Detroit River Hawk Watch Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 18, 2016 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 20 263 263 Osprey 0 7 7 Bald Eagle 0 28 28 Northern Harrier 7 119 119 Sharp-shinned Hawk 168 1215 1215 Cooper's Hawk 2 27 27 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 3 3340 3340 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 0 80 80 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 15 302 302 Merlin 1 12 12 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 0 3 3 Unknown Buteo 0 4 4 Unknown Falcon 0 1 1 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 8 8 Total: 216 5409 5409 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: Dustin Brewer Observers: Andrew Sturgess, Don Sherwood Visitors: Many people joined us at the count today because of the Hawkfest that was scheduled to coincide with the anticipated Broad-winged Hawk migration. The most visitors that were counted at one time was ~60. Weather: We arrived to find fog that limited visibility for the first couple hours of the count today. The wind was very weak, and began from the west and eventually shifted to come from the south and east. Humidity dropped as the day went by, and barometric pressure stayed the same. Just before we were about to finish the count at 3:00, a brief rain occurred. Raptor Observations: After the fog burned off, Sharpies were moving all day, with a peak movement between 11 and 12. American Kestrels were also counted during every hourly period after 9, though always at lesser numbers than the Sharpies. We only spotted three very distant Broad-winged Hawks, to the northwest. We were lucky enough to see a Merlin, which has been hanging around the count site for the last few days, harass a migrating Sharp-shinned Hawk. Non-raptor Observations: Blue Jays were moving this morning, and we counted over 150. Several Greater Yellowlegs also flew by in a small flock. Red-winged Blackbirds and Canada Geese were moving southward as well. Predictions: Given the multiple days in a row without much in the way of Broad-winged Hawk migration, and the historical data which suggests that they should be coming, tomorrow could be a good day to see this species in large numbers. The day is predicted to be sunny, so rain shouldn't stop migrants. ======================================================================== 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
