Detroit River Hawk Watch
Brownstown, Michigan, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 30, 2015
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 1
Turkey Vulture 17 1483 73601
Osprey 0 1 81
Bald Eagle 4 64 219
Northern Harrier 3 156 632
Sharp-shinned Hawk 7 221 5540
Cooper's Hawk 4 55 250
Northern Goshawk 0 1 5
Red-shouldered Hawk 27 287 763
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 72461
Swainson's Hawk 0 0 1
Red-tailed Hawk 576 3188 4830
Rough-legged Hawk 2 19 23
Golden Eagle 2 46 100
American Kestrel 0 4 816
Merlin 1 7 48
Peregrine Falcon 0 5 37
Unknown Accipiter 0 5 16
Unknown Buteo 0 14 40
Unknown Falcon 0 0 4
Unknown Eagle 0 0 1
Unknown Raptor 0 11 41
Total: 643 5567 159510
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Observation start time: 09:00:00
Observation end time: 17:00:00
Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Jonathan Stein
Observers: Andrew Sturgess, Don Sherwood, Patrick Mulawa,
Rosemary Brady
Visitors:
A big thank you to Pat Mulawa for all his help this season. Thanks Pat.
Weather:
Clear blue sky and a heaping helping of lake fog greeted us upon arrival.
Soon enough, the fog burned away and, in a trade off we were more than
happy to benefit from, was replaced by an increasing amount of helpful
clouds. Mild for late November, temperatures reached the mid 40s before
beginning to descend late. As for the wind, it was in our face throughout,
blustering out of the northeast.
Raptor Observations:
What a flight! What a way to end the season! In an unprecedented display of
migratory might, Red-tailed Hawks smashed their previous last-day high,
setting a new benchmark for late November buteo movement. Never before in
the count's history has there been a last day of the season the likes of
today. For a six-hour stretch, not a moment went by when there wasn't a
Red-tailed Hawk within view. Scattered by the northeast wind, Redtails made
use of a dizzying array of flight lines, crossing by the stacks, out over
the lake and everywhere in between, sometimes right overhead. Often
traveling in flocks upwards of twelve birds, it wasn't uncommon for us to
come across a small group of three soaring Redtails and then, with rising
excitement, watch as another eight or nine found their way to the same
thermal. Truly, an awe-inspiring performance.
If not for the Redtails, there would have been plenty else to make this
last day memorable. At 27 birds, Red-shouldered Hawks put in a
high-quality, end-of-season showing of their own. Two more light morph
Rough-legged Hawks ambled by. A 3 o'clock Merlin gave us a welcome fly by.
Accipiters provided a touch of variety. And last but certainly not least,
we hit the century mark for Goldens this afternoon when a gorgeous adult
Golden Eagle, our 100th of the season, found its way into the trees off to
our right.
Non-raptor Observations:
American Crow (280+), Sandhill Crane (1), Common Loon (1), Common Goldeneye
(6), Canvasback (30+), Redhead (1)
Predictions:
Adios, arrivederci, until next time.
========================================================================
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
