 2244 5159
Cooper's Hawk 13 111 165
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 134 251 251
Broad-winged Hawk 1 256 72461
Swainson's Hawk 0 0 1
Red-tailed Hawk 274 713 820
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 4 10 11
American Kestrel 2 167 809
Merlin 0 12 39
Peregrine Falcon 0 11 30
Unknown Accipiter 2 2 11
Unknown Buteo 4 4 9
Unknown Falcon 0 1 3
Unknown Eagle 0 0 1
Unknown Raptor 0 4 24
Total: 4524 67696 146559
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Observation start time: 07:00:00
Observation end time: 15:45:00
Total observation time: 8.75 hours
Official Counter: Jonathan Stein
Observers: Andrew Sturgess, John Elliott, Patrick Mulawa,
Rosemary Brady
Visitors:
Thanks to everyone who helped spot today (20+).
Weather:
Mostly clear at the start, some thin strands of high cirrus provided our
only morning cloud cover. As the afternoon wore on, an increasing array of
cumulus drifted into view, aiding us in our endeavor. But as early evening
approached, a displeasing covering of gray clouds spread across the sky,
heralding the advance of a late-day front. Cooler today, temperatures
reached the mid 50s but no higher. The wind, light to moderate, oscillated
between the east and northeast early, then shifted southeast late.
Raptor Observations:
Another outstanding flight! Buteos kept up yesterday's furious pace,
jetting by in wave after wave from late morning to late afternoon.
Red-shouldered Hawks, in particular, put in a strong showing, forcing the
many Red-tailed Hawks to do everything they could to maintain pole
position. Riding the east wind, today's was an exceptionally high flight.
Spotting the many birds pumping past high overhead required ever-vigilant
neck-craning. Golden Eagles built on yesterday's effort, with four more
subadults offering up choice looks. And last but not least, a late
Broad-winged Hawk tried to sneak by unsuccessfully around midday.
Non-raptor Observations:
American Crow (70000+), Red-winged Blackbird (650+), Rusty Blackbird (80+),
Common Grackle (20+), Tree Swallow (25+), Dark-eyed Junco (6), Red-bellied
Woodpecker (3), Forster's Tern (15+), Canvasback (12), Common Loon (1),
Killdeer (4), Monarch (7)
Predictions:
Cloudy skies with warmer temps, moderate south wind and a 70 percent chance
of rain.
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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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