Detroit River Hawk Watch Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 25, 2015 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 1 Turkey Vulture 2949 66662 69068 Osprey 0 6 79 Bald Eagle 1 59 145 Northern Harrier 17 157 446 Sharp-shinned Hawk 41 2295 5210 Cooper's Hawk 22 133 187 Northern Goshawk 1 1 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 78 329 329 Broad-winged Hawk 0 256 72461 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 1 Red-tailed Hawk 147 860 967 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 16 26 27 American Kestrel 1 168 810 Merlin 1 13 40 Peregrine Falcon 1 12 31 Unknown Accipiter 0 2 11 Unknown Buteo 2 6 11 Unknown Falcon 0 1 3 Unknown Eagle 0 0 1 Unknown Raptor 2 6 26 Total: 3279 70992 149855 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:30:00 Observation end time: 16:30:00 Total observation time: 9 hours Official Counter: Jonathan Stein Observers: Andrew Sturgess, Don Sherwood, Greg Smith Visitors: 30+ Weather: Couldn't have asked for better late October weather. Mostly sunny for much of the day, a small caravan of cumulus wafted into view by mid-afternoon. Temperatures hovered around the mid 50s throughout, adding to our enjoyment. And a gentle, cooling breeze out of the west and northwest aided us early, shifting more southeast late. Raptor Observations: A late day flurry of Golden Eagles capped off an immensely enjoyable and wildly entertaining afternoon of hawk watching. One after the other, Golden Eagle after Golden Eagle rose up from behind the Pumpkin House, climbed higher and higher and then glided out, the majority crossing off to our north but plenty of others high overhead. All sixteen eagles waited until the last three hours to reveal themselves, often providing us with lengthy and satisfying looks. But even before the eagle extravaganza, it was already shaping up to be one of our best days of the fall. We added our first Northern Goshawk of the season, generated our first three-falcon day in quite some time and observed yet another impressive turkey vulture movement. Cooper's Hawks took to the skies in numbers not yet seen this fall. Northern Harriers did so in numbers not yet seen this month. And Red-shouldered Hawks continued their hot streak, nearly matching their red-tailed companions stride for stride. Non-raptor Observations: Tundra Swan (4), Lesser Scaup (1), Cedar Waxwing (8), American Pipit (1), American Crow (1500+), Blue Jay (200+), Monarch (1) Predictions: Mostly sunny with mild temps and light and variable wind. ======================================================================== 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. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide
