Detroit River Hawk Watch Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 14, 2016 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 209 209 Osprey 0 7 7 Bald Eagle 0 24 24 Northern Harrier 4 81 81 Sharp-shinned Hawk 29 803 803 Cooper's Hawk 2 18 18 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 177 687 687 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 1 62 62 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 25 238 238 Merlin 1 10 10 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 1 3 3 Unknown Buteo 0 3 3 Unknown Falcon 0 1 1 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 8 8 Total: 240 2154 2154 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: Dustin Brewer Observers: Andrew Sturgess, Rosemary Brady Visitors: There were several visitors today, most hoping for Broad-winged Hawks. When a kettle was spotted to the south, most of them went to Point Mouille with hopes of experiencing the rush of having hundreds of hawks flying overhead. Weather: The day started with us suspecting that rain could come, but it never did. The morning was overcast which, coupled with the east and north winds, made counting conditions brisk (and served as a reminder to have warm clothes for later counts!). By noon the clouds began to recede and blue skies emerged. During the last two hours of the count the wind shifted, and came from the northwest. Raptor Observations: In the morning there was a steady, slow trickle of Sharp-shinned Hawks and American Kestrels, and little else. By around noon the first Buteos emerged, along with the most promising kettle/stream of Broad-winged Hawks yet! We counted 151 Broad-winged Hawks soaring and streaming together far to the south of the count site, nearer to Point Mouille. Non-raptor Observations: Near the 'eagle tree' (one of many landmarks that we use to describe where birds are) an Osprey made a fast and athletic dive from at least 50 meters, slammed into the water, and pulled out a large fish. As it took the fish away, the Osprey held the fish in the most aerodynamically efficient way, which is to say that the head of the fish was pointed in the same direction as the Osprey's head. This makes it look like the bird is surfing with a fish for a board. Maybe not notable if you are an Osprey, but this is a great example of how fine-tuned (visually, instinctively) these birds are to survive in their environment! Predictions: Tomorrow is predicted to be sunny in the morning, with clouds moving in during the afternoon and a small chance for rain most of the day. Given the fairly big group of Broad-winged Hawks that we saw today, and all of the wishing everyone seems to be doing, maybe tomorrow will be a good day for these Buteos! ======================================================================== Report submitted by Detroit River Hawk Watch ([email protected]) Detroit River Hawk Watch information may be found at: http://www.drhawkwatch.org _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - 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 Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
