Detroit River Hawk Watch
Brownstown, Michigan, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 09, 2015
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 1
Turkey Vulture 332 1317 73435
Osprey 0 1 81
Bald Eagle 6 21 176
Northern Harrier 8 62 538
Sharp-shinned Hawk 6 164 5483
Cooper's Hawk 4 33 228
Northern Goshawk 0 1 5
Red-shouldered Hawk 39 159 635
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 72461
Swainson's Hawk 0 0 1
Red-tailed Hawk 660 1792 3434
Rough-legged Hawk 0 3 7
Golden Eagle 5 25 79
American Kestrel 1 3 815
Merlin 0 3 44
Peregrine Falcon 1 2 34
Unknown Accipiter 0 3 14
Unknown Buteo 2 10 36
Unknown Falcon 0 0 4
Unknown Eagle 0 0 1
Unknown Raptor 3 8 38
Total: 1067 3607 157550
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 15:00:00
Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Jonathan Stein
Observers: Andrew Sturgess, John Elliott, Patrick Mulawa,
Rosemary Brady
Visitors:
2
Weather:
Couldn't have asked for nicer November weather. A shining sun warmed us. A
deep blue sky entranced us. And a gentle breeze cooled us. The only blemish
was some morning haze that burned off soon enough anyway. The wind was
light and out of the east early, then southeast later.
Raptor Observations:
>From the start, one could sense a special day in the offing. Told a Golden
was naked eye, a late arrival immediately set his sights on a distant
eagle, only to find out that wasn't exactly the one we meant. With
guileless nonchalance, he stepped right in and found us a new one! A round
of giddy guffawing ensued, which was then followed by yet another close
Golden, because why not?
Concluding their performance, the Goldens made way for another Red-tailed
Hawk extravaganza. Today, we managed to ever-so-slightly eclipse
yesterday's exceptional flight. And including Saturday's 327, an astounding
1,633 Redtails were tallied over the last three days! In the morning,
Redtail stream after Redtail stream crossed out over the lake, but as the
day progressed, the flight line inched closer and closer. And for a
30-minute stretch midday, a rapid-fire succession of Red-tailed Hawks
crossed low and close, offering up mouthwatering looks. By the end of the
day, though, the flight line had reverted to yesterday's distant form, with
Redtail flock after Redtail flock rising up from the trees in front of us,
riding the southeast wind north and crossing by the stacks.
While Red-tailed Hawks provided the volume, several other species injected
some welcome variety. Bald Eagle and Northern Harrier continued their hot
streak. A peregrine darted into the trees off to our right early. And
lastly and somewhat unexpectedly, a third November kestrel regaled us with
his presence.
Non-raptor Observations:
American Crow (6000+), Red-winged Blackbird (70+), Cedar Waxwing (25+),
Horned Lark (35+), American Goldfinch (25+), Common Loon (2), Tundra Swan
(85+), Monarch (3)
Predictions:
Overcast with cool temps, light north wind and a 60 percent chance of
morning 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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